HYPERMOBILITY

WHAT IS HYPERMOBILITY?

What is joint hypermobility syndrome?

Joint hypermobility (JH) is a condition involving the connective tissue in the body in which joints move beyond the “normal” range of movement. This can be genetic or acquired. It can involve one joint, or multiple joints and can present with or without manifestations of other bodily systems. Because connective tissue is found throughout our bodies, it can cause symptoms outside of just joint pain.

What are the symptoms?

While many of these symptoms are seen in various disorders, common symptoms seen in those with hypermobility include:

Joint pain or migratory pain
Recurrent injuries or sprains/strains
“Growing pains”
Recurrent subluxations and/or dislocations
Easy bruising or bleeding
“Overreaction” to bug bites
Dizziness
Increased heart rate without exertion
Abnormally high or low blood pressure (usually low)
Headache or migraines
Fatigue
Memory issues and/or brain fog
Inability to gain muscle mass

Since being diagnosed with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder herself back in graduate school, Dr. Schr

While this is not an all-inclusive list, these are oftentimes the symptoms that patients present with. The more advanced the patient’s condition is, the more of these they will have. These symptoms are, however also seen in many other health conditions. Other signs that you or someone you know may be hypermobile include:

Ability to do “party tricks” with your body
Ability to bend forward and touch the floor, without stretching
Sitting in the “W” position with ease (often seen in children)
Joints that “pop” or “click” in and out of place
Poor response to physical therapy or massage therapy
Poor response to lidocaine, pain relievers, or pain pills
Having “stretch marks” without gaining or losing weight
Having physical features such as flat feet, knees or elbows that hyperextend, ribs that flare or “poke out” in the front, an indentation in your sternum, varicose veins at a younger age, multiple hernias, prolapses, and/or mitral valve prolapse.
The constant need to switch positions
Being told “you are too young to have this going on”
Multiple areas of pain/dysfunction with “normal” imaging or test results and/or being “bounced around” from doctor to doctor with no diagnosis or resolution to the problem

Additional Information

How does one get diagnosed?

Because of the complexity of this condition, and its overlap in symptoms with many other disorders, joint hypermobility, in particular, hypermobility spectrum disorder and Ehler’s Danlos syndrome can be difficult for many practitioners to diagnose. The average time that it takes for someone with joint hypermobility to be diagnosed is 30 years. Many doctors are not adequately taught in medical school how to screen or diagnose this condition. While looking at joint mobility by using the Beighton Score is helpful, there is much more that goes into a diagnosis.

Part of obtaining a proper and accurate diagnosis means ruling out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms. This is why Dr. Schroeder may ask you to complete certain specific bloodwork or imaging studies. A clinical diagnosis given in the office often provides patients with a sense of validation when it comes to their symptoms, but can also be a helpful tool when navigating future doctor’s visits or when applying for disability or work/school accommodations.

If a more serious type of Ehler’s danlos syndrome is suspected, or if a patient wishes to know for absolute certainty whether or not they have Ehler’s Danlos, then molecular testing must be done to confirm or deny the presence of genetic markers. There is one type of EDS that is NOT testable yet via molecular testing and can only be diagnosed clinically.

This is part of your initial evaluation with Dr. Schroeder.

How is it treated? While there is no “cure” for joint hypermobility or any of the related syndromes, there are to treat the symptoms associated with it. Treatment varies depending on what it is that the individual wishes to address first. For some, it is learning triggers and management strategies for their headaches or allergic reactions, for others, it is learning ways to control and train their nervous system to help with anxiety and POTS. Some patients use ARPneuro therapy to help them build muscle mass and strength. In cases where treatment is needed in the form of pharmaceuticals or specialty practice, Dr. Schroeder will refer the community to doctors in her network that are knowledgeable on the subject of joint hypermobility and/or EDS. Dr. Schroeder works in conjunction with all members of your health care team (or helps you find one if you don’t already have one) to help you safely reach your goals, whatever those may be.

Some common conditions associated with hypermobility that Dr. Schroeder sees in her patients include:
- Dysautonomia
- POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)
- MCAS (Mast cell activation syndrome)
- CCI (Craniocervical instability)
- Chiari malformation
- Scoliosis
- “Leaky Gut”
- Chronic fatigue
- CSF leaks
- Intracranial hyper/hypo tension
- Tethered Cord Syndrome
- Raynaud’s phenomenon

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HYPERMOBILITY

WHAT IS HYPERMOBILITY?

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