Joint Hypermobility Syndrome
Joint hypermobility, also known as Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (BJHS) is a genetically-based condition where connective tissue proteins, such as collagen, are differently formed, resulting in joint laxity and fragility, producing joints that are capable of moving beyond their usual range of motion. Ten percent of the general population exhibit joint hypermobility and for the majority of those no symptoms develop. It can easily be construed as a quirk of nature, like being left handed, which is another occurrence in about 10% of the population.
Joint hypermobility with symptoms occur on a continuum. Slight changes in connective tissue result in more flexible joints, somewhat more prone to injury than most, but joint integrity is upheld and no other noticeable symptoms are ever experienced. Joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS) can cause troublesome chronic symptoms, particularly joint pain, but organs are unaffected and it is not a life threatening condition. Marfan Syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos can affect major organs with more serious implications. Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Vascular Type reduced life expectancy to the age of forty.
There is disagreement within the medical profession on whether Joint Hypermobility Syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, hypermobility type (Type III) are two separate or the same condition. On this web site, BJHS and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, hypermobility type is treated as the same condition since differences are minor and few.
Joint hypermobility is present in 10% of the general population, but in 70 - 90% of anxiety sufferers, for reasons not yet clearly understood. For those with JHS who also suffer from anxiety, joint problems are often overlooked or seen to be anxiety-related and therefore no management options or treatment is made available.
JHS often goes undiagnosed for years, sufferers are misdiagnosed and medical treatment is predominantly palliative in nature. There is no cure for JHS, but proper management can reduce risk of injury, possible complications that may arise and improve life quality.
Symptoms
The physical symptoms tend to be either related to the laxity of the joint, making sufferers injury prone, or related to the fragility of the connective tissue:
Pain
- Arthralgia (neuralgic pain in a joint or joints), particularly in knees, hips, elbows and fingers
- Pain that start or increases after strenuous activity or exercise
- Pain that improves as the day progress and after rest
- Low back pain due to hypermobility of the lumbar spine
- Neck and shoulder pain due to hypermobility of the cervical spine
- Foot ache and fatigue when standing for longer periods of time
Other Symptoms
- Chronic Fatigue
- Bruise easily and bruising is more pronounced with even minor incidents
- Tense, stiff joints that improves as the day progress
- Frequent injuries, particularly sprains and dislocated joints
- Poor proprioception due to overstretching as a lack of awareness due to joint laxity
- Complications with surgical wounds - stitches may tear out or healing may be incomplete
- Slow wound healing followed
- Easy, prominent scarring even from small cuts
- Stretch marks due to skin fragility
- Greater risk and incidence of dislocations and sprains
- Neurally mediated hypotention
- Postural orthostatic tachycardia
Hypermobility can also lead to:
- Hernias, particularly hiatus hernia
- Varicose veins
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Functional gastritis
- Scoliosis
- Tendonitis and bursitis
- Early onset osteoarthritis
- Rectal or uterine prolapse
- Mitral valve prolapse
- Premature artherosclerosis
- Raynaud's phenomenon
- Increased risk to develop asthma
Living With Chronic Illness Articles
- 02/07/07 Heat Or Ice For Injuries?
- 29/06/07 Hypermobility Syndrome And Associated Conditions
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