That Disabled Guy

push in your chairs when you get up from tables.

when people don't push in their chairs, people with bulky aids like wheelchairs and rollators can't get through. also a lot of people who use canes have wider gaits than able bodied people, and having a chair in the middle of their walking path is a real obstruction. while some of us are able to push chairs out of our way, a lot of us are not, and wind up boxed in/out because somebody didn't push in their chair.

But A, you say, isn’t that what braces are for?

[I’m not a doc or a medical professional, take with a grain of salt]

- NSAIDs like ibuprofen/aleve are hard on the stomach and liver. If u take it consistently, consider lidocaine pain patches, tiger balm, or topical NSAIDs. (Still bad for liver with consistent use, but not on the stomach obv)

-foam rollers are real nice for thigh or back/neck pain. If you need it for shoulder stretching, make sure to get one long enough to lay ur whole spine and head on.

-rly good shoe inserts are stupid expensive but getting properly sized for one at a place like REI can rly save you a lot of foot, ankle, and knee pain.

-speaking of shoes plz find ones that have enough room for the tootsies. We’re talking abt bone health here.

-you can use KT or other athletic tape to give minor support, compression for medium, and splints/braces for more serious support. Don’t let braces take over keeping ur body in shape tho.

-in my experience, tube/sock-like braces stay in place the best. I’ve tried the kind that Velcro and they slipped constantly.

-if u overwork a tendon, muscle, or joint, it can take a lot longer for it to heal then when it just stops hurting. Be careful to reintegrate activities slowly after an injury.

-while it kinda makes ya feel silly, walking “like a robot” can help hypermobile/ligament laxity folks to keep proper motion in mind

-upside down criss-cross and w-sitting are horrendous for your knees and make your PTs sad

-if you are doing arm exercises, try not to extend your arms back beyond the line of your shoulder

-to my ND folks: try to rest your arms sometimes, Trex arms are comfy but bad for circulation and joints

-if it feels like your eyes are trying to burst outta ur skull sometimes it means you need to lower inflammation in your sinus.

-for my bra-wearing folks: racer-backed bras hurt the upper traps less and distribute weight better

If you have hEDS, you should NOT:

- do not stretch like a normal person (or really much at all). Your muscles don't stretch when they're crazy tight. Your tendons and ligaments do instead. And that's not what they're supposed to do. That's literally why they're subluxing all the time. If you want to stretch, be very very warmed up (cardio), and roll/massage all your muscles out first. And then learn how to safely isolate and stretch the muscles you're targeting. As a former certified fitness instructor, I can tell you that everyone is doing this wrong.

- do not go to a chiropractor. This goes for everyone really, if you were to ask a medical professional. I keep my mouth shut anyway when normal people go to one, mostly. But if you have hypermobile joints and other EDS tissue issues, this can be EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. Never let anyone, even an OMT adjust you with any kind of sudden shove or jerk. I recently had to unfollow someone who is now in a full back brace after a their chiro appointment ended in an ambulance ride. Bc it's none of my business, but I absolutely could not stand to watch them go back to the chiro again. Please please please just don't. Learn muscle energy techniques from a PT or OMT to reset your joints instead. It's far easier, cheaper, and safer.

- do not do yoga. I know. It breaks my fucking heart too, but the experts are right

- they told me not to do Pilates either. I know. But they were right about this too.

- watch out for Thai massage or similar, or anything where someone moves your limbs/bones for you or suspends your weight by them. All massage can be a bit risky, since our bones are held in place more by our muscles than by any tendons or ligaments (this is not normal). Yes, it sucks and it's a painful existence, and some targeted massage is absolutely necessary, but careful is the name of the game.

- stop doing fucking party tricks. You're only hurting yourself more by further stretching out your unstable joints every time you do. If it doesn't hurt yet, it absolutely will eventually. Trust me.

- don't let anyone try to diagnose you solely via the Beighton score. It's bullshit, and the best experts know it. Our muscles are too tight from working overtime to let many of us be that bendy all over all the time. The right diagnosis can be made from looking at and touching your weird skin, and scars. And your extensive history of joint issues. And the weird way you move and position yourself. And the fact that this runs in your family. And maybe a genetic blood test now, finally.

That's all I can think of right now.