Today is Rare Disease Day. This day is for everyone with rare medical issues to spread awareness of their various conditions, and to take pride in our differences. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a connective tissue disorder -we produce faulty collagen to be exact. Simply put the glue that holds our joints together over stretches and so our joints easily sublux and sometimes even fully dislocate. On the other end of the joint hypermobility spectrum is Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder. These complex conditions can effect so many parts of our bodies, but for many of us the main symptom is chronic pain. EDS has 13 subtypes, and while EDS itself is seen as a rare disorder, Hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) is the least rare (and the most common) form. Because of this hEDS may be viewed as a rare condition, while others view it as simply "rarely diagnosed". It's also rarely known -by the general public and my medical professionals. Rare Disease Day reminds us to show the world our zebra stripes proudly; to stand up and be counted amongst a group of individuals who usually go unnoticed.
