Question
Hi I am a 25 yr-old caucasian female. At about 13 years old I noticed that I had a awkward hip poping. It usualy happened when I walked or rotated my hip or pelvis when doing stretches or excersise. While standing I can pop it out and you can see and feel it. It didn't really hurt but it was a strange and uncomfortable feeling. I have over flexibility in my hips, elbows, and shoulder joints. I also have a history of TMJ, Asthma, IBS, excema and allergies.  A year ago I had also been experiencing pain in my wrist that I believe is associated with my profession. It radiated up my arm and into my elbow; I also had numbness in my thumb. If I ware a brase it keeps it to a mild ache. The brase also seemed to get rid of the numbness in my thumb. Over the recent couple of years I have been experiencing increasing pain in the hip and knee and on rarer occasions my elbow. Cold seems to increase the pain in my hip and knee as well as sitting for long periods of time. All my joint pain is located on the right side of my body only. Recently over the past couple years I have also been experiencing numbness and tingling on the left lower part of my back as well as my right toes. This happens at least once or twice a week now. About 2 years ago I lost feeling and motor control in my right leg while standing for about a minute but it hasnt happened since. I also have a tendency to dehydrate easily and my body doesnt seem to absorb potassium as well as it should.  I have had to go to the hospital for dangerously low levels of potassium that led me to fainting spells and weakness after I went on a low salt diet. It started with cramping in the legs then limbs and then a most excruciating full body cramp! So my question is; Do I have arthritis? If so what kind of Arthritis? Is it related to my allergies or food intolerance? Is it a nerve problem? Im only 25 why do I feel like Im 60?!

Answer
many of these questions are impossible for me to answer. if you have a tendency for low potassium then eat more bananas. if your potassium levels are still level (after a blood test) then you need to see a nutritionist to find out why this is happening. As far as your IBS , asthma and allergies : they could all be associated with eachother. you should see a nutritionist that specializes in digestion and allergies. there is definitely a link there. you may want to google "leaky gut syndrome" this may be your problem. i emphasize "May be". I can not diagnose you wiithout seeing you,but thats what i would conclude from your symptoms.
as far as your joints , sounds like you are double jointed.
the numbness is not something you should have been ignoring all these years. If you have numbness in your legs that could be a pinched nerve in your lower back and your neck could be causing numbness into your arms. the arm and hand numbness could also be carpal tunnel syndrome. i suggest you get some blood work done to rule out rheumatoid arthritis and MS (multiple Sclerosis).If those are negative i would consider an xray first , then an MRI of cervical spine and lumbar spine to rule out disc herniations and pinched nerves.
i hope this is helpful. good luck!
feel free to look up some of these conditions i mentioned , they are on my site.  
ps- cramps can come from too much calcium or not enough water intake.

David Kulla, DC
chiropractor
SynergyWellnessNy.com