Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)

A brief summary of the condition, it’s causes,
common symptoms and treatment pathways
and how Medical Cannabis could help.

A close-up of someone's arms loosely crossed and their knuckles red and sore.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)

A brief summary of the condition, it’s causes,
common symptoms, treatment plans
and how Medical Cannabis can help.

Find out if you’re eligible

What is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and how does it affect patients?

Ehlers-Danlos is actually a collection of syndromes, that affect the connective tissues of the body. Connective tissues provide strength and flexibility to skin, blood vessels, bones and other organs.

The syndromes can all present in different ways, but the most common symptoms are:

How common is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and what are the causes?

A diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is not very common, but symptoms such as joint hypermobility can affect up to 1 in 30 adults in the UK.

Ehlers-Danlos is caused by mutations in genes that are responsible for collagen production and structure. These genetic mutations can be inherited from parents, or you can be born with them.

Genetic testing can help confirm the diagnosis for some types of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, especially the rarer forms.

What are the common treatments for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and what are the typical patient outcomes?

There is currently no cure for EDS, so treatment focuses on managing symptoms and preventing worsening complications.

This includes:

Can Medical Cannabis help with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?

Medical cannabis can be considered as treatment for managing symptoms of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), particularly in cases where patients experience chronic pain, joint inflammation, muscle spasms, or sleep disturbances. 

EDS often causes persistent musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain. Cannabinoids, especially THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), have analgesic properties that may provide relief from both types of pain. THC, in particular, can reduce the perception of pain, while CBD has anti-inflammatory effects that may help reduce joint and tissue inflammation.

THC and CBD also have muscle-relaxing properties which help the muscle spasms and joint pain in EDS, while also reducing the likelihood of dislocations and the subsequent pain felt due to this.

Sleep disturbances are common in EDS due to chronic pain and discomfort. Cannabis, particularly strains higher in THC, can improve sleep quality and help with insomnia, allowing for more restorative rest, which is crucial for EDS patients dealing with chronic fatigue and pain.

EDS can have a significant impact on mental health, causing or exacerbating anxiety and depression. CBD, which has anxiolytic effects, can help reduce anxiety, while small doses of THC can also have mood-lifting effects, which may improve overall mental well-being.

Why choose CB1 Medical?

We’re offering the first year of consultations free of charge to
patients switching from another medical cannabis clinic.

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The most-affordable
medical cannabis clinic

Our consultants are dedicated to improving the lives of their patients. This includes offering a service that is fair and affordable so that patients suffering with severe chronic conditions are not prevented from accessing the care that they need.

We’re proud to have been recognised as the most affordable medical cannabis clinic in the UK, according to MedBud.wiki’s comparison of UK clinics. It’s an accolade that we will strive to maintain whilst continuing to offer a premium healthcare service.

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The highest-rated
medical cannabis clinic

CB1 Medical was established by a specialist team of consultant clinicians at the largest NHS primary care service in the Midlands, an award-winning practice which is currently serving over 65,000 patients.

Our experienced team has continued to receive overwhelmingly positive feedback and we find it so rewarding to hear about your stories and your experience with medical cannabis. We now have the most reviews and the highest overall rating on Google out of all the cannabis clinics in the UK.

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The most-efficient
medical cannabis clinic

CB1 Medical is unique in being able to access your medical records instantly upon receiving your consent. This saves you the frustration of having to wait for weeks to get access to our service and begin your treatment.

With all other private cannabis clinics, patients must supply a Summary Care Record and a list of prescriptions before they can be offered treatment. These can only be obtained from a GP and some patients can wait up to 2 months to receive their records.

CB1 Medical is the highest rated
UK cannabis clinic on Google

4.8
Based on 560 reviews
powered by Google

We are proud of our care and the impact it has on the lives of our patients, it is so rewarding to hear your stories and learn about your experiences with medical cannabis.

Naomi

May 2024

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Where do I start?! I have to admit I was very nervous, considering I have tried numerous treatments for my fibromyalgia and EDS and had a medical prescription 3 pages long and really complex medical issues. I was in an awfully high level of pain, even with all that.

Every single staff member from reception, nurses, pharmacy and my lovely Dr Vanessa Hutchinson have been consistently friendly, professional, helpful and incredibly fast in progressing me from initial online enquiry to receiving my prescription (just under 2 weeks and we had the Easter 4 day break in-between!).

In this very short time, my pain levels have reduced significantly (as have my other medications!). I cannot recommend this clinic enough. Thanks CB1 MEDICAL 🙂

Trudi

March 2024

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Staff really nice, and keep in touch to monitor my progress and any questions I may have. I feel very comfortable talking about my situation as no judgement or negative feedback. I feel like my life, health and symptoms are being taken seriously but with care.

Follow up appointment over the telephone was relaxed, no rushing, he answered all the questions about my medication and progress without prejudice, sarcasm and was so easy and a breath of fresh air. I can say that if you are thinking of treatment and support like nowhere else then you will be in very caring and professional hands that really do make you feel that you are important and heard with respect and understanding. 5 stars are not enough.

Peter

October 2024

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My life has been transformed since starting medical cannabis with CB1 Medical.

Dr Richard Pertwee was friendly and so knowledgeable. The relief I’ve experienced has been nothing short of miraculous. The quality of life I now have is something I never thought possible, started to smell the roses eg I’m incredibly grateful to you all.

Highly recommend it to anyone who is struggling or has ineffective medication.

Kirsty

April 2024

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I know when you pay for an appointment, you expect a different service, but honestly, this is beyond what I expected. The appointments were scheduled quickly, and happened within days, mostly late evenings to fit around my work. The doctors listen and I didn’t feel like I was being judged as just a junkie after pain meds. That’s how I feel in an NHS appointment.

The meds were delivered quickly and I got to using them right away. In the last 11 days, I’ve used painkillers once, and only paracetamol. This is down from multiple painkillers multiple times every single day. And I sleep so much better as well.