Well, now that I have acquired a working diagnosis of hypermobility syndrome, you may be seeing more of me here. I have been having a lot more trouble with my joints over that past several months. Friday, my internist prescribed a neoprene knee sleeve to help stabilize my right knee. I would like to know what you have found the most helpful for knee problems. My right knee, several times a day, will sublux, lock, and then start to feel like it will give way. I am quick enough to correct the problem before I end up on the floor, but it is painful and inconvenient. If you were to make a recommendation, what would it be?

Then, the joint where the little toe joins the foot is doing something very similar. Some days are worse than others, but the doc was able to easily identify the laxity in that joint, but did not offer any solutions. I probably need to get in to see my podiatrist, but will wait until after I see the rheumy next week. In the meantime, I thought I would see if you have any suggestions.

I have a feeling I am going to be needing to seriously stabilize more joints, as many have issues, these are just the most problematic at this time.

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks,

From my experience after my knee injury and ACl tear and post surgery etc (I had frequent giving way episodes etc from my ACL issues etc) A neoprene knee sleeve may not give you any where enough support, what you need is a "functional Knee brace" this is like a carbon fibre etc etc cage that goes about the knee and prevents it from going into hyperextension etc...

For the toes you may need to see a podiatrist and get some custome made orthotics for our shoes (mine were made by my podiatrist making plaster casts of my feet int he correct allignment and then had the orthotics made to hold my feet int his position (I pronate badly (my feet turn in, so that I sort of walk on my arches), my arches flatten when I stand on my feet so that I have pretty much NO arch when standing, I have very hypermobile feet and also tore all of the small ligaments between the feet bone in my left foot a few years back (a log feel on my foot) and ended up in a cast and bivalve AFO, before getting my new deeper orthotics...

You will really need to get braces that offer more support than the neoprene kind can give (Functional braces for most joints are available)

Good Luck and Congrats again on the HMS & possible EDS diagnosis...

Thanks, Shaz, I suspected this might be the case. I may just hold off until after I see the rheumy. I am still trying to figure out the insurance/cost angle of durable medical supplies, and it seems much more complicated than it should be.

I already have the custom orthotics for my flat feet, made from plaster casts, I guess I am really looking for someway to support that particular joint at times other than when I am wearing shoes, such as, I notice a lot of pain in that toe when in bed and the pressure of the bed causes movement in the joint.

As usual, Shaz, you provide a lot of helpful information. Thanks for letting me pick your brain.

You could try strapping your foot when barefoot/ in bed etc, with tape if you can use it or coban wrap etc if not (coban is a type of aelfadhesive bandage wrap where it sticks to itself but not to your skin (it is also called vetwrap and can usually be bought from vet supply/ horse/ animal supply stores cheaper that the human stuff (and it comes in some VERY cool colours and widths)...

You could tape your foreffot (from arch forward and tape the toe to the one on the side of it or one on either side of it (there are usually site ont he net that explain with pictures the correct technique for strapping different joints))...

I am not sure if they make a splint for the little toe (like they do the big one - for treating bunions etc), you could also try using a straight padded finger type splint and run it down the outside of your foot from the top of your toe down to the beginning of your arch and then strap that on - that should hold your toe int he correct allignemtn, but it might be a bit uncomfortable to walk about on a lot...

Have a look at - http://www.footexpress.com/Merchant2/me ... ry_Code=S1 it has a toe splint in it (for holding little toe to next toe etc)
or
http://www.medicalsearch.com.au/Product ... lint-20985 it looks like it might hold all of the toes nice and stable...

Thanks again Shaz, those links were helpful. I will look into that a bit further.

Thanks for the info shaz!

I also found those sleeves to be useless, along with all the drugstore braces.

I've stopped bothering with that stuff myself. However, as my knees have been aching lately, I might resume taking glucosamine (a magazine says 1500 mg is the recommended dosage). It's for cartilage support, I think. Vitamin C is good for collagen, by the way. Physical therapy might help, too, if you can find a therapist who goes beyond exercises and makes sure your mechanics are correct.

When my toes are doing really badly, I tape each toe to the one next to it. It's a royal PITA to do, but because the joints aren't even with each other, they can't do stupid things. Makes walking a bit awkward, though. YMMV.

Well, I really needed some relief with my knee, so I went ahead and got a hinged neoprene brace for my knee. I am sure it isn't the perfect answer, but rheumy thought it was a good idea. The hinge is helping to prevent the hyperextension, and has actually provided some relief. I actually really like the knee brace. Never thought I would say that.

The toe keeps causing problems intermittently, but of course was well-behaved when I saw the doc yesterday. I may try taping it as suggested.