If you’ve been told you’re “just flexible,” but your body feels far more complicated than that, you’re not alone.
Many people with Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome (EDS) spend years trying to make sense of symptoms that don’t seem connected — joint pain, fatigue, dizziness, gut issues, headaches, bruising, temperature changes. It can feel confusing, and sometimes invalidating.
This article gently explains what EDS actually is, and why it can affect much more than joints.
Connective tissue is the body’s support material.
It holds joints together.
It provides structure to blood vessels and organs.
It supports the skin, ligaments, tendons, and fascia.
One of its key building blocks is collagen — a protein that gives tissues strength and flexibility.
You can think of connective tissue as the body’s scaffolding. If the scaffolding is more elastic or less structurally supportive than expected, the systems it holds up may need to work harder to stay stable.
In EDS, there are differences in how connective tissue is formed or structured.
Depending on the type of EDS, this may involve genetic variations that affect collagen directly, or differences in how connective tissue behaves and repairs itself.
When connective tissue is more lax or fragile, it may not stabilise the body as effectively. That can lead to:
Importantly, this is not about “weakness” or lack of effort. It’s about structural differences that mean the body often has to work harder to maintain stability.
Because connective tissue is found throughout the body, EDS can affect more than musculoskeletal movement.
For example:
Blood vessels rely on connective tissue for tone and support. If vessels are more elastic, circulation may require greater effort to regulate — which can contribute to dizziness or fatigue.
The digestive tract also contains connective tissue. Differences in tissue support can influence motility, sensitivity, or gut discomfort.
Skin elasticity, easy bruising, slower wound healing, and temperature regulation can also reflect connective tissue involvement.
Even the nervous system interacts closely with connective tissue structures. When the body is working harder to stabilise itself, the stress-response system may become more active over time.
This is why symptoms can seem unrelated at first glance — but share a common underlying theme.
Many people with EDS are assessed one body part at a time.
A knee problem is treated as a knee problem.
Digestive symptoms are treated separately.
Fatigue is sometimes attributed to stress or mood.
Standard scans and blood tests may appear “normal,” because they are not designed to measure connective tissue integrity in a functional way.
This can lead to experiences of dismissal, or the sense that symptoms are exaggerated or psychosomatic.
In reality, EDS is a multisystem condition. The complexity is real — even when it doesn’t show up clearly on routine testing.
While every person is different, many people with EDS describe patterns such as:
Not everyone experiences all of these. And symptom severity can fluctuate over time.
Hypermobility exists on a spectrum.
Some people are naturally flexible and never experience symptoms. Others have hypermobility with pain or systemic features. A smaller group meet formal criteria for specific EDS subtypes.
Not all hypermobility is EDS — and not all EDS looks the same.
Assessment is nuanced and should consider the whole clinical picture, not just joint range.
Understanding EDS as a systemic condition can reduce self-blame. If you feel exhausted or unstable, it may be because your body is constantly compensating.
Stability-focused strengthening is often more helpful than aggressive stretching. Pacing matters. Because connective tissue provides less passive support, muscles and the nervous system often take on extra workload. Overexertion can lead to delayed flares.
Most importantly, symptom patterns make more sense when viewed through a connective tissue lens.
Consider seeking assessment or multidisciplinary support if:
Early understanding can help prevent cycles of injury and burnout.
Living with EDS can feel confusing — especially when symptoms don’t fit neatly into one category. But your experience is valid.
EDS is not “just flexibility.” It is a condition that affects how the body is supported at a structural level. When that support is different, the body adapts — sometimes in ways that are exhausting.
With the right understanding and appropriate support, many people are able to build greater stability, reduce flare cycles, and improve quality of life.
If you recognise yourself in this description, you are not dramatic. You are navigating a complex body — and that deserves thoughtful, whole-person care.
