Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a group of genetic disorders that affect the body’s connective tissues. Leading to joint hypermobility, skin fragility, and other debilitating symptoms. Dysautonomia, a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, often co-occurs with EDS. Which can leads to symptomatology also associated with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).
Understanding the Connection: Ehlers-Danlos and Dysautonomia
Connective Tissue Link
Shared Symptoms
Complexity of Co- Occurrence
Blood Pooling
In POTS, blood pools in the lower body when standing, causing a rapid heart rate increase to compensate.
Dizziness and Fainting
The blood flow imbalance can lead to symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, headaches, and even fainting upon standing.
Chronic Condition
POTS is a chronic and complex condition that requires comprehensive management, treatment approaches, and lifestyle adjustments. When working these 3 in a combined effort we see our best results.
Symptoms and Diagnostic Criteria
Joint Hypermobility
Overly flexible and unstable joints that are prone to sprains and dislocations.
Autonomic Dysfunction
Symptoms like heart palpitations, dizziness, nausea, and temperature dysregulation.
Chronic Pain
Widespread musculoskeletal pain, headaches, and gastrointestinal discomfort.
Diagnostic Criteria
Specific clinical criteria, genetic testing, and autonomic function assessments are used to diagnose EDS and dysautonomia. In our patients
Diagnostics
At Hope Brain Center we create a patient specific approach towards diagnosing your health. We have many different diagnostic tools and test that are able to help us assess what you may be dealing with. FOr most POTS patients we see we do the following, some vary upon necessity.
Food Sensitivity test→ We assess your diet first and foremost to ensure we are not recommending supplements that may counter progress. We also do this test to make aware of the foods that you will need to stay away from due to high inflammation biomarkers.
CAPS Balance Assessment→ CAPS is a balance test designed to show vestibular imbalance in directional pathways. Example: If you look left with your eyes closed you may be more likely to stumble than if you were looking right with eyes closed. CAPS is a state of the art balance test for which we gage how your kinetic chain is functioning with your vestibular system.
ANS Autonomic Nervous System Assessment→ ANS is a complex 40 page report that is generated based off of your, you guessed it.. Autonomic Nervous system. Here’s what it measures
Oxygen Training at High Altitude → Here patients will be exercising on bike while linked to SPO2 monitor and 100% oxygen machine. We then put a patient into a state of hypoxia where they will not receive oxygen and rely on their own reserved oxygen in the body. Dependent upon patient these times vary. NExt step is to flood the body with that 100% oxygen and measure for how long it take the body to recovery back to a high oxygen state. Learn more
Neurofeedback → Our state of the art neurofeedback technology has capabilities of retraining the brain, building plasticity and creating new neural connections. We have recently added new technology that allows for deeper penetration to the thalamus, medulla oblongata etc. View points in a 3D perspective allows us to target exact points to view a real 3D grid of the brain in real time training. Learn more here and here.
Limited Awareness
EDS and dysautonomia are often overlooked or misunderstood by healthcare providers, leading to delayed diagnoses and inappropriate treatments. In POTS / Dysautonomia the misdiagnoses is found to be panic attack or anxiety disorders. IN EDS often Misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome or depression.
Multisystem Involvement
The complex, multifaceted nature of these conditions requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to care. The presence of one of these (POTS, EDS, or Mast Cell) than there is likely more than one present. In many cases today people are dealing with all 3.
Lack of Consensus
Ongoing research and debate surrounding the best management strategies for EDS and dysautonomia can make treatment decisions challenging.
Individualized Needs
Each patient's presentation and response to interventions can vary, necessitating personalized and adaptable treatment plans. This is a main component of what separates us from the rest. We test according to individual needs, and we create a comprehensive treatment program to start building back the brain and body in unison.
Lifestyle Modifications and Supportive Treatments
Exercise
Low-impact, gentle exercises can help improve joint stability and manage symptoms. Yoga and low weight strength training can assist in forming new connective tissue to rebuild and get stronger in the affected area.
Nutrition
A balanced diet rich in nutrients can support connective tissue health and energy levels. Eating the right things may often help to decrease full Body → Brain inflammation.
Functional Neurology
Specialized brain-based adjusting can help address joint, muscle, and movement challenges. Aside from all the other treatments and state of the art technology we have to offer.
Finding Specialists, Hope Brain Center
Locating experienced EDS and dysautonomia clinicians can be challenging but crucial. The Hope Brain Center team has had tons of success and high rates of quality of life improvement %.
