Can you do this to your arm? *PICTURE ATTACHED *

Canyoudothis · 2022-09-15T23:48:04+00:00

I found out recently that I can bend my arm/elbow a little bit further than a straight line and I thought it looked quite cool! can most people do this too?! Or is my arm just a bit more flexible?! i’ve attached a photograph of it (and I’ve scribbled out all the details on my wall and door incase it’s identifying 😂). I took the photo of my reflection in the mirror so it’s a bit fuzzy apologies!

sanityisamyth · 16/09/2022 00:57

A lot of people are hyper mobile in their elbows. It puts a lot of strain on already elongated tendons and ligaments. Thumbs are another common joint - people can touch their thumb to behind their wrist.

My elbows are unaffected, but my knees, shoulders and hips dislocate very easily due to very lax joints - have had 3 joints surgically stabilised now due to recurrent issues!! Not much fun :(

definitelynotlistening · 16/09/2022 04:21

Yes I am hypermobile as are my children.

Princesspickle777 · 16/09/2022 05:15

Yes I can do this as can my eldest, we’re both hyper mobile

parrotonmyshoulder · 16/09/2022 06:29

What do you mean you ‘found out recently’? Surely it’s always been your arm?

phishy · 16/09/2022 07:19

I don’t think OP knew about hypermobility!

CoatyWonder · 16/09/2022 07:48

Not sure but I can do this with my thumb. Its called hitchhiker's thumb 🤭

Can you do this to your arm? *PICTURE ATTACHED *

FlumpyLump · 16/09/2022 08:20

I am double jointed.....I think that's the term? It's my only party trick.

rainyskylight · 16/09/2022 08:25

You are hypermobile. That’s quite an extension so you should read up about it and take care of your body. Don’t do intense yoga unless you have a very very good instructor who knows about it and can make adjustments for you.

nancyglancey · 16/09/2022 08:41

My son can do that and the thumb thing. I fear he will have joint problems when older. He's an excellent climber as a result.

JustlookingNotbuying · 16/09/2022 08:53

I have always been very bendy. I suspect I have joint hyper mobility. I can easily bend my thumbs back too. I often wonder if I may have EDS as I have other issues too.

Onacuctustree · 16/09/2022 08:56

Not with my arms...my legs are very bendy at the knee. In ways that make people wince.
Even at 48 I can freak people out with the bendy-ness.

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 16/09/2022 08:58

One of my children can do it with his arms , he can also do the thumb thing like a pp

ChaToilLeam · 16/09/2022 09:01

I have hypermobility, diagnosed at 18 when my hip joint subluxed at school. That was a result of me showing off being able to put my leg behind my head! 😂 Mostly I’m okay as long as I don’t overextend or strain my joints, if I do I’m in for a lot of pain. If you’re able to do it, I recommend strength training, then you can build up the muscles to support the weak joints.

QuebecBagnet · 16/09/2022 09:02

I can and do can dd. Dd has been diagnosed with EDS. I suspect I have it as well but never bothered chasing a diagnosis

TibetanTerrah · 16/09/2022 09:06

I have a weird quirk where on my left hand my fingers don't bend back at all, but on my right they bend back 120 degrees

If I want to gross someone out I tell them to push my fingers back on my left hand as hard as they can, nothing happens. Then get them to do the right and they sort of collapse backwards

JessicaBrassica · 16/09/2022 09:15

If you do archery, you might want to put a tubigrip on your elbow to protect it, otherwise you Rick taking out the inside of your elbow with the bow string and sending the arrow off course!

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 16/09/2022 09:17

STOP ! If that's blood covering the wall behind you, you should stop mucking about bending your elbow like that!

The NHS is already on it's knees I don't think they can take on elbows as well.

Ship · 16/09/2022 09:20

ChaToilLeam · 16/09/2022 09:01

I have hypermobility, diagnosed at 18 when my hip joint subluxed at school. That was a result of me showing off being able to put my leg behind my head! 😂 Mostly I’m okay as long as I don’t overextend or strain my joints, if I do I’m in for a lot of pain. If you’re able to do it, I recommend strength training, then you can build up the muscles to support the weak joints.

What does your hip joint subluxed mean? My sons party truck is getting his feet behind his head- I once took him to the dr as I’m sure he’s hypermobile and he often complains of pains but the dr said it was normal for children. I don’t like the sound of the hip joint subluxing! Is it like dislocating?

AnyFucker · 16/09/2022 09:31

Yep. And when I put my hand flat on a table with the elbow straight I can turn my elbow joint a full circle clockwise and anti clockwise

PainPainGoAwayToday · 16/09/2022 09:32

Yes and agree to the hypermobile thing. Are you quite young? I’m 40 now and my joints are screwed and everything hurts 😞 I was told a few years ago hypermobile people often need a lot of joint replacements compared to, well normal people. I don’t know if that’s true or the stats on it but a physio said it to me. My Nan had several joints replaced so I wonder if I got it from her. My DC have it too. Please look after your joints as best you can!

PainPainGoAwayToday · 16/09/2022 09:36

Ship · 16/09/2022 09:20

What does your hip joint subluxed mean? My sons party truck is getting his feet behind his head- I once took him to the dr as I’m sure he’s hypermobile and he often complains of pains but the dr said it was normal for children. I don’t like the sound of the hip joint subluxing! Is it like dislocating?

Show quote history

I used to be able to get my legs around my neck. I first saw a dr and had physio at 12 because of my knees. I had physio a few years ago and was told needing joint replacements is common and I’d probably need them before the average person would. Told her about my DC and was told to never let them do gymnastics as they would be pushed too far due to their bendiness and to avoid anything that puts strain on their joints even now (pre teens) even though they don’t seem to get any problems or pain (fingers crossed). Just tell your son to be careful, I'm sure he will be fine but as a kid I thought it was fun I could do that stuff now at 40 everything hurts 😞

Original poster

Canyoudothis · 16/09/2022 09:46

To the person who said they can twist their elbow completely around- same! I’ve never met anybody else in real life who can do it!

OP posts:

nachoavocado · 16/09/2022 09:47

Love this thread

Ship · 16/09/2022 09:54

PainPainGoAwayToday · 16/09/2022 09:36

I used to be able to get my legs around my neck. I first saw a dr and had physio at 12 because of my knees. I had physio a few years ago and was told needing joint replacements is common and I’d probably need them before the average person would. Told her about my DC and was told to never let them do gymnastics as they would be pushed too far due to their bendiness and to avoid anything that puts strain on their joints even now (pre teens) even though they don’t seem to get any problems or pain (fingers crossed). Just tell your son to be careful, I'm sure he will be fine but as a kid I thought it was fun I could do that stuff now at 40 everything hurts 😞

Show quote history

Thank you! He used to sleep kind of folded in half because his hips are so flexible. I have told him to stop and also to stop putting feet behind neck because that’s why he’s having pain. He used to do gym but stopped a while ago so that’s good. He’s ten now. I will keep an eye on him!

JustlookingNotbuying · 16/09/2022 10:26

Was anyone here with unstable joints also born with hip dysplasia? I wonder if there is a connection as both my ds and I had hip dysplasia and also have hyper mobility.