Chronic pain in the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) is common and may be severe. According to one study, nearly 90% of patients report some form of
chronic pain.
Pain, which is often one of the first symptoms to occur, may be widespread or localized to one region such as an arm or a leg. Studies on treatment modalities are few and insufficient to guide management. The following is a discussion of the evidence regarding the underlying mechanisms of
pain in EDS. The causes of
pain in this condition are multifactorial and include
joint subluxations and dislocations, previous surgery,
muscle weakness,
proprioceptive disorders, and vertebral instability. Affected persons may also present with generalized body
pain,
fatigue,
headaches, gastrointestinal
pain, temporomandibular joint
pain,
dysmenorrhea, and
vulvodynia.
Pain management strategies may be focused around treating the cause of the
pain (e.g., dislocation of a joint,
proprioceptive disorder) and minimizing the sensation of
pain. Management strategies for
chronic pain in EDS includes
physical therapy, medications, as well as
durable medical equipment such as cushions, compressive garments, and
braces. The different modalities are discussed in this paper. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.