By Desert Flower on Tuesday, February 06, 2001 - 09:54 pm:

I have been "double jointed" my whole life and have never given it a second thought. I became a graphic artist who works on a computer. After a year of this I started to experience intense pain and soreness in my joints. I went through lots of tests for carpal and other problems and after 2 years of testing I was diagnosed with hypermobility syndrome- Dah Double jointed. I didn't even know it was a disorder.

I am still stuck working on a computer to make a living and have had to make a lot of compromises to keep this up as my lively hood. My depression has come from the fact that I feel hopeless to find some kind of other job that doesn't involve computers. I am also an artist and have had to cope with the pain the computer has left me with while persuing my art. I am just wondering if there are any other hypermobile people out there that have had similar experiences using computers.

By Sheena on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 12:04 am:

I have given up work as an IT professional. It took 5 years in my case for me to develop problems, mainly back-ache which eventually led to the diagnosis of HMS. The pain lessened but did not go away when I stopped work, but I also think that stress brings on the pain, and IT work is stressful!

Now, after being unemployed, I am covered by a government scheme which pays for any special equipment I require at work, including an adjustable chair and keyboard and mouse wrist-rests. These make a BIG difference. If I had had them from the start of my IT work, I might not have developed the problem, or at least it would have taken a lot longer to show up, giving me a longer career.

By Claire on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 09:23 am:

I too work in IT as a developer. I was only diagnosed with HMS last November, but it is already causing me a lot of pain at work. I have managed to get an ergonomic keyboard, but am having problems with my back and right arm (from using mouse). Work has become slow and painful.....how do you find out about special chairs, mouse etc?? I really do not want to stop working!

By Vicky in england on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 08:01 am:

I am in the process of getting a computer etc to help with my degree; I have been recommended a Kensington trackball instead of a mouse; it is stationary and you move a ball with the palm of your hand which is a lot comfier. I am also getting a chair and some voice activated software; I'll let you all know how successful it all is. Where do you live? If it is any where near me I will pass on the address of the company I am using.
Take care
Vicky

By Renee on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 08:08 am:

Could you tell me what type of doctor diagnosed you with HMS. I am trying to find a doctor to go to but my health insurance plan can not give a doctor's name based on a potential diagnosis. Did you see a rheumatologist or a neurologist?

By claire on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 10:02 am:

Hi Vicky
I am in Kent, England. Ah yes, I recognise you from HMSA site, the lucky one getting posh computer etc!! Trackball sounds good, let me know how you get on with chair etc.
Claire

By Larry on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 02:07 pm:

After reading the above discussions on pain when using a computer terminal, I'd like to add to the discussion. Diagnosed with EDS type II and type III eleven years ago due to a significant increase in pain from my right foot all the way up to my upper cervical, I found it extremely painful to hold my arms in the typing position while pressing the keyboard keys. I have done terrible damage to my carpals in both wrists and am now stiffening so much it is very difficult to type at all. About 2 1/2 years ago, I got to the point I could work less than an hour in a day and am now on permanent disability. It is not only the wrists, but the spinal torture that you go through when sitting in an office chair. I'm experiencing new problems that are moving to my cervicals and am even experiencing massive pain in my ear from the slippage of my first cervical and occipital seating base of my head. This slippage has resulted in serious stuff like deep depression and fibromyalgia that makes me hurt all over my body. Maybe the worst part of having EDS is knowing I'm going to get worse, following the path my parents who both had EDS. I can deal with the massive headaches and banging sounds from my left ear's auditory nerve that's pinched but it's year after year of this and getting worse. Pain pills and chiropractic are all that help, but steady deterioration. The depression I have is worrying my wife of 30 yrs because this symptom affects the whole family, not just me. I'm now at my absolute max and can't hold my arms on the keyboard anymore, so I sign off now.

P.S., it is hard to find a doctor that understands EDS symptoms. I feel like I want him to give me a lie detector just to prove my pain statements.

Best wishes, Larry, Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA.

By Sheena on Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 02:58 pm:

How did I get my special IT equipment? I am in the UK. I was unemployed, and signed on as a "job-seeker", and got info from the Job Centre. I was told that if you were a job-seeker, or were changing career, you were eligible for an assessment by the Disability Service and a grant (up to 100%) toward the cost of any equipment you needed at work. You might even get a grant toward special travel requirements - I didn't, but they mentioned that some people need a taxi to get to work. There is a special centre (called MAVIS?) which supplies driving aids, but I haven't got the details of it yet.

I don't know if you get any help if you intend to stay in your current job, but it has to be worth contacting the Disablilty Service to ask. A proper assessment of you at your work-station would be a start.

Where I work, all PCs are positioned across the corner of 2 desks at right-angles - strange. The assessor recommended a special keyboard tray which sits across the 90 degree angle, and gives me a normal straight edge to my work-station. This also makes the desk deeper.

I think anyone with HMS should at least use a wrist-rest for the keyboard and mouse, BEFORE you feel any discomfort. The chair I got has height-adjustable arms, which are short enough to let you get the chair close to the keyboard so that you can rest your elbows as you type. The chair plus the wrist-rest completely supports the weight of your arms.

However, I haven't got all the special equipment here at home, and my wrists are killing me! Have to go.