Yesterday after several months of finally slowly connecting the dots, my rheumatologist diagnosed me with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder and agreed I probably have hEDS (hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) there's a two year wait for the specialist clinic at CU, so I'll leave it at that and skip the wait-list since hopefully we'll be living in Peru by then (for Hubby's job)!
She said "your joint hypermobility is indesputable" ð
After many years of health problems it was finally this picture of me doing plank that caught my eye and began to make me consider my joints were something other than normal:
I was so intrigued by my weird probably hyperextended elbows I made hubby do plank so I could compare images!
About a month after that, it was pointed out to me by a family member with hEDS that I "probably have hypermobile joints" ððĪŠ
So I began doing research and testing myself for joint hypermobility based on some tests and indicators I had read about:
No effort my thumb is just hyperextended normally when I do a thumbs up!
Both pinky fingers fold back more than 90 degrees.
I can place my palms flat on the floor without bending my knees.
My fingers bend back to 90 degrees and beyond (no pain or discomfort whatsoever).
Both thumbs can touch the wrist.
I can do reverse prayer hands.
This explains many of my previous diagnoses such as aspiration with swallow, sleep apnea, tracheobronchomalacia, vocal cord dysfunction, gerd. It also explains why my hip subluxates occasionally and I have to pop it back in with a very painful side lunge. So I'll have to live with my unstable joints and connective tissue that is prone to complications, but at least I understand why. There's also a lot of overlap between hEDS and other medical conditions too so it helps my Drs know what to look out for in the future.
This reinforces a very important yogic philosophy. Don't compare yourself to others. Perhaps that person who can do a yoga pose you can't has hypermobile joints! Yoga is about starting where you are and slowly improving your skills as you practice.
If you'd like to know more about hEDS here's a link:
