EDS

I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrom Type III on March 30, 2015, at 28 years old.  My joints have been extremely hypermobile for as long as I can remember.  It came in handy with dancing and cheerleading, which I did from the time I could walk until my senior year of high school.  I also used to do all kinds of tricks to impress my friends (such as dislocate my thumb on command).  None of it hurt at the time.  If only I knew what was to come, I would never have pushed my body so hard as I was growing up.

I am actually one of the lucky ones.  Some people my age with this disorder are already confined to a wheel chair and must take pain medications to function each day.  I survive on Ibuprofen and Tylenol for now.  My joints do not fully dislocate very often (last time was about 6 years ago).  My joints do sublux fairly often though.  This is when my joint comes out of place, but usually slips back in on its own, sometimes with a bit of pain, sometimes without.  I have daily pain and do not remember what a 0 on the pain scale feels like.

There are several types of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.  This syndrome is considered rare, but is believed to be highly underdiagnosed.  I strongly urge everyone to know the signs and symptoms of this disorder.  For more information, please visit the Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation.

A genetic marker for EDS Type III has not yet been discovered.  Below is the current diagnostic criteria to be diagnosed with this subtype.