Hypermobility syndrome

[littleowl14]

I literally just starting to wonder about this after a couple of sports massagers have asked / commented on my flexibility despite me feeling that I'm not at the moment.

Any experience? I don't think I'm that bad but a few other things I've struggled with over the years are starting to add up:

Always quite tired as a child.
Frequent bouts of exhaustion as an adult - often have to limit what I do. Anxiety linked to this. And at extremes depression. Brain fog phases - all Previously blamed on hypothyroidism which I've had since 21, however I now know I'm well replaced (prob have no thyroid hormones myself now) yet still suffer.

Learnt about vit d - only a little low but getting extra and lots of sun has definitely helped.

Bendy legs, fingers, arms, shoulders - remain so now. Can touch any part of my back. Lots of lower back pain/ hip.
Hip (left) often feels loose - pops about if I lie on my right side, at times has hurt.
Fold ears into my ear canal

Hand pain and weakness for 6 months (better since my vit d offensive) got so bad I was struggling to open things, chop etc.

I'm breast feeding a 19 month old - possibly making worse due to relaxin?

My flexibility has been a blessing in the past as when I was in a healthy fit phase I did a lot of martial arts.

Oh and the epidural didn't work. I could still walk about, had to have a spinal for emergency c section. I seemed to take a very long time to recover from this compared to friends who had one at the same time.

My legs are bruising ridiculously easily at the mo!

I'm thinking of approaching the physio we can access through work, would they be able to advise?

Oh and flat feet and often twist ankle if not careful! Tia

You need a proper diagnosis - check out Professor Rodney Grahame and Rosemary Keer online - they have both written books.
Rosemary is a physio who specialises in hypermobility.

I have found the best thing is strength training to improve my muscle strength to make up for the crappy ligaments.

Oh and clicky jaw at times which my dad has

Thanks miggsie.

I've emailed a friend who is an osteo to ask and will contact the physio through work too. Will look into your links too - I don't think I'm that bad but certainly suffering at the mo and it's seriously impacted on my relationship.

Funnily enough i was at my best when doing a combo of swimming, Forrest yoga (lots of strength and core stuff ) and a little weight training too, plus cycling to work.

Just looked at some rosemary k things and a photo of someone sitting with leg wrapped round is very me! Was thinking that out of 60 members of staff in the staff meeting last week I was the only one sitting like that ( and ended up having to sit cross legged on my seat as it was so uncomfy!)

Now I'm feeling bad for berating the lack of flexibility in the children I teach ......

Bump any other experience!

Sorry that was supposed tobe a ?

Have you ever heard of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome? It's like hypermobility but affects connective tissue too, like cartilage en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehlers–Danlos_syndrome

I have hypermobilty, as does ds. It's mainly in ds's feet and wrists though so he struggles to walk and write as it causes a lot of pain and instability. Pilates is great as it focuses on the core muscles so it may be helpful to you. The key thing is not to over do things, little and often. We were told by the OT not to allow ds to do repetitive movements, like chopping. He's learning to cook at the moment so I'm going to buy him an electric chopper. He also can't open jars as he doesn't have the strength in his wrists. There are aids you can get to help with this. Screw top jars are often easier to open if you run the top under the hot water tap for a few minutes, or if you use a rubber glove. Vacuum ones are easier to open if you turn them upside down and hit the bottom firmly, or use a blunt knife to lift the top from the side until the seal pops.

It may help for you to pop to your GP and ask for a physio and OT referral. The physio can work out your range of movement so you don't over do it, the OT can help with practical advice, like giving you exercises to strengthen your hands.

Thanks lady. Yes I've read about that syndrome; my skin is not like that but indefinitely hyper joint mobile now I look at it. I just thought everyone could do what I do! It's not all my joints; I can't do the splits. The cartilage in my nose and ears is very soft.

I've sought aids for years without realising it - rubber squares for opening jars for example. Plus I've often sprained hands or hips through very simple things such as opening a door. But I realise I've inadvertently worked hard to strengthen my muscles through 10 years of capoeira , swimming and yoga as I found if I was fit I had less fatigue - but this was I believed more due to my thyroid issues! I'm now wondering if the two have compacted at times.

I'm wary about the dr as they look blankly at me. Might depend which one I see! I may go through the work physio scheme first then tell the dr this is what I'm doing.

Mummy now rethinking dr - just re read rosemary keer bit about stretchy skin: my hand skin is very stretchy but I thought everyone's is? Will test pinch colleagues tomorrow....

And just found out no stretchmarks in pregnancy can be a symptom too (a positive one at least!!)