Is it MS or FND

[Ottaw]

For the past year I had all the symptoms of MS, first I was told it's migraine, then I was told it's in my head and yesterday I was diagnosed with Functional neurological disorder. I'm so lost don't know what to do or what kind of treatment is available or is it really FND?

[Brokendeer]

Hi I consider myself an FND Veteran now, and if there is one thing I have learned over the years - Neurologists if unsure of symptoms tend to go with the diagnosis of FND, not that they really understand it or want to but it gets you signed off their service. As FND is one of the most common diagnosis after Parkinson's and MS it is surprising that there is very little medical/social support offered by general Neurologists or indeed the medical profession as a whole. They are a few Specialist FND Neurologists from who you can get a 2nd opinion - but you have to demand that!

Firstly, yes you may not have FND, I am not medically trained but keep up to date with medical journals and I believe a Neurologist has to test and see you for several years to be absolutely sure you have MS.

The good news (if you can count it that) FND is not classed as degenerative in the same way as MS, so a cheerier prognosis. But FND is debilitating just the same and very variable in symptoms for one individual to the next - so unlike MS which pretty much follows narrower known physical criteria.

The bad news is, you can actually have both MS and FND existing together and it is also the case with many other Neurological and organic diseases.

I would suggest you look up Professor Jon Stone's website neurosymptoms.org

and see if any of your symptoms or issues relate to any of the basics known for FND?

If you do think they are right, then you should know there are Multi-disciplinary Therapies for FND out there, run by specific Neuro Hospitals which you have to get referred to and funded by your GP or Primary Medical Trust.

The longer you wait between diagnosis of FND and Therapies makes recovery back to your`Normal' less likely - so do your best to seek 2nd opinions and/or Therapy options.

Be kind to yourself, search for the calm in the storm!

[Ottaw]

Thank you for the information. For years I been suffering from fibromyalgia and Hemiplegic migraine. Last summer it started with numbness and right leg weakness, loosing balance, walking like a drunk person, electrical shock pain everywhere and at one point I couldn't walk had to use wheelchair and then sensetivity to tempature change. The entire time my neurologist said it migraine and he said it's stress and I kept disagreed with him. During these period of time I came my own doctor contacting different physicians and two of them told me even if the MRI of brain is normal doesn't mean you don't have MS. At this point I don't see a different between MS and FND. I'm very concerned about the lack of resources and help. I will certainly look up the link you have provided. I wish you well and speed recovery.