A MAN with a rare condition which has left him with a constant head shake is raising awareness of the disorder by writing a book about his experiences.

Jonathan Hurlock, who lives in Pickering, suffers from dystonia, a movement disorder in which a person's muscles contract uncontrollably.

The 52-year-old first noticed a difficulty in concentrating and an increasing head and hand shake five yeas ago.

He said: "My job involved machining and soldering components for radar systems which required a steady hand and constant concentration.

"The increased shaking made my ability to produced consistent and accurate work impossible and I went to my doctor who thought my condition might be neurological and referred me to York Hospital."

Jonathan said that by this time he had developed a distinct head shake, both side to side and up and down and the consultant diagnosed cervical dystonia.

He was advised to take a course of drugs, plus botox injections, but to no effect and after a further year of treatment he was refereed to a consultant in London for possible Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), a surgical procedure in which two thin, insulated electrodes are inserted into the brain.

The electrodes are then connected by a wire under the skin to a battery, usually implanted in the chest or abdomen, which operates similarly to a pace-maker delivering targeted electrical pulses that block the signals that cause the symptoms of dystonia.

Jonathan said: "The operation took eight hours but felt like two seconds to me.

"When I woke up on the ward the effect of the op was immediate and I could feel a difference in the shakes."

Jonathan said that over the past year he had returned to London for adjustments in the electrodes and although his shakes had reduced he was still unable to consider going back to work.

"At times it has been hell on earth, but I never give up hope and have taken this as an adventure into the unknown," he said.

"I cannot count the many nights sleep I have lost due to the constant tremors and neck pain. The constant shaking also upsets my inner ears and subsequently my balance is bad and I have to walk with a stick.

"I have worked as a welder for most of my life but due to the DBS operation I am now looking for a total career change as I cannot go near a welding set due to the electro-magnetic fields given off.

"I have also starting writing a book to raise awareness of the condition amongst the public and also the medical profession as many doctors are not aware of dystonia and more research work is needed."

Jonathan is also supporting the Dystonia Society, raising £300 at a coffee morning and planning future events, including a sponsored headshave and walk, as well as a talk about the condition in Pickering.

"I would like to thank my family and friends for sticking by me, without their support I dread to think what might have happened to me, and also to all the medical staff," he said.

"It is not over yet and I still have a long way to go, but I have to stay positive."

For more information, go to dystonia.org.uk