This is by no means the complete list. While connective tissue is everywhere, each person with EDS has different presentations of EDS. Just because it is on this list does not mean someone with EDS has it.
Digestive and Gastrointestinal
Gastroparesis - delayed stomach emptying
Food intolerances
SIBO
Dysmotility - abnormal movement of the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract
MALS
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Functional dyspepsia
Chronic constipation
Rectal prolapse - Due to connective tissue laxity in the pelvic area
Diverticulosis
Hernias - Weak tissues can lead to frequent or early-onset hernias
Splenic Flexure Syndrome - Trapped gas in the upper left abdomen, causing bloating and pain under the ribs.
Celiac Disease and Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity - Higher prevalence in EDS, potentially due to immune dysregulation or gut permeability issues.
Malabsorption
Musculoskeletal
Joint hypermobility, sublexations and dislocations
Chronic joint pain
Early-onset osteoarthritis
Myofascial pain syndrome
Tendinitis
Muscle weakness and fatigue
Acetabular protrusion - The femoral head presses into the hip socket more deeply than usual, causing hip pain and limited movement.
Bunions and flat feet - Joint laxity can lead to foot deformities, arch collapse with standing and pain.
TMJD
Frequent sublexations of thyroid cartilage - causes hoarseness or throat discomfort.
Slipping Rib Syndrome
Disc herniations
Marfanoid Habitus - A subset of EDS patients may display features associated with Marfan syndrome, such as long limbs, a narrow face, or a tall, thin frame.
Scoliosis and Kyphosis - Spinal curvature abnormalities are common and may worsen over time, leading to back pain and functional limitations.
Cardiovascular
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
Dysautonomia
Mitral valve prolapse
Aortic root dilation
Raynaud's phenomenon
Blood vessel fragility - leads to easy bruising.
Hypersensitivity to Temperature Changes - often associated with dysautonomia, causing cold or heat intolerance.
Costochondritis - Inflammation of cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone, causing chest pain that mimics heart attack symptoms.
Barrel Chest or Pectus Excavatum - Structural abnormalities in the chest wall, sometimes due to tissue laxity or bone deformation.
Diaphragmatic Weakness or Dysfunction - Laxity in the connective tissue of the diaphragm, contributing to respiratory fatigue or difficulty with deep breathing.
Ehlers-Danlos related Aneurysms - Unusual dilation or ballooning of blood vessels, especially in vascular EDS, but can occur in other types.
Peripheral Vasodilation - Excessive widening of blood vessels in the extremities, often causing a flushed or red appearance.
Neurological and Sensory Processing
Chiari malformation (especially Type I)
Craniocervical instability
Migraines and chronic headaches
Nerve compression syndromes - such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Dysautonomia-related symptoms - such as dizziness and fainting
Intracranial hypertension
CSF Leak
Auditory processing issues - Due to joint laxity impacting inner ear function or sensory processing.
Tinnitus - Can be linked to cervical spine instability or vascular abnormalities.
Absence Seizures - Brief, sudden lapses in awareness (often called "petit mal" seizures) can sometimes occur, possibly linked to nervous system dysregulation or autonomic nervous system challenges.
Complex Partial Seizures - These seizures can present with unusual sensations or autonomic symptoms, sometimes mistaken for panic attacks in people with EDS.
Small fiber neuropathy
Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks
Tethered Cord Syndrome
Central sensitization syndrome
ADHD
Autism - Higher rates of autism have been noted in individuals with EDS.
Proprioceptive Dysfunction - Difficulties with body awareness and spatial positioning, leading to poor balance and frequent injuries.
Photophobia - Sensitivity to bright lights, possibly due to connective tissue issues in the eyes or autonomic dysregulation.
Vision and Eye
Visual disturbances - Blurry vision, light sensitivity, and dry eyes due to connective tissue issues affecting the eyes.
Binocular Vision Disorder (BVD) - Difficulty aligning both eyes, leading to double vision, headaches, and eye strain.
Kerataconus - A progressive thinning and bulging of the cornea, which can lead to visual distortion and sensitivity to light.
Dry Eye Syndrome - Caused by connective tissue laxity around tear glands, leading to irritation and a gritty sensation.
Retinal Detatchment - Higher risk due to connective tissue fragility around the retina.
Blue Sclera - Thinning of the sclera, giving the whites of the eyes a bluish tint, more common in certain types of EDS.
Respiratory
Spontaneous pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
Restrictive lung disease
Asthma or asthma-like symptoms
Sleep apnea - obstructive or central - due to lax soft tissue.
Immune
Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS)
Autoimmune disorders - such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis.
Allergies and sensitivities
Increased susceptibility to infections
Extra Large Tonsils - Can contribute to obstructive sleep apnea, breathing difficulties, or frequent infection.
Frequent sinus infections
Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) - An inflammatory condition of the esophagus linked to food allergies, causing difficulty swallowing and food impaction.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) - Persistent, severe fatigue not improved by rest and often worsened by physical or mental activity.
Dermatological
Skin hyperextensibility - extra stretchy skin.
Easy bruising and abnormally long bruising
Atrophic scarring - thin, translucent scars.
Stretch marks unrelated to weight changes
Slow wound healing
Dermatographia - Skin writing, where light scratching leaves red, raised welts on the skin.
Piezogenic Pedal Papules - Small, sometimes painful bumps that form on the heels or arches of the feet due to herniation of fat tissue. Sometimes only visible when standing.
Urinary
Bladder dysfunction
Pelvic organ prolapse
Frequent urinary tract infections
Interstitial Cystitis
Urinary Incontinence
Kidney Stones
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome - Pain and discomfort in the pelvis due to blood pooling in veins.
Reproductive
Endometriosis - Higher prevalence among people with EDS, causing chronic pelvic pain and menstrual irregularities.
Uterine and Pelvic Organ Prolapse - Laxity in pelvic tissues leading to the downward displacement of the bladder, uterus, or rectum.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
PCOS
Increased risk of complications during pregnancy (in some types of EDS)
Dyspareunia - Painful intercourse, often due to joint or connective tissue issues in the pelvis and surrounding areas.
Oral
Dental Crowding
Gum Disease and Tooth Instability - Fragile connective tissue can lead to gum recession and tooth movement.
TMJD - Jaw pain, clicking, and restricted movement due to joint instability.
Endocrine and Metabolic
Hypothyroidism - EDS patients are more susceptible to thyroid dysfunction, especially hypothyroidism.
Hypoglycemia - Blood sugar fluctuations, particularly reactive hypoglycemia, possibly due to dysregulation of blood sugar by the autonomic nervous system.
Adrenal fatigue
PCOS
Adipose
Lipedema
Dercum's
Madelung’s Disease
Psychological
Anxiety and Panic Disorders - Often linked to dysautonomia (or misdiagnosed POTs) and the physical unpredictability associated with EDS.
Depression and Mood Disorders - Chronic pain, fatigue, and physical limitations can increase the risk of mood disorders.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - Increased prevalence of OCD traits may relate to the heightened sensitivity and sensory processing issues common in EDS.
Medical Trauma or PTSD
Comments