Another EDS flare is a real pain in the neck

Recently, I woke up with a slightly sore neck. It wasn’t anything major, but enough to make me notice. I hoped that moving around and stretching would help it go away.

At first, it seemed like I might be right; after doing my morning farm chores and a few things around the house, my neck felt mostly fine. But as the day wore on, the soreness returned and gradually intensified. By the next morning, my neck was tight and stiff, causing a pounding headache.

My right shoulder has sustained significant damage from an old injury I suffered as a teenager. Before my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) diagnosis at age 22, I played sports like any other suburban kid. During one soccer game, an opponent tripped me from behind, sending me flying through the air. I did a half somersault and landed on the back of my right shoulder, breaking my collarbone and damaging most of the connective tissue there. Because of my EDS, it’s been a source of trouble ever since.

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Since that injury, my trapezius muscle has caused me the most trouble. It’s closely connected to the muscles in my neck, so when one becomes irritated, the whole area can flare up, leading to a major headache — literally and figuratively. That’s exactly what happened this time. Two days after sleeping awkwardly, my neck was so stiff and painful that my range of motion was limited and my head throbbed from the muscle tension.

With EDS, I’ve noticed that if one area becomes sore, nearby muscles and joints often get involved, making recovery much more difficult. Once a muscle starts to get inflamed, things can easily spiral out of control. I’m not sure if this is unique to EDS, but I suspect it might be, since my friends without EDS don’t seem to experience this as frequently.

While I’m accustomed to daily physical pain, headaches are especially hard for me to cope with. I’d much rather deal with an angry muscle or joint than a headache. I’m grateful to have regular massages scheduled every other week, and this time my massage therapist was able to relax my neck muscles — but it took over an hour.

It’s frustrating that massages — the only treatment I’ve found that truly helps — aren’t covered by insurance. On the bright side, I’m incredibly fortunate to have a phenomenal and affordable therapist and to fit regular sessions into my monthly budget. After dealing with issues in my ribs and core muscles these past few months, I could really use a break from the nuances of living with EDS. Realistically, I know that’s unlikely, but I’m still grateful to be feeling better and moving forward.

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.