What if your symptoms weren’t isolated… but signals in a much larger system breakdown? In this wide-ranging solo Q&A, Dr. Linda Bluestein uncovers the hidden threads connecting uncontrolled pain before surgery, unexplained eye issues, MCAS, multiple chemical sensitivity, Alpha-gal syndrome, and even autism risk.

From the scar tissue no one warned you about to the medication that works—but doctors won’t prescribe—it’s all here. Dr. Bluestein shares eye-opening research on TILT (Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance), fragrance-triggered flares, and why standard pre-op care fails patients with connective tissue disorders.

And woven throughout it all? The heavy, frustrating stigma that people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders know too well—being dismissed, doubted, and disbelieved. This episode doesn’t just give answers. It reveals what questions you should have been asking all along.

Takeaways:

This one over-the-counter product might be behind your chronic eye issues—and no one’s talking about it.

Considerations and cautions for taking cromolyn

A “safe” eye ointment led to lasting damage—here’s why.

Doctors say no to pain meds before surgery… but do they know the full risk?

A tick bite and subsequent food allergy changes everything—even your shampoo.

Find the episode transcript here.

Reference Links:

EP 140 with Dr. Brayden P. Yellman: https://youtu.be/mMMM7gmyrbk

EP 127 with Dr. Emily Bohan: https://youtu.be/9ngUY9VPRcc

EP 125 with Dr. Satish Raj: https://youtu.be/2WuDkH1TDns

EP 120 with Wendy Wagner: https://youtu.be/YeRfTiGkDuA

EP 109 with Dr. Tina Wang: https://youtu.be/w6iGZzRa-Q0

EP 108 with Katie and Andrew Dettelbach: https://youtu.be/hu907Z4Ldk4

EP 92 with Dr. Lillian Holm: https://youtu.be/QR9PZoA2ku0

EP 83 with Jill Miller: https://youtu.be/e86nO9PlKfQ

EP 81 with Lisa Ralston: https://youtu.be/PKMcEUGcDWY

EP 75 with Dr. Patty Stott: https://youtu.be/C5cATkq1a_k

Check out Refresh Celluvisc Eye Gel, OcuSoft Lid Scrub and the book, Holistic Pain Relief as well as her other favorites at Dr. Bluestein’s Amazon Store

https://amzn.to/3RAjueJ

https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymd

Toxicant Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT) Tests

https://tiltresearch.org/self-assessment/

TILT Resources

https://tiltresearch.org/resources/

Assessing Chemical Intolerance in Parents Predicts the Risk of Autism and ADHD in Their Children - PubMed

Food Compatibility List

https://www.twoalphagals.com/

https://www.veganmed.org/

YouTube Playlist on Moving with EDS  and HSD

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX9StmpQKW30miVUD3DHWXjLq_Vs2VKrF&si=qU66cuujtCG_PH1f

Connect with YOUR Hypermobility Specialist, Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD at https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/.

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!

Use this affiliate link for Algonot to get an extra 5% off your entire order: https://algonot.com/coupon/bendbod/

Connect with the HypermobilityMD: 

YouTube: youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast 

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X: https://twitter.com/BluesteinLinda 

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Newsletter: https://hypermobilitymd.substack.com/

Shop my Amazon store https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymd

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Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links are commissionable, meaning I may earn commission from purchases made through links.

What if the diagnosis was just the beginning—and the root cause was hiding in plain sight? In this riveting episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein welcomes pediatrician and integrative medicine expert Dr. Pejman Katiraei, whose work with children struggling with autism, mold exposure, and mast cell activation reveals a shocking truth: many kids aren’t just neurodivergent—they have neuroinflammation.

Together, they peel back the layers on what’s really driving autistic behaviors, why some children can’t tolerate food, noise, or even hugs—and how mast cells and histamine might be behind it all. Dr. Katiraei shares remarkable stories of transformation, explains why traditional testing often fails, and reveals a controversial treatment that’s changing lives.

If your child is sensitive, reactive, or struggling to connect—and you’ve been told it’s just "behavioral"—this conversation might rewrite what you thought was possible.

Takeaways:

One child's refusal to eat broccoli held more answers than anyone expected.

Could colic be the first warning sign of central inflammation?

He couldn’t feel love—until one unlikely medication changed everything.

A house tested clean… but the child kept getting worse. Why?

Some diagnoses miss what’s burning beneath the surface.

Find the episode transcript here.

Reference Links:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18626069/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0941950014001936
The Dust Test
https://www.thedusttest.com/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/itraconazole-oral-route/description/drg-20071421

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149291813001823

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10932299/

Watch Ep 32 with Dr. Jessica Eccles: https://youtu.be/BmIFATctyzk

Watch Ep 47 with Dr. Jessica Eccles: https://youtu.be/nhsLDzLpUWE

Watch Ep 139 with Dr. Theoharides: https://youtu.be/u1pxvAzXh7M

Connect with YOUR Hypermobility Specialist, Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD at https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/.

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!

https://wholistickids.com/

https://www.wholisticminds.com/

https://pkatiraei.substack.com

https://www.youtube.com/@pkatiraei

https://www.instagram.com/wholistickids?igsh=MXNyd3I3NTc0aGIydw==

Use this affiliate link for Algonot to get an extra 5% off your entire order: https://algonot.com/coupon/bendbod/

FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links are commissionable, meaning I may earn commission from purchases made through links.

Connect with the HypermobilityMD:

YouTube: youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast 

Facebook: X: https://twitter.com/BluesteinLinda 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/ 

Newsletter: https://hypermobilitymd.substack.com/

Shop my Amazon store https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymd

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Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

What if your body’s collapse wasn’t burnout… but a system crash no test can catch? In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein welcomes Isabelle Ramirez Burnett, systems engineer, health coach, and founder of Renegade Research, to reveal the silent breakdowns behind ME/CFS, long COVID, and hypermobility-related illness.

Diagnosed with ME/CFS at just 7 years old, Isabelle pulls back the curtain on decades of missed diagnoses, medical dismissal, and her discovery of a community willing to do what the healthcare system couldn’t—build their own science.

You’ll hear about the remission that stunned researchers, the controversial meds that gave her life back, and the protocols patients are building from the ground up. If you’ve ever wondered why your body feels like it’s working against you—or what recovery might actually look like—this episode may change everything.

Takeaways:

She couldn’t stand in front of the fridge—until a “taboo” medication changed everything.

The labs were normal. Her body was screaming.

A grandmother, a diagnosis, and an unstoppable fight for answers.

What if your symptoms don't show up on any scan… but still hold the truth?

The protocol that sparked a remission—and a global movement.

Find the episode transcript here.

Reference Links:

RemissionBiome w/Dr. Yellman

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7831961/

Connect with YOUR Hypermobility Specialist, Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD at https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/.

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!

Learn about Isabel Ramirez-Burnett :

Twitter: https://x.com/isabelramirezrd?lang=en

Renegade Research Twitter: https://x.com/renegaderes

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/remissionbiome

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/isabelramirezrd

BlueSky: https://isabelramirezrd.bsky.social

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EB7PcC

Keep up to date with the HypermobilityMD:

YouTube: youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Twitter: twitter.com/BluesteinLinda

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd

Facebook: facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast

Blog: hypermobilitymd.com/blog

Learn more about Human Content at http://www.human-content.com

Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

What if your dental history held the key to a complex diagnosis no one’s caught? In this gripping episode of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein welcomes Dr. Audrey Kershaw, a trailblazing oral surgeon who’s uncovered hundreds of hidden Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) cases—starting in the dental chair.

From patients who “can’t numb up,” to decades-long battles with halitosis, gum fragility, and jaw instability, Dr. Kershaw shares the subtle (and sometimes shocking) signs that suggest something far deeper is at play. Together, they explore what happens when TMD, failed anesthesia, slow healing, and even bad breath point to connective tissue disorders that most dentists never learn about.

If your mouth has always felt... different—this episode might explain why.

Find the episode transcript here.

Takeaways:

Reference Links:

GIRFT RCS TMD full document. https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/-/media/FDS/Comprehensive-guideline-Management-of-painful-Temporomandibular-disorder-in-adults-March-2024.pdf

GITFT RCS TMD patient summary document. https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/-/media/FDS/TMD-Patient-support-document-March-2024.pdf

GIRFT RCS TMD Clinician summary document https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/-/media/FDS/TMD-Clinician-summary-document-March-2024.pdf

Scottish Dental Magazine article EDS Article  Scottish_Dental_magazine_October_2023 p38-39[77].pdf

BISOM link to mouth ulcers

https://bisom.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/RAS-PIL-October-2019.pdf

LA paper 2019 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6834718/

Link to pt EDS email EDS PATIENT EMAIL April 2025.docx

Link to "Perioperative Management of Patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes" by Drs. Chopra and Bluestein https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=97524

Connect with YOUR Hypermobility Specialist, Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD at https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/.

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!

Learn about Dr. Audrey Kershaw:

Website: https://www.oralsurgery.scot/

Keep up to date with the HypermobilityMD:

YouTube: youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Twitter: twitter.com/BluesteinLinda

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd

Facebook: facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast

Blog: hypermobilitymd.com/blog

Learn more about Human Content at http://www.human-content.com

Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

What if the very things you do to feel or look better are quietly making you worse? In this solo episode of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein answers listener questions—but what begins as a practical Q&A quickly dives into rarely discussed truths about cosmetic procedures, EMFs, neuroinflammation, and even fragrances as dangerous triggers.

You’ll hear surprising stories from patients who’ve suffered unexpected complications—and discover how seemingly harmless habits, like party tricks or perfume, could be tipping the scale toward long-term damage. Plus, Dr. Bluestein unpacks the case for renaming MCAS, the underrecognized connection between transness and hypermobility, and why your surgeon might not be as EDS-aware as they claim.

If you think you’ve already heard it all about EDS, MCAS, and chronic illness—you haven’t heard this.

Takeaways:

A harmless beauty treatment… until it’s not. Learn what no one tells you about EDS and cosmetic procedures.

What if your MRI looks “normal”—but your spine is screaming otherwise?

Think party tricks are just for fun? Your joints might not agree.

One invisible environmental trigger may be silently wrecking your nervous system.

Even your surgeon might not know this one crucial detail—unless you ask the right question.

Find the transcript for this episode here.

Connect with YOUR Hypermobility Specialist, Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD at https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/.

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/.

Learn more about Human Content at http://www.human-content.com

Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: [email protected]

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!

Keep up to date with the HypermobilityMD:

YouTube: youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Twitter: twitter.com/BluesteinLinda

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd

Facebook: facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast

Blog: hypermobilitymd.com/blog

Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

What happens when illness hijacks your love story? In this raw and revealing episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein sits down with therapists and real-life couple Melissa Dickinson and Tom Query, who know firsthand how Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can test—and transform—a relationship.

From secret diagnoses to unexpected intimacy challenges, they open up about their personal journey navigating chronic illness, caregiving, trauma, and neurodivergence while maintaining connection, humor, and purpose.

But it doesn’t stop there. You’ll hear about the surgery that changed everything, a community built from the ground up, and what it means to reclaim agency in a body that feels like it’s working against you. Whether you're chronically ill, caregiving, or just curious—this episode will stay with you.

Takeaways:

Connect with YOUR Hypermobility Specialist, Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD at https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/.

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Find the episode transcript here.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!

Learn about Melissa Dickinson & Tom Query:

Melissa:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissadickinsonEDSofGA/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadickinsonlpc/

Website: www.MelissaDickinson.com

Tom:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellspringcounselingintown

Website: https://www.tomquery.com

Keep up to date with the HypermobilityMD:

YouTube: youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Twitter: twitter.com/BluesteinLinda

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd

Facebook: facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast

Blog: hypermobilitymd.com/blog

Learn more about Human Content at http://www.human-content.com

Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

What if the fatigue you feel isn’t just “tiredness”—but the result of an entirely different physiological state? In this riveting episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein sits down with Dr. Brayden P. Yellman of the Bateman Horne Center to explore ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome)—a misunderstood condition that masquerades as general exhaustion but goes much deeper.

Together, they unravel the hidden markers of post-exertional malaise, explain how upright posture can quietly sabotage your day, and discuss the mysterious collapse of energy systems that no blood test can catch. With no known biomarker, diagnosis is a clinical puzzle—and one too often dismissed.

Dr. Yellman also explores emerging theories around brainstem tension, tethered cord syndrome, mast cell activation, and how some surgeries may reset the body in unexpected ways. If you've been chasing answers for fatigue, brain fog, or unexplained crashes, this episode may finally connect the dots you didn’t know existed.

Note: You may notice a few choppy moments in this video due to our guest’s frame rate, but the conversation is so valuable, we knew we had to share it with you. Thanks for your understanding!

Takeaways:

YouTube video mentioned in the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00f6Yx9ab3I

Find the episode transcript here.

Connect with YOUR Hypermobility Specialist, Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD at https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/.

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!

Learn about Dr. Brayden P. Yellman

Twitter: https://x.com/BatemanHorne

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bateman_horne_center/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/batemanhornecenter

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-bateman-horne-center-of-excellence/

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/batemanhornecenter.bsky.social

Website: https://batemanhornecenter.org/

Keep up to date with the HypermobilityMD:

YouTube: youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Twitter: twitter.com/BluesteinLinda

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd

Facebook: facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast

Blog: hypermobilitymd.com/blog

Learn more about Human Content at http://www.human-content.com

Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

What if the symptoms you've been chasing—brain fog, fatigue, bladder pain, even anxiety—were all connected by one overlooked cell type? In this fascinating episode of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by Dr. Theoharis Theoharides, one of the world’s leading experts on mast cells, to unravel the hidden roles they play in some of the most complex chronic illnesses.

From histamine sensitivity that mimics allergies, to lab tests that miss what’s really going on, Dr. Theoharides sheds light on why so many patients are dismissed—and what doctors are missing. The conversation takes unexpected turns into brain inflammation, food triggers, and even autism, where mast cells may hold untapped insight into neurodevelopment and behavior.

If you've ever felt like your symptoms don’t make sense—or that the medical system keeps overlooking something obvious—this episode might just connect the dots.

Takeaways:

You might be surprised to learn which test isn’t as useful for diagnosing MCAS as people think.

The brain fog you're feeling? There's a cellular player involved—and it's not just inflammation.

Some reactions you're calling “allergies” might be something very different (and trickier to detect).

The way mast cells interact with the brain could change how we think about neurodevelopment.

A few supplements could help—but only if you're asking the right questions first.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Mast Cells and Guest Introduction

02:57 Understanding Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)

10:35 Diagnostic Challenges and Lab Tests for MCAS

32:12 Mast Cells in the Brain and Neuroinflammation

44:00 Understanding Mast Cell Activation and Stress

46:06 The Role of Diet and Supplements in Managing Mast Cell Activation

55:42 Gut Health and Mast Cell Activation

01:01:51 Practical Tips and Future Directions

Find the transcript for this episode here.

Connect with YOUR Hypermobility Specialist, Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD at https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/.

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!

Learn about Dr. Theoharis Theoharides

Website: https://www.drtheoharides.com/

Podcast Link: https://algonot.com/

Blogs: https://www.nova.edu/nim/neuroinflammation-research/index.html

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theoharis-theoharides-ms-phd-md-faaaai-67123735

Keep up to date with the HypermobilityMD:

YouTube: youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Twitter: twitter.com/BluesteinLinda

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd

Facebook: facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast

Blog: hypermobilitymd.com/blog

Learn more about Human Content at http://www.human-content.com

Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

In this solo Q&A episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein answers your biggest hypermobility questions, tackling topics like whether getting an official EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes) diagnosis is worth it, which pain medications actually help, how to improve posture, and the growing stigma around EDS. She also discusses visceroptosis (organ prolapse), posture braces, and the legalities of medical centers refusing EDS patients. Dr. Bluestein shares practical hypermobility hacks and gives insight into the challenges patients face when seeking care. If you’ve ever wondered how to advocate for yourself, manage pain, or improve daily function, this episode is packed with expert advice and actionable tips.

Takeaways:

Should You Get an EDS Diagnosis? – Listen as Dr. Bluestein describes how an official diagnosis can provide validation and access to specialists, yet may also lead to insurance and medical stigma issues.  

Pain Medications for EDS Are Off-Label – Dr. Bluestein explains which medications she has found most helpful for managing symptoms.

How Can Posture Be Improved – Dr. Bluestein shares which posture-support garments she prefers and how to use them in a way to avoid muscle weakening.

EDS Stigma is Getting Worse – Misinformation causes some doctors to dismiss EDS patients as exaggerating or attention-seeking. Learn how to advocate and educate your providers.

Some Medical Centers Refuse EDS Patients – While emergency rooms must treat everyone, clinics and specialists can decline to see EDS patients, making self-advocacy and persistence essential. Listen in to hear how you can avoid having this happen to you.  

Connect with YOUR Hypermobility Specialist, Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD at https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/.

Find the episode transcript here.

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!

Keep up to date with the HypermobilityMD:

YouTube: youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Twitter: twitter.com/BluesteinLinda

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd

Facebook: facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast

Blog: hypermobilitymd.com/blog

Learn more about Human Content at http://www.human-content.com

Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: [email protected] 

Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

In this episode of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein welcomes Dr. Petra Klinge, a renowned neurosurgeon specializing in tethered cord syndrome (TCS), Chiari malformation, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) disorders. They dive deep into occult tethered cord syndrome, a condition where MRI scans appear normal, yet patients still experience neurological symptoms, chronic pain, and bladder/bowel dysfunction. Dr. Klinge explains how tethered cord affects EDS patients, the role of connective tissue disorders, and what makes someone a good candidate for surgery. Whether you’ve been struggling with undiagnosed spinal issues or are considering tethered cord release surgery, this episode is packed with valuable insights and cutting-edge research.

Takeaways:

Tethered Cord Can Be “Occult” (Hidden on MRI) – Many patients with classic tethered cord symptoms are dismissed because their MRI appears “normal.” A clinical diagnosis is key.

EDS Patients Are at Higher Risk – Changes in collagen and the extracellular matrix make individuals with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome more prone to tethered cord syndrome, which can be congenital or acquired.

Tethered Cord Syndrome Affects the Entire Spine – While traditionally thought to impact only the lower body, new research suggests TCS can cause upper body pain, weakness, and neurological dysfunction.

Surgery Isn’t Always the First Step – Physical therapy, craniosacral therapy, and manual techniques may help some patients, but progressive neurological decline may require surgical release.

Retethering is Possible After Surgery – Around 7% of patients may need a second surgery due to scar tissue reattaching the spinal cord, but new surgical techniques are improving long-term outcomes.

Articles referenced in the episode:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38489815/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38202013/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35307588/

Connect with YOUR Hypermobility Specialist, Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD at https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/.

Find the episode transcript here.

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/.

Learn more about Human Content at http://www.human-content.com

Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: [email protected]

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!

Learn about Dr. Petra Klinge

Website: https://www.brownhealth.org/providers/petra-m-klinge-md-phd

Keep up to date with the HypermobilityMD:

YouTube: youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Twitter: twitter.com/BluesteinLinda

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd

Facebook: facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast

Blog: hypermobilitymd.com/blog

Part of the Human Content Podcast Network