I was diagnosed with hEDS two years ago, and luckily with a great set of supportive doctors, trainers, and PTs have almost completed my first season of playing volleyball for my university without major injuries or problems. I have dramatically improved my proprioception, and the muscular strength I’ve developed has helped so much with stabilizing my joints.

Every once in a while, something small may happen (slightly rolling my ankle, hyperextending a finger off a block) but nothing big really. Today though, I was walking to the back of the line for a drill and a teammate who was talking and walking without paying attention stepped out in front of me and her knee hit mine straight back. I swear it felt like the force knocked it back a little over 145 degrees. Oh. my. god. I quietly yelped, gagged, and immediately started crying, and had to walk off and take a moment to myself to recollect. I seriously almost keeled over and threw up in that moment from how bad it hurt.

Everyone was really nice, and ultimately I am fine. My teammate let me catch my breath and came over and apologized profusely, and told me she was worried it was a lot worse because of how far she felt my leg go back. I explained about my hEDS a little bit (my teammates don’t know much), but our team PT checked me out and between having no residual pain and normal function I told her to not stress and that I was fine.

It’s tough, because I know I am blessed that my hypermobility doesn’t impact my life as immensely as it does many of you, but moments like that are violently humbling and make me feel so isolated.