I know my EDS, so advocating for myself after my injury was the right call
Pushing for PT, despite doctors' pushback, has helped me on the path to recovery
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It’s been eight months since a fall off my horse led to a badly broken rib and plenty of associated muscle and soft tissue damage. While I’ve made huge strides in my recovery, there are still a few things that aren’t quite back to normal — or at least my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) version of it!
I was told at first that I didn’t need physical therapy (PT) for a broken rib, but I argued that I’d need it for everything else affected by it, largely because of my EDS. I could tell there was more going on than just broken bones, but it was hard to get the doctors to see that. Eventually, though, they referred me for PT.
I made a lot of progress with PT, and my pain certainly diminished a great deal, but it became clear that my core muscles were hyper-irritable and my ribs hurt in places as well, most likely from hairline fractures or cartilage damage. My pain decreased and my range of motion improved, but I knew there was still a missing piece to my recovery. That’s what led me to reach out to my former PT, a Pilates instructor, who suggested I try fascial counterstrain (FCS).
A way to go before the healing’s done
FCS has been absolutely amazing, both in my recovery from my rib injury and other EDS-related issues. I’ve learned that my irritated vagus nerve has been affecting not just my full-body inflammation, but also my anxiety. Being able to settle that down has helped me feel much better.
But there’s no silver bullet to any injury, especially with the complications of healing with EDS, so there’s still progress to make.
I’m still unable to tolerate pressure or compression around my rib cage. It’s not quite pain, but it’s very uncomfortable. Even now, eight months after my injury, it’s particularly bad when I put on a sports bra or my riding safety vest. I can’t stand it for more than a few minutes at a time.
When I told my FCS therapist about this, he said he’s seen many people struggle with broken ribs — whether they have EDS or not — often because it’s not just the ribs that are damaged, but the result of pulled muscles and ligaments or damaged cartilage that don’t show up on an X-ray.
Hearing that was very validating because that’s absolutely how I’ve felt. I knew I wasn’t crazy, and I pushed to get the care I knew I needed. Part of the reason I was so aware is because I do have EDS, and I know my body well. If I didn’t, I’m not sure I would have realized what was going on and pushed to get the care I needed.
I’m still making progress, and as I know full well, EDS can prolong recovery. But it was also strangely comforting to know that this type of long-term recovery from a rib injury doesn’t just happen to those of us with EDS, but others as well. Sometimes, in a backward way, it’s nice to know you have company!
Note: Ehlers-Danlos News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Ehlers-Danlos News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Ehlers-Danlos.
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