When EDS stiffness and soreness strike, I think of better days ahead
These types of days happen often, sometimes out of nowhere
Sometimes the soreness I experience in my body seems to come out of nowhere. I’ll be fine one day and then bam, I’ll wake up the next morning feeling superstiff and awkward for no apparent reason.
The other night, I went to bed tired after a long and busy day, but I hadn’t done anything I thought I’d regret the next day. When I woke up, though, I felt as if every muscle in my back was sore, stiff, and tight. When I leaned over to feed my cats, my hips protested. I knew it was going to be another fun day with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS).
The best thing I can do in these situations is to get moving. While being stiff makes me want to hang out on the couch, I know that’ll only make it worse. My best bet is to move as best I can and hope my body will loosen up along the way. For whatever reason, my EDS tends to do better with movement.
So I took my creaky self to get dressed, wash my face, and feed the dogs before going outside to take care of the horses. Moving definitely helped, and by the time I finished morning chores, I wasn’t so much stiff as I was sore.
Recovering by degrees
Throughout the day, I did my best at work to alternate between sitting in a desk chair with a heating pad and using my standing desk. I made sure to get up and walk the halls of the school where I work, so I wasn’t sitting too long.
By the end of the day, I was exhausted. While I had errands to run and things to do, I decided my week would be better if I just went home and rested. Hopefully, I’d get a good night’s sleep and feel better the next day.
The chronic fatigue from EDS is a challenge by itself, but being sore tends to make me more tired than usual.
Luckily, I had leftovers, so after getting home and taking care of all the animals, I ate dinner, changed into pajamas, and settled down on the couch. I turned on my Christmas tree lights and my new LED fireplace (an early Christmas gift from my parents) and settled in to enjoy the ambience and cuddle with my dogs. Then I turned on a silly holiday movie while I caught up on a few work emails. When that was finished, I went to bed before 9 p.m., read a book for a bit, and went to sleep.
I was still stiff the next morning, but it was definitely better than the day before, so I pushed on and started my routine again. This time, I loosened up more quickly, and by the end of the day, I wasn’t that tired. The day after that, I felt even better.
Sometimes managing EDS can feel like the movie “Groundhog Day,” as I experience the same things over and over. While that can be frustrating, I try to remember that fortunately, better days follow the tough ones. When the going gets tough, curling up with the dogs in front of the tree is always a good dose of positive medicine!
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.
About the Author
Yvonne
I thought I had written this article myself! Cats, dogs, horses - my daughters are grown so the animals are what keep me moving. I'll be 63 in a couple weeks and know how easy the fatigue could keep me down. And some days it does. Thank you for sharing your struggles and solutions. I have vEDS with hVEDS and kEDS. I know others have it much worse than I, so I try to not complain. ~Yvonne
Carolyn Adams Monaco
Thank you Karen. I always--always--appreciate your posts. We share many things in common, including riding and writing. Carry on there! Happy holidays. -C
Mischa Brown
I feel the same way..l must move gently to keep moving.
Tyra Maggi
Karen thank you for your story it sounds exactly like mine instead of horses I have children at the daycare where I work and we run around the playground and do preschool yoga and morning exercises
Susan Baldasano LMFT
Yes....... I used to be able to handle things better with EDS.I had Prolo therapy for years with injuries. But then 4 years ago ended up deathly sick with Covid. It physically crippled me. The pain and soreness and stiffness is much, much worse and very hard to live with at times. But I do exactly what you do each day and take one moment at a time. I am just thankful I can work part-time since coming back from Covid. Before I worked full time. I am a counselor so I set my own schedule and hours which is great for EDS.
Thank you for sharing.
Susan Baldasano LMFT