Joint hypermobility and constant pain

[Ice_Fire]

I know of a couple of members who suffer from this but I'm posting to a) find out if anyone has any management tools and b) to have a bit of a moan!

I have had joint problems since childhood and like with everything else, I should've seen more doctors than I did but I wasn't all that high on my parents priorities list. Anyway, my grandmother took me to the doctors initially about my injured knee (which, 13 years later, still hasn't healed properly). I had multiple rounds of physio for my knee, my ankles, my hips that are apparently out of line bilaterally. But always got fobbed off with "you'll grow out of it". I have flat feet too, corrected somewhat with orthopaedic insoles so I have a foot arch when my feet are not under any weight but as soon as I stand up, they go flat as a pancake! So I'm still using jnsoles otherwise walking any distance just can't happen.

I overstretched my shoulder about a year ago on a snowy hike and it's not been right since, clicking and subluxing etc.

All of this is affecting my daily life and is bringing my mood down. The knee pain is a constant reminder of ptsd-trauma and the other pain just makes me miserable. If I'm having a bad joint day, I end up having a bad ptsd day, being affected more by stressors, having difficulty concentrating etc. I find it harder to stay grounded too because I'm halfway towards dissociating to get away from the physical discomfort.

So, does anyone have any home remedies that work better than taking painkillers and alternating between ice packs and hot water bottles? And do others find that it makes their stress cup seem even smaller too?

I've been fobbed off so many times by GPs and physios and orthopaedic doctors before that I'm reluctant to go back to them again.

 

[Deadman]

Dust off your Grandmother's old recipes. Bone broth is the new (again) superfood for joint issues. If you do it yourself its free too :)

 

[ladee]

I use peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils in a base oil for the pain and inflammation... a good rub down with these are very soothing.... works more for inflammation... but smells soothing and feels warm on your skin... sometimes I use a heating pad after applying the oils.... hope you feel better.. I have chronic pain and some days I am straight up nuts. So I understand...

 

[Tornadic Thoughts]

None of these alone, but rather a blended and ongoing practice of however much of each is necessary to get me and my vibrations through a day. I try to keep them raised as best I can and recognize when to most healthily vent and rest. I still fail miserably at recognizing my own limits. Just as soon as I think I have it figured out, BOOM! My script gets flipped. I've been fortunate to meet quite a few healers who eagerly engage in bartering, so I don't have to pay cash. Otherwise, their services would be out of my reach.

Massage therapy once a month, acupuncture bi-monthly, chiro visits as needed, mindful meditations of various sorts especially including breath work, chanting, hot epsom salt baths, sound therapy with Tibetan singing bowls and gongs, transitioning to a mostly whole food plant-based diet (after an ER visit two years ago), no caffeine, no alcohol, wrapped cabbage leaves around foot pain overnight that I thought was gout and it helped - also helped the hubby with his for sure gout, move on purpose in some gentle fun way every day, stay out in nature as much as possible, aromatherapy and smudging living spaces with sage, castor oil helps many things, too, especially gastric/digestive pains and such, applied externally, I rub down daily with a blend of magnesium, gel, coconut, frankincense, and lavender oils, use a blend of peppermint and coconut oils along with magnesium gel as well, take various tinctures and flower essences at times, and try to learn how not to curse all the pain and continually phrase everything as a fight or waging a war against, but rather think about and talk to my body as lovingly as possible and apologize for the years of hell I've unintentionally put it through and been on the receiving end of.

When that doesn't work, I curse a lot, cry a lot, try to distract my thoughts, and sleep as much as I can, when I can. It's as close as I can get to death without the commitment. Sorry to hear you suffer so badly. :(

 

[Deadman]

I really should mention exercise. Strong muscle can compensate for weak tendons and ligaments. You just need a good plan and lots of patience.

 

[Beks]

Hello,
Ive been told I have hypermobility, and that the best way is to strengthen and coordinate muscles.
So I find pain tends to go away when:
1) I put Turmeric / Curcumin in my food: like a half teaspoon in my morning smoothie, in curry dinner, etc. It needs to be 'proper' stuff, not the naff dry faff you get in the supermarket - mine has oil developing in the lid of the jar over time, its quite potent! I bought a large bag of it from an organic online place.
2) strengthening muscles: like you said with your feet? I found mine starting to do that too and hurting, so I looked through youtube and found dancers/balarina strenthening and stretching excercises, for the foot arches, and practiced standing and walking on my toes (not on the tip toes, that would just be a bit barmby). And it works. Also for my hands, legs etc.
3) A pint of water with some lemon juice and pinch of salt in the morning: I dehydrate silly easily (too much tea, my comfort habit), and this helps, sometimes I swear I feel and hear my body creak when I move and Im sure its lack of water haha.

So when the weakeness and pain comes back, its usually because I havent been doing these things for a while - and also when Iv been munching too much sugary foods.

One note on the Turmeric though it can interfere with some medications so have a read up on it first!

 

[Ice_Fire]

Thanks everyone for your tips! I regularly use tumeric in cooking, but I'll have a see if I can get the stuff that isn't in a Schwartz jar!

It's ages since I last used peppermint and a base oil, I seem to remember it helping so I shall get some more.

Sadly I'm on a tight budget so I can't afford to get massages etc, or see a physiotherapist unless I go down the NHS route which I think might be on the cards. I've been fobbed off so many times before though that I don't really want to go back to my gp about it again.

I do try to exercise regularly, I cycle and occasionally go mountain biking. I much prefer mountain biking over road riding but I can't do it often because my body can't take the strain. I walk a fair bit too. I know I should go swimming but the closest pool to me costs a fortune and I find them really unhygienic, kinda gross places. I know swimming would really help but I'd have to have my own private pool I think! As for a proper plan, I always start out with good intentions but I never keep it up and then I end up with a lot of negative self talk, so I try to just make sure I do a few hours a week.

I've got epsom salts, I think they make a nice relaxing bath but I honestly don't think it actually does anything for my joints, but I'm happy to read that it helps others.

Ballet foot strengthening exercises is something I would never have thought of in a million years!

 

[Tinyflame]

Have you been tested for EDS (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome(s)-(13 subtypes of it) ) @Ice_Fire ?

 

[Edith]

Have you been tested for Vit D deficiency? And also Heomochromotosis which is iron overload & can effect joints - highly unlikely you have it but worth ruling out.

 

[Ice_Fire]

Not been tested for EDS, but I suspect that's what it is possibly. My other half keeps nagging me to go to the doctors again about it and more or less say "could it be this, could it be that?" to try and get them to actually do the relevant tests. @Edith, I didn't realise a vitamin D deficiency could cause such problems, I'll mention that and the iron when I do go to the GP. I need a blood test by the sounds of things.