Writer's cramp

What it means

A focal dystonia of the fingers, hand, and/or forearm that appears when the affected person attempts to do a task that requires fine motor movements such as writing or playing a musical instrument.

Rare diseases that can present with this9

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category