Wrist and Thumb signs

[eilaroc]

I can do the thumb thing on both hands, and the overlap of thumb/little finger around my left wrist, which is slightly thinner than my right (i'm righthanded).

I sincerely doubt I have Marfan's, as I am 5'3 with size 4 feet. Probably just flexible hand joints.

[sopvik]

Thats really interesting, I can easily do the wrist thing with the tip of my thumb reaching to the first knuckle easily on both wrists. The thumb thing when I make a natural fist my thumb cannot be seem but when I make a fist consciously trying to see how far it goes over, the thumb nail is visible. If I use my other hand to push as far as opssible the edge of my little finger is on the first knuckle of my thumb. Will Prof Bird be looking for things like this when I see him? The rheumy who diagnosed me said I had BJHS so will Prof Bird just take that as read or will he be looking at other things to see if I am actually anything else?
vikki

[lilamyx]

im not really sure wot all this means all i know is im hypermobile and have no knee cartlidge - but from wot ppl are saying im quite similar im 5"5 size 6 have long arms and legs long fingers, thumbs which can bend forward againt my wrist backwards against my wrist can bend over the back of my hand etc . my wrists are quite flexiable too dunno wot ne of this means tho
xxx

[Shadowlady]

Ello,

Thought I'd update you with my 'Official Diagnosis' from Big Prof. G. (Everytime I write that I've seen him, I feel SO lucky! ).

I have positive Walker-Murdoch wrist & Steinberg thumb signs. I'm 5'7", my arm span is 5', and I've always considered my back to be disproportionately long (though I've not measured my 'Upper/lower segment ratio' thing, but if it was 'Marfanoid' I'd eat my hat). Erm. Ribs, my ribs are 'slightly concave', but nothing like those pidgeon chest photos that are about! And heart, I have had some very minor POTS issues, with palpitations, but... they seem so mild to me, so nothingy in the scheme of things, Prof G wanted to send me to Prof Mathias for tests, but I said I'd rather not - why, when there's no way I'd want meds or anything? I just can't imagine that there's anything wrong with my heart... it's a good heart, just needs a little more exercise! I'm sure I'd be anxious about it if it weren't! If you know me, you know it's true !

Anyway... my diagnosis is for - Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (equivalent to HEDS, formerly known as EDS type III), classified as an incomplete Marfanoid Habitus.

So what does the incomplete Marfans thing actually mean to me...? Not a lot really, as nothing has changed, I just have officially spideryly fingers

Best wishes,
S

[shirleytx7]

Went to a new rheumatologist yesterday and he said I had both the Walker-Murdoch sign and the Steinberg sign. He wants to do a echo on my heart to rule out Marfans.I see from previous posts that having these signs is common in HMS so feeling a little less freaked out.

[sparrow]

Hi shirleytx7,

I can do the wrist and thumb signs. I also have marfanoid habitus. Due to this, my family and I were referred to a geneticist to investigate whether we met the criteria for Marfan syndrome. After conducting various investigations, including echocardiograms, the geneticist ruled out Marfan syndrome but diagnosed my daughter and myself with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome/ Hypermobility Type. I think quite a few of the signs of HEDS overlap with Marfan syndrome e.g. flat feet, mitral valve prolapse, as both are connective tissue disorders.

sparrow

[shirleytx7]

Upon further reading I am starting to think certain medical complaints in my past are making more sense. I am starting to think about this mitral valve prolapse. All through my childhood I had a history of fainting in assembly, in the school church services you name it I would pass out. In my late teens/early 20's I was diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia and was on beta blockers for around 4 years and then seemed to outgrow it. I do not have a follow up appointment with my rheumatologist until September 15th but I think getting that echo study done might be a good idea.

[Stone]

Fainting is more often autonomic nervous system related (POTS) (see here) but it would be wise to get it checked out.

I think if you can't do the manoeuvres easily you don't have the sign - I can get my thumb and little finger to meet around one wrist, but only by stretching the MCP of my little finger more than it's happy with...likewise I can hyperextend my thumb until the whole nail protrudes past the edge of the hand but it's more a test of how long your thumbs are so you aren't supposed to be pushing it! (also I don't recommend stretching to try and make it, my hand is very sad now!)

Stone

[Spireite]

I have the sign but I think it is more of a reflection of how extra unusually skinny my wrists are!

How do you mean stretching the MCP joint - in flexion?

Then suddenly I lost it with the right wrist. How had my right wrist got fatter in my old age?

Now suddenly I notice its back again. Yes the tape measure confirms my right wrist is half an inch less in circumference than before and back to the same as my left wrist. How does one wrist change size? It just adds to my fears about medical examinations being done once at one moment of one day and that is it. My body for one is highly variable and so I wish medical examinations could be repeated every day for a month to get a proper result.

[Stone]

How do you mean stretching the MCP joint - in flexion?

Sort of - while my MCP is in flexion it can move slightly dorsal (finger and all!) and that's what makes it hurt around my tendon reconstruction. I think it's because my smallest metacarpal can move backwards relative to the others.

Stone