The name of this disease sounds elusive to me. What the heck is mixed connective tissue? Sounds like a box assortment of chocolate or nuts. Information on MCTD diagnosis, symptoms, treatment options and pain relief is hard to find. This is because the disease is similar to many diseases, some genetic in nature, some simply a mystery. Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) in medical terms is considered an overlap of lupus, scleroderma, and polymyositis. The disorder can be an overlap of any combination of other diseases meaning lupus or scleroderma - aka diseases that “mess up” our connective tissue.

There are many types of connective tissue issues that are now being called diseases however, to diagnose them and develop treatments are still a bit of a mystery. There is another type of connective tissue disease called “Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD)”. The conditions and symptoms of this disorder also have similarities to Lupus. Both types of connective tissue diseases are felt to be caused by an overactive immune system that literally attacks our own good cells instead of fighting off foreign pathogens such as bacteria.

In all cases of connective tissue disease abnormalities involving the collagen and elastin are always present. Connective tissue diseases are often characterized by a variety of immune abnormalities that are common for each particular type of illness. Because the damage to the tissue is related to the disease itself, the medical field is focused on combating the disease, not managing or helping the damage to the connective tissue. This is simply considered a symptom of the disease. Treatment is focused on altering the immune response. There is no medical intervention to the connective tissue damage. The hope is by slowing or altering the immune response, medicine can get the immune system to stop attacking the connective tissue.

Diseases of connective tissue that are strictly inheritable (due to genetic inheritance) include Marfan syndrome (can have tissue abnormalities in the heart, aorta, lungs, eyes, and skeleton) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (may have loose, fragile skin or hypermobile, unstable joints). Pseudoxanthoma elasticum is an inherited disorder of elastin.

Other diseases of connective tissue do not have specific gene abnormalities as their sole cause. These connective tissue diseases occur for unknown reasons. They are characterized as a group by the presence of spontaneous over activity of the immune system, which results in the production of unusual antibodies into the blood.

The classic immune-related connective tissue diseases include systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, polymyositis, and dermatomyositis. Each of these diseases has specific characteristics with typical clinical findings that doctors can recognize during an examination. Each also has characteristic blood test abnormalities and abnormal antibody patterns.

However, each of these diseases can evolve slowly or rapidly from very subtle abnormalities before demonstrating the classic features that help in the diagnosis. When these conditions have not developed the classic features of a particular disease, doctors will often refer to the condition as "undifferentiated connective tissue disease." This implies that the characteristic features that are used to define the classic connective tissue disease are not present, but some symptoms or signs of connective disease exist. Individuals with undifferentiated connective tissue disease may never develop a fully definable condition or they may eventually develop a classic connective tissue disease.

For years connective tissue has been defined as a passive packing material so it’s no wonder no one directly cares about this 3-dimensional support system. We are so focused with the stuff that this tissue supports and separates, we never knew that we should or could actively partake in helping the condition or tone of the tissue as a system. Although it is necessary to alter the immune system, if you or someone you know has one of these disorders, knowing how to directly treat the connective tissue SYSTEM and help support it’s cellular and molecular stability is very important.

Connective tissue is not an inert system. It is ever changing, adapting, and doing what it does, disease or not. I developed MELT as an add-on technique to DIRECLTY effect the fluid aspects of the connective tissue and help neurological regulation and balance. It works. For all of my clients who have one of these diseases, MELT has offered a reduction in pain symptoms, and improvement in their daily life, and hope that their body will restore it’s good function.

Keep your eye on our website, as things are growing and developing here. Many instructors are now across the country and can teach you how to self-care for your connective tissue and nervous system to improve your daily living process and your longevity.