Country star Lisa McHugh diagnosed with neurological disorder after leg paralysis

Irish country music star Lisa McHugh has revealed she has been diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), a complex neurological condition, after suddenly losing the use of her legs during a recent hospital stay.

The 36-year-old singer shared the news following what she described as “an incredibly scary and difficult couple of weeks” in hospital.

She was admitted to South West Acute Hospital after experiencing a severe headache and facial pain, which quickly escalated to more serious neurological symptoms.

During her stay, Lisa underwent a series of tests, including CT scans, MRIs, X-rays, blood tests, and a lumbar puncture, before being diagnosed with FND.

The disorder, which has no cure, affects how the brain and nervous system communicate, often leading to symptoms such as paralysis, seizures, limb weakness, spasms, and mobility issues. In addition to FND, Lisa also has Trigeminal Neuralgia, a chronic nerve pain disorder she was diagnosed with earlier this year.

“I went from walking into hospital to completely losing function in both legs,” she said in a statement shared to Instagram. “I now rely on a Zimmer frame to walk again. It’s a lot to process.

“I guess the stress and trauma of everything we’ve gone through finally caught up with me and my body. It’s now physically forced me to stop and heal.”

The country star expressed her deep gratitude to the doctors, specialists, and staff at South West Acute Hospital for their “first-class care,” and announced she will be stepping away from the spotlight for the time being to focus on her recovery and her family.

“I’ll be soaking up this time with my beautiful family and being grateful for every single day,” she said. “Your prayers mean the world to me.”