
š§ What Is Medical Trauma in EDS and HSD?
If you or a loved one has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) or a Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), you may already know the feeling:
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- Being told “it’s just anxiety”
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- Having your symptoms dismissed because your labs are ānormalā
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- Being misdiagnosed, gaslit, or labeled as ānoncompliantā
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- Being told to ājust stretchā or āstop exercisingā altogether
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- Feeling like youāre constantly trying to prove your pain is real
š A growing body of researchāconfirms what patients have been saying for years: medical trauma is common among people with EDS and HSD, and it has lasting consequences on trust, care-seeking, and health outcomes.
Disclaimer: this information is for your education and should not be considered medical advice regarding diagnosis or treatment recommendations.
š The Impact of Medical Trauma
The trauma that stems from repeated invalidation, misdiagnosis, and mistreatment leads to:
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- š« Avoidance of future medical care
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- š Heightened anxiety during appointments
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- š„ Pain flare-ups triggered by stress
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- š§± Barriers to building therapeutic alliances
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- š¶ Feeling unseen and unheardāeven when symptoms are severe
Many EDS/HSD patients report complex trauma related to healthcare, which impacts both their physical and emotional recovery.
š§āāļø At Pain & Performance Coach LLC, We Do Things Differently
Hereās how Dr. Mike Makher and the team at Pain & Performance Coach set themselves apart in the Hillsboro and Beaverton area:
1ļøā£ He Actually Listens š
No rushing, no dismissing, no judgment. Whether youāve seen 10 providers or 100, Dr. Mike takes the time to understand your full storyāincluding your frustrations, setbacks, and fears.
2ļøā£ He ChallengesāBut Never Pushes Too far š¦
Your tolerance level is the roadmap. Dr. Mike provides just the right amount of challenge to build strength, stability, and confidenceāwithout triggering repeated flares or shutdowns. Progress is earned together, not forced.
3ļøā£ If Heās Not the Right Fit, Heāll Help You Find Who Is š§
You wonāt be left to āfigure it out on your own.ā Dr. Mike genuinely believes in getting every patient the care they deserveāeven if that means referring you to someone else better suited for your specific needs.
⨠Thatās how patient centered care should work.
š A Safe, High-Tech Space for Healing in Hillsboro & Beaverton
Pain & Performance Coach LLC is proud to support EDS and HSD patients throughout:
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- Hillsboro
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- Beaverton
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- Forest Grove
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- Cornelius
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- North Plains
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- Portland
Using high-quality tools like:
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- 𩸠Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) [which seems to be have far more applicability for people with EDS than most others]
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- š Objective feedback on your progress (from the Voltra to the Dynamo Max to the forceplates)
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- šŖ Resistance training tools (including the Voltra I)
ā¦combined with deep compassion and patient-centered communication, this isnāt just another PT clinicāitās a space for healing.
Disclaimer: this information is for your education and should not be considered medical advice regarding diagnosis or treatment recommendations.
š¬ You Deserve to Be Heard. You Deserve to Heal.
If youāve been dismissed, mistreated, or ignored in the past, you are not aloneāand you are not the problem.
š Call us or book online today. Letās talk about whatās been holding you backāand how we can help you move forward.