Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Hypermobility & Chronic Pain: Finding Hope

If you have been told your pain is something you will just have to live with, this article is for you.

Many adults with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), hypermobility spectrum disorders, and other connective tissue conditions spend years searching for answers. They see specialist after specialist, collect diagnoses, and often hear discouraging messages:

"You'll always be in pain."

"You need to stop doing the activities you love."

"Surgery is your only option."

"There's nothing else we can do."

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone.

At 603 PT & Wellness in Dover, NH, we work with people who have often felt unheard, dismissed, or overwhelmed by the traditional healthcare system. Our goal is simple: help you understand your body, reduce pain, improve function, and get back to living your life.

What Is Hypermobility?

Hypermobility means your joints move beyond the typical range of motion. Some people are naturally flexible and never experience problems. Others develop pain, instability, frequent injuries, fatigue, or other symptoms that affect daily life.

Hypermobility itself is not inherently bad.

In fact, I often think of it as one of my own superpowers.

Many hypermobile individuals are naturally talented dancers, gymnasts, yogis, athletes, musicians, and movers. The challenge is that extra mobility can sometimes make the body more vulnerable to joint dysfunction, muscle overload, pelvic floor dysfunction, recurring injuries, and widespread myofascial pain.

Many people also describe an overall sense of dread or frustration because they never know when their body will let them down.

The goal is not to become less mobile.

The goal is to build strength, stability, and confidence around the mobility you already have.

What Is the Beighton Scale?

The Beighton Scale is one of the most common tools used to classify generalized joint hypermobility.

Points are awarded for:

• Bending the pinky finger backward beyond 90 degrees

• Touching the thumb to the forearm

• Hyperextending the elbows

• Hyperextending the knees

• Placing both palms flat on the floor with straight knees

The highest score is 9 points.

A higher score suggests greater joint mobility, but the Beighton Scale is only one piece of the puzzle. A comprehensive specialty physical therapy evaluation looks at your movement patterns, symptoms, injury history, strength, balance, coordination, and overall function.

Why Does EDS Often Affect the Entire Body?

EDS and connective tissue disorders affect more than just joints.

Many people experience:

• Neck and back pain

• Shoulder instability

• Hip pain

• Knee pain

• Foot pain

• Jaw pain and TMJ dysfunction

• Headaches

• Pelvic floor dysfunction

• Balance problems

• Fatigue

• Widespread muscle pain

• Repeated injuries

Because connective tissue exists throughout the body, symptoms often appear in multiple areas at the same time.

This is one reason why treating only the painful body part often fails to provide lasting relief.

Why Traditional Healthcare Often Falls Short

Many people with EDS and hypermobility spend years bouncing between appointments without a clear plan.

Short visits make it difficult to understand the full picture.

Providers may focus on imaging findings rather than movement.

Some patients are offered repeated injections, surgeries, medications, or simply told to avoid activity.

Many are given labels that feel like life sentences.

"You'll always hurt."

"You'll never run again."

"You'll never be able to lift weights."

"Your body is just falling apart."

You can't imagine some of the harmful words clients have told me they were told by other providers.

The reality is that many people need a comprehensive plan that looks at the entire person.

At 603 PT & Wellness, we take a whole-body approach. We spend the time necessary to understand your history, listen to your concerns, identify mechanical pain patterns, and develop a personalized strategy that fits your goals.

Why Specialty Physical Therapy Can Be a Powerful Tool

While EDS management can be complex, specialty physical therapy can help improve quality of life.

A comprehensive specialty physical therapy evaluation can help identify:

• Areas of instability

• Strength deficits

• Movement compensations

• Pain triggers

• Joint protection strategies

• Exercise modifications

• Pelvic floor concerns

• Lifestyle factors affecting symptoms

Most importantly, it helps create a roadmap forward.

Rather than focusing on everything that is wrong, we focus on what can be improved.

The Importance of a Maintenance Program

Many hypermobile individuals do best with ongoing maintenance rather than waiting until a flare-up becomes severe.

Think about it like dental care.

You do not wait until every tooth hurts before seeing a dentist.

The same concept applies to your body.

Maintenance visits can help:

• Address small problems before they become major setbacks

• Improve strength and stability

• Update exercise programs

• Manage flare-ups earlier

• Improve confidence with activity

• Keep you doing the things you love

For many people with EDS and hypermobility, having a trusted provider who understands their body can make all the difference.

Hypermobility During Perimenopause and Menopause

Hormonal changes can create additional challenges for women with hypermobility.

Many women notice:

• Increased joint pain

• Reduced recovery

• More frequent injuries

• Changes in muscle strength

• Reduced bone density

• Increased fatigue

This makes strength training, bone health, movement education, and proactive care even more important.

The good news is that it is never too late to build strength and improve function.

At 603 PT & Wellness, we work with active adults navigating perimenopause and menopause who want to stay strong, protect their bone health, reduce pain, and continue doing the activities they love for years to come.

Simple Tips You Can Start Today

1. Focus on strength before stretching

Many hypermobile individuals already have plenty of flexibility. Building strength often provides more benefit than adding more stretching.

2. Avoid locking your joints

Try to keep a slight bend in your knees and elbows during standing and exercise.

3. Build activity gradually

Small, consistent progress usually works better than pushing hard on good days and crashing afterward.

4. Prioritize recovery

   
   

Sleep, hydration, nutrition, and stress management all influence pain levels.

5. Listen to your body's warning signs

Pain is information, not always damage. Learning what your body is telling you can help you make smarter decisions about activity.

Emerson's Story

"Holly Lewis is amazing and I could not recommend her enough. I suffer from EDS. I've been to several PTs and saw little progress after several shoulder surgeries. After my first session I feel so much better and I have little to no pain! Living with chronic pain every day can be an extremely challenging struggle both physically and mentally. I cannot express enough how appreciative I am of Holly for giving me hope that I don't have to be in pain every day of my life!"

Stories like Emerson's are why I am passionate about helping individuals with EDS and hypermobility.

Hope matters.

Education matters.

Having someone listen matters.

You Are Not Broken

If you fit into this category and feel like the traditional healthcare system does not have much to offer you, I hear you and I am here to support you.

At 603 PT & Wellness, we provide specialty physical therapy that treats the whole body and the whole person. Depending on the severity, management of EDS is no simple task, but together we will review your history, make sure your concerns are heard, and create a plan of action to help you receive the most effective treatment, movement strategies, and pain management possible.

You deserve more than a quick appointment, a list of restrictions, or being told to simply live with your symptoms. You deserve to understand your body and have a plan that helps you move forward with confidence.

At 603 PT & Wellness in Dover, NH, we work with adults throughout the Seacoast region who want to stay active and strong as they age. Many of our patients come from nearby communities including:

• Dover

• Portsmouth

• Durham

• Somersworth

• Rochester

• Exeter

• Greenland

• Newmarket

If you are looking for a specialty physical therapy approach to EDS, hypermobility, chronic pain, injury prevention, or healthy aging, we would love to help you take the next step toward feeling stronger, more confident, and more in control of your health.