Long stretches of driving trigger an EDS pain flare-up

As I drove along the highway, I could feel my muscles getting tighter. Despite my best efforts to avoid setting off a pain flare, I knew I probably wouldn’t be able to stop this one.

While I’ve developed a number of strategies over the years to manage my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) while traveling, such as taking breaks, using pain meds when necessary, and getting plenty of sleep, I’ve been much more affected by long car rides since a bad fall last September. I’m still trying to figure out how to best manage car travel while I heal.

When I fell off my horse, I badly broke and dislocated a rib, and the healing process has been long and involved, to say the least. Although EDS doesn’t affect bone healing, pain and instability resulted in extreme muscle tightness in my torso as my body attempted to stabilize my ribs by tightening the surrounding muscles.

I’ve been making progress with traditional physical therapy, massage, and now fascial counterstrain. There’s no doubt that I’m doing much better than I was even a month or two ago.

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April 11, 2023 Columns by Karen Del Vecchio

My EDS pain flare-ups feel different in different situations

But while driving for an extended period, my healed rib starts to ache, and my core muscles get sore. One day in the car probably wouldn’t be an issue, but spending three to four hours in the car every day for several days in a row proved too much. Driving for hours can be hard on anyone, but those of us with EDS tend to feel it more. Add an injury to the mix, and the pain multiplies.

As my hurt increased, I could feel my vagus nerve getting irritated, too. I knew I needed to minimize my discomfort as much as possible.

Although I couldn’t change how much I needed to drive, I could decide what to do once I reached my destination. I’ve learned that one of the best things I can do, even when I’m sore, is to get moving. One of my trips was for a conference held at a hotel with beautiful walking paths and places to explore. I made a point of exploring the grounds and stretching my body. That helped, along with some over-the-counter pain medicine to reduce inflammation.

While none of those strategies stopped my pain flare entirely, they’ve at least kept it at a manageable level. Sometimes, keeping my pain in check until I can get bodywork done is all I can do. Now, fascial counterstrain is another tool I can use to manage flare-ups.

Although there’s no magic bullet to stop EDS pain, I’ve found some ways to manage it. It’s not perfect, but having a plan and knowing my options make it easier to get through the tough days.

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.