Medical: EDS Type 3 vs Hypermobility
November 11, 2009A new EDS related article was submitted to the American Journal of Medical Genetics. It argues that the clinical distinctions between Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type 3 (Hypermobile) and Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (BJHS) should be put aside in favor of offering more timely and focused treatment to both conditions given the overlapping features/symptoms:
“It is our collective opinion that BJHS/HMS and EDS hypermobility type represent the same phenotypic group of patients that can be differentiated from other HCTDs but not distinguished from each other. Clinically, we serve this population better by uniting the two diagnostic labels. With this approach, we can strive to better define the phenotype and improve measurable outcomes of this patient population. Furthermore, we recognize that it is important that, in those hypermobility patients who develop potentially debilitating symptoms of chronic fatigue or polyarthralgia, whatever the underlying cause, there should be prompt and appropriate intervention [Keer and Grahame, [2003]].”
The article can be read here (with subscription):
I’m trying to spread the word to UK people to please sign my e-petition to the government. Currently chronic pain and chronic fatigue are not seen as valid causes for incapacity, which means we’re often denied sick benefits when we can’t work.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/chronicpain/
Many thanks from a hypermobility sufferer.