Coping with certain symptoms

I sometimes have paralysis but I get through it by knowing it's temporary. I get out of it by focusing on one movement. Like my arm won't move, so i'll focus on trying to move my fingure and not the entire arm.

My walking/gait has been messed up for 2 going on 3 months. I get around by cane and walker in the house. I suck it up at work because my field (diesel tech) is not walker/cane/wheelchair friendly. How does anyone cope with mobility problems? Emotionally? Mentally? Physically?

My hands curl and now for a few days my hands don't really work doing tasks get tough, I have to focus on opening and closing them more than usual.

I have tics/jerking from the time I wake and to the time I go to sleep does anyone have solutions?

[Mic67]

Hiya, I have mobility problems too but havent resorted to walking aids as yet. Over the last year, I've not wanted to accept that my gait issues are part of FND and have had hip xrays, MRI's and even taken steroids. I think I may be finally coming to accept this although my legs feel stiff and spastic and my gait doesnt look like most people's with FND...

I am waiting for neurophysio gait assessment at the end of the month which cant come soon enough.

I also have paralysis of my legs which began last Feb and has never gone away or changed. Thankfully for me it is only when I am in certain positions so I can still get around.

Emotionally I feel very isolated. I dont really want to keep talking about it to friends so I just shut up, then I feel annoyed that no one really understands. A vicious circle. I have gone from being extremely active and travelling all over the middle east for my work to practically a hermit..in 2 years.

Are you in the UK? I only ask as I have referred myself to the NHS wellbeing service for a few sessions of counselling to try and cope with this new reality. It is free and self referral.

I think FND is a very hard diagnosis to come to terms with, not only because of the lack of treatment but also the stigma and ignorance about why it happens. Not surprising that most people struggle to accept it!?

[M3rry]

I am suffering from pain/stiffness in my hands - since I had a tendon ganglion on my right wrist as a child (can you guess how much fun exams were when I couldn't move my wrist - writing from the shoulder was just possible), I got very good at detecting oncoming problems. Now, I have early signs of osteoarthritis and along with fibromyaglia I am forced to do some wrist exercises - part of management for both conditions.

But I have problems doing physio - I just cannot summon the mental energy to do it. So I knit and crochet - each craft has different movements and so I mix them to get the right movements for my wrist. I am not suggesting you try learning these crafts but look at things you already like doing, find something that has complex movements that are repetitive. I am able to do a simple knit pattern without looking or I can pick up a complicated cable, it really depends on what I feel I need or can cope with. Like all crafts I can find a new technique to try learning when this feels too much like physio, anything to keep it enjoyable - the big thick and warm jumpers and blankets are a bonus!