Functional neurology
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(Nothing in this article is true, or based upon any credible resources. Here is a real description of the sub-segment of multiple professions that you mock.) |
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| − | + | What is functional neurology?<br /> | |
| − | + | <br /> | |
| + | Functional neurology is a very specialized, multi-discipline type of health care that focuses on the function, integrity, and “connectivity” of the nervous system. A functional neurologist may be able to improve or arrest the progression of many conditions that a medical neurologist may manage, such as migraines, multiple sclerosis, movement disorders and other neurologically related conditions. Functional neurology is viewed as a health approach that emphasizes both the individual neuron and the collective nervous system, as being the source of the human expression and experience. Functional neurologists perform in-depth examinations, diagnostic testing, then apply PHYSICAL medicine (such as physio-therapeutics, occupational therapy, chiropractic, neuromuscular rehabilitation procedures, vestibular rehabilitation procedures, and cognitive rehabilitation) to generate measurable changes in the nervous system. They typically do not use medication or surgery to treat a patient’s symptoms. Instead, they focus on improving brain function. When the brain functions optimally it interprets, responds and adapts to the environment more effectively, leading to optimal neurological health for that individual. | ||
| + | Many disorders of the nervous are not as a result of damage to the brain. Said differently, not every neurological symptom that we express can be seen on MRI, CT Scan. These symptoms may be classified as “functional” disorders. One great example of such a disorder is ADHD and Autism. There is no evidence of physical damage to the nervous system of someone with either of these conditions, but there are clear neurological signs in both. When examining for functional problems, subtle symptoms can be detected long before the disease process is present. A great example of this is Parkinson’s Disease. Functional signs, based on current medical research, can present themselves decades before the person is officially diagnosed. | ||
| + | Functional neurologists are taught to identify and measure the signs which many people express when their nervous systems are functioning less then optimally, but are not yet pathological. They can catch the problem in the beginning stages and possibly prevent the condition from worsening into a disease. The current medical model does not have treatment methods for people that fall into this functional, but not yet diseased state. | ||
| + | A functional neurologist often treat individuals that are told that their diagnostic results from tests such as blood work and MRIs are “normal” because their results don’t fall into the pathological range, even though there are obvious functional issues. Many of these patients are told that they “will have to live with their symptoms”, so they seek a functional neurologist as a last (or more frequently their first) resort.<br /> | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | Who can be helped with functional neurology?<br /> | ||
| + | The beauty of functional neurology is that most people can benefit from the techniques we utilize. This includes the individual who is pain and symptom free looking to prevent problems or perform better, all the way to individuals that are severely symptomatic and have been diagnosed with a neurological condition. The following are just some of the common conditions that functional neurologists may co-manage and help: <br /> | ||
| − | + | • ADD/ADHD<br /> | |
| − | + | • Autism<br /> | |
| − | + | • Movement disorders<br /> | |
| − | + | • Tremors<br /> | |
| − | + | • Dysautonomia<br /> | |
| − | + | • Fibromyalgia<br /> | |
| − | + | • Balance Issues and Vertigo<br /> | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | • Post-concussive Syndromes<br /> | |
| − | + | • Headaches/ Migraines<br /> | |
| − | + | • People told that there is “nothing diagnostically wrong”<br /> | |
| − | |||
| − | + | How does functional neurology work?<br /> | |
| − | + | Functional neurology is based on two main principals of the nervous system:<br /> | |
| − | + | 1. The body expresses health when it can interpret and respond appropriately to its environment. It performs this task best when the communication between brain and body is intact. It also requires that the left and right hemispheres are in sync with each other, at a relatively appropriate rate. When they are not, it may result or contribute to a variety of symptoms such as those listed above. However, many times when this delicate balance is disturbed there are no major outward symptoms, only underlying “common” problems like GERD, headaches, pain, stiffness, difficulty with balance, common injuries, etc. It is also becoming apparent in recent literature that the state of the nervous system and the immune system of an individual are closely interconnected, and states of hemispheric imbalances can result in immune system dysfunction such as systemic inflammatory or autoimmune states.<br /> | |
| − | + | <br /> | |
| − | + | 2. Individual nerves that make up the brain and nervous system need three things to survive.<br /> | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ➢ Adequate levels of oxygen<br /> | |
| − | + | ➢ Adequate levels of fuel, in the form of glucose and substrate<br /> | |
| − | + | ➢ A constant source of stimulation from the environment, which will continually activate the neurons. This is similar to the “use it or lose it” principal. <br /> | |
| − | + | The investigation and determination of how well neurons are performing these three fundamental activities and how to alter these activities comprise the core clinical application of functional neurology. Mild alterations from optimum performance of the neuron may result in dysfunction of whole-body neurological and visceral disturbances.<br /> | |
| − | + | <br /> | |
| − | + | If any or all of these principals is disrupted, the body starts to breakdown faster than it can repair itself. This usually goes un-noticed at first and may not present itself for months or even years until the outward signs of failing health become present. Functional signs and symptoms almost always present themselves before diseases. If these are not addressed at the functional stage, the disease may follow. | |
| − | + | Regardless of which stage and individual is in, functional neurologists use techniques that treat the individual as a whole. | |
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Revision as of 18:48, 3 September 2014
What is functional neurology?
Functional neurology is a very specialized, multi-discipline type of health care that focuses on the function, integrity, and “connectivity” of the nervous system. A functional neurologist may be able to improve or arrest the progression of many conditions that a medical neurologist may manage, such as migraines, multiple sclerosis, movement disorders and other neurologically related conditions. Functional neurology is viewed as a health approach that emphasizes both the individual neuron and the collective nervous system, as being the source of the human expression and experience. Functional neurologists perform in-depth examinations, diagnostic testing, then apply PHYSICAL medicine (such as physio-therapeutics, occupational therapy, chiropractic, neuromuscular rehabilitation procedures, vestibular rehabilitation procedures, and cognitive rehabilitation) to generate measurable changes in the nervous system. They typically do not use medication or surgery to treat a patient’s symptoms. Instead, they focus on improving brain function. When the brain functions optimally it interprets, responds and adapts to the environment more effectively, leading to optimal neurological health for that individual.
Many disorders of the nervous are not as a result of damage to the brain. Said differently, not every neurological symptom that we express can be seen on MRI, CT Scan. These symptoms may be classified as “functional” disorders. One great example of such a disorder is ADHD and Autism. There is no evidence of physical damage to the nervous system of someone with either of these conditions, but there are clear neurological signs in both. When examining for functional problems, subtle symptoms can be detected long before the disease process is present. A great example of this is Parkinson’s Disease. Functional signs, based on current medical research, can present themselves decades before the person is officially diagnosed.
Functional neurologists are taught to identify and measure the signs which many people express when their nervous systems are functioning less then optimally, but are not yet pathological. They can catch the problem in the beginning stages and possibly prevent the condition from worsening into a disease. The current medical model does not have treatment methods for people that fall into this functional, but not yet diseased state.
A functional neurologist often treat individuals that are told that their diagnostic results from tests such as blood work and MRIs are “normal” because their results don’t fall into the pathological range, even though there are obvious functional issues. Many of these patients are told that they “will have to live with their symptoms”, so they seek a functional neurologist as a last (or more frequently their first) resort.
Who can be helped with functional neurology?
The beauty of functional neurology is that most people can benefit from the techniques we utilize. This includes the individual who is pain and symptom free looking to prevent problems or perform better, all the way to individuals that are severely symptomatic and have been diagnosed with a neurological condition. The following are just some of the common conditions that functional neurologists may co-manage and help:
• ADD/ADHD
• Autism
• Movement disorders
• Tremors
• Dysautonomia
• Fibromyalgia
• Balance Issues and Vertigo
• Post-concussive Syndromes
• Headaches/ Migraines
• People told that there is “nothing diagnostically wrong”
How does functional neurology work?
Functional neurology is based on two main principals of the nervous system:
1. The body expresses health when it can interpret and respond appropriately to its environment. It performs this task best when the communication between brain and body is intact. It also requires that the left and right hemispheres are in sync with each other, at a relatively appropriate rate. When they are not, it may result or contribute to a variety of symptoms such as those listed above. However, many times when this delicate balance is disturbed there are no major outward symptoms, only underlying “common” problems like GERD, headaches, pain, stiffness, difficulty with balance, common injuries, etc. It is also becoming apparent in recent literature that the state of the nervous system and the immune system of an individual are closely interconnected, and states of hemispheric imbalances can result in immune system dysfunction such as systemic inflammatory or autoimmune states.
2. Individual nerves that make up the brain and nervous system need three things to survive.
➢ Adequate levels of oxygen
➢ Adequate levels of fuel, in the form of glucose and substrate
➢ A constant source of stimulation from the environment, which will continually activate the neurons. This is similar to the “use it or lose it” principal.
The investigation and determination of how well neurons are performing these three fundamental activities and how to alter these activities comprise the core clinical application of functional neurology. Mild alterations from optimum performance of the neuron may result in dysfunction of whole-body neurological and visceral disturbances.
If any or all of these principals is disrupted, the body starts to breakdown faster than it can repair itself. This usually goes un-noticed at first and may not present itself for months or even years until the outward signs of failing health become present. Functional signs and symptoms almost always present themselves before diseases. If these are not addressed at the functional stage, the disease may follow.
Regardless of which stage and individual is in, functional neurologists use techniques that treat the individual as a whole.