Joint hypermobility disorders :

Hypermobile and hyperextended leg - - Posted by shadehawk (shadehawk), 15 January 2005

Hi, I know I am hypermobile and now have found out that after being to 3 OS and 2 different PT instructors that I have a hyperextended knee (the leg with the limp).

Any others out there with this problem?   PT says that she had not noticed it before, but it probably was there since my fall in March 2004.  Now my knees are not swelled so she said it is obvious now.  

I wonder how obvious it is when 3 OS never noticed it.

She did the test though and once again I flunked..........I also have small patellae and shallow trochlear grooves, you name it these days............I got it......these all go so nicely with my miserable malalignment and maltracking.

It just keeps piling on................

Anyone have any luck with PT for this problem?   PT told me just to keep up with my home exercise program.  I do SLR, half arcs, calf stretches, and heel slides.  

Sorry for the ramble.  
Posted by mhsflute07 (mhsflute07), 15 January 2005

I'm not hypermobile, but my knees hyper-extend, at least according the PTs. I've also got the wonderful malalignment and maltracking.

~Erin~
Posted by hmaxwell (Heather M.), 15 January 2005

Hyper-extension can be a sign of serious muscle weakness and imbalance.  If your quads and hamstrings are shut down due to pain or surgery this can lead to hyper-extension while you are walking.  I developed hyper-extensions both before and after my last sugery.  When it happend post-op as well, I was incredibly frustrated!  I was thinking that I'd had surgery in part to improve the way my knee was working, and I was pretty bitter.

I began doing PT with a home TENS unit.  My PT had me do 6 sets of "Russian Stim" quad sets each day at home.  This involved a lot of focus on form, too.

Happily, as my knee got stronger and less painful, I was able to reduce the hyper-extensions dramatically.  I still get them once in a while, but it's usually when I'm walking and not paying attention, or when I'm not concentrating on my steps.

Heather
Posted by shadehawk (shadehawk), 15 January 2005

Thanks, I will ask my PT about a TENS/EMS unit.  Maybe that would keep me going until I get to a knee specialist.

My PT has been getting frustrated as my quads keep wasting.  We have also worked to try and get 'squinting patellae' under control and they have not moved back into position either.  Maybe sometimes PT just does not fix these problems.  I do most exercises at home and only go in mainly for PT pain treatments (acupuncture & ultrasound). 

It is all still a knee mystery........................!!

Anything else that anyone can think of I certainly am willing to try.  I look at the huge dents in the calves of my legs and wonder if I will ever be normal again.

Posted by nmcbride (nmcbride), 18 January 2005

Hey Shadehawk,

You just described my knees perfectly!!  I also have hyperextended knee, small kneecaps, hypermobile, shallow trochlear grove.  Used to have the maltracking etc but since having my TTTs that has gone.  I tried for years and years to get by with intense PT and brace but never solved my problems for more than a month or two at a time, was constantly in and out of pt.  Having the TTT was the only thing that corrected my probs.

The TENS unit is one of the best things I've come across, helps me a lot.  Good luck.

Natalie.
Posted by shadehawk (shadehawk), 18 January 2005

Thanks Natalie, it is so good to hear that there is something out there that has worked for people.  I feel that if I just get the right knee surgeon someone might understand my symptoms.  Being in a small centre does not help when you have these problems as it just seems to be overwhelming for the doctor's I have seen.  They think that PT for many years will fix everything and disregard the PT's assessments.

I am glad that you have had your knees fixed Natalie and thanks for answering this post.  I am checking into a tens unit.  Hopefully I will have answers someday soon also.

Good knee days to you!  
Posted by taz77 (taz77), 18 January 2005

just learnt that i have hypermobility and would like to learn a little more on other peoples problems and things that could help in day to day life  
Posted by shadehawk (shadehawk), 18 January 2005

Hi Taz and welcome to the board!  Hypermobility is not any fun as you are learning?  Are you  having knee problems?

My knees are very hypermobile and float all over the place when I walk.  Knee sleeves help some, PTO braces help, but you can't wear braces all the time.   I have 'squinting patellae' (kneecaps slide to inside of leg while standing).  I have been doing PT exercises since 2001 trying to help my knees, but we can not get my kneecaps to slide back in place.  Many hypermobile joints dislocate easily, I have dislocated my ankle and one elbow so far and subluxed both knees.

If nothing else works you must find a good OS experienced in knees.  There is a list of knee surgeons at top of this site, but  PT is very helpful to keep everything strong.  My PT instructor has helped me so much, maybe my knee has not gotten fixed, but PT has kept me moving as much as possible.  I find the ultrasound treatments awesome for my knee pain.  

There are probably many other people who can give you more info on this condition as some people have been aware of this condition for years.  I was not aware that there was even a name for what I had until recently.
I am not sure that there is anything that can be done for hypermobility except try and not do activities that strain your muscles.  I did many things that strained my muscles like basketball, skidoo, quads, water skiing and horseback riding.  Oh well, it was alot of fun at the time.
Good luck in your research, let us know how you are doing?  

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