Shining a Light on FND: Empowering Communities through Knowledge

In the diverse landscape of South Africa, a silent battle is being waged, one that affects numerous individuals and families. Functional Neurological Disorder (or FND) is a condition defined as a disconnect between the brain and the body, leading to a multitude of neurological symptoms. Despite being as common as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease, there is still a lot that's not well understood, including its exact cause. FND manifests in a myriad of ways. Symptoms include movent disorders, like difficulty walking due to tremors, muscle weakness or paralysis. Some people may experience seizures or drop attacks, and sensory disturbances in addition to their limited movement. Additional symptoms like chronic pain, fatigue, bladder and bowel difficulties and frequent headaches (tension headaches and migraines) all add to the complexity of this disorder. We see functional neurological disorder accounting for 6% of neurology outpatient visits. 

Functional neurological disorder, previously known as conversion disorder, can affect anyo...