In the begining...............

I remember being very young and be taken to the doctors with pain in my legs, and knees
"Osgood-Schlatter Disease" I was told,................. how many of you have heard that, I see
all hands going up. It is known as "Growing Pains". We all know now this was proberly the
first signs of Joint Hypermobility Syndrome. Keep your eyes open for signs in your children.


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I was a Magorette form the age of about 8 I think till I was 16, so I was very active, I was
in a dance group too. So was always supple. Splits were not a problem for years. But getting
to 16 I no longer felt "cool". So I stopped being so active. But I have always worked so wasnt
not active in a way.

                                                               * * *

I met my hubby when I was 18, hes my best friend, my soulmate and my life. We married in 1990.
I remember having backache, sore hips, and knees when the weather was cold, but nothing more.
I did go to the doctors when I was 20. He was my family doctor since I was born. He asked me
 to stand with my back against the wall, lift my knee and twist to the outside. I couldnt do this with
my left side. He said "Its arthritis" he told me to come back when I couldnt walk till then take
paracetamol. And that was that.

                                                               * * *

I got pregnant in 1991 with our daughter, I stopped work at 6months, and my bump bloomed
I was huge, I had lower back and hip problems throughout my pregnacy was told it was normal.
My tummy had strech makes like a road map, and it also split. I had never seen anything like it.
After having our daughter, I had alot of back pain.............I went to physio on and off for a few
years, but I just got on with it. I was always so tired, and ached all over most of the time, but I
thoughtthats how you were when you had a full time job and a family. So I carried on regardless.


                                                               * * *

Fast forward to 1999, I had worked many jobs, but the restaurant trade became my calling.
I loved it, I worked front of house, waitressing, training new staff. I often had low back pain,
over the years leading to 1999.

Then 2nd September 1999 we went out on a works do, it was a laser shooting place, with a
disco and band, a great night out. I was very drunk, and my work mate and I decided to do
cartwheels, down the little lanes...........I used to be slim, and petite, so was very easy to do
cartwheels then, couldnt do them in my dreams now.

I got up the next day, I couldnt walk, I couldnt put weight on my left leg, I could hardly move.
I went to the doctors, "you have sprained your Sacriliac Joint", plenty of rest, keep off it, and
you should feel better in a couple of weeks....................only i didnt.



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Part 2 to come