A functional movement disorders causes abnormal body movements due to the nervous system not working properly. People with functional movement disorder struggle with a range of debilitating symptoms. However these symptoms do not cause damage or disease in the nervous system. Because functional movement disorder causes no damage to the body, it can get better, and symptoms could go away entirely.
The exact prevalence numbers for functional movement disorders is unknown but estimates of functional movement disorders among children’s and adults in the United states varies from 2 to 4 percent. It appears that women are not affected by this condition than are men.
Connection to fibromyalgia
There is a conflict in nervous system processing in people with fibromyalgia. Moreover that leaves them with symptoms of functional movement disorder in addition to sensory disturbances.
While the research on fibromyalgia and functional movement disorder connection is limited, patients with functional movement disorder are more likely to have a medical history of fibromyalgia.
In fact, patients with fibromyalgia often experience symptoms of functional movement disorder because episodes of acute pain trigger the condition.
One 2017 report published in the journal of movement disorders found that out of 16 patients with functional movement disorder, three had a diagnosis of fibromyalgia or irritable bowel syndrome. Another 2017 study reported in Plos one found 19 percent of the 21 functional movement disorder study participants had fibromyalgia.
Symptoms
Functional movement disorder causes a host of symptoms resulting from the dysfunction of the nervous system. In some cases, it may cause a clenched fist or twisted fist which is neurological. Symptoms may include:
>>weakness or paralysis in the extremities
>>Numbness or tingling
>>Chronic fatigue
>>Pain in arms or legs, neck or back
>>Headaches
>>Cognitive difficulties, including poor concentration and difficulty finding the right words.
>>Slurred speech
>>Sleep disturbances
>>Mood changes-frustration, anger, sadness, worry, lack of enjoyment.
>>Attacks with resemblance seizures, but are not.
>>Bladder and bowel symptoms
>>A feeling that things are not quite real
Testing is normal
People with functional movement disorders have normal scans and bloodwork. They also have normal reflexes and no evidence of any nervous system problems. A doctor makes a diagnosis based on physical symptoms, similarly to the way a migraine would be diagnosed.
Are symptoms real?
Many patients with functional movement disorder struggles getting doctors to understand whether their symptoms are real. Because there is little information about this condition, most doctors do not have enough training in understanding physical symptoms.
Many doctors might not believe symptoms of functional movement disorder are real. The ones that do believe their parents do not know how to help them.
Because functional movement disorder is not a disease, patients themselves wonder if what they are feeling is real or imagined. The reality, however, is that these patients are suffering from a real functional illness and the lack of information about it does not change their struggles.
Causes of functional movement disorders
Functional movement disorder is a complex condition, but there are reasons why some people develop this condition.
Some circumstances that may cause symptoms of functional movement disorder to appear are
>>After a painful injury, people seem to most vulnerable to this condition after a physical injury and if they have a lot of pain especially severe neck and back pain.
>>illness requiring significant bed rest and causing extreme fatigue
>>After surgery due to anesthesia use.
Researchers are looking at understanding the ways as to why some people are more vulnerable than others to developing this condition.
Treatment
Functional movement disorder is treatable disease, but if you have had symptoms for a long time, you will not get better overnight.
Some treatment strategies that may help include
Antidepressants
Antidepressants seem to affect the nerve by fixing chemical balances in the brain and making the nervous system work as it should.
Physical therapy
Rehabilitation can retrain the body and the brain’s movement patterns. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy alone or as a part of a program with occupation therapy, speech therapy and exercise therapy.
Hypnosis therapy
Hypnosis may help your nervous system as normally as possible to minimize symptoms of functional movement disorder. This treatment alone can be used to treat functional movement disorder or in conjunction with other physical therapies including cognitive behavioral therapy.
Stress Management
Not everyone that has functional movement disorder is dealing stress. However talking to loved ones or a mental health professional can help you to better cope and manage the symptoms of functional movement disorder.
Getting more information
There is not much information about functional movement disorders and how they are connected to fibromyalgia. However, you can find information about coping with symptoms of functional movement disorder and fibromyalgia.
It is also important to understand your diagnosis and get comfortable with living with functional movement disorder.
Getting better requires managing symptoms that change from day to day. It is therefore important to believe that your condition will improve.
Resources
Practical Neurology (“It’s Not in Your Head”: Navigating the Challenges of a Functional Movement Disorder Diagnosis)
UpToDate (Functional Movement Disorders)
Fibromyalgia and Functional Movement Disorder via New life outlook
National Institutes of Health (Treatment of Functional (Psychogenic) Movement Disorders)
Journal of Movement Disorders (Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for Functional (Psychogenic) Movement Disorders)
Plus One (Impaired Sense of Agency in Functional Movement Disorders: An fMRI Study)
For support and Discussion join the group “Living with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Illness”
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