Joint Hypermobility - if you have this, don't do ante-natal exercises.!

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

Just returned from physio for the sciatica that I've had for the last 4 months. Therapist immediately said 'ooh you've got joint hypermobility' and discovered that I've been walking limping about with my seat bones out of line. She twisted me round in several different directions at once until we heard a nice loud clunk. It feels so much better.

She also said "absolutely no birthing ball exercises, no squatting, nothing at all to open up the pelvis - it's open enough already". Any sharp pain in the vaginal area is actually the gristly bit that joins the front of the pelvis giving way. And no yoga. All these will only make it worse.

And out of interest, those who do have joint hypermobility - did you have fast births?

Oooooooh interesting. I'm hypermobile an did a fair amount of antenatal stuff. As for birth, was 4.5 hours all in I think so pretty fast for a first one yes!

oh gosh i think i may be hypermobile...and have a bad back and had speedy birth - just over an hour with ds2 from first contraction to holding him in my arms.....

and i have been having occasional stabbing pains in the bone area in my groin....

i need to see a physio dont i

I have been told I am slightly hypermobile - by some doctor after dislocating my knee for the fourth time. My labour was quick (6 hours) but he got stuck and I ended up with a c section. Perhaps I'm not hypermobile.

I have very hypermobile joints (I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) and I have to wear a corset-type thing to hold my hips in their sickets. I do some ante-natal exercise, but only those advised by my physio. Pilates is very good (if you can find someone who not only specialises in pregnancy but knows about joint problems) because it helps strengthen the muscles to support the joints.

I had a section for my first birth (and will be having another one) but there is quite a lot of evidence to show that women with EDS do labour very fast.

popsycal - I'm glad you saw this, was going to hunt you down to let you know. I've been pottering in the garden since I got home from the physio - she said it might really ache where she'd put the seat bone back but it isn't so far. My coccyx hurts but it's been hurting all day. I'm cautiously optimistic (and I'm seeing her again in 2 weeks in case it's jumped out again)!

Interesting to see all the fast births - mine were 7.5hrs, 3hrs & under 1hr. I'm hoping DC4 is not going to be any faster than that - can you imagine giving birth in the school playground?!

that is ny worry too

Duchess, sorry to be thick but is joint hypermobility the same as/connected to SPD? I have pain in my groin travelling down both legs and it's been diagnosed as SPD. I have been advised to do yoga and swimming and not told about not using the birthing ball. Bit worried now!

I have been told that my 'baggy pelvis' (what a charming expression!) will help with a faster labour so hope this part is true!

splodge - I don't think it's connected to SPD.

Joint Hypermobility is permanent - we're the bendy people who are double-jointed or have over-extending joints that make good gymnasts and contortionists! And have fast labours.

Oooh duchess I was just about to put a shout out for you but here you are!

How is your back feeling today after the treatment?

I have decided that I need to do something about it. It started just after I had ds2 (a super dooper speedy quick labour) and I think something must have jumped out of place.

Did you get your physio referral through your community midwife? I don't have my next appointment until June so I would have to ring her up to ask...

Popsycal - My back is feeling good, coccyx is still a bit sore but seat bones MUCH better! I've been walking about all day, mucked out ponies, chickens etc, been in and out of the car. There's a definite improvement!

It was my midwife that referred me. I'd definitely phone yours and ask for a referral - assuming the physio you see is any good, it could make a huge difference. Even if you get a different diagnosis to mine!

SPD is more prevalent in women with joint hypermobility but suffering from SPD is not an indication of hypermobility in and of itself. Hypermobility is a permanent condition; something with which one is born.

A useful link for those of you with hypermobility is

www.hypermobility.org/

which gives some useful advice and further links etc.

I'd like to point out that some physios/osteopaths may recommend birthing ball exercises - mine has - but not those exercise which open the pelvis but exercises which strengthen the core muscles. It all depends on how loose your joints are and how unstable they are.

I should say that although I have hypermobile joints it is because I have EDS (a connective tissue disorder) - it is more common, AFAIK, to have hypermobility without the existence of a connective tissue disorder such as Marfans or EDS.

I definitely don't have hypermobility - I'm the most inflexible person I know!

I just have SPD so will stick with my birthing ball!

oooh just searched for this thread....
duchess - my back pain is caused by the same as yours! and I have hypermobiltiy and speedy births

Oh dear, when I saw the physio this week she told me that I'm hypermobile because my elbows and knees with go the wrong way. And I have SPD (which gives me the same pain that you had).
Didn't have a fast birth though - I had a large OP baby with a big square head. Sorry!

Can't help re the fast births as this will be my first (am only 7 weeks gone). Though I am very glad you posted this - I went to see a physio about a recurring knee problem last year and he suggested I have HMS but did not do a formal diagnosis. I mentioned it to my GP who said it is nothing to worry about.

I score 8/9 on the Beighton test and have other associated problems, hernias, flat feet, very weak ankles, severe myopia, thin skin, Marfanoid habitus, drooping eyelids.

Now I am a bit concerned as to what will happen my body as pregnancy progresses. Is it likely that a hernia will come back? My ankles seem even more unstable, probably due to the hormones. I have always been very thin and slightly built and with this pregnancy am already heavier than I have ever been, I guess this will put more strain on my joints. If my connective tissue is weak, does that mean not only a faster birth is likely, but an earlier birth? My mother has many of the same characteristics as me and her children were all born early.

I seem to be slightly hyper-mobile but had long births - and SPD, and a lot of joint problems nearly 3 years after my last birth. Am currently having problems with my sacro-iliac joints and have an MRI soon.

I'm hypermobile, very probable EDS hypermobility type as i have the boingy skin and fragile peripheral blood vessels ,but not as bad as Jscot and I've had 1 c/s and 3 Vb's, the spd got worse with each one without doing anything! This last time i went to a chiro who popped my subluxed SI joints back in and sorted a partially prolapsed disc , which I've been carrying around for years , my 1 stages were quite slow and the last one came under the class of prolonged, but 2nd stages were 20 mins,10 mins,10 mins , the 20 minute one was with DS2 who was a monster head(is the same circ as Dh's at 4 and a half)I've lost a reasonable amount of blood with them as well,
DS1 (c/s) 1000ml
DS2 (HB)800ml
DD1 (HB) 600ml
DD2 (hosp)1000ml plus over 2 days
interestingly, all their membranes have been very tough and stretchy, 1st and last needed some force to break my waters, middle two waters didn't break until crowning

From the HMS website linked earlier:

Pregnancy and JHS/EDSHM

RODNEY GRAHAME CBE, MD, FRCP, FACP
Emeritus Professor of Rheumatology, University College Hospital, LONDON.

Unlike the vascular form of the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome ( EDS ), formerly EDS Type IV, the Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS), which is equivalent to EDS?hypermobility type, formerly EDS III ) is not associated with heart disease or major hazards during pregnancy and labour. However there are a number of considerations that should be borne in mind, which are listed here:

• Joint and spinal pains may increase during the course of the pregnancy.
• There is a tendency to premature rupture of the membranes and thus of premature labour and delivery.
• There is a tendency to rapid labour.
• There is an apparent resistance to the effects of local anaesthetics is seen in about two thirds of patients and can cause problems for the unwary during epidural anaesthesia or infiltration for repair of a tear of episiotomy.
• Healing of tear or episiotomy may be impaired and/or prolonged and surgical technique may need to be modified accordingly.
• She may find lactation and care of the newborn baby more taxing than most.
• Pelvic floor problems (uterine prolapse etc) may occur in later life so that the practice of post-natal exercises is particularly important.
• Since JHS follows a dominant pattern of inheritance there is a 50% chance that any offspring will carry the gene, although this does not mean that he/she will necessary develop symptoms of tissue laxity subsequently.

Upwind - being marfanoid is a pain isn't it? I have yet to find a top with sleeves that come to where they should, because my arm span is 3 inches longer than I am tall - I'm luckily not as thin as you and I've inherited good muscle bulk from my dad, along with the bendiness (both parents bendy, how crap is that?)I'm also short sighted, thin skinned,but have high arches which collapse totally during pregnancy, as far as hernias go, i've only had an umbilical one caused by pregnancy,but it didn't cause too much bother

that's interesting upwind

I had a failed epidural with first birth despiting five attempts at re-siting/top-ups

one of the reasons for my C/S upwind was that to get adequate pain relief from the epidural ,i had to have such a large dose that the fentanyl component caused me breathing difficulties, then the combination stopped my contractions. It makes dentistry interesting as well

yes duchess I had very quick births
I was told had joint hypermobility as well well mine came under SPD as it was just pelvic/iliac and knee concerned.
thing is preg hormones keep allowing the muscles to let everything go so you slip back into malpositions.

I did pilates, all laying on my front, sucking in core gently resisting with one leg then the other to focus my core.
Thsi was postnatally
You can use the ball but sit with legs together and gently lift one leg then the other. If painful go no further.