Living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) means navigating a body that doesn’t always behave in predictable ways. FND can affect movement, sensation, energy, and basic functions, and no two people experience it in the same way. Symptoms can shift suddenly, intensify without warning, or ease for a while only to return again. That unpredictability is one of the hardest parts.
This blog is my space to share what living with FND looks like for me, the symptoms I manage, the setbacks I’ve faced, and the things I do to keep moving forward.
My Daily Reality with FND
My symptoms affect almost every part of my day. They shape how I move, how I rest, how I plan, and how I cope. These are the symptoms I currently live with:
Right‑Side Weakness
Weakness on my right side affects my strength, coordination, and balance. Simple tasks can become complicated, and flare‑ups can make even basic movements difficult.
Chronic Pain
Pain is a constant companion. Some days it’s a dull background ache; other days it’s sharp, overwhelming, and exhausting. At the moment, the pain is daily and intense, and coping with it takes a huge amount of energy.
Non‑Epileptic Seizures
These episodes resemble epileptic seizures but come from disrupted brain–body communication. They are unpredictable and draining, adding another layer of uncertainty to my life.
Fatigue
This isn’t ordinary tiredness. It’s a deep, heavy exhaustion that can appear even after minimal activity. Fatigue limits how long I can stay active or focused, and it often forces me to stop long before I want to.
Dizziness and Balance Problems
Frequent dizziness makes standing, walking, and even turning my head feel unstable. It can be disorienting and makes everyday tasks more challenging.
Swallowing Difficulties (Dysphagia)
Swallowing has become harder, and sometimes it feels as though my throat forgets how to coordinate. Eating and drinking now require more attention and patience.
Involuntary Biting of the Inside of My Mouth
A newer symptom is biting the inside of my mouth without meaning to. It’s painful and frustrating, especially when my facial muscles feel weak or uncoordinated.
Living with FND and a Bilateral Pars Defect
Alongside FND, I also live with a bilateral pars defect, a stress fracture in my lower spine. This brings its own challenges, including severe pain, mobility issues, and flares that can last weeks or months.
A minor accident in January 2025 set me back significantly. Since then, the pain has been unpredictable. I can be fine for a month or so, and then the pain becomes daily and intense again, sometimes lasting for months. When that happens, moving around becomes much harder. It was a discouraging setback, but it’s part of the reality of long‑term chronic conditions: progress is rarely a straight line.
What I Do to Help Myself
Even with all of this, I am determined to keep going. I can’t control my symptoms, but I can control how I respond to them. These are the things I try to do to support myself:
Pacing My Activities
I still do what I can around the house, but I pace myself carefully. I break tasks into smaller steps, rest between them, and accept that some days I can do more than others. Pacing isn’t giving up, it’s working with my body instead of fighting against it.
Staying as Mobile as I Can
Movement is difficult, especially during flares, but I try to stay gently active within my limits. Even small movements matter. They help me feel connected to my body rather than defeated by it.
Listening to My Body
I’ve learned to pay attention to early signs of fatigue, pain, or neurological symptoms. When my body signals that it’s had enough, I try to respond with compassion rather than frustration.
Writing This Blog
Writing helps me process what I’m going through. It gives me a space to reflect, to document, and to share my experience honestly. It reminds me that even on the hardest days, I am still moving forward in my own way.
Why I Share My Story
Living with FND and a pars defect, or any conditions that run in parallel, can feel isolating. Symptoms are often invisible, misunderstood, or dismissed. By sharing my experience, I hope to create understanding: for myself, for others living with similar conditions, and for anyone who wants to learn more.
My journey isn’t easy. Some days are incredibly hard. But I am still here, still trying, still doing what I can. And that, in itself, is a kind of strength.
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