By Karen on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:16 pm:

I have a 14 year old daughter that has HMS and is
going to the genetic Dr. soon to see if it is EDS.
Does any one know about fingers, hands, arms or feet
going numb? Also her back gets very stiff and she
has to stretch it until it cracks and then she can
move better. The Doctor just says that he doesn't
know so he can't help. He says to wait until the
genetic appointment. We have been waiting for 13
months! Please help

By Karen on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:22 pm:

Thank you for your support and idea's. My daughter is reading what everyone wrote. I
hope that it helps her. She is wearing an ankle brace and knee supports. She want to get
a back and shoulder support. Is there anything out there that can support her spine and
shoulders. One specialist said that her back pain is due to her back being loose.

By Michaela on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:22 pm:

This messge board has sipmly been a godsen. I too have the stiffness/numbness yet some very loose joints.
My spine especially. I was told that one of my lower vertebra, lumbar5 I think, doesn't return true when I stand up from leaning foreward.
I've had some osteo and physio. I found the osteopath much more helpful, perhaps because he knew more about the spine specifically.

I was taught at performing arts school to shy away from supports as they make you reliant on them. I can see this reasoning, but in our cases it is not quite correct.

Actually, I've recently started stunt training which is why I suddenly searched for info on HMS. You see in the three months I've trained, I'm pulled my hamstring,
intercostal... shoulders... to the extent taht any advance I make, is suddenly cut off because I injure myself.
Maybe I'll have to stick to the weapons work which does not involve acrobatics or falling...

Since reading your post about your daughter, and others experiences, I'm going to go out and get the support for my wrists ankles and knees.
I don't feel like I'm being precious anymore.

By Eve on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:23 pm:

I get terrible stiffness all over especailly in the mornings.
I also get pain and numbness down my arms and into my wrists and hands, which is due to the problems I have with my neck

By Gretchen on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:23 pm:

Try and find a good doctor who pratices Prolotherapy. A good book to read is "Prolo your Pain Away" By Dr. Hauser. Also gentle stretching and swimming helps
me.

By Gwen on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 05:23 pm:

Karen, the stiffness seems to be a common problem for people with EDS/HMS. I know it seems strange that sloppy joints should cause stiffness, quite a paradox,
but what seems to happen is that our muscles guard the lax joints and tend to go into spasm. I find a warm bath very effective at ironing out the kinks in the morning
or relaxing me at night. As for the numbness, it also seems to be one of the results of the condition too. Possibly, because either a cervical or thoracic vertebra or the
elbow joint has subluxated it is impinging on a nerve and causing the numbness. I get it frequently at night and always used to assume I'd been lying on the affected
arm until one night it happened while I was awake and the arm was the uppermost one. Generally a shift of position will settle it down. If it happens during the day
your daughter could try elevating the arm or supporting it on a cushion until sensation returns.

By Jess on Tuesday, February 27, 2001 - 11:59 pm:

Karen, im a 17 yr old girl and i have similar problems to your daughter. i have also been diagnosed with HMS when i was about 10 or 11. i used to diclocate my knee. That managed to get better. These days i have fingers that feel numb, it feels weaker and weaker every day. I also have to stretch my back until it cracks, especially around the pelvic area. Ive recently had blood tests for arthritis etc and xrays but after reading all this i think it may be all due to the HMS.