Hypermobility & Friends
Hypermobility is so complex due to how all systems of the body work together. Although it’s possible to experience asymptomatic hypermobility or only have a few joints impacted, we often see multiple conditions compounding on each other. How best to manage hypermobility plus all the friends that might show up with it?
Hypermobility: You can have asymptomatic generalized, historical, localized, or peripheral joint hypermobility. This depends on where you’re experiencing pain and if your hypermobility is impacting your life. Experiencing generalized pain is one reason traditional physical therapy may fail - insurance often requires working on one body part at a time. We have to treat the whole person and biomechanics, not just one joint. It’s all connected!
POTS/Dysautonomia: POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) is one form of dysautonomia. Many people with hypermobility also experience this dysregulation of the nervous system. This may look like difficulty regulating temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, or may impact mood and any other automatic process in the body.
MCAS: This stands for mast cell activation syndrome. For some, it may present like allergies, but for many, it presents more like overactivation to everything. These “allergies” may not show up on traditional testing and may present as itchiness, gut issues, facial flushing, fatigue, worsening dysautonomia, etc.
Neurodivergence: While not a 100% confirmed member of the trifecta, many of us who treat these conditions see this association with hypermobility syndromes. Add difficulties with executive dysfunction, differences in communication, sensory needs, and more!
It makes sense if you’re overwhelmed, it’s a lot! So how are we supposed to navigate so many symptoms at once, especially when they seem to work against each other?
Have compassion for yourself! It’s so easy to compare ourselves to others or to be upset when we feel like our body is working against itself. Your body’s #1 goal is to protect you. It’s doing a really great job at doing what it needs to do to keep you alive. We feel like we’re in survival mode because we are. This is great short term, but not long term. That nervous system regulation piece of pain management starts here.
Start with one management strategy. Maybe hydration and POTS management is a great start. At least for me, when POTS management stops working, I turn to the antihistamines. If you’re having a reaction to one treatment, your body may need the focus to be something else (or less of that thing).
You don’t have to wait to feel regulated to start moving. Movement is part of the regulation process. If you’re constantly only doing high intensity exercise with POTS, MCAS, and a brain that likes to do all or nothing 😉, this is a great recipe for crashing and feeling yucky. Start with the boring stuff. I know, it’s hard for me too! But gentle consistency is where the magic happens.
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This blog is written based on personal experience and is not medical advice. Always ask your doctor for individual concerns and support.