Skip to content 
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome testing in Bismarck, ND, helps explain symptoms that are often dismissed for years: joint pain, skin that bruises or stretches easily, chronic fatigue, or injuries that happen more often than they should. This group of connective tissue disorders can affect joints, skin, blood vessels, and other body systems. An Ehlers-Danlos syndrome evaluation typically combines a detailed symptom and family history, a physical exam, and clinical criteria, and in some cases, genetic testing, to determine whether a hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome diagnosis or another subtype fits your presentation. For patients in Bismarck, ND, a proper evaluation is often the first step toward finally understanding a lifetime of symptoms. Book an appointment with Embrace Wellness today.
At Embrace Wellness’s Family Practice Clinic in Bismarck, ND, our functional wellness and integrative approach means we look at the full pattern of your symptoms, not just one joint or complaint at a time. Cass Haider, FNP, offers a comprehensive evaluation for patients who suspect a connective tissue disorder or have already been managing symptoms without a clear explanation.
Because these symptoms can overlap with other conditions, including hypermobility spectrum disorder, POTS, and mast cell activation syndrome, a thorough evaluation looks at your whole health history, not just your joints.
Understanding whether your symptoms fit this diagnosis can change how you manage your health going forward. Benefits may include:
A clear evaluation gives you language and documentation for a condition that’s often misunderstood.
Your evaluation begins with a detailed conversation about your symptoms, injury history, skin characteristics, and family history, since these conditions often run in families. Cass Haider, FNP, then performs a physical exam that may include a Beighton score assessment for joint hypermobility, along with a review of skin elasticity, scarring patterns, and other associated physical signs.
Because the hypermobile form (hEDS) is currently diagnosed clinically, without a confirmed genetic marker, your evaluation focuses on matching your symptoms against established diagnostic criteria. Other subtypes may involve a genetic component, and your provider will discuss whether genetic testing is a reasonable next step based on your history and exam findings.
You’ll leave your evaluation with a clear explanation of your results and, if appropriate, next steps for further testing or specialist referral.
An evaluation may be right for you if you:
These conditions can affect people of any age, and many patients see several providers before receiving an accurate evaluation.
Related services: Hypermobility Disorder Evaluations | Joint Rejuvenation
Before your appointment, gather any family history of joint, skin, or connective tissue conditions, and note specific symptoms such as dislocations, unusual scarring, or fainting episodes. Bringing records from prior evaluations, if you have them, can help your provider build a complete picture.
After your evaluation, your plan may include lifestyle guidance, referrals to specialists, or genetic testing, depending on what your assessment shows.
At Embrace Wellness, we understand that these conditions are often missed or misdiagnosed for years, and we take a thorough, patient-centered approach to evaluation.
Patients choose us for:
If you’ve spent years searching for an explanation, an evaluation with our Ehlers-Danlos specialist is where that search can start to make sense.
Diagnosis is made through a combination of clinical evaluation, family history, and established diagnostic criteria, with genetic testing used for certain subtypes. The hypermobile form is currently diagnosed clinically rather than through a genetic test.
Your provider will review your symptoms and family history, perform a physical exam including a joint hypermobility assessment, and evaluate skin characteristics associated with the condition. You’ll discuss your results and appropriate next steps together.
Not always; the hypermobile subtype is diagnosed clinically, without a confirmed genetic marker. Genetic testing may be recommended if your history or exam suggests a different subtype.
The hypermobile form is diagnosed clinically based on symptoms and exam findings, whereas several other subtypes are associated with identifiable genetic mutations. Your provider will help determine which pattern best fits your evaluation.
Bring a summary of your symptoms, injury history, and any known family history of joint hypermobility or connective tissue conditions. Prior medical records, if available, can also help your provider build a complete picture.
