Bendy Bodies with Dr. Linda Bluestein

Headaches and migraines are common in many chronic illnesses, and people with hypermobility often struggle with chronic head pain for a variety of reasons. But what is the difference between migraine and other types of headache? How do you get properly evaluated?  What are the best treatments?Bendy Bodies spoke with neuro-ophthalmologist Rudrani Banik, MD in an effort to understand this complex topic. A fellowship-trained neuro-ophthalmologist certified in functional medicine, Dr. Banik specializes in headaches and migraines and has worked with many patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and other connective tissue disorders.Dr. Banik describes how she integrates her vast training to evaluate and treat her patients. She explains the difference between headache and migraine, and shares the criteria for a migraine diagnosis.Dr. Banik talks through common causes of tension headaches as well as triggers for migraines, and suggests steps that are often helpful for migraines. She offers tips on how to get proper care, talking through her pharmacologic and nutritional supplement approaches.  She reveals common lifestyle choices that may greatly impact headaches and migraines covering conditions like idiopathic intracranial hypertension, CSF leak, Chiari malformation as well as vestibular, ocular, and abdominal migraine.For doctors, physical therapists, and anyone suffering from chronic head pain, this episode contains lots of concrete tips and suggestions for finding a path to relief......#Headaches #Migraine #hEDS #ConnectiveTissueDisorder #JointHypermobility #ChronicIllness #MigraineRelief #ChronicPainAwareness #HeadacheRelief #MigraineNutrition #Neuro #Diagnosis --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life with multiple chronic illnesses is physically and mentally challenging. Feelings of exhaustion and emotional fatigue crowd in with physical symptoms and can be overwhelming in your daily life.How do you find balance? How do you find a way forward and regain joy in your life?We posed these questions to Keeya Steel, founder of the popular Hells Bells and Mast Cells on social media. As someone who lives with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome), and hEDS (hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), she is all too experienced at trying to find that balance.Keeya shares her journey through a childhood peppered with “you’re making this up” accusations, as well as her diagnoses as an adult that brought relief and despair in equal measures.Keeya speaks openly about how humor helped her find her way forward through some dark days, and her decision to share that humor with the world. She shares her emotional journey to accepting her chronic illnesses and disabilities.Keeya also explains the online course she created with Dr. Linda Bluestein on optimizing medical appointments with complex illness, and why she wanted to share that course with others. Keeya reveals tips on getting the most out of doctor’s appointments and discusses her experiences with finding new medical professionals.“In the end,” Keeya says, “I want people to be more open to hope and future joy.”An inspiring episode for us all so don’t miss it!More information about Keeya can be found on her website.  .....#Hope #Resilience #Disabled #ChronicIllness #DespiteTheOdds #PotsSyndrome #MastCells #EhlersDanlos #hEDS #Advocacy #ChronicIllnessCommunity #MedicalProfessionals #MedicalGaslighting #ChronicIllnessSupport #Accessibility --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dance injuries can be career ending especially for those with joint hypermobility. Competition dance or precision performance can introduce a whole new set of challenges, whether it’s dancing as part of a team, competitive cheer, or synchronized swimming. Controlling hypermobility and matching lines requires strength, specific coaching, and proprioceptive awareness that’s not always second nature to the performer.We spoke with Monica Lorenzo, the first NBA entertainment athletic trainer who pioneered sports medicine for these performing artists. Monica has worked with many dance teams including the Rockettes, the Knicks City Dancers and the Golden State Warriors Dance Team.Monica shares her own journey from dancer to athletic trainer and describes the differences between precision dance and other forms of dance. She explains why precision dance may be challenging for the hypermobile dancer, and shares her strategies for staying healthy over a long performance season.Monica reveals how she prepares dancers for working on less-than-ideal surfaces, and offers advice on how dancers might prepare for a career in precision dance. Finally, she shares her secret of how she builds individual programs within a group training setting.Full of helpful advice for artists, athletic trainers, coaches, and more, you won’t want to miss this episode.More information about Monica can be found at https://romofit.com/.Check out these episodes about fatigue we mentioned during this conversation:https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/bendybodiespodcast/episode/1c065966/46-fueling-against-fatigue-with-kristin-koskinen-rdnhttps://www.hypermobilitymd.com/bendybodiespodcast/episode/33cfae69/45-understanding-fatigue-with-alan-pocinki-mdORListen to the episodes about fatigue we discussed:https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/bendybodiespodcast/episode/1c065966/46-fueling-against-fatigue-with-kristin-koskinen-rdnhttps://www.hypermobilitymd.com/bendybodiespodcast/episode/33cfae69/45-understanding-fatigue-with-alan-pocinki-md....#Rockettes #KnicksCityDancers #Knicks #GSWarriors #nba #dancers #DanceTeam #AthleticTrainer #SportsMedicine #Performance#BendyBuddy #DancerLife #DanceDance #JenniferMilner #HypermobilityMD #Bendy --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For most artistic athletes, competition is a part of life. Whether you’re a dancer, skater, gymnast, or cheerleader chances are you’re competing at some point.Competitions can be grueling, multi-day events consisting of 14-hour days, multiple performances, and little access to fresh whole foods. So how do you prepare for a competition, and what can you do during the event to make sure you are at the top of your game and come out of it injury-free?We decided to approach this topic from a multi-disciplinary angle, so Jennifer, Dr. Bluestein, and resident Bendy Bodies nutrition expert, Kristin Koskinen, all sat down for a round table discussion on this important topic.We talk through a timeline of preparation before the big event, and ways to make sure you’re heading into your competition as healthy and prepared as possible. Nutrition, training, sleep, and more are discussed as we sketch out the ways to make the most of your preparation time.Kristin offers practical advice on ways to fuel healthily during the competition, often without access to refrigerators or even a true meal break.Dr. Bluestein shares ways to be prepared for any issues that might come up physically, and Jennifer reveals her top competition-day tips.Finally, we look at the importance of recovering after a competition. How we replenish our body’s nutrients, ways to approach constructive rest and gradual return to training, and more are shared as we offer ways to be the healthiest competitive artist you can be.Share this with parents of young artistic athletes, bookmark for yourself as a competitor, and pass it on to studio owners, coaches, physical therapists, and more!.....#CompetitionDay #PreparingForCompetitions #Nutrition #NutritionalTips #HealthyFoodAdvice #Nutrients #NutritionEducation #Sleep #SleepTips #SleepHealth #TrainingAdvice #TrainingDay --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hypermobility disorders can lead to health complications that may require surgery. Joint hypermobility and associated conditions can present  complications for  surgery, anesthesia, and more. If you’re anticipating  surgery, how can you, your surgeon and anesthesia care team be as prepared as possible for those hypermobile “quirks”?Bendy Bodies founder Dr. Linda Bluestein spent years in the operating room as a top anesthesiologist. We asked her for advice on this often-overlooked aspect of dealing with symptomatic joint hypermobility.Dr. Bluestein discusses the possible medication reactions that often accompany connective tissue disorders and associated conditions. She talks about ways to prepare for the pre-operative assessment, and outlines what medical conditions should be shared in advance with the anesthesia team.Dr. Bluestein explains the different types of anesthesia and why that information is important, and shares her observations about people with joint hypermobility and their potential complications.Finally, Dr. Bluestein offers suggestions for how to share your concerns with the surgery team, from limb positioning to avoid  dislocations, cervical spine and jaw problems that may influence airway management and so much more.Whether you’re part of a surgical team or preparing to undergo your own surgery, you’ll find helpful advice here to prepare you for next steps......#Anesthesia #AnesthesiaLife Anesthesiologist #LocalAnesthetic #LocalAnesthesia  #hypermobilitytreatment #mobility #ehlersdanlos #spinalstabilization #butyoudontlooksick #hypermobilitypain #spooniesupport #hypermobilityrehabilitation #hypermobilityspectrum #bendy #invisibledisability #JenniferMilner  #hypermobilitysyndrome #hypermobilityhacks #HypermobilityMD #chronicconditionsFor an even deeper dive, read this peer-reviewed journal article co authored by Dr. Bluestein and Dr. Pradeep Chopra:Perioperative Care in Patients with Ehlers Danlos Syndromeshttps://www.scirp.org/journal/Paperabs.aspx?PaperID=97524 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dance and other performing arts are, by nature, stressful. Stress can easily develop into anxiety, which is exponentially more common in the hypermobile population than the general population.How can you distinguish between stress and anxiety? What can you do to manage your anxiety? When is it time to seek outside help?We asked these questions and more of Jo-Anne La Flèche, a clinical and dance psychologist with a Masters in Somatics.Jo-Anne defines the difference between stress and anxiety, and discusses factors that may contribute to anxiety, both within a person and in their external circumstances. She breaks down how a dance environment might foster anxiety and shares ways to self-manage that anxiety.Self-care practices are offered as ways to lower anxiety, as well as seeing the value in recognizing things you can’t control. Jo-Anne lists signs that may indicate a dancer should seek help in managing their mental health and suggests ways to find the right therapist for you.Finally, Jo-Anne shares her thoughts on why it’s important to have an identity outside of dance.For all artists or even anyone struggling with anxiety, this episode is not to be missed.Click to access informational papers written by Jo-Anne under the auspices of the Dance/USA Task Force on Dancer Health on anxiety and depression. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the weather changes and schedules become busier, staying healthy can feel like a huge challenge. Artistic athletes may struggle to keep their bodies at optimal performance level, and fighting off infectious illnesses may seem like an uphill battle.How can we naturally strengthen our immune system, supporting its function for optimum success? We posed this question to Kristin Koskinen, RDN and Bendy Bodies team member, in this episode.Kristin shares why dancers and other performing artists with hypermobility and/or a connective tissue disorder like the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes should care about immunity and nutrition in general. She explains how the foods we eat impact our immune system, and how investing efforts to fuel well now can have a big impact on our health down the road.Kristin walks us through her process for building a healthy, supportive diet for her clients, talking through her suggestions for planning wide varieties of foods, as well as efficient shortcuts when time is an issue.  She discusses the possible effects of sugar on the immune system, and how to deal with the emotional component of foods during the holidays.Kristen looks at the impact of alcohol on the immune system and talks about the microbiome’s role. She shares her expert view on nutritional supplements including probiotics, and offers lots of encouraging tips for managing busy seasons while striving for healthy nutrition.This episode breaks down what can be a stressful and complicated subject in encouraging and manageable ways for all bendy bodies......#JenniferMilner #HypermobilityMD #Bendy #BendyBuddy #Immunity #Bloating #DietitiansOfIG #Glucose #Gut #Supplement #ChronicDisease #ChronicIllness #InvisibleDisability #Infection #AlwaysOptimal #AutoImmune #NutritionForDancers #DanceNutrition #OptimalNutrition #NutrientDeficiencies --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a young dancer, Jazz Bynum enjoyed the benefits of being “bendy”.   Later, she experienced more than her fair share of injuries but it wasn’t clear how these could be connected. A diagnosis of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) gave Jazz the information necessary to build the resiliency and strength she needs as a professional dancer with Ballet West.Jazz chats with Bendy Bodies about navigating her dance career while addressing her body’s unique needs with hEDS. Jazz discusses her diagnosis and what led her to seek one, and shares how her diagnosis changed how she seeks treatment.Jazz speaks openly about her decision to reveal her hEDS publicly, documenting her latest injury and nearly year-long recovery process on social media. She shares her maintenance routine outside of dance, and the lessons she’s learned about her body and her hEDS during her rehabilitation. Finally, Jazz encourages other dancers on their own journeys, addressing the importance of finding people who will support and advocate for you.An inspiring story of cultivating your own resilience through injuries, this podcast is full of encouragement and motivation for everyone struggling to move forward in spite of obstacles......#BendyBuddy #Bendy #EhlersDanlos #Dancer #ZebraStrong  #ChronicIllness  #spoonie #Zebra  #Disease #ArtisticAthlete #Disability #EDS #JointStability#Bendy #hypermobile #HypermobilitySpectrum#BendyBallerina #BendyBallet #Ballet #Movement --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mast cell disorders are prevalent in the hypermobile population, but can often go undiagnosed.  Persistent pain can be initiated and perpetuated by mast cells, which have also been referred to as “gatekeepers of pain”.  How can someone who suspects mast cell issues go about seeking relief for mast cell-related pain? How can medical professionals accurately seek to diagnose and treat mast cell pain?For this conversation, we put Bendy Bodies founder, Linda Bluestein, MD, in the hot seat. With her many years as a practicing anesthesiologist and her long career treating people with hypermobility disorders, she’s been in a unique position to research, diagnose, and treat these complex conditions.Dr. Bluestein defines mast cell disorders and ways they may present. She explains why people with hypermobility should be aware of mast cell disorders, and reveals the prevalence of pain associated with mast cell issues.Dr. Bluestein shares her techniques for evaluating pain in a patient, and offers advice on treating pain in a patient with mast cell issues. She suggests ways to communicate with a medical professional about your own pain, and shares her wish list of ways she would address mast cell disorders on a large scale.With practical advice for both medical practitioners looking to improve patient care, and hypermobile people searching for ways to mitigate their own chronic pain, this episode is filled with tips and insight into a complex problem.Additional notes:  Excipients:  All medications have excipients (“inactive” ingredients in medications that may cause problems in susceptible people). Mast cell disorder testing:  Tryptase is just one mediator that is important to check (both at baseline and within four hours of a flare).  I provide lab slips to my patients that they can take in for testing as needed.  Tryptase levels can be helpful (especially if they are elevated) but a normal level does not rule out a mast cell problem. Pain sources:  People with EDS and comorbidities (like mast cell disorders) can have all the types of pain.  These include nociceptive (coming from actual or potential tissue damage), neuropathic (problem within the nervous system) and nociplastic (dysfunction of how pain signals are processed). .....#BendyBuddy #HypermobilityMD #JenniferMilner #MastCell #Disease #ChronicDisease #Hypermobile #Histamine #FoodIntolerance #ChronicPain #ButYouDontLookSick #MCAS #MastCellActivation #ComplexIllness #EhlersDanlos #DoctorsOfIG #ChronicIllnessSupport #LowHistamine #Histaminintoleranz #MastCellActivationSyndrome --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Physical therapists Aiko Callahan and Stephanie Greenspan discuss the creation of the Hypermobility Screening Tool for artists. They emphasize the importance of understanding the artist's needs, addressing joint stability, and screening for systemic issues. The speakers also highlight the significance of building a support team and providing comprehensive care for hypermobile individuals.