Karen Del Vecchio,  —

An avid equestrian and educator based in Virginia, Karen Del Vecchio was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in 2009 after years searching for a diagnosis that explained her symptoms. Since her diagnosis at the Johns Hopkins Connective Tissues Disorder Clinic, she has worked to find ways to manage her symptoms while still maintaining an active lifestyle. Karen enjoys working with her students, riding and caring for her two horses, Cherry and Spotty, and connecting with others in the rare disease community through her writing.

Articles by Karen Del Vecchio

My EDS body is acting like it’s opposite day

I feel like my body’s done a flip-flop. Usually my right side causes me the most problems. I have a badly damaged shoulder, hip, finger, hand, and ankle, all on my right side. My left side is normally the “good” one, with only occasional flare-ups. In the…

Sometimes anti-inflammatories are my best option to manage pain

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with anti-inflammatories. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. For someone who daily manages chronic pain, courtesy of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), I’m surprisingly bad at it. Sometimes I don’t manage…