Autoimmune Conditions

Autoimmune conditions occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s healthy tissues, leading to inflammation, pain, and systemic dysfunction. There are over 80 known autoimmune diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis, affecting nearly 5% of the population. Autoimmune conditions are also frequently associated with other conditions, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, dysautonomia (including POTS), and hypermobility disorders (including HSD and EDS).

These conditions are often complex and can present with a wide range of symptoms affecting many body systems, making diagnosis challenging. Autoimmune conditions are generally more common in women, and can be triggered by a range of genetic, environmental, or hormonal factors. Infections seem to be a frequent trigger for onset of autoimmunity (for example, long COVID seems to be associated with autoimmune processes).

The symptoms of autoimmune conditions vary depending on the exact condition, but pain and fatigue are common. Symptoms can often be managed using an individualised approach that incorporates appropriate medical treatment with movement/exercise therapy, energy conservation and graded activity (sensitive to the person’s capacity), lifestyle modifications, assistive technology, and other pain management approaches.