HealthInfo Aoraki South Canterbury
Motor neurone disease
Hemonga iaia
Motor neurones are the nerves in your brain and spinal cord that carry messages to your muscles to get them to move. In motor neurone disease (MND) these nerves are destroyed. This leads to your muscles becoming weak.
MND comes on gradually. It usually starts with reduced strength in an arm or leg or with swallowing or speech difficulties. It may be quite hard to diagnose in the early months, as the symptoms may not be obvious. Over time, movement becomes more difficult, and the diagnosis becomes clearer. Eventually breathing can be affected.
Diagnosing MND
If you're getting new symptoms that could suggest a neurological condition like MND, visit your general practice team. Your general practice team will perform some tests and arrange any further tests or referrals that may be needed to diagnose MND or to find another cause. If MND looks likely, your general practice team is likely to send you to see a neurologist for a formal diagnosis.
Treating MND
Unfortunately, there is no cure for MND. But a lot can be done to maintain your quality of life. Motor Neurone Disease Association of New Zealand has a lot of information about the condition and where to get help.
If you're diagnosed with MND, your specialist is likely to put you in contact with the Motor Neurone Disease Service Support.
They can help you with adjusting to your diagnosis and accommodating changing needs as they arise. This might mean arranging home support, rehabilitation with a physiotherapist, disability aids or equipment for use in the home from an occupational therapist or support from a speech-language therapist for concerns about swallowing. The service aims to respond quickly to the needs of patients with MND. Your general practice team or specialist is also likely to continue to help you with medications to control symptoms as they arise.
If you're diagnosed with MND, it's important to start to think about the future. You can make decisions in advance, so you're prepared when the disease gets worse. Communication may become difficult at some point so make sure to talk about the important issues before that happens. See Advanced Care Planning (ACP) for more information.
HealthInfo recommends the following videos
- Motor Neurone Disease Association of New Zealand – Neil Ladyman talks about living with MND
Wellington father of three Neil Ladyman talks about his MND diagnosis and how he refuses to let the degenerative disease stop him from living life to the full. Included are his tips for keeping positive.
- MND Association – Understanding motor neurone disease
A short video about MND including personal stories.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Healthify He Puna Wairoa – Motor neurone disease
Information about MND.
- Motor Neurone Disease Association of New Zealand
The Motor Neurone Disease Association offers support and information to people diagnosed with motor neurone disease and their carers, whānau (families) and health professionals. The association offers information and support through trained fieldworkers. Understanding motor neurone disease gives an overview of the disease.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed November 2022.
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Review key: HIMND-38768
