What may seem to be tendinitis of the knee or bursitis of the shoulder in some patients may actually be a condition called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. This disorder can also cause some patients to experience chronic fatigue or nausea in combination with sore joints and other symptoms. The syndrome itself is a genetic condition that impacts the way the body creates and processes collagen.
Many doctors don’t diagnose patients with EDS because the symptoms often seem unrelated to each other. For one woman, a series of tests and blood work couldn’t find anything out of the ordinary, and her doctors simply told her that she would be fine. However, for patients with EDS, failure to diagnose can eventually lead to medical problems. There may also be emotional pain for those who know that there is something wrong but don’t know what’s causing the issues.
Currently, it takes an average of 20 years between symptoms presenting themselves and a diagnosis. Patients are encouraged to go online to learn more about the condition and be proactive about their treatment. This may make it easier to get a correct diagnosis and start treatment as soon as possible.
Patients who experience a worsened condition because of a failure to diagnose or a delayed diagnosis may wish to take legal action. Legal counsel may be able to establish that a medical professional’s negligence led to the a patient’s progressively worse medical state. Cases may be settled out of court through informal settlement talks, which could lead to a timely resolution. However, such a case can also be taken to trial.