Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a set of genetic disorders in which the connective tissue that supports bones and muscles is weakened, causing hypermobility of joints, easily bruised elastic skin and damaged blood vessels. The weakened collagen in the affected joints can lead to painful complications throughout life. Individuals diagnosed with this condition may suffer from chronic muscle pain and fatigue, joint pain, easily dislocated joints, slow wound healing, or early-onset arthritis.

The chronic pain associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can make coping with this condition particularly challenging. For many, depression is not an uncommon side effect and can have a tremendous impact on a person’s quality of life.

How We Can Help

The Kaplan Center has over 30 years of experience treating chronic pain conditions, including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and we completely reject the notion that “you just have to live with it.”

At your first visit, your Kaplan physician will take time exploring the onset of your condition, the specific nature of your symptoms and the overall status of your health. You’ll also be asked about the medications and therapies you’ve tried in the past, and what has and hasn’t worked for you. To gather additional information about your condition, specialized diagnostic laboratory testing may be necessary.

After reviewing all of the factors contributing to your condition, your physician will spend time talking with you about your diagnosis and working with you to create a customized and multi-dimensional treatment plan that addresses not only your immediate pain but also any possible underlying or co-existing conditions that may be aggravating your symptoms.

Although there is no cure for Ehlers-Danlos, the symptoms can be managed through several effective and non-invasive treatments offered at The Kaplan Center. For example, physical therapy or certain regenerative injection therapies may help stabilize hypermobile joints and reduce joint and muscle pain and fatigue associated with Ehlers-Danlos.

Other treatment options include:

• Acupuncture
• Frequency Specific Microcurrent
• Intravenous Supplementation
• Meditation Training
• Nutritional Counseling
• Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
• Physical Therapy
• Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy
• Prescription Medication
• Prolotherapy
• Sleep Evaluation & Management

Additional Resources:

Downloadable Consumer Guide: 17 Things to Know Before Choosing a Doctor to Treat Your Chronic Pain, by Dr. Gary Kaplan
Website: Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation
Publication: What is Biofeedback? By Medline Plus, a service of the US Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health