![]() OA is not an inevitable aging disease some people never develop it. It typically develops slowly over time, but after such an injury, it can develop much more rapidly, within just a few years. OA can affect any joint, but typically affects hands, knees, hips, lower back and neck. Its signs and symptoms typically show up more often in individuals over age 50, but OA can affect much younger people, too, especially those who have had a prior joint injury, such as a torn ACL or meniscus. Osteoarthritis can degrade cartilage, change bone shape and cause inflammation, resulting in pain, stiffness and loss of mobility. But we know now that it is a disease of the entire joint, including bone, cartilage, ligaments, fat and the tissues lining the joint (the synovium). Historically, osteoarthritis (OA) was known as a “wear and tear” condition, generally associated with aging. Very creepy not being able to control throat and breathing.” - Bet D.Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that can affect the many tissues of the joint. It is by far the most common form of arthritis, affecting more than 32.5 million adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Swallowing difficulty at random times that freaks me out because my throat muscles seemingly are not getting the connection from my brain to work. “Dry mouth that feels like sandpaper sticking. Having a very dry mouth that makes swallowing difficult could mean that you have Sjögren’s syndrome difficulty swallowing can also be a symptom of autonomic dysfunction. I try to eat smaller meals but it’s very frustrating trying to enjoy a nice big dinner and dessert and then paying for it in the form of POTS symptoms!” - Nicole C. ![]() “Eating exacerbating my symptoms! Especially when I eat a large meal my symptoms usually act up more. In addition, eating a large meal causes more blood to be redirected to the digestion process, leading to an increase in POTS symptoms. The autonomic nervous system regulates digestion, so POTS can cause diarrhea, constipation and bloating, and some people with POTS have gastroparesis. “The one side of my face turning red or one foot turning red. And one study of 39 POTS patients found that 77 percent experienced facial flushing, possibly due to an increase in circulating hormones produced by the adrenal glands. Your feet or legs may turn reddish-purple when you stand due to blood pooling or poor circulation. Chronic PainĬhronic body pain may not be immediately thought to be associated with POTS, but having poor circulation, blood pooling and coldness in extremities can all be very painful. “Urinary issues such as chronic UTIs and not being able to empty your bladder so you have to keep going back to the bathroom several times every hour!” - Gabrielle E. The autonomic nervous system helps regulate the bladder, so people with POTS may experience difficulties with urinary incontinence. “Feeling like you’re blackout drunk at the most random times.” - Abby T. Symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, exhaustion, blurred vision and shakiness can all feel like being drunk, even if you haven’t had a drop of alcohol. To avoid major flare I need to avoid crowds, flashing lights, concerts, theme parks, roller coasters, fireworks, big screen movies, surround sound, action movies, the list goes on.” - Sam S. I’m sensitive to anything that can overload my body and push it farther into a ‘fight or flight’ response. “Because of an overactive sympathetic system: easy sensory overload. People with dysautonomia may have difficulty sorting through the signals received by sensory and autonomic nerves, so they may get overwhelmed by stimuli easier than others. Some research indicates it is caused by poor blood flow to the muscles of the upper back and neck. Named because the location of pain imitates the shape of a coat hanger, “coat hanger” pain is found in the upper shoulders, back and neck, and worsens in an upright position. Besides the anxiety feeling keeping you up, when you do sleep you can get constant bouts of tachycardia, sweating, and microarousals which make getting sustained deep sleep nearly impossible no matter how long you’ve ‘slept.’ I’ve thankfully found meds which help prevent all that, but it took a couple sleep docs, an outstanding cardio, and a ton of personal research to even identify that it was happening.” - Sam S.ĭownload the Mighty app to ask questions and give support to other members of our POTS community. They come with the hyperactive sympathetic nervous system seen in POTS. ![]() When it comes to POTS, this can lead to a surge of adrenaline at unexpected times. People with hyperadrenergic POTS have an overactive sympathetic nervous system, the system that operates the “flight or fight” response.
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