By Kyra on Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - 04:01 am:

Dislocations and subluxations: is this always (or very often) part of eds/hms? I quite frequently dislocate or subluxate a joint (various joints actually). I haven't been diagnosed, an I'm not sure myself I have hms. I certainly do have some symptoms, but am not exceedingly hypermobile (or so I think myself). But what I actually wanted to ask: are there other causes for this, can you 'just' have capsular weakness and weak ligaments without an underlying cause? Or are ther other conditions in which dislocations are common? As you can see, still searching.

Hoping someone can help me out!

Kyra

By Hamfist on Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - 02:19 pm:

Hi Kyra,

Joints are created whenever two adjacent bones meet. They have fibrous bands of connective tissue called ligaments that stabilize the joint. Connective tissues also form the tendons that join the bones to the muscles. Ligaments and tendons usually restrict the movement of the joint, but in some people, these normally restrictive tissues can be quite flexible and allow a wider range of motion than is usual. Such a person is hyper mobile and may be called “double jointed” by friends.

You do not state which joints dislocate or sublux but most common would be shoulder because of it's structure and the fact that we lift things pulling on the joint. Ankles, hips (because you walk on them) and elbow, wrist, fingers are others.

Regards, Ian (mercedes_nz@yahoo.com)

By Kyra on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 - 12:30 am:

Hi Ian,

Thanks a lot for answering my message. And yes, of course it is in the first place the shoulders, (or, both, in my case) and for me it's also my jaw, some fingers and from some other joints I'm just not sure whether it is subluxation or not. (BTW, I walk on my feet, do you really walk on your hips? ;) Sorry... couldn't help myself) But when we make the difference between hypermobile persons and people with hms/eds, are subluxations common for 'normal' hypermobiles, or is this mostly a sign of an underlying pathology? Just want to find out, trying to put some pieces together.

Thanks anyway.

Kyra

By Hamfist on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 01:11 pm:

Hi (Feet Walker) Kyra

There are many people with hyper mobile joints and they go through life like this without any problems and without pain. Practice can increase a joint's natural flexibility just the way stretching can increase your muscles' flexibility so a person who regularly demonstrates party tricks to “freak out” friends will become more and more flexible and more and more amazing with these party tricks. Contortionists are a case in point and they do their contortions and dislocations and have no problems.

But if the hyper mobile joints cause problems such as frequent pain or unintentional joint dislocation the person may have Hyper Mobility Syndrome (HMS). Living with HMS can be a major problem in terms of pain and mobility problems. However, if the hyper mobile person has more than joint problems they may have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Various forms of EDS have hyper mobility as a characteristic but will also have skin stretch or other major problems that can even be life threatening.

Feel free if you wish to e-mail me.

Regards, Ian

By Charlie on Monday, October 06, 2003 - 09:05 am:

I have just been diagnosed with HMS after my dislocation of the knee failed to heal after 3 months. I have heard my doctor talking about sublaxation and would like to know what it means-my kneecaps and shoulders constantly pop in and out of place, is this what he is referring to?
Many Thanks

By Kyra on Wednesday, October 08, 2003 - 02:08 am:

Hi Charlie,

Yes, this is what he is referring to. With a subluxation a joint is partially out of its socket. Or, as you say it, popping in and out of place. In a dislocation, a joint is completely out of its socket. I believe that there is a more precise definition -something with exactly how many inches a joint is from its normal position, defining the difference between subluxation and dislocation, but I don't remember, and I think this will do. (It does for me, anyway )

Anyway, we know what you 're talking about. (I think we all do, around here)

Kyra

By Cristyn on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 06:16 pm:

Hi! I am writing because I have had my right kneecap pop out of place since I was about 16.(I am now 29). It has happened about 5 times and it is very painful. Most recently my son hopped on my knee and you could see my kneecap off to the side and it took a minute to go back into place. I don't know why this happens and I am concerned. Can anyone tell me if this is a serious thing? I have never seen a doctor about this.

By AnitaK on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 06:32 am:

Hello Cristyn,
My kneecaps have dislocated since I was a small child. If your knee ever dislocates again like it did what my Doctor told me to do is to straighted your leg which makes the knee go back in place. This is very painful but over the years I have certainly lost track of how many times this has happened to me. As to why I cannot answer, but will tell you that my Doctor told me that each time this happens you damage the inside of your knee. When I was in college my knee came out and I landed on a rock breaking my kneecap. I had to have surgery and the doctor said he had never seen such scar tissue as I had inside. He tighted my muscles and repaired my knee and this knee has been much better than the one I didn't have surgery on. So maybe surgery would be an option for you. I do know that if you put weights in a purse and put the strap over your ankle and sit on a table and lift your leg repeatively will strengthen the muscles so that this may not be such a situation for you.

By Rebekah on Friday, November 12, 2004 - 01:48 pm:

Hi there. I just got back from the doctor. I just recieved my diagnosis of HMS. My doctor is still trying to decide between Marfan and EDS. I was told when I was seven that I had HMS by a teacher. I thought she was crazy until I heard the words again today. There are other issues but apparently all of my physical problems hinge (no pun intended) On HMS. I would like to know how common this is.

By Nigel Greaves on Wednesday, November 24, 2004 - 11:52 am:

Any suggestions from anyone on best way forward when you have a sublaxation of the escafoid cuneaha (that's the spanish spelling & don't know the English!) which I have in my left foot. In my right foot I have an "articulation artrosis" on/in the 4th metatarsal on my right foot (part of the Lisfranc joint/part). Would appreciate any co-herent replies -