Connective Tissue Disorders and Lipedema with Karen Herbst, MD (Ep 104)

In this Bendy Bodies podcast episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein interviews Dr. Karen Herbst, an expert on lipedema and adipose connective tissue diseases, discussing their complex relationship with connective tissue disorders, inflammation, and hormones. Dr. Herbst highlights the frequent misdiagnosis of lipedema as regular obesity or lymphedema and explains its hormonal connections during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. She emphasizes the role of inflammation and fibrosis in lipedema, contributing to chronic pain. The episode covers diagnostic challenges, management strategies including anti-inflammatory diets, intermittent fasting, supplements like berberine and CoQ10, and the benefits of both surgical (liposuction) and non-surgical treatments such as compression therapy and manual lymphatic drainage. The discussion extends to potential dietary and pharmacological interventions, including careful hormonal management and possible use of GLP-1 agonists, with consideration of associated risks and insurance challenges. Neuromuscular stimulation tools like whole-body vibration machines are also mentioned as supportive therapies.