Things we do differently because of our bendiness

[paw]

Kattykins when I broke my ankle I was on crutches for over 6 months. I had little children so when they finally took a nap after lunch I really needed my rest break. I wanted a cup of hot tea on the sofa in the living room. I made the tea, poured it into a thermous bottle. I put the thermous, a cup for the tea and whatever I was eating for lunch (wrapped up as if carrying to school or work) into a bag with a long strap that I wore crossed over one shoulder. I could then use my arms to deal with the crutches. I was not allowed to weight bear so that was the only way to carry things. Once I was seated I unpacked my bag and poured the tea.

It seems like a lot of extra work but it really worked and I didn't hurt myself with boiling hot tea. You can't imagine how much I needed that break from watching the children. I didn't drink hot drinks when the kids were awake, my daughter was at an age where she reached and tried to grab any cup and it wasn't safe.

You might want to get a roomy shoulder bag and a thermous. You can still use the tray if you wish because the bag doesn't need any hands.

[Kattykins]

What a fantastic idea!!

After burning my feet the other day that could be a real life saver! xx

[Jenne]

Thanks everyone for a brilliant thread - I've been married 5 years, and I still entertain myself regularly by getting my non-bendy husband to try to do things that I consider perfectly normal. In fact, I will try some of the new ones out on him when he gets home.

I've developed some creative ways of standing up, especially from the floor (which I'm very glad I can still do, as going to toddler groups with our 3yo would be much harder otherwise) - I tend to roll onto all fours, and then stand my legs up (keeping them straight) whilst taking all my weight on my arms, so that I end up with just hands and feet on the floor together, then stand straight up - when my SI joint allows (otherwise it's grunting and groaning all the way...how attractive!) What I'd do if my arms gave way more than they do, I don't know (although I've nearly perfected the one-handed technique)

I think a lot of my mis-understanding of 'normality' comes from the fact that my best friend is even more bendy than I am, so it never occurred to me that the things we could both do would be anything out of the ordinary!

Jen

[niccysearle]

Lol, Jenne...........that's the first time I have heard of someone else that gets up off the floor like me!! We have a really low bed and that is the only way I can get up in the mornings too!! It must be quite entertaining to watch, but it works for me!!

[cavemonster]

Tried lobster for the first time this weekend. Of course, photos were taken to mark the occasion! Looking back through the ones cracking open the claws with nut cracker type things, everyone points out again that my hands look odd - just cos I was holding the things backwards gripping with my 'smaller' fingers - like the pics on the first page. I have one top which has long tight sleeves which go down half way over my hands. When I wear this, lots of people notice how I hold my hands differently - draws attention to it I guess.
Well - it's normal for me
BTW sometimes I get up off the floor from cross legged just by uncrossing my legs and standing up in one fluid motion, no hands needed - this gets odd looks but is perhaps not a normal HMS way of doing it either...but I don't think I have as many problems as many people on here with pain.

[Rosie]

Hi all

I have a new little girl in swimming who is definitely hypermobile. When I asked her to sit down on the pool side she just dropped gracefully from standing into a W sit. When asked to kick the water with stretched legs her ankles turn inwards in exactly the same way mine do. Needless to say, I am watching her like a hawk although she doesn't seem to have any other issues. Mind you, she is very tall and lanky but she is only 2!

Rosie

[evenwen]

This thread has been quiet for a while, which is a shame as it is a fun one!

Doors are a particular "special move" area for me.

1. Normal handles- one hand over the other and use whole arm to push down.
2. Knobs- panic, try hand over hand and bend most of top body weight hoping to keep a grip.
3. Sprung doors- Turn around and use my bum to push, peering over own shoulder incase of unexpected step.
4. Sprung doors with handles/knobs - use 1.&2. techniques, try to maintain hold and turn to get into 3. position, pray nothing pops!
5. As above, but with a strong spring - wait for a sturdy little old lady to open it and try to slide in behind them

[GreenLantern]

Jenne I get up off the floor the same way as you

[Superstottie]

I used to get off the floor like that, now I just don't get up off the floor!

I noticed yesterday that I hold cutlery strangely - instead of having a straight finger pointing down the shaft, I bend the top joint to compensate for the hyper-extension of the lower joint and make my finger a sort of Z shape, can't do it with a straight finger as I can't put any pressure on to cut etc.

[trekster]

I hold my hands together when i get off the chair to avoid hurting my shoulders.
i sometimes tell people about my bendiness, if they seem shy i show them the hand
behind the backpack trick (whilst sitting in a wheelchair but this only happens about
once a month mind you as it is starting to hurt more).
Im wondering if my fast typing is partly because of my bendiness. i cant touch
type in the traditional way but i can type without looking at the keys and sometimes
at the TV! (did most of the last sentence without looking down),

[cracker]

When I unscrew a bottle, I dont turn the bottle, i just twist my arms instead, it gets a few odd looks when i'm out and about

same with me too shen. or if i at a table i hold the lid & twist the bottle i find i still use my arms too. my friend worries i will hurt myself when i do it.

[cracker]

mod edit - nested quotes removed
i asked one of my friends to open a bottle of coke the other day he used his wrist & hands too.

can i join the bottle opening club too please?

[isotope]

Oh, funny! Yes, I do the bottle thing too, or jars just the same. I generally have problems opening things that are tight, I think the bendy wrists really work against me rather than with me for this. OH just calls me a weakling

[bendyneck]

Ha ha, I relate to the sitting cross legged, when we had an automatic car I used to drive with my left foot tucked up under my bottom. If sitting on a chair I've always sat with my legs tucked under me. When I'm drafting I twist myself around the chair with my feet hooked round to base of the stool and my ribs balanced on the edge of the drawing board, then I would twist my whole body around the drawing board. I must've looked very odd! I also tend to squat with knees up and shuffle/bounce around the floor when using a dustpan and brush in the kitchen, rather than bending down from the waist. My husband finds that hysterically funny.

Lots of hugs to all of you in pain today, hope we get some more sunshine this weekend. enjoy the holidays!

[Fluffym]

Hi Bendyneck

Just read you last post here and I am like mad! I honesty have never considered the fact that I sit on one leg as you do not to be the norm! I also squat right down to use a dust pan and brush and shuffle or when I was younger bounced along. I thought everyone did this.

Thanks for giving me such an enormous laugh.
Fluffym

PS why do we find the need to sit on one leg on a chair????