By Lin on Friday, October 20, 2000 - 03:47 pm:

hi, i was diagnosed with chondromalacia patella 2 weeks ago in the ER, havent seen my regular doc yet to find out if i need physical therapy to correct it. i havent been diagnosed with HMS, but i sure do have hypermobile joints. i think this may be out of my doc's league, considering some problems with my arm that he has been scheduling test after test to find out whats wrong may more easily be explained with something secondary to HMS. I would like help from anyone in my situation to let me know what i should do, what i should know, etc. i am worried, and frankly sort of scared. i am 15, and very active. i almost died when the doctor said i couldnt run until i got my knee fixed (from therapy) but i didnt listen and attempted to run.... all i will say is ouch... you can reply here or e-mail me, i am grateful for any replies!! Lin_171@hotmail.com

By Patrina on Saturday, October 21, 2000 - 08:54 pm:

Dear Lin,

Sorry you still have so many unknowns. When are you scheduled to see your doctor?

Plan to speak up for yourself, put together the pertinent symptoms & make sure the doctor understands what hms is, and gives you a diagnosis or refer you to a specialist.

Never mind your age (don't know how your parents are with doctors); expect to assert yourself. It can be done courteously & is important to getting good care.

Your regular doctor will quite possibly refer you to an orthopedist. You should ask/insist on referral also to a rheumatologist; they specialize in the non-surgical end of things.

If you have physical therapy, make sure the therapist knows you have hms, and (again) knows what it is. If you want to be extra-sure you're well-armed when you go in, there are some web sites with info for professionals & you could print information to take with you. In other words, don't count on them to figure it out themselves. I've made that mistake plenty of times in the past!


The following link has good information:

http://www.apta.org/pt_journal/June99/public/v79n6p591.html

Hope this helps some. It's natural to be scared, but I'm sorry you're in a situation where you feel that way. It's hard on anyone, especially when you don't know yet exactly what's going on, and even more so if you're having to deal with this mostly on your own. You have support here!