Overview
The HMSA aims to provide support and information to those affected by the Syndrome and to promote knowledge and understanding within the medical community and the public at large.
We hope to assist sufferers to come to terms with the HMS and the distress that it can cause. The severity of the effects of HMS varies with the individual: some have few symptoms others are severely affected. HMS is an ‘invisible illness’ and because of this we can look well to the outside world but are often in severe pain. Moreover the nature of hypermobile joints combined with frail tissues means that we are prone to injury when performing simple everyday tasks. This opens us to skepticism, particularly by those in the medical profession who know little about HMS. The pain, stress and frustration can lead to depression: thus depression can often be mistaken as the cause of the illness, not a result of it.
We work closely with those in the medical community with a special interest in HMS. Through our newsletters we aim to provide members with updates on the developments and issues within the medical community. As patients we need as much current and useful information as is available.
In turn it is our aim to provide those in the medical community with information about living with HMS. We can provide valuable data for research just by working as group rather than as individuals. Working in a proactive and mutually beneficial relationship with the medical community, the HMSA acts as both a support group as well as a force for advocacy for those with HMS.