Dealing with EDS

Blue lines that connect

PT Elan Schneider on Neuroplasticity and New Approaches to Treat Chronic Pain

Widespread chronic pain is one of the main symptoms for people with any type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and can be debilitating. At the same time, many common treatment options, particularly with pain medication, lead to side effects. But what if we could reduce our pain without any negative consequences? Chronic Pain Partners’ Editor-in-Chief Karina Sturm […]

Two boys sitting in the grass reading a book.

Book Review: The Bendy Twisty Zebra by Kimby Maxson

Move over, Dr. Seuss! Make room on children’s bookshelves for The Bendy Twisty Zebra written by Kimby Maxson and illustration by Ron Houchens. With colorful characters, catchy rhymes, and a heart-felt message, The Bendy Twisty Zebra brings to mind some of Dr. Seuss’s famous books. While children of all ages (even grown-up children!) can enjoy […]

An illustration of several surgeons with masks and hats.

Surgery Prep: Meeting Your EDS Hospital Stay Needs

How to be prepared & stay safe when having a hospital stay with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) This article will give an overview of ways you can prepare for a hospital stay when you have EDS, as well as tips on surgical prep and your own patient advocacy. People with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) often need surgery […]

Dr. Lilian Holm on EDS & Physical Therapy. Dr. Lilian Holm, a woman with shoulder-long brown hair and bangs, is sitting in her office, which is a large room with a turquoise wall behind her and an open fireplace. She sits on a beige chair and wears a black shirt and a delicate golden necklace. In the background is a treatment bench in the foreground two red flowers.

EDSed Episode 2: Dr. Lilian Holm on Physical Therapy & EDS

EDSed is our new series of full-length interviews with international EDS experts. These educational interview series with journalistic (news) quality is complementary to our webinar recordings and another free resource we provide for our community. All films are produced by journalist and We Are Visible filmmaker Karina Sturm and sponsored by Chronic Pain Partners. You can […]

An image of a beach at sunset in the background with a quote int he foreground: Be kind and loving to yourself. Wrap yourself in a blanket of love. You deserve it!

Wrap Yourself in a Blanket of Love: How to Foster Self-Compassion

Self-compassion (and self-care) are sometimes misunderstood as selfish, self-cherishing, or self-indulgent, but this couldn’t be further from the truth, especially when you live with chronic illness or chronic pain such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). Self-compassion is the act of offering ourselves the same care and compassion we would give to others. It is simply the […]

Black and white photo of a woman with long blonde hair and a white dress. In the background are illustrations of different clocks.

Surviving the Rollercoaster of EDS and Chronic Fatigue: Tips and Tricks for Managing the Boom-and-Bust Cycle

When you’re doing okay, it can feel like a high, a return to normalcy even. It is hard to figure out the level of functioning that is going to allow you to get things done without making your symptoms send you into another flare. It’s a tiny little fine line between doing too much and […]

Two legs with red gym shoes close to the water.

The Six Steps of Proper Pacing

Pacing techniques, such as the “spoon theory,” can be incredibly helpful for managing energy levels and preventing overexertion. This involves breaking activities into smaller chunks and taking breaks as needed to allow for rest and recovery. Sounds easy enough, right? UGH- NO!! You kinda need to plan to do this successfully to know which spoons […]

A black woman with long black hair. She is looking to the side and has beautiful brown eyes and silver earrings.

Advocate Nthabeleng Ramoeli on her EDS journey, EDS care in Lesotho, and why she established an NGO to help all rare disease patients

For our January newsletter, journalist Karina Sturm spoke with rare disease advocate Nthabeleng Ramoeli. Ramoeli was born in Lesotho, a country encircled by South Africa, and lives with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and many other comorbid conditions. The young woman relentlessly fights for improved access to health care for rare disease patients in her home country and […]