In my 30’s, I finally learned that I have a genetic hypermobility condition. It explains why I struggled with chronic pain at different points throughout my life— not just in term of my SI joints, but in other areas of the body as well.
Now, I know my experience is actually pretty common for someone with a hypermobility disorder.
What is a hypermobility disorder?
When you’re genetically hypermobile, it means your body makes connective tissue a little bit differently. This means certain tissues within your body, such as ligaments and tendons, aren’t quite as strong as they were meant to be.
People with hypermobility may experience a range of different symptoms. In some cases, the hypermobility can be limited to the joints, causing musculoskeletal pain.
In others, some of the other systems of the body can also be affected, such as the cardiovascular and digestive systems. We don’t often think about it, but we have connective tissue all throughout our body.
Once I discovered I was hypermobile, a whole new world opened up for me.
Knowing what I know now, I can see hypermobility is often a theme for many of my clients. We are the ones who are more likely to be told we’re the difficult case– the ones many doctors and PT’s don’t know how to help.
The good news is that we aren’t broken, and that there are answers for us.
That’s why I’m doing my best to bring awareness now.
If you are hypermobile, there is so much you can do. There are specialized treatment recommendations that can make a huge difference. It’s kind of like SI joint dysfunction, where the key is knowing what to start looking for.
That’s why I’m sharing everything I’ve learned with you. Here are some posts that explain more about this part of my story– more to come!
- My hypermobility history, Part 1: The first time someone ever told me I was hypermobile
- My hypermobility history, Part 2: “You need to always keep your muscles strong”
- Why you may be genetically hypermobile and not know Not everyone who is hypermobile may be super flexible
- The SI joint and hypermobility: how an SI joint can be hypermobile, either through genetics or a localized injury
- What hypermobile people can teach you: People living with hypermobility, as well as the practitioners who treat us, have had to think outside the box and come up with a lot of strategies you might not find in the mainstream. We are resourceful, because we have to be.
Seeing a geneticist to get my diagnosis:
How I got my hypermobility diagnosis, Part 1: Seeing a geneticist
My Sacroiliac Joint Saga 