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'Ask the OT' with Jo Southall. 26th April 2026.

Replay now up! Apologies for the delay, we're experiencing some sickness in the team. Let us know if we missed anything!





⭐ Summary of the Q&A Chat Session

(HMSA event with Jo Southall, Independent OT)

🎥 Session & Housekeeping

🔥 Pain, Burns & First Aid Questions

Pain relief when medication isn’t an option

  • Emollients like Cetraben are recommended for mild burn recovery and are usually available over the counter.

  • For small burns and slow‑healing wounds: Hydrocolloid dressings, paraffin gauze, non‑adherent gauze, and specific burns dressings.


Heat protection

🧊 Cooling Products

  • Menthol-based gels mentioned: Ice Storm, Deep Freeze, etc.

  • Community recommendation: Fisiocrem.


🦴 Hypermobility Specialists & Physiotherapy

  • Multiple attendees asked for specialists in Kent, Lancashire, and the North.

  • Guidance: contact HMSA support groups for local recommendations. “Your best chance is to contact our support groups… supportgroups@hypermobility.org., they canask members for recommendations.”


🏥 NHS Barriers, Referrals & Being “Too Complex”

Several attendees described:

  • Being told their NHS trust doesn’t treat hypermobility.

  • Being bounced between departments.

  • Being told they are “too complex.”


Key advice:

  • Use the HMSA Clinician’s Guide and one‑sheet reference for GPs.

  • If a clinician refuses to treat or refer: “Please document that you have refused to examine/treat/refer.”

  • Changes to the referral system are still being understood.

One attendee shared that trauma history was being used to dismiss physical symptoms; hypermobility.org team acknowledged the seriousness of this.


⚡ TENS Machines

Whole-body tingling after use

  • Question raised; forwarded to Jo.


Wired vs wireless

  • Both can be effective; personal preference matters.


Movement during use

  • Asked whether it’s okay to stay active while using TENS.


Skin irritation from pads

  • Sensitive pads tried but still causing irritation; community discussion ongoing.


Where to get a TENS machine

  • Not usually provided by GPs. “You can pick them up in most chemists… less expensive on Amazon and eBay.”

  • Pain clinics sometimes provide them.

  • Prices start around £10–15; rechargeable units recommended.

  • Safety note: “Please be cautious (turn on safe search) when searching for TENS electrodes on eBay!”

Accessories

  • Tubie clips recommended for cable management.

  • TensCare link shared for a range of electrodes.

🧤 Helpful Aids & Equipment

  • Compression gloves (Chronically Colourful).

  • Hiking/Pacer poles praised for reducing hand and wrist strain due to vertical handles.


📬 HMSA Resources & Engagement

  • E‑news sign‑up instructions shared (see chat below).

  • Membership benefits highlighted (events, publications, support groups, Mellow Monday).

  • Feedback form link ['Ask the OT' 16/04/2026.


🗳 Advocacy & Escalation

  • One attendee involved their local MP due to lack of NHS support.

  • Asked for further ideas; discussion ongoing.


💬 Community Support Moments

  • Several attendees expressed gratitude, first‑time attendance, and relief at finding support. LinkFairy responded warmly throughout.


Chat: 00:19:13 LinkFairy: This evening's session is being recorded and will be available on the website to replay as soon as is realistically possible. This is a manual process, so please be patient - you'll receive an e-mail with the link to replays once our LinkFairy has had sufficient caffeine and time to wrangle the VT and get it onto the website along with all the juicy links and so on, most likely in the morning at a civilised hour after coffee and sleep. To get free access to more content like this year round, please consider becoming an HMSA member here: https://www.hypermobility.org/become-a-member


Your host: The HMSA

socials: @HMSACharity


Speaker details: Jo Southall Independent OT

Socials: @JBoccytherapy


00:19:32 LinkFairy: THIS IS THE CHAT

00:29:12 LinkFairy: Heat Resistant Gloves - SafetyGloves.co.uk have a nice selection: https://www.safetygloves.co.uk/heat-resistant-gloves.html?msclkid=cc6e931ccb8f119776c1fafdedc5dd4d

00:31:13 Rachel’s iPhone (2): Best pain relief if you can’t take medication pls.

00:32:02 LinkFairy: For burns recovery: Emollients like Cetraben are superb and usually available OTC

00:37:29 LinkFairy: Burns and hard to heal wounds (small, anything larger needs a trip to the Urgent Treatment Centre, at the very least) Hydrocolloid, paraffin, non-adherent gauze and specific burns dressings should probably be in your first aid kit.

00:39:29 LinkFairy: Oven Shelf Guards: https://amzn.eu/d/030fLTmW (these can be found in brighter colours, which is helpful if your proprioception is... impaired.

00:47:29 LinkFairy: Guys, looking for specialists: Your best chance is to contact our support groups and ask whether anyone has recommendations. supportgroups@hypermobility.org will put you in touch with the team who can then ask members in the relevant area,

00:48:31 LinkFairy: That workplace info is coming soon, we have the material and will be finessing it next week/month.

00:50:27 Rachel’s iPhone (2): Is it normal to have whole body tingling after using a tens machine lasting a few days.

00:53:55 Jane: Pacer poles really are great Jo

00:53:57 LinkFairy: Menthol-based cooling gels include Ice Storm, Deep Freeze and other 'Day after tomorrow' sounding products, available in most pharmacies.

00:55:44 Emilia: I also like Fisiocrem for cooling products

00:56:27 LinkFairy: Replying to "Pacer poles really a..."

They're fab, particularly as the vertical handle reduces hand and wrist strain.

00:57:18 Jane: Precisely. The angle of standard walking poles just don't work for my wrists.

00:57:45 Carrie-Ann : What do I do where my local NHS trust doesn't treat hypermobility and I have been told by rheumatology I'd have to request funding to be sent to another area where they do support hypermobility? Is it hopeless because the local nhs trust is broke?

00:58:29 LinkFairy: Those compression gloves: https://www.chronicallycolourful.co.uk/

00:59:21 Carrie-Ann : I'm in Southampton

00:59:56 Nicole: re TENS - do you have a view as to the wired and wireless models - both as good? In any event, when using a TENS device, is it ok to keep moving and be active, or should we have a session sitting still. Thanks

01:00:11 Chloe: Any ideas for tens pads causing skin irritation? I’ve bought sensitive ones but they still do the same

01:02:21 Millie: Replying to "What do I do where m..."

I can empathise. I'm in Norfolk and I was referred to Rheumatology but they referred it straight on to Physiotherapy instead. I'm on a 10 week wait via NHS.

01:02:32 LinkFairy: e-news@hypermobility.org


To subscribe to our e-news (real news/events every couple of weeks or so, we're not super needy), scroll to the bottom of any page on the website and enter your e-mail address in the box (tick all the GDPR boxes so we can stay in touch). If you want to know absolutely everything, right away, as soon as it drops, you can set up an account on the site and select notifications for all new blogs, posts, news etc.


01:03:53 LinkFairy: If your GP doesn't know how to help you, we created a one-sheet reference sheet with a link to further information to help them. We can provide them with the information they need to support you. https://www.hypermobility.org/hmsa-clinicians-guide If necessary, print out this, or e-mail it to your surgery for their attention, it literally tells them what they need to know to help you: https://www.hypermobility.org/_files/ugd/518d8c_70c5473577c84eb98cad62d28bef0f81.pdf

01:04:48 Rachel’s iPhone (2): Is it normal to be told by your doctor they cannot treat you anymore because you are too complex in health issues.

01:04:48 LinkFairy: (We're yet to see how the changes to the referrals process change this, let us know if you've experienced the new system, good or bad experiences)

01:05:16 LinkFairy: Replying to "Is it normal to be t..."

Yikes. This is going to make her cross!

01:05:31 Carrie-Ann : Thank you, I'm actually doing what you suggested. I'm under most of these NHS departments, but they don't work together, which is the problem. Because I am under mental health, the other departments blame everything on the familial CSA I experienced ss a child.

01:06:02 LinkFairy: Become a Member: For free access to patient events like this one, our entire publication library on the site, and access to our members-only socials, suppport groups, 'MellowMonday'relaxations with Kim Clayden and much more. We have one year, and recurring subscriptions, more about that here: https://www.hypermobility.org/become-a-member

01:06:17 LinkFairy: Your feedback is always super helpful and valuable to us.It drives our content! Before you dash off, we'd be really grateful Please just take 2 mins if you can to fill in this very quick form before you go. Thank you so much. 🙂https://forms.office.com/e/2bxehy8ZZZu Please use 'ask the ot; and 16th April if you're watching back on replay.

01:07:18 Karen: do u get TENS from gp?

01:08:34 LinkFairy: No, you can pick them up in most chemists, but they're less expensive on Amazon and Ebay. Consider whether you want a rechargeable unit (searching for batteries sucks)

01:08:36 Carrie-Ann : It's my first time doing this and I'm wishing I'd done this sooner. Thank you

01:09:06 Emilia: things called tubie clips work well for cable management

01:09:47 LinkFairy: Occasionally they're provided by Pain clinics, but you can pick up a basic model for around £10-15 - if it works for you, spend more. Mine's heated 🫠


01:11:00 LinkFairy: I am indeed (silently) laughing very hard: Fair dos warning: please be cautious (turn on safe search) when searching for tens electrodes on eBay!

01:11:44 LinkFairy: Sodium Chromulgate

01:12:23 LinkFairy: Lanacane is a topical local anaesthetic which can also be helpful if it works fo ryou

01:12:56 LinkFairy: YOUR DOCTOR JUST DOESN'T KNOW HOW. Those magic words for medical professionals are as follows: "Please document that you have refused to examine/treat/refer /etc"

01:14:21 LinkFairy: Those magic words for medical professionals gatekeeping referrals: "Please document that you have refused to examine/treat/refer /etc"

Putting here in the main chat too

01:15:28 Carrie-Ann : Already got local MP in Southampton involved

01:15:58 Carrie-Ann : Any other ideas?

01:16:14 Rachel’s iPhone (2): Thank you. Was told by the hospital too I’m too complex. Will speak to Jo

01:17:23 LinkFairy: TensCare Ltd | Electrotherapy Device Experts https://tenscare.co.uk/ (you can get huge and teeny tiny electrodes)

 
 
 

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