Gamer’s Thumb or what we generally called De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis is basically the condition in which the tendons that move your thumb become inflamed. As a result, you experience a lot of pain while performing a physical activity that involves the usage of that particular thumb.
When we talk about gamers’ thumb treatment, it is possible and there are many ways for the same. But for treatment, it is essential to know what the symptoms are. Then you have to find the cause and finally there comes the treatment.
To help you out on the same here is a detailed discussion on various symptoms and solutions to this condition.
Symptoms of Gamers Thumb:
- You will feel extreme thumb pain after playing a video game.
- The base of your thumb will undergo swelling and you will experience pain.
- You may often experience wrist pain that may even travel up the arm.
- Whenever you perform any physical activity that actively involves the movement of your thumb and wrist, you will experience pain.
- You will experience a catching or popping sensation when you move your thumb.
- Difficulty in grasping and pinching.
- Pain when making a fist and so on.
These are some of the common symptoms that you may experience if you are having a Gamers Thumb. But you must know that these are some general symptoms. You may even experience other difficulties like using a full range of motion and so on.
After symptoms, it becomes necessary to look for various causes that lead to this condition. It can be playing games for a longer duration of time and that too without taking frequent breaks. There are also some other activities that can cause gamers’ thumbs, like excessive use of the thumb and wrist, some medical problems like rheumatoid arthritis, direct blow to the thumb, and so on.
But what matters the most is gamers thumb treatment. There are many options for treatment. Let us discuss some basics, one by one.
Gamers Thumb Treatment:
- Rest: The best prevention is to avoid the activity that causes it. You must know that the repetitive motion may irritate the sheath around the two tendons. This will cause them to thicken and swell. So it is advised to play games for a shorter period of time.
If you are facing pain whenever you go out to play the game you should avoid it for some time and then decrease the time for playing. You can go for frequent breaks. You can also go for stretching in between the breaks. This will help you a lot.
- Exercise: When it comes to treating gamer’s thumb, there is no match for the exercise. Here exercising means stretching the wrist and thumb. Let us discuss some effective exercises in detail.
- Eccentric Wrist Flexion with Finger curl: This exercise is basically designed for stretching and strengthening the wrist. All you need to do is to take a moderately heavyweight and hold it with your palm up. Now you have to curl your wrist toward the ceiling.
Once done, uncurl your wrist and slowly bring it down towards the ground in a controlled manner. Now uncurl your fingers at the end of this exercise. This will target your deep forearm muscles. Use 3 sets with 15 reps each to get the desired result.
- Radial Deviation Strengthening: This is one of the tested techniques that can help you in the treatment of gamers’ thumb. Here you need to extend your arm in front of your body and then you have to hold the weight with your palm facing inward. You can also balance your forearm on a table.
Make sure your wrist is hanging over the edge. You have to keep your forearm in a steady position and have to focus on moving the wrist alone. Now bend your wrist up towards the ceiling and continue to do so until and unless you start feeling stretch at the base of your thumb. Once you are done, just lower the wrist back to its initial position. You can go with 2 sets of this exercise with 10 reps each.
- Splints and braces: You can go with splints and braces. This will restrict the usual movement but provides you relief from both pain and swelling. It will also keep your thumb stationary thus providing it with the rest it requires. You have to wear a splint 24 hours a day for 4-6 weeks to get the results that you need.
- Medication and Surgery: Although rest and exercise will do the job for you, if not medication and finally surgery is the ultimate option that can treat gamers’ thumbs. You will be provided with anti-inflammatory medication. NSAIDs will help you a lot. You may even be given injections.
If the medication does not work, surgery is the best option. A surgeon will cut the sheath around the tendons to treat the gamers’ thumb.
Conclusion: When it comes to treating the gamer’s thumb condition, there are many treatment options available for you. You can begin with home treatment and if it doesn’t work, you can consult your doctor. Rest and proper exercise is the one that you should go with during the initial stages because there is no match for natural healing.
Reference –
Research contributions credited to Sadia shahid MA Industrial Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad; Fatima Nasir MA healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad; Dr. Madiha Khalid Clinical Pharmacist, M. Phill. clinical pharmacy Pakistan, Jeremy Madvin, MBA International Business, University of Redlands, Redlands, Ca.