My last blog i said that one of the problems i have been told i have is FND, Functional Neurological Disorder. But i thought i would write this blog to help explain a bit more about what FND is.
Functional Neurological Disorder is where there is a problem with the functioning of the nervous system, it stops the brain from sending and reviving signals properly. The condition presents itself just like MS or Parkinson, so many get misdiagnosed and told they have one of these conditions when in actual fact they have FND.
Many people with this condition get the label from doctors that it is all in their head, and they are putting it on. This isn't true the condition is very real and so are the symptoms, people putting on the problems have a different diagnosis all together. This happens as FND is a rare and new condition, not many Dr's know about it and there isn't much research on it either. So getting the diagnosis can be hard if you are not seen by a specialist or Dr who knows of FND.
Also with not much research and knowledge of this condition, comes the problem of not many treatment plans in place. Physiotherapy is mostly used for treating the condition, and sometimes medication can be used for controlling some symptoms such as pain.
Symptoms of FND include:
- Chronic Pain
- Non-Epileptic Seizures
- Speech Problems
- Involuntary Movements
- Paralysis/weakness
- Headaches/Migraines
- Cognitive Changes
- Visual Changes
- Sensory Symptoms
- Sleep Disturbances
- Gait/Balance Changes
People can have only some of these symptoms and go on without even knowing that there is a problem until tings progress. But what makes it hard to diagnose is that FND doesn't show up on any scan or most tests. It can be detected by a specialist through certain tests, and by getting the patient to do certain moves, e.g. standing, holding one leg or arm in a certain way, and also talking through how things began and progressed.
So even though FND doesn't show up of a scan or a medical test, doesn't men that it is not real and it is all in your head. The problem is as real as someone with MS or any other neurological problem, but it just takes a little longer to diagnose and find the right treatment. It usually takes a while as it's needs you to see the right Dr who knows about the condition.
It doesn't mean that you are making it all up and it is just a physiological problem that can be cured through seeing a physiologist and talking about it. NO it is very real and needs the right treatment or things won't get better, in fact they will just get worse.
Giving someone the wrong label and saying that they will just get better and it isn't a real condition/problem, will not help at all. This will only make it worse as it makes the person feel as if it is all there fault they are like that and leaving them to get one with something that they can't fix alone.
I know how that feels as i myself was first off given that label, and told I was putting it all on, and it would just get better in time and that was that. It wasn't until i saw the right Dr at the right place, when i was told NO it is real and we know what it is and can treat and fix it.
Functional Neurological Disorder is where there is a problem with the functioning of the nervous system, it stops the brain from sending and reviving signals properly. The condition presents itself just like MS or Parkinson, so many get misdiagnosed and told they have one of these conditions when in actual fact they have FND.
Many people with this condition get the label from doctors that it is all in their head, and they are putting it on. This isn't true the condition is very real and so are the symptoms, people putting on the problems have a different diagnosis all together. This happens as FND is a rare and new condition, not many Dr's know about it and there isn't much research on it either. So getting the diagnosis can be hard if you are not seen by a specialist or Dr who knows of FND.
Also with not much research and knowledge of this condition, comes the problem of not many treatment plans in place. Physiotherapy is mostly used for treating the condition, and sometimes medication can be used for controlling some symptoms such as pain.
Symptoms of FND include:
- Chronic Pain
- Non-Epileptic Seizures
- Speech Problems
- Involuntary Movements
- Paralysis/weakness
- Headaches/Migraines
- Cognitive Changes
- Visual Changes
- Sensory Symptoms
- Sleep Disturbances
- Gait/Balance Changes
People can have only some of these symptoms and go on without even knowing that there is a problem until tings progress. But what makes it hard to diagnose is that FND doesn't show up on any scan or most tests. It can be detected by a specialist through certain tests, and by getting the patient to do certain moves, e.g. standing, holding one leg or arm in a certain way, and also talking through how things began and progressed.
So even though FND doesn't show up of a scan or a medical test, doesn't men that it is not real and it is all in your head. The problem is as real as someone with MS or any other neurological problem, but it just takes a little longer to diagnose and find the right treatment. It usually takes a while as it's needs you to see the right Dr who knows about the condition.
It doesn't mean that you are making it all up and it is just a physiological problem that can be cured through seeing a physiologist and talking about it. NO it is very real and needs the right treatment or things won't get better, in fact they will just get worse.
Giving someone the wrong label and saying that they will just get better and it isn't a real condition/problem, will not help at all. This will only make it worse as it makes the person feel as if it is all there fault they are like that and leaving them to get one with something that they can't fix alone.
I know how that feels as i myself was first off given that label, and told I was putting it all on, and it would just get better in time and that was that. It wasn't until i saw the right Dr at the right place, when i was told NO it is real and we know what it is and can treat and fix it.