Empower Yourself: Navigate Life with Functional Neurological Disorder
Do you struggle with inexplicable muscle weakness, stiffness, or tremors that affect your daily activities? Are you tired of feeling like your body is not under your own control? Our program is designed to help individuals like you who are living with FND.
FND is a complex condition that affects the way your brain controls your movements. It can cause a wide range of symptoms, including muscle weakness, stiffness, tremors, and even pain. It's not always easy to understand or treat, but our program is here to help.
We take a holistic approach to FND treatment, focusing on your specific goals and uncovering your strengths and resources.
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a unique medical condition that involves disruptions in the normal functioning of the nervous system, affecting how signals are transmitted and received between the brain and the body. Unlike structural disorders like multiple sclerosis or stroke, FND is characterized by its impact on the brain's communication pathways. This disorder encompasses a wide array of neurological symptoms, including limb weakness and seizures, among others.
FND exists at the crossroads of neurology and psychiatry, presenting a challenge for diagnosis and treatment. Unlike conventional tests such as MRI scans and EEGs, which are often normal in FND patients, this condition has a substantial impact on individuals' well-being and daily lives. Recent studies have highlighted the potential for tailored treatments to reverse FND symptoms, marking a shift in how both medical professionals and society view and approach individuals with FND.
In the past, FND was sometimes mistakenly thought to be solely psychological, linked exclusively to stress or past trauma. However, modern neuroscientific research has dispelled this notion. FND is not simply a diagnosis of exclusion but a distinct disorder with specific clinical characteristics. These features vary among individuals; psychological factors can play a role in some cases, while others may not be influenced by them.
The diversity of terms used to describe FND reflects the evolving understanding of its nature and the challenges in accurately characterizing its manifestations. Among the common synonyms are: Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder, Functional Movement Disorder, Conversion Disorder, Psychogenic Seizures / Movement Disorder, Dissociative Seizures / Motor Disorder, Non-Epileptic Seizures, FND (Functional Neurological Disorder), Dissociative Neurological Symptoms Disorder.
Reference:
1. Functional Neurological Disorder, Rare Disease Organization (can be accessed here: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/fnd/)
2. LaFaver K, Maurer CW, Nicholson TR, Perez DL (eds). Functional Movement Disorder. Springer 2022.
Our Program
Our Functional neurological disorder program is very individualized with a high focus on your specific goals, uncovering your strengths and resources, and building on those to build the brain, and body connection, and restore your function.
Our philosophy of treatment is to understand you as a whole person, including body and brain connections, your environmental influences, and underlying musculoskeletal issues. We focus on restoring your autonomy and independent control so that you are empowered with the tools and resources for self-treatment.
We work very closely with your physician and multi-disciplinary care team to effectively collaborate and integrate the recommendation from your care team.
Goals
Our program aims to provide patients with the skills, knowledge, and behavioral changes necessary to:
-
Develop essential skills, knowledge, and behavioral strategies for managing your condition.
-
Take an active role in your physical and emotional well-being through effective coping strategies.
-
Attain optimal functional independence in your daily life.
-
Enhance your ability to engage in activities of daily living (ADLs) with confidence.
Outcomes
Empowering Symptom Insight: Develop the ability to comprehend symptoms and factors impacting their manifestation, resulting in improved confidence and autonomy in symptom management.
Taking Control through Coping: Transition the responsibility for overall well-being from healthcare professionals to the individual, fostering a sense of personal agency.
Rediscover Life's Engagements: Encourage gradual reintegration into daily activities, easing movement apprehension, and enhancing the perception of control.
Reclaiming a Fulfilling Life while Actively Navigating FND's Challenges.
Key Features
-
Is there any financial support available?Yes, on a limited basis. We have partnered with several non-profit organizations who may be able to support you on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out to us to obtain more information.
-
What is the typical group size?The group size will be anywhere between 6 and 8 people. We try to make sure that all the participants have similar presentations to ensure everyone is able to benefit from this program.
-
Does my health insurance cover the cost of this program?The program is meant to promote self-management techniques for people with Parkinson’s disease. Thus, it won't be reimbursable by any insurance company.
-
What is the format of the program?The program is delivered in a virtual format, allowing for easy access to patients regardless of their location.
-
Who is eligible for the program?The program is designed for individuals with Parkinsons and are seeing some of the issues related with Parkinsons. Feel free to connect with us to see if this is a suitable program for your underlying conditions.
-
What is the format of the program?The program is delivered in a virtual format, allowing for easy access to patients regardless of their location from the comfort of their home.
-
Is there any financial support available?This program is provided free of cost to all the Hawaii residents. This program is supported by a community grant from the Parkinson's Foundation.
-
Who is eligible for the program?The program is designed for individuals with Parkinsons and are seeing some of the issues related with Parkinsons. Feel free to connect with us to see if this is a suitable program for your underlying conditions. This particular program is available to all the Hawaii residents.
-
Is there any financial support available?Yes, on a limited basis. We have partnered with several non-profit organizations who may be able to support you on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out to us to obtain more information.
-
Does my health insurance cover the cost of this program?This program is a fee-for-service program and is not covered by insurance. However, we can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance provider for potential reimbursement.
-
What kind of support is available during the program?You will have access to a range of support and resources during the program, including bi-weekly 1:1 check-ins with your clinician, personalized treatment plans, educational content, and access to resources for recommended exercises and self-management techniques.
-
Who is eligible for the program?Our program is designed for individuals who are experiencing symptoms related to cervical dystonia, including abnormal movements and postures of the head and neck, functional and non-motor changes that limit engagement in daily activities and decrease function. The program is personalized and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual. It is suitable for individuals of all ages and levels of function.
-
What is the format of the program?The program is delivered in a virtual format, allowing for easy access to patients regardless of their location from the comfort of their home.
-
What is the best way to communicate with my therapist between treatments?Clients are encouraged to communicate with the clinician between the appointments by email. We also recommend clients keep track of improvement in their conditions on a week-by-week basis. Appropriate tools will be provided that can be used to communicate specific concerns with the clinician.
-
What can I expect in my Personal Therapy Journey?Our mission is to provide you with whole person-centric care. It will start with understanding your underlying conditions, ongoing treatment plans followed by multi-system assessment and goals setting. We will also provide self-management tools (or resources on how to get it) and techniques, as well as recommendations for continued community-based exercise. You will also have easy communication with the Clinician between the sessions.
-
How much does a typical session cost with BeyondRehab clinician?The cost depends on your specific program needs and frequency. We highly value your individual needs and will meet with you to develop an individualized program and provide you cost structure before the start of the program.
-
Do I need a prescription (referral) to see a clinician with BeyondRehab?No, you will not need a referral for our specialized 1:1 care or group care programs.
-
Can I self-claim for these specialized 1:1 Care or Group Programs from my Insurance company?This depends on the insurance you have, but YES, most patients can get some reimbursement for their treatments. You should be able to print claim forms off your insurance company’s website and send them in with the needed receipts and treatment codes (CPT codes and ICD 10 codes- also known as the Superbill) that will be provided to you upon request. The amount of reimbursement is completely dependent on your insurance plan. If you call your insurance company to inquire, you should ask about reimbursement for “out-of-network Physical Therapy” expenses. You may also use several providers who can help you in submitting these superbills such as: www.reimbursify.com www.thesuperbill.com *Changes in many health insurance plans and deductibles have made it Cheaper to Not use your insurance for some services (like PT) if you have high PT co-pays or a high deductible.
-
Do you accept Private Insurance?We are a fee-for-service clinic that is not in-network with any private insurance provider. Upon request, a Superbill can be provided that include the necessary codes to send self-claims to your insurance company.
-
Do you accept Medicare for PT services?The US government has specific laws that control where Medicare beneficiaries can spend their healthcare dollars and persuade healthcare providers to enroll in their system. Because we are a non-participating Medicare Provider, we can only accept Medicare beneficiaries as patients when the patient does not want Medicare billed for any PT services. This request to not involve Medicare in payment must be made up front by the patient and be made of the patient’s own free will.
-
How do I Pay?Patients pay in full at the time of service and are provided with a receipt with the necessary codes/info to send in self-claims to insurance if they so choose. We accept all major credit/debit cards, bank transfers and HSA*. *HSA can be used to pay for most of the services.
-
Is there any financial support available?Yes, on a limited basis. We have tied up with several non-profit organizations who are willing to support the wellness needs of PD community. Please reach out to us for more details.
-
Does my health insurance cover the cost of wellness consultation?The wellness services at BeyondRehab are meant to promote general fitness and health in people with Parkinson’s disease. Our wellness services are not medical visits, which means that health insurance does not cover the cost of a wellness assessment.
-
What should I have nearby for an online wellness consultation for Parkinson's disease?Please have a water bottle, sturdy chair, and yoga mat nearby if you have one.
-
What should I wear for an online wellness consultation for Parkinson's disease?Please wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe exercise or walking shoes.
-
What comprises an online wellness consultation for Parkinson's disease?During an online wellness consultation for Parkinson's disease, we will review your health history, daily fitness routine, and discuss your goals to optimize your lifestyle. There will be a detailed Parkinson-specific movement assessment to evaluate your muscle strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, and coordination. Based on the assessment, we will create a personalized exercise plan tailored to your fitness level and resources. You will receive written instructions of the recommended exercise routine, ways to track your fitness, and other Parkinson-specific exercise resources.
-
What is the difference between a wellness-based exercise consultation and physical therapy?Our wellness visits are designed to help people increase and maintain physical fitness and wellbeing, and all wellness clients will receive a basic health screening along with recommendations for targeted exercises to help you improve your flexibility, strength, cardiovascular fitness, and how to stick with your new exercise program.