Getting a lot worse in mid 30s but not sure how to be taken seriously
Mostly vent with an ask for any guidance. I'm a 35 year old female.
I was told I was hypermobile by a physio when I was about 12 after having serious pains for years and them being brushed off by my parents/considered lazy etc - the usual stuff. I don't remember much about it except he said I wasn't overly hypermobile, but also that I would probably need to be in a wheelchair by 40. These are the only two comments I remember and they seem pretty contradictory. I don't even know if it's officially still on my records.
I'm 35 now and I've always had problems rolling my ankles, losing my knees, shoulder neck and back pain, loose finger joints and never being able to sit well after dislocating both hips when I was very young. I feel like I subluxate (if that's the right word I only recently learned it) all the time, sometimes it lasts a few seconds, hours or days.
For the last 1-2 years I've felt progressively worse, much much more tired, unable to get comfortable, generally in pain, unable to stand in queues without pain, waking up in the night with sharp pains, stiffness after sitting even for a short time. I feel like its affecting my work even though I work from home and love my job, I have flexible hours, a standing desk and a great chair, I'm just always tired and in pain.
I've always been fairly fit and gone to the gym and played sport, I love it so that's not a problem. I've done physio but I've never found it to make any difference. I'm going back to the doctors because I feel like I need to be doing something else but I'm so despondent because not a single doctor or anyone in my life has said anything other than "you need to learn to live with it" when I've reached out.
What can I do or say to make them take me seriously? How do I explain to work why I'm behind on things despite the accommodations?
In case its important, I'd been on the depo injection for about 10 years until last year, my periods restarted after 12 months and that was 3 months ago - apparently hormones and hypermobility are linked. No children and not really any plans to.
Thanks in advance, appreciate any help 🙏
Posted May 15, 2025, 4:29 PM UTC