What is Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or commonly referred to as EDS is a rare group of inherited disorders that mostly affects the connective tissues in the body. Because connective tissues make it so parts of our body like skin, tendons, bones, organs, and blood vessels are supported, this disease can affect the whole body and can vary across every person affected by this and by what type of EDS is present. While there are many different types of EDS that vary in symptoms and severity, the most common symptoms found are joint hyper mobility, fragile skin, and stretchy or elastic-like skin.
The 13 Types of EDS
While there are 13 types of this disorder, there are 4 that are more commonly seen and diagnosed. The most common type is called hypermobile EDS and is the only type that can not be genetically detected. This type shows up in individuals by having joint hypermobility, joints that dislocate easily, fatigue, dizziness, skin that bruises easily, joint pain, and problems with digestion and internal organs. The next type is classical EDS and can be detected genetically. This type is characterized by affecting the skin more by having stretchy, fragile skin, smooth skin that bruises easily, joint hypermobility, easy dislocation of joints, and more. Next is vascular EDS which can be genetically detected and is usually the most severe case. This type generally affects blood vessels and internal organs making them fragile which can lead to many issues. Last is kyphoscoliotic EDS which is very rare and can be characterized by a curvature of the spine, weak muscle tone, and the other symptoms found across almost all types.
How can this be treated?
While there is no cure for EDS there are many proven ways that this disorder can be managed and prevented. If one of the main symptoms experienced is pain, medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen are recommended. One big tactic is to try out physical therapy and occupational therapy. Because individuals with this disorder usually have weak joints due to the connective tissue being weak, physical therapists can offer many exercises to help strengthen and stabilize the joints and the body as a whole. In severe cases, surgery is sometimes implemented to repair joints or injured blood vessels and organs.
Diagnosis
This disorder is rather rare but now it is becoming a very common pain syndrome and is receiving more awareness. It can often be hard to diagnose because most types can have a vast amount of symptoms and can be hard to pin down the diagnosis. This disorder has been seen to be much more common in women but cases have been found in men as well. To receive a diagnosis, a specialist is usually needed and for all types except hypermobile EDS, a genetic test can be ran to detect the mutation. For hypermobile EDS, it is diagnosed clinically, meaning a few simple tests are ran and a few different factors have to be present for a diagnosis. Again severity can vary across all types so some cases may be harder to diagnose than others.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can be a very debilitating disorder for many people so it is important that there be more awareness of this and what these symptoms may mean. While having some of these symptoms does not always mean EDS is present, it could be a good idea investigating further if EDS is the culprit or not.
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