Medical professional resolves puzzling ailment of New York woman that had persisted since the onset of symptoms six years prior
In the heart of Rockland County, New York, Maureen Henry, a 58-year-old mother of four, has finally found some semblance of normality after six long years. Henry, a former newborn photographer, was forced to quit her job due to uncontrollable symptoms that had been a mystery to seven different doctors and a plethora of medications.
The symptoms, which started at a particularly stressful time in Henry's life following the loss of both her parents to different illnesses on the same day, were constant and relentless. They included cognitive impairments, extreme fatigue, and involuntary face and body tics. Henry described them as feeling like "something in my brain just switched off."
However, Henry's medical mystery was finally solved by Dr. Christian Amlang, a neurologist and movement disorder specialist with Maimonides Health. Dr. Amlang diagnosed Henry with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), a condition characterised by neurological symptoms that occur without structural brain damage but result from abnormal functioning of the nervous system.
FND affects brain communication by causing a breakdown of certain networks in the brain, leading to a disconnect between different parts of the brain and the body. Symptoms can manifest similarly to those of other neurological diseases, but typical diagnostic tests often appear normal. Common symptoms of FND include limb weakness or paralysis, movement difficulties, functional seizures, sensory disturbances, chronic fatigue, cognitive impairments, emotional dysregulation, and symptoms that worsen or trigger in response to stress, emotional factors, or environmental influences.
Treatment for FND is multidisciplinary and aims at retraining the brain and nervous system rather than treating structural damage. It includes psychotherapy, physical therapy, and medication to manage related symptoms. Evidence-based group therapy programs specifically designed for FND, as well as neurological physical therapy, have demonstrated benefits.
Henry started feeling more like herself after roughly four months of physical therapy. Now, she is "feeling amazing" and hopes to empower others when it comes to their health. Henry's case is an example of a medical mystery that was drastically altering her life before being diagnosed with FND.
Jenna DeAngelis, an Emmy award winning journalist who joined News New York as a general assignment reporter in March 2018, spoke with Henry about her journey. In an interview, Henry expressed her gratitude towards Dr. Amlang and the team at Maimonides Health for giving her back her life.
With the right diagnosis and treatment, Henry's story serves as a beacon of hope for those suffering from FND and other medical mysteries. Living with a mystery illness for six years without any answers was isolating for Henry, but she is now using her experience to help others navigate their own health journeys.
Weather did not play a role in Maureen Henry's medical journey, as her symptoms were not affected by it.
Maureen Henry's health-and-wellness perspective underwent a significant change due to the neurological disorder she developed, affecting her mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
The regular news cycle usually covers a wide range of topics, from politics to entertainment, but the story of Maureen Henry's medical journey could also be a fascinating addition to health and medical-conditions segments.
Henry's neurological disorder, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), and the interplay of mental health, neurological disorders, and health-and-wellness are significant topics in the field of science and medical research.
