The Zebrastrong Blog

Managing your pain starts with learning what works for you, your body and your lifestyle. That’s why my blog is about more than techniques for managing pain. Here you’ll also find strategies for coping with the emotional and social aspects too.

What is Post Exertional Malaise (PEM)?

Emily Rich, OT, answers our questions about PEM. Is PEM the same as fatigue? What is ME/CFS anyway? Is it safe to exercise? Find out here.

POTS and Exercise with Emily Rich, OT

Occupational therapist and researcher Emily Rich shares her expertise and advice when it comes to exercising with POTS.

Fascia and hEDS

Fascia is connected to the way we live and move in the world. It tenses up when we feel threatened, loosens when we’re happy and at ease, and it’s responsible for sensations like prickling at the back of your neck. It also has an elastic quality, contracting and expanding, and stores and releases the kinetic energy from our body’s movement. 

Hypermobility & EDS Fatigue: It’s not the same as being tired.

First of all, If you have EDS or HSD and suffer from fatigue, you are not alone. When we began to analyse the responses in our study on the IMM using my Strengthen Your Hypermobile Core video series with Dr. Russek and Jane Simmonds, we found that fatigue was one of the biggest barriers to movement (along with pain).

Navigating Menopause with Hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

When I hit the menopause or rather it hit me, my life changed dramatically. I had been managing my hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos symptoms pretty well until then.

Hypermobility Holiday Gift Guide

We have compiled this massive Hypermobility gift guide! Hopefully, you can find something for yourself or the hypermobile people in your life. These suggestions have been recommended by The Zebra Club Community members and team.

Nociplastic Pain and the Sensitive Nervous System by Professor Leslie Russek

Nociplasitic pain is due to sensitive nerves that have changed to become better at processing pain. This pain needs to be managed quite differently than “Issues with the Tissues.”

Managing Nociceptive and Neuropathic Pain by Professor Leslie Russek

Our previous post described the 3 types of pain: Neuropathic, Nociceptive, and Nociplastic. Knowing which type(s) of pain you have can help you manage pain more effectively. Think of it like taking your car to the mechanic – if they replace the air filter when you have a flat tire, it won’t fix the car. You have to address the correct problem. Similarly, different types of pain are managed differently. 

The 3 Types of Hypermobility Pain by Dr. Leslie Russek

Pain is a signal from your brain that it perceives danger. There are 3 types of pain: nociceptive, neuropathic, and neoplastic. People with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or hypermobility spectrum disorder (hEDS/HSD) may have any or all of these types of pain, and the relative contributions may vary from day to day or hour to hour. 

How trauma led me to hypermobility movement therapy

“English is my second language. Movement is my first.” Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. I heard this a while ago and it really resonated with me. I’m not sure where I’d be if I hadn’t found movement therapy. For me, movement is so much more than exercise. It’s so much deeper than simple mechanics.