Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio

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How I reduce muscle stiffness and pain while at work

Heading back to work at school at the end of summer is always an adjustment. As a college counselor and high school history teacher, having summers off is great, but it means quickly getting back into the swing of things. I try to make the most of my time during…

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In managing one EDS problem, I accidentally created another

A few weeks ago, while walking through the barn at the farm where I live, I felt a twinge in the bottom of my right foot. I ignored it, figuring I’d probably just taken a funny step. But as the day went on, it bothered me more and more,…

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Looking back at teenage life before my EDS diagnosis

It’s hard to believe that I head back to work soon as a college counselor and history teacher in high school. I enjoy my job, so while it’s great to have time off to recharge over the summer, it’s also fun to go back to school. It reminds me…

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Discovering a new way to help manage my food sensitivities

I was able to take a few days recently to visit my extended family. It’s always nice to see my aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents, and while we don’t typically plan any big outings, we always enjoy spending low-key time together. Many of us have food allergies or other…

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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…

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What I learned from my first time meeting another EDS patient

I’ve mentioned before that I’ve never met anyone else with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) in person. That’s one of the reasons I’ve enjoyed writing this column: It’s allowed me to connect with others managing similar health issues. Recently, however, I met someone else with EDS! My brother and his family…

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Lessons I learned from my teenage self about living with EDS

After reading my column last week about a grueling high school soccer match that ended with me collapsing in exhaustion, unable to breathe, someone asked if my coaches had pushed me too hard. The answer is no. Actually, if there was something to blame for my teenage decision to…

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Understanding why my symptoms of EDS included breathing problems

I remember wishing the final whistle would just blow. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could force myself to keep running while being unable to breathe. I’d already run to the sideline for my albuterol inhaler several times, but I was still struggling. It was a big game, the…

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Is an old hip injury contributing to my current pain?

Last week’s column about my hip pain got me thinking. I badly injured my right hip when I was 16 or 17 years old, before my diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). I’m not sure if I had hip pain prior to that, but I’ve had issues with it…

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Identifying the source of my pain helps me resolve compensations

Sometimes I’m baffled by my body’s connections and the way it compensates for issues related to my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Recently, I’ve been experiencing a sharp pain in the muscles along the front and sides of the bottom of my rib cage. I couldn’t think of anything I’d done…