Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of genetic disorders that affect the connective tissues in your body. These tissues include cartilage, bone, fat, and blood.
People with EDS have a defect in collagen, which adds flexibility and strength to connective tissue. That can cause problems with the skin, joints, and organs.
Joint Pain
Joints are the structures that connect bones and allow the body to move. Injury or disease to any of the joints in the body can cause pain, hamper movement, and limit an individual’s ability to enjoy life.
There are many causes of joint pain, including injuries to the joint, arthritis (joint inflammation), and infection. If you experience sudden, severe pain that interferes with your daily activities, you should visit a doctor to discover what may be causing the problem.
To discover what is causing your joint discomfort, your doctor will evaluate your medical history and do a physical examination. They will look for swelling, redness, or warmth and check your range of motion to see how well you can move the joint.
You will be asked questions about the location of your pain and how often it occurs. They will also ask about your family’s health history.
The doctor will do a complete physical exam to see if the cause of your pain is one of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome symptoms. They will also take your blood and run tests to see if you have other diseases or problems that might be causing the pain.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome symptoms are caused by mutations in specific genes that control how collagen is made, processed, and used. These changes weaken the collagen that forms connective tissues in the skin, bones, and blood vessels.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a common symptom of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and other conditions. People with these disorders can experience extreme fatigue that lasts for months, making it hard to function.
Discussing your fatigue with your doctor and explaining how it affects you is essential. They can help you discover what’s causing it and provide information on treatments that may help.
Many people think their fatigue is normal for growing older or busy, but it can also indicate an underlying medical condition. If you’re experiencing long-lasting or relapsing fatigue, see your doctor.
Many EDS patients also have musculoskeletal pain, which is essential in understanding how the symptoms impact their quality of life. Physiotherapy, avoiding deconditioning, and good nutrition can help reduce these problems.
If you have difficulty coping with fatigue, you can get support from your family and friends. They can provide extra care or help with tasks around the home.
Getting some help from occupational therapists or other experts can also be helpful. They can assist you in developing a plan to manage your exhaustion and simplify everyday tasks.
Some people with EDS and fibromyalgia find getting out of bed in the morning difficult because they’re tired. This fatigue can make it hard to do everyday things like showering or eating. It can also cause headaches, insomnia, or other symptoms of depression.
Joint Dislocation
Joints are places where two bones meet and allow your body to move. They are a crucial part of your skeletal system, which supports your entire body from head to toe.
In Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, one or more genes cause the connective tissue that holds your joints together to become fragile and stretchy. It can result in many symptoms, including painful dislocations and chronic pain.
The most common location for dislocation is the shoulder and fingers, but it can also occur in the elbows, knees, and hips. It usually occurs after a fall or a blow, sometimes from playing contact sports (such as football and hockey).
When you have a dislocation, the bone that fits into a joint slips out of place, it can be excruciating and temporarily deform your joint, so it’s essential to see a doctor as soon as you experience the injury.
Your doctor will use a splint device to keep your joint in the correct position. This treatment will help your body heal and may prevent other injuries that can occur if your joint doesn’t get back into place right away.
Most people with a dislocation recover within several weeks. Still, the recovery time will vary depending on how big your joint is and whether blood vessels or nerves were damaged during the dislocation. If your dislocation involves a severe injury, surgery might be needed to correct your joint.
Muscle Pain
Muscle pain is a common symptom of many conditions and can be a sign of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Depending on the cause, muscle pain can be mild and temporary or severe and disabling.
If you have muscle pain, it’s essential to seek medical care as soon as possible. It will allow your doctor to rule out more serious diseases and disorders that may be causing the pain.
Your doctor will want to know more about how the pain is felt and where it’s located. They will also want to see if you are taking any medication and how it’s working.
In most cases, your doctor will perform a physical exam to look at the area of pain. They will also check for other symptoms, such as a fever or a sore throat.
The doctor will also perform tests to see if the muscle is injured or damaged. These include blood tests for enzyme, hormone, and electrolyte levels and MRI or CT scans.
