By Paul on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 09:45 pm:

Posted by Paul on April 05, 2000 at 21:55:28:

Does anyone on the forum plan to see Professor Grahame
in the near future. If so, can you PLEASE ask him this question.
He states in the Q & A section on this web-site--
http://www.hmsa.freeserve.co.uk/quesans.htm-- that
"The same joint cannot be re-cracked for a few
hours, the time it takes for the gas to be reabsorbed."
Well, I can crack the same joints in my neck and the same
vertebra in my lower spine every five to ten minutes!
I'd like to know if he knows what could be causing this serious problem.
(It's serious because if I don't crack I feel joint tightness, misallignment, and pain. I can't concentrate
either way, though).

I would be grateful to anyone who saves me the overseas trip to London. (I would love to visit London when I have
the time and money, of course :)

Paul

By Gwen on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 09:46 pm:

I experience the same thing with my spine but I had L4/5 discectomy some years ago so wonder if it is bone grating on bone rather than "cracking" of joints. My shoulder joint does the same thing but I had a rotator cuff injury so wonder if same principle applies? My other joints tend to only crack at intervals but, yes, I do often feel the need to crack them. There is a Q&A board on the HMSA website. Maybe if you posted your query there or email direct. I did that re relaxin and HMS and received a reply

By Sue C. on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 09:47 pm:

Sometimes "popping" or "cracking" is a tendon or other part moving around, rather than a gas bubble. For example, I can sit and crack my left shoulder every second, all day long!

By Paul on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 09:49 pm:

Thanks, but this is different. I too can crack my shoulder
(as well as my wrist)in the way you describe. My spinal cracks
are more like self-induced chiropractic adjustments. I can do them
only about every five to ten minutes. Not more than that. I had assumed
that weak ligaments could cause the joint and disc space to shrink, which necessitates
cracking. This happens in my elbow as well.

By Hilary on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 09:50 pm:

I am organising a National conference here in the UK with Prof Grahame as our Key speaker. It is the 1st,2nd & 3rd September of this year. Why not try to come over for it. It's residential and we have access to a hydrotherapy pool, physio facilities and alternative therapies. The physios are trained in working with hypermobile patients and you can pose your question direct. It costs £60 for 3 days including accomodation, all food and a chance to try all the therapies as well as listening to all the lectures on Hypermobility. If you are interested E-mail me otherwise I can pose the question for you. I know it's a long time to wait but I know exactly what you mean as I have the same problem so it will be a good thing to put to him.

Best wishes Hilary

By Sara on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 09:52 pm:

I'm attending EDS conference 20th May where he is one of the speakers - if I get the chance, I'll pose the question to him.

By Johanna on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 09:53 pm:

Dear Paul,

On the HMSA-site you will find Prof. Grahame's email address... A wild thought perhaps you could be bold and just send the man an email. If he doesn't want to read or answer your mail it is easily deleted.

Good luck!
Johanna

By Paul on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 09:54 pm:

Thanks, but I am unable to find Professor Grahame's
email address on the web-site. Perhaps you are referring
to HMSA's email address. The web-site states directly
that they do not answer inquiries directly. I may pose
the question anyway, though, just in case they decide to post
it on the website.

Thanks again,

paul

By Lin on Saturday, December 09, 2000 - 12:55 pm:

who is prof. grahame? i hear his name so much but have no idea who he is, i was recently diagnosed with hms, though have had the problems all my life. i am 15. my wrists can crack continuously for as long as i want them to to relieve pain, and they never stop. from my research, loose ligaments in the spine causes more space inbetween bones for the nitrogen gases to accumulate, that cause pain and stiffness and need to be cracked, which is actualy releasing the gas. this applies to all joints in people with hms.
Lin

By Sjottie on Sunday, December 10, 2000 - 02:04 am:

Hi Lin,

Prof. Rodney Grahame is the medical advisor of the HMSA; Hypermobility Syndrome Association UK.
Because of his research and published articles, he is an authority on the field of HMS.
He also organises weekends in the UK for people with HMS.
Website: www.hypermobility.org/index.htm
There you can also read the latest news about HMS.

By Lin on Monday, December 11, 2000 - 01:51 pm:

i go to the website often and read all the latest news about hms already. i have heard his name so many times, but had no idea of who he was. i am unfortinatly in the states, not the UK.
Lin