Hand Pain, Numbness & Weakness in EDS: Missed Nerve Problems with Dr. William Ericson | Ep 214

What if your hand pain, numbness, weakness, or grip problems aren’t actually coming from your hand or wrist? Orthopedic hand surgeon William Ericson, MD, joins Dr. Linda Bluestein to explain why people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and hypermobility may experience overlooked median nerve entrapment near the elbow, carpal tunnel-like symptoms, thumb arthritis, and thoracic outlet syndrome—even when standard imaging or nerve testing doesn’t reveal the answer. Dr. Ericson, co-author of the 2017 American Journal of Medical Genetics article on orthopedic management of the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, shares what he has learned from more than three decades of treating patients with complex upper-extremity symptoms. Why can someone have significant hand pain, weakness, numbness, tingling, or loss of grip strength even when imaging or standard nerve testing looks normal? Dr. Ericson describes a pattern of proximal median nerve entrapment near the elbow that he believes is extremely common in people with EDS and may frequently be mistaken for carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, or unexplained pain. He explains how median nerve dysfunction can change the way the hand pinches and grips, potentially placing excessive stress on the thumb and contributing to thumb arthritis over time. He also discusses whether identifying and treating the underlying nerve problem could help reduce that risk. The conversation expands beyond the hand and wrist to the relationship between hypermobility, shoulder instability, scapular protraction, and thoracic outlet syndrome. Dr. Ericson explains why improving shoulder and scapular mechanics may sometimes be more important than operating directly on the thoracic outlet. You’ll also hear an important discussion about cortisone injections in EDS and hypermobility, including why injections may be appropriate for true tendon inflammation but potentially problematic when the underlying issue is joint instability. Just as importantly, Dr. Ericson explains why he evaluates the whole person before recommending surgery—including posture, shoulder mechanics, thoracic outlet involvement, stress, and mental health—and why persistent symptoms after surgery may sometimes reflect an unrecognized problem farther upstream. The episode closes with advice for anyone living with symptoms that have been difficult to explain: a good clinician does not have to know everything. Sometimes the most important words a healthcare professional can say are, “I don’t know—but I believe you, and I’ll help you figure out what comes next.” Want more of Dr. William Ericson? Website: https://www.williamericsonmd.com/ Ericson Hand and Nerve Center: https://ericsonhand.com/ Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD? Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/ YouTube:    / @bendybodiespodcast   Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠   Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠  / bendybodiespodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠   X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠  / bluesteinlinda⁠⁠⁠⁠   LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠   Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hypermobilitymd.substack.com/ Shop my Amazon store ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobi... Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hyp... Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-pra... UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds... UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/speci... 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 Go http://www.AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code BENDY. FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links are commissionable, meaning I may earn commission from purchases made through links Chapter: 00:00 Median Nerve Shocker 00:29 Meet Dr Erickson 01:47 Why He Focuses on EDS 06:14 Listening Changed Everything 13:52 Common Upper Extremity Complaints 19:58 Median Nerve Elbow Explained 25:06 Misdiagnosis and Thumb Arthritis 28:16 Surgery Decision Protocol 31:30 Ergonomics and Tool Hacks 33:09 When Surgery Makes Sense 33:57 Thoracic Outlet Surgery Risks 35:29 Scapular Protraction Fix 38:26 Red Flags Before Operating 45:24 Activities That Trigger Symptoms 47:30 Best Exercises for EDS 50:05 Clinician Pitfalls and Wrap-Up