Evaluation & Treatment of Thumb, Wrist, and Arm Pain & Weakness in Hypermobile Patients

William J. Ericson, Jr., MD, FACS, FAAOS presents a webinar on the different issues and solutions that patients with hypermobility, such as those with EDS or HSD, might experience, as part of our "Living with EDS and HSD" webinar series
Transcript available from bit.ly/2LY4hTA

[@ElizabethMillerTX]

I'm so incredibly grateful for this presentation. I'm a hEDS patient having (20+ years of) hand issues and, despite living in one of the most populated and wealthy territories on the planet, there are no hEDS experts, never mind hand docs who are hEDS-informed, in our region. Now, I can show this to whomever I am assigned and/or to whomever I am able to recruit to Team EDS.

[@MK-mj9gx]

I need this doctor! I was diagnosed with CTS 25+ years ago. My nerve conduction studies had results that were minimal. I still haven't had the CTS surgery, but I still have arm pain. I only recently started wondering after I learned about EDS that maybe EDS, or another CTD, was the cause of my pain instead. I have learned recently that my hands are much more hypermobile than I thought, as well as several other parts of my body. Interestingly enough, I found out about EDS because of researching why my kids have terrible GERD. I am almost overwhelmed at how many pieces of the puzzle of my health, are coming together!How do I find doctor Ericson? 🤲🙏

[@KMx108]

Outstanding presentation! This explains so much for me.

[@julieshenk7640]

The diagnosis has only come two weeks ago. I will be 68 years the end of December. Never told or suspected hypermobile. Also, have each body system awry with Ehlers-Danlos. Finally, issues connected to the tissues. However, a lot of damage done. I am an old Zebra now who feels young inside with a body betraying me. Mixed connective tissue probable found early 4Os. Sad, no one would help me. I did have thumb base surgery done as finally allergic to shots. Less pain until now. Back full throttle and other hand, too. After operation and OT, I developed Dupuytren's Contracture. So... waiting months for PT evaluation. Kinda think too late for me. Will see. Wheels of the bus are moving slowly. Trying to learn all I can. More I learn, the more I need to learn. Finally a new holistic primary who tested me after I also did a flow chart of my medical history issues...

[@dlm4708]

I had always wondered how people managed to write without so much pain, and also with that particular posture. Turns out, you just don't have joints that subluxate or bend backwards. Somehow a diagnosis took twenty years. I'm going to start assigning videos like these to my doctors so they can stop sending me for tests that demonstrate nothing, backing claims that I'm not actually "that bad."

[@TheMazinoz]

The doctor I've just left took some convincing. Then he started patronising me and telling me what I had told him as though I didn't know, and he was 'educating" me. Now have a young doctor with an interest in sports medicine and geriatrics. He also has HEDS. I'd suspected it when I saw his hands and him typing and he let it slip at last visit. He really does understand it.

[@chickenmama5051]

11 minutes in and this doc totally gets me…the thumb issue for 55.yo woman…tennis elbow etc …

[@KatrinaKellar]

Referred to Dr Ericson for Kienbock’s left wrist. My first appointment with him was nearly two hours long. I felt heard! I left with hope and look forward to my surgeries and other treatments.

[@amandaritzau2602]

The realization that what iv learned over time about my body seems acurate no matter how strange it seemed saying when i push here its weird waaay over there lol. I actually got overwhelmingly angry and sad.. its been diagnosable for at least the last 10 years! And i was onky just by chance diagnosed 3 months ago.. how do you become my dr! Lol 😆 im so tired of over sharing w drs and hearing "your too young for these issues" and get brushed off until i have no choice but go down the rabbit hole because i can't open things, and i drop things and my shoulder hurts and itches soooo much! Thats finally getting a work up in 2 weeks after 4 months of complaining of the discomfort... this was a great video for reassurance in what i felt... even if its depressing that this could have been avoided... grrrr lol

[@humphrke]

I thought I had carpal tunnel syndrome for years... or radial tunnel since I get the pain in the forearm.... little did I know that what I needed was a surgery from this guy. if only he was in Canada...

[@TheEhlersDanlosSociety]

You can check our healthcare professionals directory for any surgeons who have submitted their information in Canada: www.ehlers-danlos.com/healthcare-professionals-directory-canada/

[@spikeybunny6577]

Hyper mobile with DDD: C5/6/7 fusion, + L4/5/S1 fusion, L2/3/4 fusion planned for next month, chronic SIJ pain… + Barrettes Esophagus, GERD, Esophageal Strictures, & after a lifetime of rolling my ankles, I even broke one standing still. At 54, I’m a collection of braces, fusions and chronic pain… & bunions. I’m trying to get my PCP to test for EDS because it seems to explain everything. Thumb pain & subluxation issues became a huge problem right after my cervical fusion this summer. All these slides look like my thumb and wrist, especially the last person.

[@hollybrown6627]

I had a L4-5 fusion and 3 thumb joint replacement surgeries within 3 years. I started looking into what the connection between them could possibly be (the surgeons all said my soft tissue was too elastic) and about 5 years later, after being dismissed and/or laughed at by 3 doctors, found a doctor who works with EDS patients. Through her, I found Dr. Ericson. Yes, EDS would definitely explain it! I lived in constant pain for 20+ years, and I'm 54 and finally have some answers.

[@damisolamatti-balogun2590]

What therapy can I be doing to ease off de quervain tendons

[@dillonratzlaff6341]

Hi, I am very active and only 14 my grandpa has ehlers danlos and his hands are not realy in any condition to function well. I was wondering if there is anything I can do to prevent this. I have noticed more and more my hands doing what his do.

[@Spliceozome]

work out a lot. do grip strength exercises, work out your forearm. look online for exercises to do but in general getting stronger (not pushing too hard) is a good thing

[@TheMazinoz]

Look up Childrens Hospitals that deal with EDS and many have exercise handouts and information for patients. Also YT Jeannie de Bon physio

[@suzannesulzbach]

I have scaffold lunate advanced collapse that how I was diagnosed with eds

[@suzannesulzbach]

Both wrists so I had bones removed and a wrist fusion also arthroplasty

[@flowerpixel]

I wish he accepted united healthcare. Heds+ my hands have felt gloved since 2010

[@KatrinaKellar]

Referred to Dr Ericson for Kienbock’s left wrist. My first appointment with him was nearly two hours long. I felt heard! I left with hope and look forward to my surgeries and other treatments.

[@KatrinaKellar]

Referred to Dr Ericson for Kienbock’s left wrist. My first appointment with him was nearly two hours long. I felt heard! I left with hope and look forward to my surgeries and other treatments.

[@ginijohnson1998]

Dr Ericson is amazing. He took time to really evaluate my situation and educate me about the problems and the solutions. Thankful for a very successful surgery.

[@KatrinaKellar]

Referred to Dr Ericson for Kienbock’s left wrist. My first appointment with him was nearly two hours long. I felt heard! I left with hope and look forward to my surgeries and other treatments.

[@maryr7593]

Any idea if dr has a sliding scale as my insurance wouldnt cover anything outside the county in my state. So far no dr knows anything about this.

[@KatrinaKellar]

@@maryr7593also if your insurance can’t provide you with a knowledgeable surgeon within network then you can appeal for coverage on a case by case basis (even if Medicaid or Medicare).