MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS


A DIAGNOSIS OF FND ENDS FEELINGS OF ISOLATION


By sharing their experience Rich and Monty hope to raise awareness of the condition and give hope to anyone suffering from FND, letting them know they are not alone


Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a network disorder within the brain that presents a varied and often seemingly unrelated wide range of neurological symptoms, including but not limited to, poor cognition, pain, walking difficulties, tremors, migraines, seizures, limb weakness, paralysis and many more. The symptoms are often severe, disabling and life changing for all.


Unlike other neurological degenerative diseases, FND is not caused by ‘wiring’ problems within the brain, which remain intact, but rather it is the control of the body that has gone awry. This is something that is proven with a simple test named, Hoover’s sign for functional weakness, which will reveal that an individual unable to control a particular limb with any great strength, finds a return of control when the brain is distracted with the task of moving an alternate limb - strength returns to the ‘problem’ limb thereby demonstrating that the issue is with nervous system control. Those diagnosed with FND often feel isolated and alone when they are inexplicably struck down by the invisible and disabling illness that is as distressing as it is debilitating. These feelings are not helped by the often long and arduous route a diagnosis can take, so it is not hard to imagine the sense of comfort and relief felt by Monty Kaushal, a then serving West Midlands officer, on hearing news that he was not alone on the West Mids force and a fellow West Mids officer, Rich Jacques, had too, an FND diagnosis. Rich Jacques and Monty Kaushal were diagnosed with FND after seeking advice on different medical issues, neither suspecting that something as limiting and debilitating as FND may be the resultant


16 | POLICE | OCTOBER | 2023


diagnosis, and despite their shared diagnosis of a rare condition, they have only recently been put in touch with one another.


It was a conversation between Monty Kaushal and his Fed Rep, Patrick McBreaty, in which Patrick made the connection between Monty’s symptoms and those of a fellow West Mids officer, Rich Jacques, and understood that they were suffering from the same condition. Rich Jacques was


diagnosed in 2018 after suffering two years of unexplained symptoms including brain fog and an unsteadiness on his feet. “I felt to all intents and purposes like I presented as someone who was obviously drunk. I’ve been in the force


Rich London


I’ve been in the force for 25 years but suddenly found I had to think about everything I did - I had to concentrate on the most basic of tasks.”


for 25 years but suddenly found I had to think about everything I did - I had to concentrate on the most basic of tasks. “The illness has driven me bonkers, it


has totally changed my life. I can’t quite begin to explain how it impacts you. I’m almost role-less at work as its proven difficult for the force to find a suitable


“I felt to all intents and purposes like I presented as someone who was obviously drunk.


place for me. They are very supportive but its hard when symptoms are so random and inexplicable to plan anything concrete – it’s like a merry-go-round waiting for answers so there is only so much the force can do.”


Unfortunately for both Rich and his colleague Monty, treatment for FND varies dramatically dependant on where


in the country you live. Rich notes, “The Midlands is a particularly baron part of the country when it comes to FND treatments and understanding, which contributes to the suffering for those afflicted and the longevity of symptoms.” What both Monty and Rich testify


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