What is it?
Ehler Danlos Syndrome Type 3 - known as Hyper-mobility Syndrome or HEDS - is a connective tissue disorder that is pretty rare. Only about 1 in 10,000 to 15,000 individuals are diagnosed with this condition. That means only about 700,000 people out of the entire world population. People with this condition suffer from joint dislocations, subluxations, or tears, chronic pain, muscle spasms, fatigue, low blood pressure, an inability to control their body temperature, dizziness that can lead to passing out, easy bruising, a longer healing duration, "brain fog", headaches... and oh so much more. Since connective tissues are found throughout your entire body, symptoms can vary from person to person.
What are the visible symptoms? (and a sexy little pic to help elaborate)
- Can you place your hands flat on the floor with out bending your knees?
- Are your elbows hyper extended?
- What about your knees?
- Can you bend your thumbs forward to touch your arm?
- Can you bend your pinkies back past a 90 degree angle?
***I can not emphasize enough that you DO NOT have to have all of these symptoms to have HEDS.
For me, not all of my fingers are hyper mobile and not to the same extent on both hands. It all depends on how your tissues developed.
Currently there is no cure. :( Sad day. However, there's many things you can do to help. I'll go more in-depth in another entry but as a general overview, strengthen the muscles that hold your joints in place, get massages and chiropractic work regularly, and avoid activities that will put strain on your joints.
I will also be posting an entry on what to do if you know someone with HEDS or any other chronic disability so stay tuned.
Until next time.
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