Pain and Fibromyalgia

The following is far from all that can be said about pain and EDS and Fibromyalgia and co-occurring rheumatological diseases (arthritis and more). But at least these links are a start. I will keep trying to add more as I’m able. I will also state the while I’m not a doctor, I strongly suspect that Fibromyalgia is a condition easily induced in almost anyone after sufficient stress or trauma. (Not all with fibro will have an EDS or HSD – I don’t think.)

But I’m willing to bet autistic folks with EDS are especially prone to it, just as we are especially prone to trauma, both big and little types. But especially CPTSD. Just my unprofessional hunch. So I strongly suspect most with fibromyalgia to likely have a connective tissue disorder also as I mentioned long ago. The fibro section is toward the bottom. Updated September 9, 2023.

Pain and EDS

• The Association Between Hypermobility Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome and Other Rheumatologic Diseases 8 November 2021 EMJ Reviews
• Pain Management in Patients with Hypermobility Disorders: Frequently Missed Causes of Chronic Pain – Dr. Blustein 2017 via TCAPP
• The Physiologic Effects of Pain on the Endocrine System 2013 Tennant, MD
• Rhode Island Pain Center – Dr. Pradeep Chopra, EDS pain specialist
• Pain Management in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome – Pradeep Chopra, MD 2015 EDNF pdf
• Pain in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is Common, Severe and Associated With Functional Impairment Voormens, Knoop et al 2010 JPMS
• Fibromyalgia – an unrecognized Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Hypermobile Type? (in French) 2013
• Chronic pain in hypermobility syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hypermobility type): it is a challenge Shepherd, de Vries et al 2015 J of Pain
• EDS and Anesthetics via The Reluctant Contortionist 2015
• Local Anesthetic Failure in Joint Hypermobility Syndrome 2005 Hakim, Grahame
• Small fiber neuropathy is a common feature of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes 2016 Cazzato, Castori et al
• Joint Hypermobility and Joint Hypermobility Syndrome – Alan Pocinki MD 2010 (excellent sort of “cliff notes” to all the issues hypermobility can cause in a body even if the disease name and terminology have changed, the issues have not)
• The Princess in the Tower: Healing Resources for CRPS, Fibro and More… (blog)
• 21 Symptoms Kids With Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Had That Weren’t “Growing Pains” – 2018 The Mighty
• Your Right to Amend Medical Records via Dysautonomia Dispatch 2018
• Use of complementary therapies for chronic pain management for patients with reported Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders 2020 Demes, McNair and Taylor
• The Constellation of Chronic Low Back Pain and Other Subjective Symptoms: Does the View Differ from China? 2016 Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Ernest Volinn, Ph.D., Bangxiang Yang, M.D., Nan Chen, M.D., Jian Ying, Ph.D., Jing Lin, M.D., Xiaoming Sheng, PhD, and Yunxia Zuo, M.D., Ph.D.

Links to Fibromyalgia

• The Association Between Fibromyalgia, Hypermobility and Neurodivergence Extends to Families: Brief Report Pre-print March 2023 Clive Kelly, FRCP, MD
• Fibromyalgia presents with a straight neck on radiograph 2022 Physicians Weekly *
• Is there any link between joint hypermobility and mitral valve prolapse in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome? 2016 Kozanoglu, Benladayi et al Rheumatology
• Small fiber neuropathy is a common feature of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes 2016 Cazzato, Castori et al
• Skin ultrastructural similarities between Fibromyalgia and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome hypermobility type –  Hermanns-Le T and Pierard GE (2016)

* I hasten to note that apparently Atlanto-axial instability from any cause, including head and neck injury (e.g. whiplash) but also EDS can lend to or cause “Straight neck syndrome” as described here. Dec 2022