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.Historically, my pain-related issues and injuries have been more heavily located on my right side. My right ankle, hip, shoulder, and hand all have some sort of significant issue related to or made worse by Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). My right ankle is permanently damaged from me stubbornly continuing to…
I swear, every year that I’m a teacher, it seems like the school days go by faster. It’s hard to believe students have been back in school for more than three weeks! When I realized last week that I had the beginnings of plantar fasciitis — an inflammation in…
With the second week of school behind me, I’m starting to get back into the rhythm of my teaching routine. I recently noticed that, on some days, the bottom of my foot near my heel is sore. This has happened to me in the past, and it usually goes away…
After getting bodywork last week, my shoulder is thankfully improving after a recent pain flare. While I still don’t know what I did to aggravate it, I’m glad to be on the path to better comfort. I always have to be careful to take it slowly for a while…
Last week, I experienced some significant shoulder soreness. While that’s common in patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, I also badly injured it when I was a teenager, and it hasn’t been quite right since. After my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome diagnosis at age 22, I finally had some tools…
As a college counselor and teacher at a local high school, I’m glad I return to work a week earlier than the rest of the staff after summer break. My first week back is still on summer hours, so we work Monday through Thursday. It’s quieter, so it’s a…
I’m not sure how it’s August already. I’m a teacher and feel like school just finished for the year, and now this week I head back! This summer has been odd, as my horse Cherry has been off due to injury, the heat has been intense, and I’ve been…
I recently was able to escape the Southern heat for a few days and visit my grandparents and extended family up in New England. My dad has six siblings, and each summer and Christmas, everyone does their best to gather from all over the world to spend time together.
To remove any doubt that summer is in full force, all you have to do is step outside. Like elsewhere across the country, temperatures here in Virginia have soared into the upper 90s, with the heat index climbing over 100 degrees at times. Thanks to living on…
As some of you may know, outside of being a high school teacher and college counselor, my life primarily revolves around animals. I live on a small, private farm where I help with chores and maintenance. That part-time job, this column, and my full-time teaching job allow me to have…
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