Conversion Disorder: Give Yourself A Break
What happens when you stress yourself beyond your limits
A disorder about which only a few people know is the conversion disorder or sometimes called functional neurological symptom disorder. Let me tell you a story to help you better understand what it is.
A male patient aged 22 presented in the physiotherapy department with a complaint of pain in his arms, shoulders, neck, back, and legs. Simply put, the signs and symptoms did not fit any specific disease. I assessed him thoroughly but couldn’t find anything to make a rational diagnosis.
His muscles were unusually toned up. He had muscle spasms for no apparent reason. First, I thought it might be related to his posture, but that kind of muscle tone involving many body parts is not usually common with postural faults. I suspected conversion disorder.
It is a disorder in which mental health issues like depression and anxiety cause physical symptoms like pain, muscle stiffness, muscle spasms, seizures, etc.
I referred him to a psychiatrist, who then referred him to a neurologist, and after a functional MRI, the diagnosis of conversion disorder was confirmed.
The patient was a first-year medical student, and his final exams were a month away. The stress and anxiety were apparent in his persona. He took psychiatric consultations and a few sessions of physical therapy, and within two weeks, he was pain-free.
Conclusion
It is important to escape for a bit from the daily hectic routine to refresh your mind. The stress and anxiety can have a long-lasting effect on your physical health.
Stay blessed!
Thank you so much for reading
