Can someone come talk to me about Hypermobility?

[2Old2BeABluePeterPresenter]

What is it, what are the symptoms? Does it go hand in hand with Rheumatoid Arthritis? My Dad had awful RA and I am extremely flexible and from posts on here understand that this can be a symptom, my knees are particularly bad in cold weather and this week have begun to ache and bend back on themselves as I walk. Could this be sign of something more sinister, it had happened before but I had never heard of hypermobility. Should I exposes my concerns to my GP? What can actually be done if this is Hypermobility? TIA.

[2Old2BeABluePeterPresenter]

*express my concerns even.

[CockBollocks]

There are quite a few people on here that suffer, maybe do a search or go over to the health boards.

Not really a cure but lots of management strategies, if you are in pain you should visit your doctor and tell them your concerns. Maybe ask to see a physio?

[OliviaMumsnet]

bump

[TiddlyZomZomZombie]

You should def see your Doc about it, I was referred to an Osteo consultant at hospital a couple of years ago after having hip pain for 20 years (hadn't been complaining about it for that long, it was just 'normal' for me!), he did a hypermobility test on me and I scored 7 out of 9. It was the first time I'd heard of hypermobility too, but made total sense. I fall over in flat shoes my ankles are so bendy, daren't wear heels, and as a kid I used to lay on my stomach and touch my chin with my toes (can't do that anymore sadly, 'twas a good party trick).

I had seen chiropractors and osteopaths etc since I was 12 for scoliosis, but the exercises they gave me never really helped as they were designed to increase flexibility - I was too flexible that was the problem!
My GP has now referred me to a physio who tells me a can improve my hip pain by building up my butt muscles, so we'll give that a go. Might change my NN to BunsOfSteel if it works!

My stepdad had RA and wasn't hypermobile - I don't think it's inevitable for you at all. However your GP needs to be aware of your concerns as RA must be caught early so they can help manage it.

Please do see your GP, they may well be able to help, or at least explain your susceptibility to RA.

[cravingcake]

I'm hypermobile (9 out of 9) & only recenty diagnosed as its not affected me too much until i was pregnant & had my DS. I have had almost permanent back pain for a year after giving birth and its taken that long for my Dr to referme to physio and it was the lovely physio lady that discovered it. Theres no 'cure' as such, just ways to manage it. For me as its mostly my back then the obly thing iv an do is wear tubi-grip waistband (great for a flat tummy) and do pilates style excercises. It normally does run in families but we cant work out where mine comes from, and it normally affects girls a lot more than boys. There is a website with a lot more info but on phone so cant link it but will try to find it later.

[cravingcake]

Found the link hmsa Hope this helps.

[rabbitstew]

Rheumatoid arthritis, so far as I'm aware, does not go hand in hand with hypermobility. The link between the two is FAR more tenuous than that, as one relates to over-stretchy connective tissue (hypermobility) and the other is an immune system dysfunction (RA). Hypermobility alone is very common in the general population, RA is not nearly so common and so far as I'm aware, you can have RA without being remotely hypermobile (although I really don't know much about RA) and can most definitely be hypermobile without having RA.

What IS frequently linked with hypermobility, though, is pain. Pain is frequently found with hypermobility for various reasons - one being that if you bend your joints too far the wrong way, you are more likely to damage something, dislocate something or sublux something; another is that, for some reason, hypermobile people, whilst they can bend their joints further than others before it starts to hurt, find they take longer to heal if they do manage to damage their joints. Hypermobility is often linked with earlier than average onset of osteoarthritis (ie arthritis cause by wear and tear rather than an overactive immune system attacking itself). It is actually also associated with an increased tendency towards osteoporosis, easier bruising, and even finding that local anaesthetics do not work... but then plenty of people have hypermobility and only ever find it an advantage to them, eg in sport.

As others have said, you can't cure hypermobility, the aim is to ensure that your hypermobility doesn't expose you to the risk of damaging your joints. Strong muscles supporting the joints and compensating for over stretchy ligaments and tendons help, hence physiotherapy being very helpful (physio also helps train you to use your body in a safe way, rather than inadvertently moving around in a way that harms your body). Special supports can also help for joints that are too unstable, and learning to pace yourself so that you don't put too much repetitive strain on the same joints all day every day.

[roughtyping]

I think it's osteoarthritis that is more common later in life if you're hypermobile. I'm v hypermobile (all joints, my back 'jackknifes', shoulders and knees dislocate easily etc) and get a lot of pain now (I'm only 26). I have a cousin who has Down's Syndrome who is also hypermobile but that's part of Down's I think. My granny (other side of family) is v arthritic. Not really sure where it came from. Getting worse now. Have been discharged by physio as they can't do anything more really. I do Pilates, physio gave me some useful stuff like wrist splints, scissors which are easier to use, band for exercising etc.

My doctor's surgery aren't v supportive - had to really push to get them to understand that it's v painful. Have been told that 'this is what happens when you get older' I'm not even 30! If you keep pushing they will eventually do something. Rheumatology weren't particularly helpful, just referred to physio. Bit stuck where to go now TBH.

Hypermobility is just managed, it can't be 'fixed' IYSWIM. But physio help you to become more aware of how you are holding your body and how to be safer and cause less stress to joints. I would go to GP.

[difficultpickle]

No link between RA and hypermobility. As others say it is about managing rather than treatment. I'm hypermobile and so is ds although different parts of our bodies are affected. His care is far better than anything I ever had as a child. I was just told to live with it and if it got too bad I'd have to have surgery which would leave massive scars. Fortunately I didn't need surgery until was an adult and by then it was keyhole so tiny scars.

[roughtyping]

Sorry, have just read other replies and realised I've just repeated what others have said!

Lots of people have hypermobility without pain though. It's rubbish isn't it. Physio warned me to be careful of ice this winter as my knees are crap - so be careful with yours too!

[cardamomginger]

Am hypermobile too. You should also be aware (although this might not be relevant to you!) that hypermobility is associated with a higher risk of birth injuries - prolapse and bad tearing.