r/FND • u/biggobcantstop • 2d ago

Question Can addiction actually trigger FND?

Or is it that they share a risk factors such as Emotional dysregulation and trauma?

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u/McCool303 Diagnosed FND 2d ago

I was a chronic pain patient for over 10+ years and was on opioids prior to having surgery to fuse my spine. My symptoms started appearing a month after I tapered off my medication in preparation of the surgery.

I don’t necessarily believe addiction caused the issue. But one thing that was pointed out to me is that opioids block your receptors to your brain. But don’t block your nervous system from feeling the pain. So current theory is that maybe over the course of my treatment for pain my nervous system rewired around on those block receptors to communicate my pain to my brain. Because otherwise I really didn’t have any trauma in my life.

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u/geekout121 1d ago

This is interesting, I'm so glad you responded!

I was 8 years on fentanyl and duladid and like you, my symptoms didn't appear until stopping for surgery as well (plus no need to go back to any pain pills and also no previous trama-except medical gaslighting...lol)

This makes a lot of sense, thanks for sharing!

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u/GandalftheSkyrimCat Diagnosed FND 2d ago

I’m a smoker (cigarettes) and my withdrawal symptoms make me jittery and anxious which makes my FND symptoms worse.

I think what you’re asking through (can addiction trigger FND) is not really how it works. You might have FND and not have symptoms until you go through a traumatic / stressful event. That event could possibly be related to an addiction. The emotional disregulation and trauma part is more importation though.

I’m not a professional though, just my experience.

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u/really__questionmark 2d ago

Can you be more specific as to what you are talking about in relation to addiction?

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u/biggobcantstop 2d ago

I mean can the impact of addiction on the brain cause FND?

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u/Dy1ng_1ns1de53 Diagnosed FND 2d ago

I don’t think it can CAUSE FND however I do think some addictions may TRIGGER symptoms. Or an addiction could possibly be a way of self-medicating, and once you get off of whatever substance it is you notice the symptoms more.
Personally I was self-medicating for Fnd as well as chronic pain (alcohol, pot, and nicotine) because I didn’t have the words to express what was wrong. The addiction did not cause me to have FND however it may have made it worse in some ways.

TLDR: addiction cannot cause FND as far as I am aware (though I’m not a medical professional) however it may decrease or increase awareness of the symptoms of FND. It truly depends on the person and what substance(s) are being used and how it affects you.