Hypermobility / double jointed

[CornishPorsche]

I've always been hypermobile. As a kid, it was obviously a party trick, with lots of sitting on my bum with legs crossed and ankles up on the opposite hips etc.

Now I'm knocking on for 40 and am continually and badly spraining my left ankle. I'm seeing a physio who thinks it's linked to the hypermobility.

Is this my future? Lots of sprains?

Any other adults out there with hypermobile related issues?

[Makinglists]

I'd be interested too. I am 50 and my mother was very hypermobile (I suspect she may have had EDS but not diagnosed and now is no longer around), I am mildly hypermobile (can bend thumbs back, sit in w position and bendy ankles). As I've got older I'm lucky to be generally healthy but my joints are shot. In the last 15 years I've had carpal tunnel in both wrists, had disc problems in my back, plantar faciatis and torn cartilidge in both knees. I'm fed up with the pain and not being able to do what I want. I have weak ankles so have developed a love of lace up boots (think DMs with ribbons!). I can never wear heels (off I do I'll be flat on my face). Would love to hear others experiences as they move into their 40/50s

[doctoralice]

Yep, it sucks.

Recommend finding a Pilates teacher who specialises in hyper mobility.

Early 40s now and I'm avoiding the continual pain from small injuries sustained by slightly overdoing it, but which would go on for months.

[NC4Now]

I have hypermobility syndrome/EDS. I’m definitely feeling worse for it as I’m older. As a kid it was all party tricks but these days it’s aches and pains, and tight muscles from over compensating.
Being overweight isn’t helping but I’m working on that.

[QueenOfOversharing]

My DS has EDS & I've always been quite flexible, but weirdly, both of us very tight in hips (he had loads of surgery for dislocated hips but the ligaments were so tight they had to release those too). He had lots of patella subluxations too & very low muscle strength - found out he has a rare type of muscular dystrophy too. As he's got older (21 now), he's developed contractures in some joints, but fingers & toes so hypermobile it makes me feel sick.

For me, it hasn't been as bad, but I did sprain my ankles loads as a kid - then dislocated & broke it when I was 30, so got arthritis in it.

I keep reminding DS not to do his party tricks as I'm certain that'll irritate the joints as he gets older. For him, he's been advised to work on building muscles that stabilise the joints & that's all he can really do.

[TheWordmeister]

I am hypermobile. Apart from dislocating my knee twice (which didn't even hurt - apparently you have a higher tolerance to pain), and mild carpal tunnel, it has never caused me issues.

And I am good at yoga!

[mineofuselessinformation]

Yes - and I now have arthritis.
Apparently people with hypermobility enjoy the feeling of stretching joints too far, which can result in excessive wearing of their joints.
I don't know if the two things are directly connected - arthritis and hyper mobility- (and nobody will tell me either way).
I would advise you to get the help of your physio who will look at your range of movement, and advise you on where you are going too far with the movement of your joints. You need to re-learn what is 'normal' to limit the damage to them. (I hope that makes sense?)
It's a difficult thing to do, because what feels ok to you is not for the rest of the population!
Sorry for the long post, but I hope it's helpful.

[QueenOfOversharing]

Exactly this - it's called proprioception (knowing where your body is in space, kind of) & ppl who are hypermobile struggle with it. Plus, the muscles which stabilise the joints have to work much more as the joints range is so much greater. It causes a lot of fatigue - my DS struggled such a lot in school but they refused to see it (despite him being under several consultants at Gt Ormond St).

[Hearhoovesthinkzebras]

I have hypermobile EDS - frequently dislocated my knee and my shoulder. Growing up it was just a thing that I had.

Now 50 and I've been formally diagnosed and have severe arthritis in pretty much every joint. My proprioception is rubbish and I'm in so much pain. All the specialists agree that had I been diagnosed earlier and had decent physio to train me to use my joints properly the damage wouldn't be so bad.

I also have autonomic dysfunction due to it too so my blood pressure is ridiculously low, I get very breathless and very tired, can't control my temperature, get reactive hypoglycaemia if I eat carbs and much more.

[Ritascornershop]

I find I get repetitive strain injuries really easily now. Work could not care less and so I’m constantly trying to figure out how to do the (unnecessary) tasks (they assign because they don’t understand the software, while not doing it for too long at any one time.

And I’m also exhausted much of the time and I’m sure my loved ones are tired of hearing that. I really, really wish I could retire so that I could get something out of my days. As it is I work just over 6 hours a day and come home and get into bed to read and nap, as my body is desperate to lie down on something comfy. Hard chairs at work are my enemy.

[Bimbop5]

Yes I've hypermobile shoulders and hips but legs super inflexible due to overcompensating. I'm 45 now and I've had a lot of repetitive strain injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome. My body is just not set up properly for office work! I have to be so careful not to injure myself.

[NC4Now]

Same as your son Queen, I weight train a couple of times a week to strengthen my supporting muscles. My SI joints used to go out all the time but they haven’t done as much recently.

[crampytoe]

I'm in the same boat. I stand with my knees locked back, have plantar fasciitis, my joints ache like hell (am overweight though!) and feel like an oldie at times. Not yet 50 but dread what I'll be like in years to come.

Been told that yoga is a no no as it overstretches joints but find Pilates really difficult (probably need to find a novice class).

[NC4Now]

I love yoga because I’m naturally good at it but I have hurt myself doing it before, so I try and do other exercise.

[CornishPorsche]

Interesting. It's definitely not EDS - no history of it in the family either.

I'm swimming again, trying to help the rehab of my ankle and lose some weight. I hate hate hate running, so won't be going back to that EVER now I've left the police 😂. I love Pilates, but can't find a good studio near me - the local gym classes are more like aerobics.

I've been advised today that the GP has referred me for a DEXA bone scan as I asked, so I'm delighted. We have a very significant history of osteoporosis in my family, and I'm of the age where the diagnoses have been made for others.... FFS.

[thirdpassport]

I have joint hypermobility syndrome too and have been through periods of ‘going over’ on my ankles in the past. What has really helped is just working on muscle strength and targeted exercises using resistance bands for the ankles, calves and hamstrings. Your hamstrings are likely to be a bit weak if you have a desk bound job. I was told by a physio it can all contribute. Good luck!

[crampytoe]

Does anyone find certain exercises painful? I cannot do lunges for the life of me!

[Hearhoovesthinkzebras]

Yep, lunges for me are agony because I need a knee replacement so I can't bear weight through a bent knee.

I've done various programmes for hypermobility and it's always booked down to strengthen and good positioning of joints. What I find impossible to do though is to use my joints correctly unless I have visual feedback ie looking in a mirror. Day to day it's impossible to do that.

I think I'm too far gone now to change anything. All of my joints are damaged and painful and I don't know what I can do to change that.

[HowlsMovingBungalow]

I am Hypermobile as are my children ( my mother is and my Grandmother was too ). My shoulder popped out a few times as a child and when I was into my sports as a teen, running really stuffed up my knee joints so gave it up.
My hips play up a lot now, I could walk 10 - 20 miles a day with no issues but after a few miles now they are very painful.
DS had a lot of joint issues as a toddler and saw OT to strengthen his joints especially his ankles and hips ( classic W sitter!)
We all have digestive problems IBS, and constipation, have always wondered about the Hypermobility affecting internal organs?

[CornishPorsche]

Apparently yes, it can affect the digestive system as well. I also have IBSD, so probably connected.

[forrestgreen]

I had bendy thumbs and could touch the floor with my palms.
I've got arthritis in both thumbs and my spine

[HowlsMovingBungalow]

Something to keep in mind but not much we can do about it I guess, ho hum!

[Hearhoovesthinkzebras]

It can affect all connective tissue, so yes, it can cause digestive problems either directly or because of autonomic dysfunction, it can also affect the bladder, cause prolapses. There's lots of information on the HMSA website.

www.hypermobility.org/
Hypermobility Syndromes Association (HMSA)

[HowlsMovingBungalow]

I had a very early hysterectomy (early 30s) due to a prolapse (and god awful periods) , interesting. Thank you for the link @Hearhooves.

[thereinmadnesslies]

Yep, I’m 39 and really struggling with injuries when before I was just bendy. The physio suggests Pilates but a class where the teacher is a qualified physio.

[slalomsuki]

Hyper mobility here also and now have arthritis in most joints. Went through years or spraining my ankle on the right hand side and constantly having pains from over stretching my shoulders.