"We can't do surgery."
For hypermobile and EDS patients, those words can feel like abandonment. They are often the opposite.
On today's episode of Bendy Bodies, I sat down with Duke orthopedic surgeon Jocelyn Wittstein, M.D. to talk about one of the most misunderstood decisions in hypermobility and connective tissue care: why surgery is sometimes withheld, and why that restraint can be the most protective thing a surgeon does for you.
Here is what most patients are never told.
In Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), surgical outcomes can be far less predictable than in the general population. Connective tissue that does not hold tension the way it should can stretch back out after repair. One surgery can set off a cascade of additional procedures. The repair that works in a typical patient may fail in a hypermobile one.
So when a surgeon says no, it is not because your pain is not real. It is not because you do not deserve treatment. It is often because they are looking further down the road than you are standing right now.
That does not mean surgery is never appropriate. It means the calculus is different. And it means physical therapy, targeted strengthening, and thoughtful lifestyle modifications are not consolation prizes. They are frequently the most evidence-aligned path forward.
You deserve to understand why. That conversation is called shared decision-making, and you have every right to ask for it.
💬 Have you ever been told surgery was not an option and felt like you were left without a plan?
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#EhlersDanlosSyndromes
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#EDSAwarenessMonth #HSDAwarenessMonth
📌 Educational purposes only. Always consult your healthcare provider.
VD: Podcast clip featuring Jocelyn Wittstein, M.D. and Dr. Linda Bluestein discussing surgical decision-making in joint hypermobility.
