Long-serving CASUALTY actor Derek Thompson has been raising awareness for a neurologicial condition that he has had for the last five years.
Derek, who plays Charlie Fairhead in the medical drama, recently attended a conference on Dystonia and also talked to the Daily Mail of his condition.
Dystonia, which people little know about, is a neurological movement disorder which causes involuntary muscle contractions which lead the affected parts of the body to develop abnormal movements or postures, with or without tremor. There is estimated to be 40,000 people living with dystonia in the UK.
Derek suffered with the condition, which caused him to have painful neck and head spasms for many years. Derek had a stressful time hiding his condition whilst leaving it undiagnosed and untreated, however he has since been receiving Botox treatment which has vastly improved his symptoms.
Only recently making it public about his Dystonia condition, so as to raise much needed awareness, he has since been asked to be Patron of the Dystonia Society.
