Bendy Bodies with Dr. Linda Bluestein

Epizódok

• 
  Flexibility as a Liability: What Circus Teaches Us about Hypermobility w/ Dr. Emily Scherb (Ep 210) 20.08.2026 1ó 16p

  What if being “naturally flexible” is actually the thing putting you at risk for injury? Dr. Linda Bluestein welcomes back Dr. Emily Scherb, known as The Circus Doc, for a fascinating conversation about what circus performers can teach all hypermobile people about flexibility, strength, joint control, and injury prevention. A physical therapist, researcher, and former circus performer, Dr. Scherb explains why being able to get into an extreme position is not the same as being able to control it—and why impressive range of motion can sometimes mask weakness, instability, or poor load tolerance. The conversation explores how hypermobile bodies function differently at end range, why building strength in the mid-range can be so important, and how to tell the difference between normal training soreness, overtraining, injury, and signs that may point toward an underlying connective tissue disorder. Dr. Scherb and Dr. Bluestein also dig into the psychology of pushing through pain, the way flexibility can become intertwined with identity, the spinal changes documented in contortionists, and why performers may hide injuries when they fear that speaking up could threaten their careers. And while circus provides an extreme example, the lessons apply far beyond the circus world—to dancers, athletes, yogis, gymnasts, and anyone with a body that moves farther than average. Takeaways: More range is not always better. Hypermobility describes how far a joint can move; what matters just as much is how well you can control that range. Getting into a position is not the same as owning it. Extreme flexibility without adequate strength and control can increase stress on joints and surrounding tissues. Hypermobile people often benefit from building strength and motor control in mid-range before progressively challenging end range. Persistent pain, recurrent injuries, instability, or symptoms that seem disproportionate to training may be clues that something more than routine soreness is going on. Contortion offers a striking example of how repeated end-range loading can produce measurable adaptations in the spine. Pain should not have to become severe before someone feels “allowed” to seek care. Creating a culture where performers can address problems early may help protect both health and longevity. The goal for a hypermobile body is not necessarily less flexibility. It is more strength, control, and capacity within the range you already have. Want more of Dr. Emily Scherb? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecircusdoc Website: https://www.thecircusdoc.com Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Head to http://www.cozyearth.com and use my code BENDY for an exclusive 20% off. Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links are commissionable, meaning I may earn commission from purchases made through links Chapters: 00:00 Painful Past With Stretching 00:40 Meet The Circus Doc 03:03 How Emily Found Circus Medicine 04:37 What Circus Really Is 06:25 Circus Injuries And End Range 08:55 Hypermobility Flexibility Resilience 33:00 Soreness Vs Overtraining Red Flags 37:52 Hypermobility Soreness Clues 40:13 Yellow Flags vs Red Flags 42:46 Circus Risk and Resilience 47:27 Ignoring Pain Signals 52:08 Building Safer Culture 59:46 Contortion Safety and Strength 01:05:46 Longevity Hacks and Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Tongue Tie, Trauma, Menopause & More: Your EDS Questions Answered with Dr. Dacre Knight (Ep 209) 13.08.2026 1ó 2p

  Tongue tie and POTS? EDS without obvious hypermobility? Perimenopause making symptoms worse? And tongue numbness after a nerve block? In this listener Q&A, Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, and recurring co-host Dr. Dacre Knight, medical director of the UVA Health EDS and Hypermobility Disorders Center, tackle some of the complicated questions patients are asking—and where the evidence is still evolving. Can tongue tie contribute to dysautonomia? Can men have a connective tissue disorder even without obvious joint hypermobility? How should people with hEDS, POTS, and MCAS think about pregnancy? And could being born prematurely influence autonomic function later in life? Dr. Bluestein and Dr. Knight also explore emerging research examining trauma histories in people with EDS and HSD, including how repeated medical dismissal and gaslighting may contribute to trauma over time. The conversation turns to perimenopause and menopause, including why perimenopause can be particularly challenging and the sometimes-competing considerations of estrogen and progesterone therapy for people managing both menopausal symptoms and connective tissue laxity. Finally, they break down Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST): what it is, symptoms to recognize, potential risk factors, and how it is managed—prompted by a listener’s experience with recurrent tongue numbness following nerve blocks. In this episode, you’ll learn: What we know—and don’t know—about tongue tie and dysautonomia Why connective tissue disorders may look different in men Important considerations when planning pregnancy with hEDS, POTS, and MCAS Whether prematurity may influence autonomic function later in life What emerging research suggests about trauma, EDS/HSD, and medical gaslighting Why perimenopause may be particularly difficult for some hypermobile patients How estrogen and progesterone may affect symptoms and connective tissue laxity How to recognize Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST) Why unusual neurologic symptoms after local anesthetic exposure deserve attention Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: ⁠https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast ⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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 ⁠Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: ⁠https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start⁠ Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: ⁠RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org ⁠UVA EDS: ⁠https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic⁠UVA EDS FAQ: ⁠https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq⁠ UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: ⁠https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health⁠ 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. YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at ⁠⁠⁠https://www\.bendybodiespodcast\.com/⁠⁠⁠. Chapters: 00:00 Medical Trauma Opens00:36 Show Intro and Fan Qs02:38 Adult Tongue Tie Talk12:09 hEDS in Men Question16:58 10 Percent Rule Toolkit21:36 Pregnancy Planning Advice28:02 Prematurity and Trauma Links33:46 Trauma Begets Trauma34:52 Stellate Blocks And Vagal Stimulation36:20 Postmenopausal Bleeding And MCAS38:36 Endometriosis And Perimenopause42:19 Hormones Versus Hypermobility45:49 Clinician Advocacy And Learning49:57 LAST And Tongue Numbness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Is the Ehlers-Danlos Umbrella Helping... or Hurting? with Abbey Phillipson (Ep 208) 06.08.2026 1ó 25p

  Could lumping every type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome under one umbrella actually be doing more harm than good? In this thought-provoking episode, host Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, is joined by Abbey Phillipson, who was born with COL5A1 classical Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, survived the first recorded non-traumatic pediatric spondyloptosis, and now serves as Head Strength Coach for Paralympic and Adaptive Sports at the University of Michigan and founder of the Collagen Advocacy Network. Inspired by Abbey's powerful presentation at the UVA Research Symposium, this conversation challenges long-held assumptions about how we define, discuss, and advocate for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Although hypermobile EDS has dramatically increased public awareness, Abbey argues that people living with rare and ultra-rare EDS types, representing just 1 to 3 percent of the community, are too often overlooked in research, funding, clinical care, and even public conversations. Together, Dr. Bluestein and Abbey explore whether the different EDS types should continue to share a single name, why distinguishing hypermobile EDS from the genetically defined types could ultimately benefit everyone, and how naming disorders by their underlying gene and predominant manifestation might improve diagnosis, research, and patient care. Abbey also shares deeply personal stories that illustrate what's at stake, including a friend who spent 35 years carrying the wrong diagnosis before genetic testing revealed kyphoscoliotic EDS. Their conversation highlights why genetic counseling matters, the limitations of direct-to-consumer testing, and how assumptions in medicine can unintentionally delay appropriate care. The episode closes on a message of hope and empowerment. After her neurosurgeon prescribed strength training, Abbey transformed from experiencing monthly full-joint dislocations to having none. Today, she helps athletes and people of all abilities discover that movement can be adapted, strength can be built, and disability does not define potential. She also shares why advocacy is most effective when it channels frustration into meaningful, solution-focused action, plus one of her favorite protein-packed hypermobility hacks. Takeaways: People with rare and ultra-rare EDS types make up only about 1 to 3 percent of the community and are frequently left out of decisions about research, funding, and care. Clearly distinguishing hypermobile EDS from the genetically defined types benefits everyone; naming a condition by its gene and predominant manifestation could improve medical clarity and care. The "invisible illness" framing can cause genuinely visible rare types to be overlooked, and comfort with a clinical diagnosis can lead to decades-long misdiagnoses that genetic testing would catch. Genetic testing and counseling are essential, especially before starting a family; direct-to-consumer testing carries real limitations and should be interpreted cautiously. Strength training can be transformative: after her neurosurgeon prescribed it, Abbey went from frequent full dislocations to none, and movement can be tailored to activities people love rather than being purely prescriptive. Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! Want more Abbey Phillipson? Instagram: @abbeyphillipson @definedbycollagen Website: collagenadvocacynetwork.org Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD?Website:  https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcastInstagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/BluesteinLinda⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hypermobilitymd.substack.com/Shop my Amazon store ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymdDr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.orgUVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinicUVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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. YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!⁠⁠ Learn more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at ⁠⁠https://www\.bendybodiespodcast\.com/⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• 
  Are EDS Treatments Moving Faster Than the Evidence? with Dr. Dacre Knight (Ep 207) 30.07.2026 34p

  Are surgical risks in EDS exaggerated, underestimated, or simply misunderstood? And how can patients tell the difference between a promising treatment and an expensive procedure being marketed ahead of the evidence? In this listener Q&A episode, host Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, is joined by recurring co-host Dr. Dacre Knight, Medical Director of the UVA Health EDS and Hypermobility Disorders Center, to tackle some of the most difficult questions submitted by the Bendy Bodies community. They begin with a candid discussion about surgery in EDS: why most patients do well, which complications are genuinely more likely, and why a surgeon’s technical experience and procedural volume may matter just as much as their understanding of EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes) and HSD (Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders). They also explain how poorly controlled mast cell activation can derail recovery and why preparation before surgery may be more important than simply being reassured that everything will be fine. The conversation then turns to the striking mental health burden within the EDS and hypermobility population, including self-harm and cutting behaviors. Dr. Bluestein and Dr. Knight discuss why anxiety, depression, insomnia, and pain may sometimes reflect shared underlying biological drivers, and how treatments such as low dose naltrexone (LDN) may improve multiple symptoms at once when used thoughtfully. Listener questions lead them into the increasingly controversial world of cervical instability treatment, including PRP, the PICL procedure, and cervical fusion. What evidence actually exists? Who may benefit? What are the risks? And could treating mast cell activation and other contributors first reduce symptoms enough to avoid an invasive procedure altogether? They also take a critical look at IV infusion therapy, explaining when infusions may be medically appropriate, when they may cause more harm than benefit, and why clinics offering the same expensive infusion to nearly every patient before reviewing labs should immediately raise concern. The episode closes with an honest assessment of what is currently known about the cause of hypermobile EDS (hEDS), whether epigenetics may play a role, and why patients should pause whenever a clinician recommends a highly prescriptive treatment before completing a proper diagnostic evaluation. Takeaways: EDS surgery risks are real, but fear-based messaging can be harmful too. Most patients do well, especially when they choose an experienced, high-volume surgeon and address factors such as mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) before the procedure. A kind surgeon is not necessarily a skilled surgeon. Bedside manner matters, but technical expertise, procedural volume, complication rates, and careful postoperative planning may matter even more. Mental health symptoms in EDS should not automatically be dismissed as “just anxiety.” Pain, poor sleep, mast cell activation, autonomic dysfunction, inflammation, and other biological drivers can profoundly affect emotional health and may need to be treated alongside psychological support. One treatment can sometimes improve far more than one symptom. When appropriately prescribed, low dose naltrexone (LDN) may improve pain, sleep, mood, anxiety, GI symptoms, and overall function by addressing shared underlying mechanisms. PRP and the PICL procedure are promising options for carefully selected patients, particularly given the significant risks and irreversible nature of cervical fusion. While early experience is encouraging, we still need higher-quality studies to better define who benefits most, what the long-term outcomes are, and how these procedures compare with other treatment options. Go http://www.AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code BENDY. Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• 
  Medical Cannabis, hEDS, and the Sensitized Nervous System with Professor Dave Nutt & Lucy Stafford (Ep 206) 23.07.2026 1ó 11p

  Why do some people with hEDS or HSD report meaningful relief with medical cannabis, while others feel worse, notice no benefit, or experience side effects? And what might these varied responses teach us about pain, the autonomic nervous system, gut function, and nervous system sensitization? In this episode, host Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, is joined by Professor David Nutt, a neuropsychopharmacologist at Imperial College London, and Lucy Stafford, a PhD researcher in clinical neuroscience with lived experience of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. This is not a hype episode, a recommendation to use cannabis, or medical advice. Instead, it is a careful, curiosity-driven conversation about what is known, what is still emerging, and what remains uncertain about medical cannabis in hEDS and HSD. Lucy shares her experience of severe illness, high-dose opioid treatment, a feeding tube, repeated ICU stays, and eventually coming off opioids, an experience that helped shape her path into cannabinoid research. Professor Nutt explains the discovery of the endocannabinoid system and why this system may be relevant to pain processing, stress responses, autonomic regulation, immune signaling, and gut function. Together, they explore how cannabinoids may influence a sensitized nervous system, why responses vary so widely, and why medically complex patients need individualized guidance rather than shame, dismissal, or unsupported promises. The conversation covers many of the practical questions patients often ask, including the difference between CBD and THC, full-spectrum products, terpenes and the entourage effect, routes of administration, absorption differences, and the importance of a cautious “start low, go slow” approach when cannabis is being considered under appropriate medical supervision. They also address important safety considerations, including contraindications, drug interactions, psychiatric risk, impairment, dependence, and why cannabis is not appropriate for everyone. The episode closes with a broader discussion of stigma, the emerging science of psychedelics for chronic pain, and the human and financial costs of undertreated complex illness. The Bendy Bodies podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Laws, product quality, dosing, and individual risks vary, so patients should consult a qualified healthcare professional before using cannabis or changing any treatment plan. Takeaways: The endocannabinoid system is an important regulatory system involved in pain processing, stress responses, immune signaling, gut function, and nervous system homeostasis, yet it receives relatively little attention in medical and neuroscience training. Cannabinoids do not work like opioids. Rather than simply “blocking” pain, they may influence pain modulation, nervous system sensitization, autonomic tone, and gut motility, though much remains to be studied specifically in hEDS and HSD. CBD and THC have different effects, benefits, and risks. CBD may reduce some unwanted THC effects for certain people, but responses vary, and dosing should be individualized. A cautious “start low, go slow” approach is especially important for medically complex patients, particularly those with dysautonomia, medication sensitivity, MCAS-like symptoms, anxiety, or multiple medications. Individual responses to cannabis vary widely. Differences in absorption, metabolism, product composition, route of administration, and underlying physiology may help explain why one person improves while another worsens or notices no effect. Cannabis is not right for everyone. Extra caution is warranted for people with a history of psychosis, paranoia, substance use disorder, significant cognitive impairment, fall risk, pregnancy, or medications metabolized through overlapping liver pathways. Patients deserve balanced information: neither stigma and dismissal nor exaggerated promises. The goal is thoughtful, evidence-informed, individualized decision-making. Go http://www.AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code BENDY. Head to http://www.cozyearth.com and use my code BENDY for an exclusive 20% off. Want more Professor Dave Nutt & Lucy Stafford? X / Twitter link. Profdavidnutt@twitter.com & @lucystaffie BleuSky:profdavidnutt@bluesky.com Instagram: @lustaffordphd, @drugscienceuk, @Drug_Science & @EmbodiedNeuro Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• 
  The Hidden Link Between Long COVID, Lyme Disease & Hypermobility with Dr. Ina Stephens (Ep 205) 16.07.2026 1ó 27p

  Can a single infection permanently change your health, or does it simply reveal something that was already there? In this episode, host Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, welcomes back Dr. Ina Stephens, Associate Director of the UVA Health EDS & Hypermobility Disorders Center, for an in-depth discussion about Long COVID, post-infectious syndromes, and their connection to Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), and immune dysfunction. Dr. Stephens explains why post-infectious illnesses are real and have been recognized for more than a century, tracing the pattern from the 1917 influenza pandemic and encephalitis lethargica to modern conditions including Long COVID, reactivated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Lyme disease, Babesia and other tick-borne infections, and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). She shares the detective work behind her Diagnostic Dilemma Clinic, how a comprehensive history and targeted evaluation uncover hidden diagnoses, and why so many patients with complex chronic illness also have hypermobility. The conversation explores emerging research showing that people with hypermobility are approximately four times more likely to develop Long COVID, with an even greater risk in those with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Dr. Stephens and Dr. Bluestein discuss the underlying biology, including immune dysregulation, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, vagus nerve dysfunction, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the ways connective tissue disorders may influence recovery after infection. They also review evidence-informed treatment strategies, including supporting mitochondrial health with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), glutathione, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC); the role of low-dose naltrexone (LDN); optimizing iron and vitamin C status; when antiviral medications may be appropriate; intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG); and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Finally, they explain why gradually increasing muscle mass and strength may have a greater long-term impact than any single supplement and share practical strategies for supporting recovery and strengthening your regimen at the first sign of illness. Whether you're living with EDS, HSD, Long COVID, POTS, MCAS, ME/CFS, Lyme disease, or another post-infectious condition, this episode offers practical, science-based insights into why these conditions overlap and what you can do to support healing. Takeaways: • Can a virus, Lyme disease, or another infection permanently change your health? Learn why post-infectious syndromes have been documented for more than a century and how infections can trigger chronic illness through immune dysregulation and autoimmunity. • Why are people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) so much more likely to develop Long COVID? Discover the research linking hypermobility, POTS, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and prolonged recovery after infection. • What do Long COVID, Lyme disease, ME/CFS, POTS, and other post-infectious conditions have in common? Explore the shared biology of immune dysfunction, autonomic and vagus nerve dysfunction, and mitochondrial dysfunction that may explain multisystem symptoms. • Which treatments actually help? Hear the evidence behind coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), glutathione, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), low-dose naltrexone (LDN), iron and vitamin C, antiviral medications, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. • Could building muscle be one of the most powerful treatments for chronic illness? Learn why increasing muscle mass and strength may have a greater long-term impact than any single supplement, plus Dr. Stephens' practical strategy for boosting your regimen at the first sign of infection. Go http://www.AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code BENDY. Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  What Most Doctors Never Explain About EDS | Office Hours (Ep 204) 09.07.2026 1ó 6p

  If you could listen to just one conversation about Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), what would you need to know? In this listener Q&A episode, producer Aron Korney puts host Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, in the hot seat to answer the questions patients ask most about hypermobility, connective tissue disorders, genetic testing, medications, and managing complex chronic illness. Dr. Bluestein explains why EDS, HSD, POTS, and MCAS are whole-body conditions rather than isolated joint disorders, and how connective tissue affects nearly every organ system. She shares why "less is more," why small, consistent improvements create meaningful long-term progress, and how the placebo and nocebo effects can influence healing. The conversation also covers the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) black box warning for fluoroquinolone antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin, explaining why people with connective tissue disorders should discuss safer alternatives with their healthcare providers when appropriate. Dr. Bluestein then tackles one of the most confusing topics in EDS: genetic testing. She explains why a negative genetic test does not rule out every rare subtype of EDS, how variants of uncertain significance (VUS) and direct-to-consumer genetic reports can be misleading, and why clinical evaluation remains essential, especially when vascular EDS is suspected. Finally, she discusses how mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) can amplify pain, migraines, gastrointestinal symptoms, dysautonomia, and other multisystem symptoms, how to obtain accurate laboratory testing, and why she casts a wider diagnostic net when evaluating complex patients. The episode concludes with a simple hypermobility hack that uses vagus nerve activation to help calm a constant fight-or-flight response. Whether you're newly diagnosed with EDS or HSD, wondering if you have POTS or MCAS, trying to understand genetic testing, or looking for practical strategies to improve your health, this episode delivers the essential concepts every patient should know. Takeaways: • Think EDS only affects your joints? Discover why Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), POTS, and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) are whole-body conditions that can affect nearly every organ system. • Could doing less actually help you feel better? Learn why "less is more," how stacking small wins leads to meaningful progress, and how the placebo and nocebo effects can influence your symptoms and recovery. • Are antibiotics like ciprofloxacin safe if you have EDS or another connective tissue disorder? Understand the FDA black box warning on fluoroquinolones, the risks of tendon rupture, nerve injury, and aortic complications, and when it's worth asking about alternatives. • Can a negative genetic test still mean you have a rare type of EDS? Learn why clinical features, family history, and red flags often matter as much as laboratory results, especially when vascular EDS is a possibility. • Could mast cell activation syndrome be making your symptoms worse? Discover how MCAS can amplify pain, migraines, gastrointestinal symptoms, and dysautonomia, why testing is often misunderstood, and the biggest mistakes patients should avoid. Go http://www.AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code BENDY. Head to http://www.cozyearth.com and use my code BENDY for an exclusive 20% off. Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Why Small Wins Matter More Than Miracle Cures in EDS and HSD: The MENS-PMMS Method™ with Dr. Dacre Knight (Ep 203) 02.07.2026 1ó 10p

  What does it really take to build an effective treatment plan for a condition that touches every system in the body, when there is no single magic pill? In this episode, host Dr. Linda Bluestein, the Hypermobility MD, is joined by recurring co-host Dr. Dacre Knight, Medical Director of the UVA Health EDS and Hypermobility Disorders Center, to complete their series on the MENS-PMMS Method™, Dr. Bluestein's comprehensive treatment framework for hypermobility disorders. Together, they cover the final four components of the MENS-PMMS Method™: psychosocial factors, modalities, medications, and supplements. The conversation centers on a recurring theme: meaningful improvement rarely comes from one breakthrough, but from stacking many small wins across every domain. They explore the physiologic mind-body connection and why validation is one of the most underrated and accessible interventions, alongside nervous system regulation approaches like CBT, DBT, EAET, EMDR, and Dr. Beth Darnall's Empowered Relief program. On modalities, they discuss heat, massage, acupuncture, dry needling, TENS units, bracing, and the often-overlooked power of diaphragmatic breathing, framed by Dr. Pradeep Chopra's "10% rule." The medication discussion covers a start-low-go-slow philosophy, medication sensitivities and pharmacogenomics, the importance of deprescribing to avoid polypharmacy, and options for POTS and mast cell activation. They close with a candid look at supplements, true deficiencies like scurvy and low vitamin D, the marketing traps to watch for, and a reminder to measure progress by function and quality of life rather than chasing a cure. Takeaways: • The MENS-PMMS Method™ emphasizes a whole-person approach, recognizing that meaningful improvement in EDS and HSD comes from addressing multiple domains rather than relying on a single treatment. • Lasting progress is often the result of accumulating many small gains across different interventions, an approach reflected in Dr. Pradeep Chopra's "10% rule." • Validation is not just compassionate care—it is a powerful therapeutic tool that can reduce distress, improve engagement, and support nervous system regulation. • The connection between physical symptoms and emotional well-being is physiologic, underscoring the importance of addressing both body and mind in treatment planning. • When introducing new therapies, changing one variable at a time can help patients and clinicians better identify what is helping, what is not, and what may be causing side effects. • Medication management should balance potential benefits with the risks of sensitivities, side effects, and polypharmacy, making deprescribing an important part of high-quality care. • Supplements are most valuable when they address a documented deficiency or specific clinical need rather than being used as a substitute for a comprehensive treatment plan. • Patients should be cautious of products or programs that promise cures, quick fixes, or dramatic results for complex chronic conditions. • Functional improvement, participation in meaningful activities, and quality of life are often better measures of success than symptom elimination alone. • The most effective treatment plans are individualized, flexible, and designed to evolve as a patient's needs, goals, and circumstances change. Go AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code BENDY. Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  EDS Information Overload: How to Know What to Trust | Ep. 202 25.06.2026 1ó 4p

  Too many diagnoses. Too many opinions. Too many tabs open. Not enough clarity. If you've ever felt overwhelmed trying to navigate Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), POTS, MCAS, chronic pain, or other complex health issues, you're not alone. In this episode of Bendy Bodies with the Hypermobility MD, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by physician assistant Rebecca Gluck, PA-C, who brings specialized genetics experience from working alongside Dr. Clair Francomano and serves on the Ehlers-Danlos Society's Medical and Scientific Advisory Board and Road to 2026 Research Committee. Together, they discuss how patients and families can move from information overload to a clearer, more practical plan. They explore how to evaluate online communities, AI tools, direct-to-consumer genetic testing, and conflicting medical opinions without becoming even more overwhelmed. Rebecca and Dr. Bluestein explain why diagnosis is often the beginning, not the end, of the journey, and why there is no single "EDS expert" who can solve every problem in one visit. They also walk through how to prioritize symptoms, identify the most functionally limiting issues, avoid unnecessary "whack-a-mole" interventions, and build a collaborative care team. This conversation is for anyone who has too many diagnoses, too many opinions, too many tabs open, and no clear next step. If you are trying to make sense of EDS, HSD, hypermobility, mast cell activation, POTS, chronic pain, genetic testing, AI-generated health information, or proposed procedures, this episode offers practical guidance to help you pause, sort through the noise, and move forward with more clarity. Takeaways: • Information overload is real, especially for people with EDS, HSD, POTS, MCAS, chronic pain, and complex multisystem symptoms. • More information does not always mean more clarity. The key is learning what applies to you, right now. • AI tools and direct-to-consumer genetic testing can help organize questions, but they are not diagnostic and can make uncertain findings sound more certain than they are. • A diagnosis can provide validation and shared language, but it is usually the start of building a plan, not the finish line. • Hypermobile EDS (hEDS) and HSD currently do not have a confirmatory genetic test. • No single clinician can be the expert in everything. Progress often comes from a collaborative care team and a clinician willing to listen, learn, and help prioritize. • When multiple diagnoses and procedures are on the table, focusing on the most functionally limiting symptoms can help prevent unnecessary or poorly timed interventions. • Addressing underlying contributors such as mast cell activation, dysautonomia, sleep, nutrition, pain, and deconditioning may sometimes reduce the need for more invasive steps. • The goal is not to chase every possible diagnosis at once. The goal is to identify the next best step. Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• 
  Physical Therapy for EDS: Why It Fails and How to Make It Work | Ep. 201 18.06.2026 1ó 9p

  "Exercise is good for EDS." So why do so many hypermobile people get worse when they try it? In this episode of Bendy Bodies with the Hypermobility MD, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by co-host Dr. Dacre Knight, Medical Director of the UVA Health EDS and Hypermobility Disorders Center, and physical therapist Dr. Morgan Groover to discuss one of the most misunderstood aspects of hypermobility care: how to make physical therapy and exercise work for a hypermobile body. Many people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), chronic pain, POTS, and related conditions have been told to exercise more, only to experience increased pain, injury, or setbacks. Others have been told to avoid activity altogether. In this conversation, Dr. Groover explains why both approaches can miss the mark. Together, they explore how hypermobile joints, muscles, tendons, and connective tissues respond to load, why individualized physical therapy is essential, and how the right amount of strengthening can improve joint stability, function, and quality of life. Dr. Groover shares practical strategies for determining an appropriate starting point, progressing safely, interpreting pain and soreness, and avoiding the common cycle of overdoing it and crashing. They also discuss the powerful role language plays in rehabilitation, how fear of movement can contribute to disability, and why hypermobile patients can often continue participating in activities they love, including running, dancing, yoga, and sports, with the right support and guidance. Whether you're living with EDS, HSD, generalized joint hypermobility, chronic pain, or you're a clinician looking to better support hypermobile patients, this episode offers practical, evidence-informed insights that can help change the way you think about movement and rehabilitation. Takeaways: • Why physical therapy often fails hypermobile patients and what successful EDS-informed rehabilitation looks like • The difference between productive soreness and pain that signals excessive loading • How muscles and tendons adapt to exercise and support joint stability in hypermobility • Why both overloading and underloading can contribute to worsening symptoms • How to safely return to exercise, sports, dance, yoga, and other meaningful activities • Why language matters when discussing joint instability, weakness, and pain • How fear of movement can contribute to deconditioning and disability • Practical strategies for building strength, resilience, and confidence in a hypermobile body Find the episode transcript here. Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! Want more Morgan Groover? Instagram: @morgan.groover.dpt Website: https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/directory/morgan-groover/ Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• 
  Hypermobility Then and Now | Episode 200 11.06.2026 1ó 28p

  What happens when the original voices behind Bendy Bodies come back together 200 episodes later? In this special milestone episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein reunites with her original co-host, dance medicine specialist Jennifer Milner, and the very first guest ever featured on the podcast, Dr. Moira McCormack. Long before hypermobility became a topic of widespread discussion, Dr. McCormack was asking important questions. A former Royal Ballet dancer, former Lead Physiotherapist for The Royal Ballet, and pioneering researcher, she was among the earliest clinicians investigating joint hypermobility in dancers and the challenges that often accompany it. Together, they reflect on more than two decades of progress in our understanding of hypermobility, Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), while exploring the many misconceptions that still persist today. The conversation goes far beyond flexibility. Dr. McCormack explains why many hypermobile dancers must work harder, recover more strategically, and develop greater body awareness than their peers. The discussion also dives into the often-overlooked multisystem effects of hypermobility, including fatigue, pain, dysautonomia, gastrointestinal symptoms, and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Drawing on decades of experience working with elite dancers and hypermobile patients, Dr. McCormack shares practical insights on injury prevention, individualized rehabilitation, hands-on assessment, and the art of teaching movement with patience and precision. Whether you're a dancer, athlete, parent, teacher, clinician, or someone navigating hypermobility yourself, this episode offers both a fascinating look at how far the field has come and a roadmap for where we still need to go. Most importantly, it reminds us that success in a hypermobile body isn't about having the most flexibility. It's about developing the control, strength, awareness, and resilience to use that flexibility well. Key Takeaways • This episode reunites the same three people who launched Bendy Bodies with Episode 1, creating a full-circle conversation 200 episodes later. • Hypermobile dancers often work harder behind the scenes than audiences realize. Fatigue, recovery, and injury prevention are frequently bigger challenges than flexibility itself. • Flexibility without control can increase injury risk. Strength, stability, motor control, and body awareness are essential for long-term success. • Hypermobility can affect far more than the joints, contributing to symptoms involving the nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, immune system, and cardiovascular system. • Rehabilitation is rarely one-size-fits-all. Hypermobile individuals often benefit from individualized assessment, hands-on treatment, and slower, more deliberate progression. • Teachers, parents, and healthcare professionals play a critical role in recognizing early warning signs and supporting healthy development in young dancers. • One of the most powerful injury-prevention strategies may be surprisingly simple: learning to master posture and alignment before adding movement. • Moira also honors the influence of the late Professor Rodney Grahame, with whom she conducted her early research and met frequently to discuss joint hypermobility, connective tissue disorders, and the many unanswered questions that continue to shape the field today. Find the episode transcript here. Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! Want more Jennifer Milner? Instagram: @jennifer.milner Website: https://www.jennifer-milner.com/ Want more Dr. Moira McCormack? https://iseh.co.uk/member/moira-mccormack Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Fatigue, Pain, Poor Sleep? It Could Be Vitamin D. | Dr. Gregory Plotnikoff & Dr. Dacre Knight (Ep. 199) 04.06.2026 1ó 10p

  Could one of the most overlooked drivers of chronic pain, fatigue, poor sleep, and slow recovery be hiding in plain sight? In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein and co-host Dr. Dacre Knight sit down with integrative medicine pioneer Dr. Gregory Plotnikoff to unpack why Vitamin D may be one of the most important, misunderstood, and cost-effective interventions in modern medicine. But this conversation goes far beyond bone health. Dr. Plotnikoff explains why Vitamin D functions more like a hormone than a vitamin, influencing over 2,000 genes tied to immune function, mood, sleep, inflammation, muscle health, and pain regulation. Together, they explore why profound deficiencies are shockingly common, even in sunny climates, and how low levels may contribute to chronic musculoskeletal pain, tendinopathies, stress fractures, fatigue, and complex chronic illness. The discussion also dives into practical, foundational medicine for patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS), POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome), chronic pain, and other multisystem conditions, including the “Top 5” lab tests Dr. Plotnikoff believes are essential for understanding the bigger picture of health. If you’ve ever been told your labs are “normal” while still feeling awful, this episode may change how you think about chronic illness and foundational health. Takeaways: • Vitamin D is actually a hormone that regulates gene expression affecting pain, sleep, energy, immunity, and bone health. • Chronic musculoskeletal pain, stress fractures, and tendon problems may sometimes be linked to severe Vitamin D deficiency. • Many people remain profoundly deficient despite living in sunny climates because Vitamin D synthesis is blocked by glass, sunscreen, clothing, and indoor lifestyles. • Vitamin D dosing is often weight-dependent, meaning some individuals require significantly higher doses to reach adequate levels. • Dr. Plotnikoff’s “Top 5” foundational labs for complex chronic illness include: Find the episode transcript here. Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! Want more Dr. Gregory Plotnikoff? www.MNpersonalizedmedicine.com Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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. Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at ⁠⁠https://www\.bendybodiespodcast\.com/⁠⁠. YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!⁠⁠ Learn more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Why Lipedema Resists Diet and Exercise with the Lipedema Foundation (Ep 198) 28.05.2026 1ó 13p

  You have been told it is just weight. Just diet. Just effort. For millions of women with lipedema, that is not just wrong. It is decades of unnecessary suffering. In this episode of Bendy Bodies, I sit down with Kasi Grosvenor and Jesse Cochrane from the Lipedema Foundation to pull back the curtain on one of the most misdiagnosed and misunderstood conditions in women's health. Kasi spent decades fainting, being dismissed, and searching for answers before finally finding clarity at the intersection of lipedema and hereditary alpha tryptasemia. Her story is not unusual. It is the norm for this patient population. Jesse brings the science. Lipedema is not obesity. It is not a lifestyle problem. It is a chronic medical condition involving disproportionate, painful, fibrotic adipose tissue that resists caloric restriction and exercise by design. Emerging research points to extracellular matrix dysfunction as a potential shared biological thread connecting lipedema to Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS), hypermobility, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). The overlap is not coincidental. It may be biological. We cover what clinicians and patients both need to understand: Why the absence of biomarkers has made diagnosis so difficult, and what the evolving definition of the disease actually means for patients seeking answers. Why lipedema tissue behaves differently from typical fat, and why standard weight loss advice not only fails but can cause harm. What conservative management actually looks like, including medical compression, pneumatic compression pumps, anti-inflammatory nutrition, and specialized manual therapies. The truth about lipedema removal surgery. This is not cosmetic liposuction. It is a medical intervention to remove diseased tissue, and its outcomes depend heavily on what comes before and after the procedure. If you have been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told to try harder, this episode is for you. Takeaways: Lipedema is not obesity. The tissue is structurally and biologically different, and it does not respond to diet and exercise the way standard fat tissue does. Pain and tenderness in the affected tissue is a hallmark feature, not a coincidence. If you have EDS, HSD, POTS, or MCAS, lipedema may be part of your picture. The biological overlap is real and increasingly supported by research. A normal BMI does not rule out lipedema. Diagnosis is clinical, not based on weight. Lipedema removal surgery is a medical procedure. Calling it cosmetic liposuction misrepresents both the tissue and the intent. The absence of biomarkers does not mean the condition is not real. It means the research has not caught up yet. Want more Kasi Grosvenor & Jesse Cochrane? https://x.com/LipedemaFndn https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_fndn/ https://www.facebook.com/Lipedema/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvpjYrsAUGB0-evCNqsSrGA https://www.lipedema.org/ Go AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code BENDY. Head to cozyearth.com and use my code BENDY for up to 30% off — but only for a limited time. This exclusive offer runs from May 18th through June 1st only, so don't wait. Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Why Everything You've Been Told About EDS Lifestyle Is Wrong with Dr. Dacre Knight (Ep 197) 21.05.2026 1ó 9p

  Most people with EDS or HSD have been told to "exercise more," "eat better," and "sleep on a schedule," usually by someone who has never tried to do any of those things in a hypermobile, pain-flaring, dysautonomic body. This episode is different. Dr. Linda Bluestein and Dr. Dacre Knight break down the foundational layer of the MENS PMMS treatment algorithm, a structured framework built specifically for the complexity of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders. MENS stands for Movement, Education, Nutrition, and Sleep. This conversation goes far beyond surface-level advice to explain what each category actually means when your connective tissue, nervous system, and autonomic function are all working against you at once. You will learn why standard physical therapy can set EDS patients back and what to look for in a provider who actually understands joint protection. You will understand central sensitization at a biological level, not just as a buzzword, and why reframing pain as a nervous system state rather than a structural inevitability changes everything. You will hear why nutrition conversations for the EDS population need to start with GI dysfunction and malabsorption, not calories and BMI. And you will finally get a clear explanation of why pain and poor sleep feed each other in a vicious cycle, and what interrupts it. Whether you are a patient who has heard "your labs are normal" one too many times, or a clinician building a practice that actually serves this community, this episode gives you a concrete starting point. The body you are working with is not broken. It just needs a different playbook. Takeaways: Why most PT makes EDS worse before it makes it better, and the "slow and low" approach that actually builds joint stability without triggering a flare. The neuroscience of "no plastic" pain. Central sensitization is not in your head. Understanding how the nervous system learns to amplify pain is the first step toward teaching it something different. Nutrition beyond BMI. In EDS and HSD, postprandial distress, malabsorption, and GI dysmotility are often the bigger drivers of health outcomes than anything showing up on a standard nutrition screening. The pain-insomnia trap. Pain activates your sympathetic nervous system. A revved-up sympathetic nervous system blocks restorative sleep. Poor sleep amplifies pain sensitivity. Here is how to break the cycle. Motion is lotion, done right. Low-impact, recumbent movement is not a consolation prize. It is one of the most effective tools for stabilizing autonomic function in this population. Find the episode transcript here. Go AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code BENDY. Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Too Flexible to Fix? Orthopedic Surgery and Hypermobility with Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein (Ep 196) 14.05.2026 1ó 10p

  What if being too flexible is exactly what makes surgery fail? And what if your doctor thinks your shoulder is fine because you can lift your arm to 90 degrees, not realizing that for you, 90 degrees might as well be a frozen joint? Your joints bend farther than most. But when something goes wrong, that same flexibility may be working against you and your surgeon may not know it yet. In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein sits down with Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein, orthopedic surgeon at Duke University, to pull back the curtain on one of medicine's most misunderstood intersections: hypermobility, connective tissue disorders, and orthopedic care. Why do surgeons sometimes refuse to operate on patients with hypermobility or EDS? What actually happens during an "atraumatic" dislocation and why does it feel so different from a typical injury? And how does estrogen quietly shape the strength of your connective tissue across your lifetime? Dr. Wittstein walks us through the critical distinction between joint laxity and instability a difference that changes everything about treatment. She explains the frozen shoulder paradox, where a hypermobile patient loses dramatic range of motion but still looks "normal" on paper. She breaks down what PRP can and cannot do, and when regenerative medicine is worth considering. And she reveals why surgical technique itself has to change when the patient has variant connective tissue. Whether you are managing chronic subluxations, weighing a surgical decision, or just trying to understand why your body plays by different rules this conversation gives you the framework to advocate for smarter care. Takeaways: Laxity Is Not Instability: Laxity is how far your joint moves. Instability is what happens when you can no longer control that movement. These are not the same problem. The Dislocation Spectrum: Hypermobile joints often dislocate with little or no trauma -- and reduce just as easily, because the tissues have more give and recoil. This is a fundamentally different mechanism than what surgeons typically train for. Why Surgery Gets Complicated: Surgeons may modify technique entirely for hypermobile patients using donor tendons or internal bracing, because standard repairs fail at higher rates when connective tissue itself is the variable. Estrogen and Your Joints: Estrogen influences collagen synthesis and joint inflammation. Its withdrawal during menopause can trigger increased pain and fibrotic conditions, including frozen shoulder, in ways that are rarely discussed. The Frozen Shoulder Paradox: A hypermobile patient presenting with 90 degrees of shoulder motion might look fine to any other doctor. For them, it may represent a catastrophic loss from baseline and will almost certainly be missed without the right clinical lens. What PRP Can (and Cannot) Do: PRP shows legitimate evidence for reducing inflammatory markers in mild arthritis. Bone marrow concentrate, despite the hype, has not yet proven superior. Know the difference before you invest. Find the episode transcript here. Want more Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein? @Jocelyn_wittstein_md https://ortho.duke.edu/jocelyn-r-wittstein-md Go to ⁠⁠cozyearth.com⁠⁠ and use my Promo Code: BENDYBOGO Go AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code BENDY. Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Busting Common EDS & MCAS Myths with Dr. Dacre Knight (Ep 195) 07.05.2026 1ó 4p

  In this "MythBusters" edition of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein and recurring co-host Dr. Dacre Knight tackle the persistent misconceptions surrounding Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), and their frequent companions, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). Dr. Knight, Medical Director of the UVA Health EDS and Hypermobility Disorder Center, shares why hypermobile EDS (hEDS) is a serious condition even when not life-threatening, and why a negative genetic test doesn't rule out a diagnosis. The conversation dives deep into the "invisible" impact of these disorders on long-term disability and work ability, while offering hope through a better understanding of pain processing and nociplastic pain. From debunking the idea that POTS is merely deconditioning to navigating the controversial waters of MCAS, this episode empowers patients and clinicians with the knowledge needed to look past the surface and recognize the systemic reality of bendy bodies. Takeaways: EDS Severity: Hypermobile EDS and HSD are serious, chronic conditions that cause multi-system impairment and long-term disability, regardless of whether they are immediately life-threatening. Genetic Testing Limits: Current genetic testing cannot rule out hEDS or HSD because their specific genetic markers remain unknown; diagnosis still relies on clinical history and physical assessment. POTS is Systemic: POTS is far more than simple deconditioning or a cardiac issue; it is a neurologic dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system that impacts everything from heart rate to temperature regulation. The MCAS Spectrum: While MCAS criteria are still evolving and controversial, focusing on clinical patterns and safe treatment responses can improve quality of life even when lab tests (e.g., tryptase) are negative. Pain vs. Damage: Pain is a complex, bidirectional experience; patients can experience significant pain without visible structural damage due to central sensitization and dysfunctional pain signaling. Find the episode transcript here. Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? Go AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code BENDY. For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Told You’re “Too Sensitive”? It Might Be ADHD, Autism, and Hypermobility with Jessica Eccles (Ep 194) 30.04.2026 1ó 19p

  Dr. Jessica Eccles, an award-winning neurodevelopmental psychiatrist, returns for a deep dive into the profound connections between hypermobility, variant connective tissue, and the neurodivergent brain. In this conversation, she explores why individuals with bendy bodies are significantly more likely to be autistic or have ADHD, and how these conditions create a "spiky profile" of sensory and emotional challenges. Dr. Eccles unpacks the embodied nature of rejection sensitivity, describing it as a physical "punch in the chest" and reveals how improving proprioception (your sense of where you are in space) can actually stabilize emotional regulation. This episode provides a vital unifying framework for those who have spent years feeling misunderstood by the medical community, offering both a shared narrative and practical tools for healing. Takeaways: The Shared Narrative: Healing requires a shared framework between doctor and patient; without a narrative that unifies brain and body symptoms, patients often experience clinician-associated trauma. Proprioceptive Surprise: Hypermobile individuals often experience "proprioceptive surprise," where uncertainty about the body's position in space directly doubles the risk of emotional dysregulation. The Physical Side of Rejection: Rejection sensitivity is not just a psychological construct but an embodied experience, often felt as a physical blow or a sudden loss of support. The Masking Spectrum: Many hypermobile people mask not only neurodivergent traits but also chronic pain from a young age, often assuming their "medical strangeness" is typical for everyone. Diagnostic Labels vs. Patterns: Dr. Eccles argues that many people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder may actually be autistic or have ADHD, finding that stimulants can often improve impulsivity and emotional stability better than traditional psychiatric medications Find the episode transcript here. Want more Dr.Jessica Eccles? @drbendybrain -- Instagram @BendyBrainDrJessicaEccles -- YouTube @BendyBrain -- Linktree Go to ⁠cozyearth.com⁠ and use my Promo Code: BENDYBOGO Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Why Your MRI Looks “Normal” but You Still Have a CSF Leak with Dr. Andrew Callen (Ep 193) 23.04.2026 1ó 20p

  Spinal cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leaks are significantly more common in those with connective tissue disorders than many realize, yet patients often suffer for years before finding the right diagnosis. In this episode, neuroradiologist Dr. Andrew Callen joins Dr. Linda Bluestein and co-host Dr. Knight to discuss the complexities of CSF dynamics and the challenges of diagnosing leaks when routine imaging appears normal. Dr. Callen explains the different types of leaks, including the elusive CSF-venous fistula, and why common clinical assumptions, like the requirement of a low opening pressure, are often incorrect. From the Bern Score to the critical differences between Chiari malformations and positional brain sag, this conversation provides an essential roadmap for patients and clinicians navigating the "unseen" world of intracranial hypotension. Takeaways: Cerebral Spinal Fluid Basics: CSF is a clear fluid that cushions the brain and spine and plays a vital role in metabolic function. Three Major Leak Types: Leaks can occur via bone spurs poking the dura, nerve root tears (common in EDS), or CSF-venous fistulas where fluid drains into the bloodstream. Atypical Presentation: While "orthostatic headaches" (worse when upright) are classic, many patients experience vestibular symptoms like ringing in the ears, muffled hearing, imbalance, or cognitive "brain fog". The Pressure Myth: The vast majority of proven CSF leak patients do not have low opening pressure; it is a disease of low volume, not necessarily low pressure. Chiari Misdiagnosis: Positional "brain sag" can look identical to a Chiari malformation on imaging, leading to inappropriate surgical treatments if not carefully evaluated. The Bern Score: This probabilistic scoring system based on MRI findings helps radiologists determine how likely it is that a myelogram will successfully find a patient's leak. Imaging Strategy: Clinicians should look beyond simple reports and request specific measurements, such as the optic nerve sheath diameter and the Bern Score, to build an evidence-based case. Find the episode transcript here. Want more Dr. Andrew Callen? https://x.com/AndrewCallenMD Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Tight Muscles, Loose Joints, Pelvic Pain: The Hypermobility Paradox with Dr. Brooke Winder (Ep 192) 16.04.2026 1ó 17p

  In this essential conversation, Dr. Linda Bluestein welcomes pelvic health physical therapist and dance science expert Dr. Brooke Winder to explore the often-hidden intersection of pelvic health, performance, and joint hypermobility. Dr. Winder shares her professional insights and personal history with urinary leakage as a young athlete, shedding light on why over a third of professional dancers and aerialists experience similar symptoms. The discussion unpacks the "hypermobility paradox", where muscles become chronically overactive to compensate for lax ligaments, and how this tension can lead to pelvic pain, incontinence, and sexual dysfunction. From the impact of under-fueling (REDs) to the surprising connection between jaw tension and the pelvic floor, this episode provides a roadmap for athletes and non-athletes alike to "zoom out" and find holistic strategies for recovery and resilience. Takeaways: The Hypermobility Paradox: People with lax connective tissue often have hyperactive pelvic floor muscles that work overtime to provide the stability their ligaments cannot. Prevalence in Performance: Around 34% of professional dancers and 40% of aerialists report urinary leakage, even those who have never been pregnant or given birth. The "Zoom Out" Method: Pelvic health is influenced by the entire body; issues in the jaw (TMJ), neck, and hips can directly contribute to pelvic floor tension and pain. REDs and Incontinence: Low energy availability (under-fueling) can weaken skeletal muscles, including the pelvic floor, and is now recognized as a health consequence of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport. Autonomic Influence: The pelvic floor is highly responsive to the nervous system; conditions like POTS can trigger bladder urgency and disrupt coordination. Agency in Therapy: Pelvic floor PT does not always require an internal exam; many improvements can be made through external assessment, virtual coaching, and movement strategies Find the episode transcript here. Want more Dr. Brooke Winder? https://www.instagram.com/drbrookewinderpt/ Go to cozyearth.com and use my Promo Code: BENDYBOGO Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Mast Cells to Microplastics with Dr. Anne Maitland and cohost Dr. Dacre Knight (Ep 191) 09.04.2026 1ó 25p

  In this enlightening episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein and recurring co-host Dr. Dacre Knight sit down with nationally recognized expert Dr. Anne Maitland to explore a revolutionary perspective on allergic and immune-mediated disorders. Dr. Maitland unpacks the "Epithelial Barrier Hypothesis," explaining how our modernized, industrialized environment, filled with microplastics, "forever chemicals," and processed foods, has essentially "confused" our ancestral defenses. She describes the triad of the epithelial border, the nervous system, and mast cells, illustrating how hypermobile individuals often act as the "canaries in the coal mine" due to their heightened sensory perceptions. The discussion moves beyond traditional allergy testing to address why so many patients suffer from multi-organ symptoms despite negative lab results, offering practical "swaps" and treatment strategies to help quiet a twitchy immune system. Takeaways The Border Under Attack: Modern pollutants like microplastics and harsh cleaners cause "leaky" epithelial barriers in the skin, gut, and lungs, allowing triggers to constantly activate the immune system. The Sensory-Immune Triad: Mast cells sit directly next to somatosensory nerves and blood vessels; when the nerves detect danger, they signal the mast cells to release potent chemicals. "Twitchy" vs. "Broken" Cells: Most patients don't have rare genetic mast cell diseases (broken cells) but rather "Mast Cells Breaking Bad", cells that are over-responding to an increasingly toxic environment. EDS and Hypersensitivity: There is a high correlation between being "bendy" and being hypersensitive, as proprioceptive deficits can keep the nervous system and thus the mast cells in a state of high alert. Practical Swaps for Stability: Simple changes like wearing cotton, using glass storage, and avoiding processed foods (emulsifiers) can significantly reduce the "insults" to your epithelial barriers. Find the episode transcript here. Want more Dr. Anne Maitland? https://x.com/asktheallergist Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health Want more Dr. Dacre Knight? https://x.com/knidac Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start 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 more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠sales@human-content.com⁠⁠⁠ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices