Yes, people may have mild EDS. The term “mild” is relative in the case of EDS because there are various categories of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. However, doctors are most worried about Vascular and Classical because of the higher risk for life-threatening concomitant illnesses.
While hEDS is the mildest form of EDS, doctors are not much concerned. BJHS and EDS may appear to be “mild” because there are less clinically severe because their symptoms are believed to be “self-limiting,” respectively.
Check to determine if BJHS or EDS (variants) represent the presenting symptoms by going over the list again. Both conditions are heritable connective tissue disorders. It is likely that EDS-H should be combined with BJHS to ensure that diagnosis and treatment are not hampered by the notion that EDS variations other than EDS-H are more dangerous and that EDS is an uncommon condition. This might aid in the classification of the various EDS-H subgroups. That is very another rant.
Remember that having lifelong EDS can manifest itself in various ways depending on the individual affected. The outcome of an EDS female who was physically active as a kid and had multiple injuries may be different from that of an EDS male relative who has been more sedentary throughout his or her life. Manifestations are influenced by various variables such as hormones, nutrition, accidents, and other hereditary factors, among others.
It would be simpler to assess an individual’s level of comorbidity based on the number of comorbidities that are present. The digestive, neurological, autonomic, and other difficulties experienced by people with more fragile joints and skin may be less severe than the complications experienced by those with stronger joints and skin (in comparison). In the same way that there are more than the two known EDS-C genes, there are likely multiple distinct EDS-H genes. When more genes are discovered, it may become simpler to rate the severity of a disease, but the severity will always be relative to the person.
Mild EDS: Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
There are several other types of mild EDS, but this is the most prevalent. It is inherited, although no specific gene has been identified as the source of the condition. It can be moderate, and it likely goes unnoticed most of the time. Many patients with hEDS, on the other hand, suffer from substantial or even severe pain and impairment.
The primary signs of hereditary epidermal dystrophy are excessively elastic skin (which is not fragile but may heal slowly) and abnormally flexible joints.
Many people also face erectile dysfunction (ED) due to hEDS, among with fatigue, discomfort, and mood swings.
Among other symptoms that hEDS patients may experience are:
- Sleep disturbances and fatigue
- A rapid heart rate.
- Standing up too fast might cause dizziness and fainting.
- Tummy aches
- Constipation
- Irritable bowel syndrome.
- Nausea is a possibility.
- Pain in the muscles and limbs
- Anxiety, sadness, and panic attacks are all common.
- Prolapse of the bladder, womb (uterus), or back passage
- Urinary incontinence.
How to manage mild EDS (hEDS)?
- Keeping your weight within the suggested range for your height and engaging in mild exercise on a regular basis can assist in keeping you healthy and stabilize your joints with strong, functional muscles. When it comes to maintaining core stability and excellent posture, Pilates may be quite useful.
- Some activities should be avoided altogether in order to avoid damage to the skin and joints. It is preferable to engage in fewer high-risk activities such as tennis or swimming rather than contact team sports such as hockey, rugby, and football, which increase the chance of joint damage.
- Some patients find it beneficial to consult a pain management expert, a rheumatologist, a physiotherapist, or an occupational therapist.
- Pain relievers may be beneficial in the case of generalized pain.
- Some patients feel that talking therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), are beneficial.
Is hypermobility of the joints syndrome the same as hEDS?
Some clinicians feel that hEDS are a more severe type of hypermobility syndrome, and there is clearly a similarity in the symptoms between the two conditions. Hypermobility syndrome, on the other hand, mostly affects joints. There are a greater number of cases where EDS is the underlying diagnosis when there are concomitant, more severe diseases such as heart valve issues, prolapse, or recurrent dislocations.
