By Gwen on Thursday, June 14, 2001 - 02:47 am:

Or more precisely what's the difference between
hypermobility and ligamentous laxity? Every time
I have been to see my orthopod re joint pains,
ulnar nerve numbness etc he has told me several
times that I'm not hypermobile since I cannot bend
my thumb back and touch my forearm. He can by the
way! I've had surgery to my elbow which hasn't
helped the numbness and when I said I thought it
was coming from my neck was told it couldn't be.
A fresh lot of X-rays down the track he has now
decided that I have excellent, arthritis free
joints for my age but most likely have ligamentous
laxity which is allowing the cervical vertebrae to
move slightly and impinge on the spinal cord.
What is that if not joint hypermobility? He has
now referred me to a rheumy for second opinion and
shared care. Wonder what she'll come up with.

By Lin on Thursday, June 14, 2001 - 12:56 pm:

i am supposed to have surgery in august for ulnar numbness and tingling, along with electrocution pains. could you tell me about your experience with the surgery? one strange thing for me is it never showed up on the EMG, but its been worse since then and i am getting a repeat EMG in july, my neurosurgeon is positive it will show up this time. thanks, and sorry i cant help you with your questions.
Lin

By sharon on Thursday, June 14, 2001 - 05:58 pm:

Gwen,
I like you have been told I am not Hypermobile (by a recent Rheumatrologist but was told I was as an 18 year old am 30 now) as my knees Fingers and elbows don't meet the criteria but my hips and thumbs do, but I have been told that I have Generalized Gross Ligament Laxity, and a collagen disorder , though not which one, as i have these loose ligaments slightly widened scars, joint pains and numerous recurrent dislocations and subluxations, I als have weird nerve numbness, like ulna nerve pains etc.

By Gwen on Saturday, June 16, 2001 - 12:31 am:

When I had my ulnar surgery I was told that the
ulnar groove at the top of the ulna, where the
nerve sits, was very shallow and consequently th
nerve would pop out and get trapped across the
head of the ulna, causing it to be stretched.
Some twelve years ago I had nerve conduction tests
for ths same problem and they were negative but
the neurosurgeon at that time concluded that there
could still be some impingement and did an ulnar
release without any relief whatsoever.
The second operation was to deepen the ulnar
groove and stablise the nerve so that it didn't
pop out. Everything was really good for about six
weeks and then all the symptoms returned again.
The orthopod is now talking about it being
referrred pain from cervical vertebrae down
through my shoulder and into my outer fingers.
What he still hasn't answered is why it moves from
side to side. I'm currently pretty much symptom
free on the left side, which had been the
bothersome one, and have it down right arm.
What I cannot understand is how there can be a
difference betwen joint hypermobility and
ligamentous laxity, unless hypermobility is
equated with hyperelasticity (ie, that your
ligaments are stretchy but snap back again) and
laxity with being sloppy (like saggy knicker
elastic) and not holding joints in place.
Opposite ends of a spectrum but giving the same
results as far as being able to over extend joints?

By M on Sunday, June 17, 2001 - 12:47 am:

a rose is a rose is a rose
I don't care what they call it
to me hypermobility, ligament hyperlaxity, it's all the same, it causes instability and pain.