I was left unable to walk after 'work stress' triggered a rare condition
Watch: Woman left unable to walk after 'work stress' triggered rare neurological condition
A woman has shared how she was left unable to walk and talk and was told by a doctor "work stress" had likely triggered a rare neurological condition, which causes her to experience up to 25 seizures a day.
Emily Newman, 25, from Gatwick, Sussex, says she was in the "best shape" of her life before out of the blue she suddenly had a seizure and was rushed to hospital. She underwent a series of scans and tests, but doctors were unable to confirm what was wrong with her.
It was only after she experienced ongoing bouts of paralysis and was unable to move her legs for up to eight days at a time that Emily consulted private doctor for a diagnosis. She was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND) – a condition that causes problems with the brain sending and receiving information.
The doctor who diagnosed her with the condition believes the sudden symptoms she started suffering may have been brought on by the "work stress" she was experiencing in her role in finance. Emily now struggles with slurred speech, tic attacks - such as hitting herself repeatedly for hours - and has to use a walking stick or wheelchair to get around.
When she initially started experiencing symptoms in 2023, Emily says she was the fittest she'd ever been, having decided to get healthy for her wedding to her now husband, James Newman, 28, a firefighter. "I had decided I was going to get in better shape for myself and my wedding," she explains. "I was running three times a week and working out every day."
But that suddenly changed when in November 2023 she had a seizure. She also started experiencing "fainting episodes" but as she has postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) - where the heart rate increases after getting up - she put those down to that. "I was convulsing, but I just assumed it was the PoTS, which was causing it," she explains.
But when she arrived home later that day she had a further three seizures and immediately called an ambulance. At the hospital doctors thought it could be multiple sclerosis (MS) so Emily was tested to rule that out. But doctors were baffled when they couldn't actually uncover what was causing her symptoms.
"The week after I went to hospital I had a seizure lasting six to eight hours," Emily explains. And the bouts of paralysis also continued. "One time I was paralysed in my legs for eight days. I thought 'I can't live my life like this'."
Frustrated that she didn't know what was causing her symptoms, Emily decided to book a consultation with a private doctor who diagnosed her with FND in December 2023. "He said there is a 33% chance it will get better, 33% chance it will get worse and a 33% chance it will stay the same. He asked if I had been through anything traumatic but I said nothing particularly. But then he asked if I'd been under a lot of work stress and I said I had been."
Since her diagnosis Emily says her day-to-day life has changed dramatically. She now struggles with speech, walking and frequently experiences tics. "My speech is delayed and slurred. Sometimes I can't communicate at all," she explains. "If my speech goes it comes back in three to six hours. I have tic attacks as well. The other day I was progressively hitting myself for two hours. It was really painful."
Of course, her symptoms also have an impact on her friends and family, particularly when she has a seizure, which she now experiences on average around 10 times a week. "Last week I had 25 in one afternoon."
The condition takes its toll on other aspects of her life too. "It's such as dire condition," she explains. "It's not what I expected my life to be at all. I'm going through grieving different parts - the life I thought I was going to live, the life I'm currently living and before."
But despite everything she is coping with, Emily is determined to stay positive. "I'm trying to do everything I can in different ways," she says of her outlook. "You try and take every day as it comes. I still want to be me and be who I am."
What is Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)?
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is described as a brain network disorder by the charity FND Action.
Symptoms can be debilitating and can include:
limb weakness
paralysis
seizures
walking difficulties
spasms
twitching
sensory issues
Though the symptoms can appear similar to those seen in neurological conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Epilepsy, the charity says they have a different underlining cause.
With FND the basic wiring of the nervous system is in working order, but there is a problem with how the brain/nervous system functions, and how the brain fails to send and/or receive signals (messages) correctly.
This can have an affect on how the body responds to different tasks such as movement control and attention.
The charity explains that current understanding is that biological, psychological and social factors may contribute towards a person’s vulnerability to developing a FND, but further research continues in order to discover a clearer picture of the causes.
Due to the various symptoms of FND treatment plans can vary and there is not a "one fix will fix all" option.
Historically the only form of treatment offered to those diagnosed with FND was psychotherapy given the misinterpretation that emotions were being "converted" to physical symptoms. Different treatment options are becoming more available, such as specialist physiotherapy for movement/motor symptoms.
Additional reporting SWNS.
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