Multisystem Disorders & Pain

A multisystem disorder is a health condition that affects more than one body system—such as the nervous system, immune system, digestive system, circulatory system, or connective tissues—often at the same time. These disorders don’t just impact a single symptom or organ; they create overlapping patterns of dysfunction that can influence how the body experiences pain, fatigue, stress responses, and daily functioning.

Examples:

Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) and Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) 

Dysautonomia and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) 

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) — also called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)

Long COVID 

Fibromyalgia 

Neurodivergence

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

Multisystem disorders commonly involve:

• Nervous system dysfunction

• Autonomic nervous system dysregulation

• Immune and inflammatory responses

• Connective tissue fragility or biomechanical stress

• Hormonal and metabolic imbalances

When multiple systems are involved:

• Signals between the body and brain can become amplified or dysregulated

• Pain receptors and central pain pathways may stay “turned on”

• Stress, fatigue, and emotional responses can interact with physical symptoms

• Daily activity and movement can trigger or worsen pain responses

This multidimensional overlap is a key reason someone might continue to experience chronic pain long after an injury would normally heal—or why pain feels widespread, unpredictable, or resistant to single treatments. 

In multisystem conditions, chronic pain isn’t simply a “physical symptom” of one isolated injury—it reflects a complex interaction between:

• How the nervous system interprets signals

• How the immune system responds to stress or inflammation

• How movement and posture affect the body

• How emotions and stress influence physical tension

This aligns with the Mind & Body Pain Care model, which emphasizes that pain is shaped not only by biological factors but also by how we think, feel, and move through life. Treating chronic pain effectively—especially in the context of multisystem disorders—often requires addressing all of these dimensions together.

AI generated (17 min) conversation about the Multisystem Disorders and Chronic Pain