Invisible Neurological Conditions

The aim of this Blog is to share some thoughts about all things Neuro that I have gained in my many years working as a Physiotherapist.

The first topic I want to write about is Invisible Illnesses/Conditions — one that is close to my heart and a key element of what we do every day at TNC.

I write this post from the perspective of a Physiotherapist who works with many clients with Invisible Conditions, and as someone who has navigated the health system personally. From both perspectives, a condition that is not immediately obvious to others presents unique challenges day-to-day.

There are many different health conditions that could fall into this category — but for the purposes of this post — I will stick to my lane — neurological conditions. So many neuro symptoms are invisible — pain, sensory impairment, cognitive challenges just to name a few.

Clients will often come to see us at their initial assessment and be extremely nervous and guarded at the start of their assessment. Will we listen to their story? Will we dismiss their concerns and symptoms? Previous experiences may tell them to expect these things, and they don't want to give too much away until they know if they can trust you.

There is a point a few minutes into the assessment where you can usually see their shoulders drop and relax, and their answers become more fluid and comprehensive. This is the point at which you have built enough trust with them that they feel safe to share their story. Safe that they will not be judged for how they explain things, safe that the person listening is familiar with their condition, and safe that they can communicate what their expectations and hopes for the appointment are.

How do we build this trust? It starts with accessing a service that is familiar with your condition and its unique challenges. It also starts with the question I always begin with — "What are you hoping to get out of this appointment today?" That one question communicates to the client in front of you that you are listening, you respect their position, and are aiming to meet them where they are at in their journey.

Not to be forgotten is also the important question at the end of the appointment — "Do you have any questions?" No question is a silly question. Ever.

So what happens when you don't experience this? For some clients with Invisible Illnesses, it is a repeated cycle of feeling unheard, disbelieved and mismanaged. It is a hope they have had for months waiting for an appointment, that is then followed by the crushing disappointment of feeling lost in their journey and unsure of what to do next.

Those personal experiences continue to reinforce my commitment to an approach that supports our clients to access a service that genuinely meets their needs.

This is also an approach that I model to our team — we seek to understand our clients. That doesn't mean we don't guide them in their journey and sometimes challenge them at appropriate points, but it does mean they trust us when we work with them to make progress in the management of their condition.

We know that finding the right fit matters, and we're passionate about our values at TNC and how we deliver our services to the local community. We hope that for those who walk through our doors, our approach makes a real difference in their journey.