Often out of joint, but totally adjusted READER ESSAY MY HEALTH
Reader essay: Joints dislocate, but life goes on
Date published: 7/15/2007
THIS MORNING, my left arm is feeling tingly. Even after joint adjustments, the annoying, achy, prickly sensations are still present and are proving to be a distraction at work. My shoulder joint is most likely slightly out of place and pressing against a nerve.
Joint dislocations have always been a part of my life. When I was younger, my shoulder would often fully dislocate; as I grew older, other joints began to follow suit. Everyday activities, ranging from running to sleeping, could result in a dislocated knee, ankle, hip or jaw. Sometimes the joint would correct itself within a couple of seconds. Other times, I had to grip the joint and force it back in.
Two years ago, an internist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital diagnosed me with the hypermobile type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. I was relieved. Now I knew what was wrong and that the aches weren't in my head.
I've had to adjust the activities in my life, but I don't let the EDS get me down. I've learned my limitations and work around them. Though I may have this disorder the rest of my life, I don't have to let it control my life.
--Laura Pantazis, Stafford County
"My Health," a series featuring reader-written essays, runs Sundays in Healthy Living. Readers who would like to share their stories should e-mail them to Healthy Living editor Janet Marshall at jmarshall@free lancestar.com, or mail them to her at The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401. For e-mail submissions, which are preferred, please put "My Health" in the subject line. Essays should be 250 words or less and focus on a way in which your health, or the health of someone you know, has affected your life.
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Date published: 7/15/2007
Most recent reader comments:
You are not alone....
(posted by
collegestudent
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
I too have EDS. What you describe is very similar to what I deal with. It is nice to know that I am not the only one my age dealing with it. Keep going strong- a positive attitude is the best way to deal with EDS. Good luck with your future!
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