Non-drug Treatments for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Acupuncture and acupressure are techniques that some practitioners think may be beneficial for patients with EDS. Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles into the body at strategic points. Acupressure relies on the same key points as acupuncture, but uses massage techniques rather than needles to stimulate these points.

Physiotherapy can help strengthen muscles and provide stability to joints in EDS patients. Physical exercises can reduce pain and lower the risk of dislocations. Physiotherapy approaches vary widely depending on the structural deformities and symptoms of EDS patients. In general, a multidirectional approach is used to overcome or decrease the patient’s disabilities.

Surgery is sometimes performed to fix joint problems or treat fractures. Patients may also undergo operations of the soft tissues, but these surgeries usually only offer short-term relief, because soft tissues will stretch again over time. Soft tissue and bone surgery can sometimes be combined. Because of the high risk of complications, surgery is often considered a last resort for EDS patients.