If you or someone you love has recently been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), you are probably eager to learn more about this disease. EDS is relatively rare syndrome, and it is an umbrella diagnosis that encompasses a spectrum of tissue disorders under its classification. EDS affects the connective tissues in the human body, such as:
Blood vessels
Bones
Skin
Organs
This disorder is characterized by hyper-mobility of the joints, meaning that the joints have an unnaturally and possibly harmfully large range of movement. This abnormal elasticity of body tissues can place EDS patients at a higher risk for suffering from:
Joint dislocation
Severe bruising
Weak muscle tone
Organ malfunction
Spinal disorders
EDS can range from mild in severity by causing loose or painful joints, to having life-threatening implications from causing internal bleeding or organ rupture.
Disorders of the Temporomandibular Joint and EDS
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMD, is characterized by pain and dysfunction of the jaw. TMD sufferers commonly experience the following symptoms:
Restricted movement or locking of the affected joint
Discomfort and problems when chewing and biting
Clicking or popping noises when opening the mouth
Pain or ringing in the ear
Reoccurring headaches
Aching in the cheek
Reduced range of movement in the temporomandibular joint
Patients who suffer from TMD have also been shown to have abnormal alignment in the vertebrae of the neck and spine. For patients who are living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, the temporomandibular joint can be even more severely affected because of the hyper-mobility inherent to the disease.
Treating TMD and EDS Gently and Effectively with Chiropractic Care
Since EDS patients are already predisposed to joint pain and problems, TMJ is often experienced as a concurrent diagnosis. A chiropractor can evaluate the jaw of an EDS patient by:
Performing a physical examination
Performing soft tissue scans
Performing x-rays
Measuring the degree of hyper-mobility in the jaw
Chiropractic care helps to readjust the posture of the neck and head in relation to the jaw. By gently and effectively adjusting the vertebrae in the neck, a chiropractor can help to relieve pressure in the temporomandibular joint. This helps to bring the posture of the skull back into alignment, which can offer real relief from headaches, jaw and neck pain and chewing difficulties. The correction of neck and skull posture enhances the stability of the temporomandibular joint, helping to prevent dislocation and further ill effects from both syndromes.
Chiropractic Care – Working in Harmony With Other Treatments
Your chiropractor’s top priority is your health and well-being. The most effective approaches to treating TMD and EDS together often involve an entire team of dedicated and experienced healthcare professionals. The field of chiropractic care is safe, effective and has little to no adverse side effects. Your chiropractic care team will work to:
Correct vertebral misalignments
Encourage the strengthening of weakened muscles
Work toward developing a healthful range of motion in the jaw
By creating a comprehensive physical therapy plan that addresses the individual needs of each EDS and TMD patient, your chiropractor will create the foundation for healthful musculature function and spinal posture. This results a stabilization of EDS-related problems, easing the course of treatment for other healthcare professionals, such as a dentist and primary care physician, to conduct their care.
Chiropractic care offers an actionable and practical course of treatment for people suffering from EDS and TMD. By accessing compassionate and evidence-based therapies, like the procedures available at New York Dynamic Neuromuscular Rehabilitation (NYDNR), surgery can often be avoided. We create in-depth, individualized courses of treatment for effective pain management and enhancing your quality of life.
In this instance, an athlete was originally diagnosed with minor quadriceps muscle strain and was treated for four weeks, with unsatisfactory results. When he came to our clinic, the muscle was not healing, and the patients’ muscle tissue had already begun to atrophy.
Upon examination using MSUS, we discovered that he had a full muscle thickness tear that had been overlooked by his previous provider. To mitigate damage and promote healing, surgery should have been performed immediately after the injury occurred. Because of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, the patient now has permanent damage that cannot be corrected.
The most important advantage of Ultrasound over MRI imaging is its ability to zero in on the symptomatic region and obtain imaging, with active participation and feedback from the patient. Using dynamic MSUS, we can see what happens when patients contract their muscles, something that cannot be done with MRI. From a diagnostic perspective, this interaction is invaluable.
Dynamic ultrasonography examination demonstrating the full thickness tear and already occurring muscle atrophy due to misdiagnosis and not referring the patient to proper diagnostic workup
Demonstration of how very small muscle defect is made and revealed to be a complete tear with muscle contraction under diagnostic sonography (not possible with MRI)
Complete tear of rectus femoris with large hematoma (blood)
Separation of muscle ends due to tear elicited on dynamic sonography examination
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