Black and Blue Ribbons – a Column by Karen Del Vecchio

$massage, 2020, finger, fracture, awareness, sign, surge capacity, tension$

An avid equestrian and educator, Karen has been a columnist at BioNews — the publisher of this site — since 2019. She was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in 2009 after years of searching for a diagnosis that explained her symptoms. 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.

April 13, 2021April 8, 2021

Are My Unique Massage Reactions Related to EDS?

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

I know I write frequently about my massages, but that’s because they are the only treatment available to me, and they keep my pain level under control. This is one ... Read more

April 6, 2021April 2, 2021

Reducing My Pain Allows Me to Break Through Chronic Fatigue

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

After almost six weeks of being unable to get a massage because my therapist was injured, I finally got back in last week. I really needed it, as I’ve been ... Read more

March 30, 2021March 26, 2021

My Compensatory Pain Can Escalate Quickly With EDS

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

I haven’t been sleeping restfully this week. I’ve been doing that whole wake-up-and-roll-back-over thing seemingly a dozen times a night. I’ve been dealing with a pain flare since I got ... Read more

March 23, 2021March 19, 2021

Traditional Orthodontic Retainers Are Insufficient, Thanks to My EDS

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

Last week, I went to the dentist for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. I had my regular cleaning just before everything shut down last year, and ... Read more

March 16, 2021March 11, 2021

Sunlight Helps to Ease My Stress and Anxiety

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

Throughout the past week, the weather has been gorgeous. After weeks of seemingly endless rain, terrible mud that’s taken a real toll on me physically, and generally depressing weather, it’s ... Read more

March 9, 2021March 5, 2021

To Reduce Anxiety, I Remind Myself That Pain and Stress Are Related

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

This week has been busy. After all the rain we’ve had in the mid-Atlantic region recently, the ground is soaking wet, but we’ve finally had a few days in a ... Read more

March 2, 2021February 25, 2021

5 Small Steps That Have Made My Busy Weeks Easier

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

This school year has been unique, to say the least. As a high school teacher and college counselor, I’ve been lucky to work at an institution that has made an ... Read more

February 23, 2021February 19, 2021

Staying Warm Is Critical for Maintaining Limber Muscles

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

Is it spring yet? Like for many people in the U.S., the weather in Virginia has been less than stellar lately. We’ve had record-breaking rainfall, and while I’m thankful we’ve ... Read more

February 16, 2021February 12, 2021

A Knee Pillow Provides Me With Pain Relief While Sleeping

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

Over the years, the position in which I’m most comfortable sleeping at night has changed. For most of my life, I could only sleep on my stomach. After I was ... Read more

February 9, 2021February 5, 2021

Massage Therapy Helps Manage My Pain, but Insurance Won’t Cover It

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

I’m so lucky to be able to have massage therapy every other week. While I wasn’t diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) until I was 22 and didn’t start regular massages ... Read more