Joint hypermobility syndrome

When to see your GP

You should see your GP if:

• often get pain or stiffness in your joints or muscles
• keep getting sprains and strains
• keep dislocating your joints (joints "pop out")
• have poor balance or co-ordination
• have thin, stretchy skin
• have digestive problems like diarrhoea or constipation

These can be symptoms of joint hypermobility syndrome.

What happens at your GP appointment

Your GP will examine you and will usually test the flexibility of your joints.

They may also order blood tests or an X-ray to help rule out any other conditions such as arthritis.

Treating joint hypermobility syndrome

There's no cure for joint hypermobility syndrome.

The main treatment is improving muscle strength and fitness so your joints are protected.

Ask your GP to refer you to a physiotherapist or occupational therapist for specialist advice. You can also book them privately.

They can help you:

• reduce pain and risk of dislocations
• improve muscle strength and fitness
• improve posture and balance
• find physiotherapy services
• find occupational therapy services

It may help to meet other people with joint hypermobility syndrome, or join a support group like the Hypermobility Syndromes Association or Ehlers-Danlos Support UK.

Joint care you can do yourself

There are some things you should and shouldn’t do improve joint and muscle strength, and reduce strain. See information below for what these include.

Do:

• gentle low-impact exercise like swimming or cycling - not doing any exercise can make your symptoms worse
• maintain a healthy weight
• buy good, firm shoes
• if you have flat feet, use special insoles (support arches) in shoes

Don't:

• do high-impact exercise
• over exercise
• grip things too tightly
• overextend your joints just because you can

Treating joint pain

Paracetamol and anti-inflammatory painkillers (like ibuprofen, which can come in tablets, gels and sprays) may help ease any pain. Speak to a pharmacist about the best treatment for you.

Your GP may be able to prescribe stronger painkillers.

If you're in severe pain, your GP may refer you to a pain clinic to help you learn how to cope better with pain.

To help ease joint pain and stiffness, you can:

• have warm baths
• use hot water bottles
• use heat-rub cream

Causes of joint hypermobility syndrome

Joint hypermobility syndrome usually runs in families and can't be prevented.

Usually, the joints are loose and stretchy because the tissues that should make them stronger and support them are weak.

The weakness is because the collagen that strengthens the tissues is different from other people's.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS)

Most experts agree that joint hypermobility syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome are the same and patients should get the same treatment.

This may change as more research is carried out.

More useful links

• How to use your health services
• Hypermobility Syndrome Association (HMSA)
• Ehlers Danlos Support UK