By Kim on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 01:18 am:

Hi, I'm a 21-year-old female and I live in Belgium. All my life, I've been very flexible.
For a about 6 years now, I've got problems with my knees (especially my right knee), but when they take a scan or an x-ray I am told that there is absolutely nothing wrong with my knees.
I dislocate my shoulders regularly.
I have striae.
Could it be that this problem with my knees is realted to hypermobility ?
I really don't know what to do anymore. I have almost constant pain in my right knee, but the doctors keep on telling me that there's nothing wrong ...

By Shazinoz on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 03:43 am:

Your knee problem could be due to hypermobility or simply and injury that isn't showing on the x-rays and scans. I have recently (well June 2002) torn/stretched my ACL in my Left knee for the 3rd Time. I have had it reconstructed twice beofre (1994 and 1998) the Os's refuse to reconstruct it again as the chances of serious damage and the possibility of me simply re-injuring my "new" graft is very high indeed. My latest injury hasn't shown on any x-ray or on the MRI I have had (due to too much interference from the screws and staples in my knee from the last reconstruction) it also seems I have fibrosis around my knee, and also possibly adhesions (I have had them removed once already). I don't know if adhesions are common in HEDS/HMS or not. It is also possible that I have meniscus, MCL, LCL and PCL damage but I can't even get the OS to look to find out the extent of any damage. I go back to see him in 3 months, to see what if any options I have. I live in a ROM brace at present while undergoing both home PT and attending a clinic, and also use a crutch (I can use too as I to dislocate my shoulder (Right one especially)I have it fairly stable at present due to thermal capsular shrinkage surgery in August 2001, of which I am very very protective, my shoulder is currently frozen (talk about going from one extreme to the other I also have RSd in both my right shoulder/arm and left knee/leg and this leads to doctors just assuming without even looking that any pain etc is from either the HEDS/HMS or RSD).
So They only thing I can tell you is NOT to give up and keep searching for an answer to why your knee is hurting (if you are used to your hypermobility you should have a rough idea what it feels like, and if you think you knee feels different or have a gut instinct something worse is wrong then keep on searching for someone who is willing/can and will try to find out what is wrong).
Sorry I can't be of any further help.
But I hope that what I have said helps a little

By Kim on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 06:59 am:

Thank you very much for your answer!
I would like to wish you lots of courage. It seems like you have much more and more serious problems than I have.
I talked to my GP today and she said that I may be right about the hypermobility. She referred me to an orthopedist. Let's hope he can tell what's wrong...
For years now, doctors have been telling me that there's nothing wrong with my knees, but how can they be ok if they hurt almost constantly?
I keep on hoping that one day I will know what's wrong ...

By Jean Steerup on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 08:33 pm:

Hi, I'm writing for my daughter who has been living with the injuries and pain associated with hypermobility for the last 10 years. She is 14. We have a rheumatologist but I was wondering if anyone knows of a Dr. who is an expert or specializing in this area in the Chicago, Illinois area. Or, is there any new research out there?