Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a genetic condition that affects the production of collagen which is used to provide strength and elasticity to many of the body’s tissues.  People with EDS tend to have highly flexible joints, fragile skin and may develop chronic pain.  There are several different forms of EDS, and associated conditions can include craniocervical instability, mitral valve prolapse, malfunctions of the autonomic nervous system and, in vascular EDS, rupture of major blood vessels and organs.  This lecture provides an integrative approach to pain management for patients with EDS.

When someone finds out they have cancer, it's hard to know what to say to be supportive. Here are some guidelines and suggestions to follow from our Associate Director, Delia Chiaramonte, MD.

The American Chronic Pain Association reminds us that the month of September has been declared Pain Awareness Month.  “Pain Awareness Month is a time when various organizations work to raise public awareness of issues in the area of pain and pain management.”

Chronic pain treatment has been in the spotlight recently due to rising concerns about the dangers of taking opiate medications in an attempt to manage it.  Issues include addiction, over-dose and death, gateway to illegal drugs and “opiate induced hypersensitivity” whereby exposure to opiates causes the patient to become more sensitive and experience more pain.

Chronic pain also presents a substantial economic and public health burden. The following map, based on current figures and census data on state populations, estimates that 116,000,000 Americans experience chronic pain.  Imagine every human being in the shaded states experiencing ongoing pain. (1)
Imagine the entire shaded region, 116 million people, where every single individual experiences ongoing pain every day. Every person you see on the street, on a bus, at home, at work… including you, is in pain almost all of the time.  I think we need more than a Pain Awareness Month to address this, but it’s a start!

​​Aromatherapy (use of essential oils) can be a helpful, safe, and enjoyable method of practicing self-care for pain, as well as other conditions.  But before you reach for an essential oil, there are some important things you should know to be safe, how to select the right oil for your concern, and where to find reliable information when you have questions.