Case Study: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): 33-Year-OId Female
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
A 33-year-old female presents to CFNC with chief complaints of joint pain, fatigue, coat-hanger pain (pain in her upper back and shoulders), and chest pain. She had been diagnosed with EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) in 2017 and with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) in 2020. Her symptoms began 13 years ago, when she was in college, after catching a bad flu virus. It began with random, infrequent chest pains and slowly spread to other parts of her body, resulting in the inability to move her neck, panic attacks, edema, petechiae, rashes, joint pain, and severe IBS. She also reported high levels of anxiety and panic attacks while on airplanes. She had been prescribed Midridine and Propranolol, but she wanted to see if CFNC could improve her situation. On a scale of 1 to 10, she rated her joint pain 7/10, her fatigue 7/10, her coat hanger pain 7/10 and her chest pain 8/10.
Examination Findings
Upon examination, several notable findings were observed. Upon transitioning from lying to standing up, she reported feeling a “floaty” dizziness and experienced a heart rate elevation of 33 bpm - within the POTS diagnostic criteria. She was on a beta-blocker medication to decrease her heart rate at the time of the exam. Although not typically seen in POTS patients, it was also discovered that she was experiencing diplopia (double vision) in upward and leftward fields of vision. She had never realized that this was abnormal. She was also unable to converge her eyes appropriately at near and far distances, and her pupils exhibited inappropriate responses to light - constricting and redilating very quickly.
Treatment Plan
The patient underwent neurological rehabilitation twice a week for six weeks. The treatment plan included a variety of therapies designed to address her specific symptoms. These therapies consisted of:
Autonomic system training
Eye movement rehabilitation training
Coordination exercises
Neural timing and coordination training
Peripheral nerve stimulation
Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy
Photobiomodulation with red and near infrared light therapy
Progress and Results
At the re-examination, the patient reported significant improvements. Her coat hanger pain had reduced to a 2/10, her joint pain was a 4/10, her fatigue was 6/10, and her chest pain was a 5/10. She reported feeling 60% better overall. Her eye tracking improved and she was able to converge appropriately at far and near distances. Most notably, however, she no longer experienced diplopia in any field of view. Also of note was that her heart rate was now the same rate as it had been at her initial exam, except now she no longer took her beta-blocker to achieve that normal heart rate. She happily reports that she has traveled via plane for 4 or more hours on four flights since beginning her care plan without anxiety or other symptoms.
Understanding Functional Neurology
Functional neurology has proven effective for a wide range of conditions, including those with genetic components such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. While we cannot eliminate or cure EDS, we can optimize a patient's brain and nervous system as a whole to reduce and minimize symptoms so that he or she can live without being limited by the genetic condition. Each patient requires an individualized approach to achieving optimal results. A focused and thorough neurological exam identifies areas of strength and weakness, and a unique care plan is formulated and delivered to create positive changes.
Why choose Carolina Functional Neurology Center?
Carolina Functional Neurology Center is a leading provider of holistic neurological care. We have locations in North Carolina, Maine, and Florida. Our goal is to educate both patients and practitioners on functional neurology, helping more people find relief where traditional interventions may fail. We specialize in conditions such as dysautonomia, migraine, concussion, vertigo / dizziness, as well as neurodevelopmental and movement disorders.
If you are seeking relief and a personalized treatment plan, please contact us to learn more or schedule a consultation. We are here to support you on your journey to better health.
os Syndrome and POTS
