Dharsha Petrie, an experienced FND physio in Australia, discusses education, diagnosis, sustainable treatment, triggers, symptom management plans, and more. Topics include misconceptions about FND, sustainable carry-over of function, interacting with health professionals, symptom profiles, and listener questions.
Focusing on patient self-awareness, creating personalized management plans, and facilitating smooth transitions are essential for effective Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) treatment.
Utilizing a multidisciplinary approach involving neurologists, physiotherapists, and psychologists, along with effective symptom management plans, empowers patients in managing FND.
Tailoring symptoms management plans, fostering patient engagement, and setting realistic expectations within a limited session setting optimize treatment outcomes for Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).
Deep dives
Understanding Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and Transition from Hospital to Home
Working with patients diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) requires a nuanced approach, distinguishing between pure FND cases and those with a functional overlay on an organic condition. For patients with FND overlay, triggers like movement disorders or existing pathologies can complicate treatment strategies, requiring a deep understanding of neurology and pain principles. Pacing is a key aspect when managing FND cases, focusing on gradual progress to avoid symptom flare-ups. Encouraging patient self-awareness of triggers and symptoms, creating personalized management plans, and facilitating smooth transitions from hospital to home are essential for effective FND treatment.
Multidisciplinary Collaborative Care and Symptom Management Plans
In FND treatment, a multidisciplinary approach involving neurologists, physiotherapists, psychiatrists, and psychologists is crucial. Effective symptom management plans empower patients, enabling them to identify triggers, symptoms, and self-manage their condition. Collaborative care coordination between inpatient and outpatient physiotherapy teams, continuous communication, and shared patient records facilitate seamless transitions from hospital care to home. Emphasizing self-awareness, trigger identification, and clear communication within the healthcare team are vital for successful patient outcomes in FND management.
Essential Considerations for Limited Treatment Sessions and Building Self-Awareness
Managing FND within limited treatment sessions necessitates focusing on short-term goals, understanding patient priorities, and customizing treatment plans to achieve meaningful outcomes efficiently. Educating patients on triggers, symptoms, and self-management strategies early on aids in building self-awareness and empowerment. Tailoring symptoms management plans, fostering patient engagement, and setting realistic expectations for progress within a constrained timeframe are essential strategies for optimizing treatment outcomes in a limited session setting.
Approaching Different Symptom Profiles and Functional Overlays in FND Diagnosis
Addressing diverse symptom profiles in Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) requires a comprehensive understanding of varying presentations, such as weakness, dystonia, myoclonus, and seizures. Identifying functional overlays on organic conditions adds complexity to treatment protocols, necessitating personalized approaches tailored to individual patient needs. Emphasizing pacing, symptom management, and multidisciplinary collaboration to address triggers, symptom manifestations, and perpetuating factors uniquely associated with different symptom profiles in FND enhances treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.
Transitioning Strategies from Hospital to Home and Resource Recommendations
Smooth transition strategies from hospital to home play a vital role in Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) management, ensuring continued support, self-management, and symptom awareness post-discharge. Developing patient-centered symptom management plans, facilitating multidisciplinary care continuity, and enhancing communication between inpatient and outpatient healthcare teams are key components for successful transitions. Utilizing resources like FND Australia for patient education materials, neurosymptoms.org for informative resources, and implementing symptom management plans are essential for effective Hospital-to-Home transition in FND care.
Dharsha is one of the most experienced FND physios in Australia and her passion for this clinical group is exceptional. There are so many pearls in this episode about education, diagnosis, sustainable carry-over of treatment, prognostic and perpetuating factors, triggers, symptom management plans and more. We also answer listener questions you submitted.
3:40 – Career pathway 8:30 – Career pivot points 9:28 – Why FND? 11:21 Rapid changes in function lead to misconceptions 12:21 – Educate other team members & patients 14:35 – Functional MRI changes 17:20 – Sustainable carry over of function 18:50 – Treatment team 24:28 – Interacting with health professionals about FND 30:13 – Perpetuating factors & presentations 34:40 – Prognostic factors 35:50 – Symptom Profiles – Weakness, Dystonia, Sensory 37:29 – Physio Assessment of FND 40:30 – Treating Functional Dystonia 43:19 – Listener Questions 58:05 – Symptom Management Plans
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