Scottish-Irish country singer Lisa McHugh has announced via Instagram recent news of her serious diagnosis. The Opry veteran has been diagnosed with a severe neurological disorder, or Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), which can include symptoms like paralysis or weakness in the limbs, sustained muscle contractions, and mobility issues.
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As she explained, FND "affects the way the brain and the nervous system work, leading to a range of neurological symptoms such as limb weakness, paralysis, seizures, walking difficulties, spasms, sensory issues, cognitive problems and more."
McHugh, 35, has spent the past several weeks in the hospital, undergoing CT scans, MRIs, X-rays, blood tests, and "every kind of test you could imagine." During her time seeking out a diagnosis, the singer said she has watched her health deteriorate from "a very bad headache and severe facial pain" to losing function in both of her legs.
"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."
It's Been a Stressful Year
Last July, Lisa welcomed her second child, Hallie, who spent 10 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) due to a health scare. Hallie had contracted Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in November, an infection that affects the respiratory tract. Lisa described the experience of being separated from her newborn daughter as "heartbreaking" in another Instagram post.
McHugh was also diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia earlier this year, which is a chronic pain condition that causes severe facial pain. This is often characterized by repeated attacks throughout the day, which can intensify over time.
McHugh attributed her diagnosis to a buildup of stress over the past year, and admitted that, "My body has now decided to make me physically stop, process and heal from everything properly."
"But rest assured, I will be cared for like a queen every single day until I fully recover from this episode," Lisa added to her post, thanking the hospital staff at South West Acute Hospital for their assistance in her recovery. "The care and first class treatment I've had since I arrived has been absolutely amazing and I am so thankful to all of you."
Photo by: Antony Jones/Getty Images for The Irish Post
