Functional neurologist / chiropractor

[alexph]

Hi all.

After I told people at work about my diagnosis, a colleague reached out to me and suggested I go to see a “functional neurologist.” She gave me their contact details but wasn’t able to answer my questions of what they actually do. I checked them out online and it seems they are trained as a chiropractor and don’t have a medical background. On their website they say the below...

”We believe in a non-pharmaceutical approach to health and wellness. Our treatments include therapeutic exercises, proper spinal arrangement, nutrition and diet as well as guiding you for a better lifestyle.”

I’m a bit skeptical about this but also wondering if it’s worth a shot to see what they would be able to do for my ALS (if anything).

I have seen suggestions of seeing a chiropractor as a potentially useful therapy so maybe that‘s the key part of this recommendation.

Has anyone else here tried a “functional neurologist” or a chiropractor? I’m interested to hear if anyone has thoughts on this stuff for helping with MND.

[Rosemary6NT]

As a retired scientist I am unaware of any evidence to suggest that the disease of ALS/MND can be ameliorated by chiropractic or diet and would be very suspicious of anyone claiming that it could. As for it’s effects on “aches and pains” I couldn’t say…

[Ellie]

You know what Alex, if you want to try any field of therapy, go ahead - it can be too hard to sit around doing nothing.

Nobody will think any less of a person who tries. Just have realistic expectations of what's being promised...

I’m a bit skeptical about this but also wondering if it’s worth a shot to see what they would be able to do for my ALS (if anything).

What a chiropractor can do is to address some symptoms of ALS, rather than to 'treat' the ALS itself - by "symptoms" I mean joint problems and muscle pain. If a chiropractor is not cognisant of how ALS affects the muscles and the skeleton they're holding together, that can lead to injury and pain.

As for the term "Functional Neurologist", medically it means diddly squat and you or I could call ourselves one, but I'm not saying the one you found is a charlatan, as I'm sure you researched them.

There's no doubt that an holistic approach for body and mind is best so, providing you're not being sold a cure or have to take out a loan to pay for it, then why not... xx

[Onein300]

A Functional neurologist is not a doctor.

When you hear of a functional neurological disorder (FND) this means technically there appears to be some issue but there is no underlying neurological disease.

It used to be called hysteria in the old days but is psychological and a psychologist can help with non disease related disorders.

For mnd it will not help.

Basic physiotherapy and massage is best to ameliorate symptoms with mnd but it won’t treat the disease.

[Ellie]

When you hear of a functional neurological disorder (FND) this means technically there appears to be some issue but there is no underlying neurological disease.

It used to be called hysteria in the old days but is psychological and a psychologist can help with non disease related disorders.

Not quite sure why you mentioned FND here Onein300

The OP was musing on the benefits, if any, of attending a "Functional Neurologist/Chiropractor", in relation to his (confirmed diagnosis of) ALS.

There was no hint of an FND.

[matthew55]

As I've said before beware sellers of snake oil. 😉😁😝👍xx

[Onein300]

Not quite sure why you mentioned FND here Onein300

The OP was musing on the benefits, if any, of attending a "Functional Neurologist/Chiropractor", in relation to his (confirmed diagnosis of) ALS.

There was no hint of an FND.

Aside warning someone off quackery for treating a person who is actually diagnosed with MND which

No real reason aside I do hear it often. Just info not as a distraction I promise!

[alexph]

Thanks for the replies. I think I will get in touch with this person and see what they say about MND. If they claim to cure/treat the disease itself then I'll probably steer clear.

Actually I was already considering seeing a chiropractor because it’s something Doddie Weir mentions in his MND booklet along with massage therapy, acupuncture, reflexology and Indian head massage as complementary therapies for relief from physical discomfort. I’m not in a lot of physical discomfort yet but as my arms weaken I feel like I’m putting more strain on my back. I don’t have weakness in my legs but if I walk a long distance they can get a bit sore.

Have any of you had such complementary therapies? If so, how did you access them? Just find someone and pay for it yourself?

[Ellie]

Have any of you had such complementary therapies? If so, how did you access them? Just find someone and pay for it yourself?

I had lots of massages in my hospice (day hospice) by a specialist massage therapist, i.e. neuromuscular knowledge.

If you're not linked in with your local hospice, enquire about referral and no, they're not just places in which to spend your final days... 😏😘

[shelly21]

Go for it i say. Don't forget our gait changes due to the way we walk or stumble in my case.

Had my mri results and in 12 months I'm showing disc bulging to lower back which I'm not surprised due to lack of walking excercise etc.

i also use my hospice for physio and massage and find it useful and relaxing.