Country star Lisa McHugh reveals Functional Neurological Disorder diagnosis

Enniskillen-based country singer Lisa McHugh has been diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), a condition where the brain and body have trouble communicating with each other.

FND leads to neurological symptoms, such as movement problems, limb weakness, sensory issues, or seizures.

McHugh shared the news of her diagnosis via Instagram, following what the singer describes as "an incredibly scary and very difficult couple of weeks in hospital."

While there is no specific cause for the disorder, the Scottish-born artist believes that her health issues were triggered by stress and trauma. Last year, her baby daughter was hospitalised for 10 days after contracting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)—a virus that affects the breathing system of young children and elderly people.

In an interview with Hot Press from late 2022, the singer shared how motherhood changed her perspective on life: "Until you’re actually in that position, I don’t think you realise how much your entire life, and the entire way you look at life, changes."

 

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"I guess the stress and trauma of this last year and everything we’ve gone through has finally caught up with me and my body, and it’s now decided to make me physically stop, process, and heal from everything properly," reads her post.

Although there is no cure for FND, the symptoms are treatable by a multidisciplinary approach of lifestyle changes and various forms of therapy.

The Scottish-born artist also shared that she was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia earlier this year. It is a chronic pain disorder that affects the nerve responsible for sensation in the face and movements, such as biting and chewing.

"It’s quite a lot to wrap your head around. So I need to drastically adapt things in my life right now and for the future to reduce the severity of the symptoms in any future flare-ups," McHugh told fans.

To focus on her recovery, the singer explained that she would be taking some time off to "fully recover from this episode."