What started as a lighthearted party trick for a fit and healthy mother-of-two became the first alarming sign of a devastating health condition. At just 39 years old, her world was turned upside down by a diagnosis that explained her unusual ability to pop her shoulder out of its socket at will.
The Party Trick That Hid a Dark Secret
"Everyone thought it was hilarious when I could dislocate my shoulder on command," the mum recalls. "It became my signature party trick - until a specialist saw me do it and immediately knew something was terribly wrong."
The Shocking Diagnosis
Medical tests revealed she was suffering from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a rare genetic disorder affecting connective tissues. The condition explained not just her hypermobile joints, but also the chronic pain and fatigue she'd been experiencing for years.
Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
- Unusual joint flexibility or frequent dislocations
- Chronic pain without obvious cause
- Extreme fatigue that doesn't improve with rest
- Fragile skin that bruises or scars easily
- Digestive problems
"I wish I'd known these were all connected," she admits. "I kept going to different specialists for each symptom, but nobody put the pieces together until it was almost too late."
Learning to Live With EDS
Now undergoing treatment, the mum shares her story to raise awareness about this often-misdiagnosed condition. "My party trick probably saved my life," she says. "If one person recognises their symptoms because of my story, it will all be worth it."
