Gaming Esport Injury:  What is Gamer's Thumb?

Six hours of Fortnite and now you have an intense pain and swelling at the base of your thumb.  What the hell is it?  Is it possible that your thumb hurts from gaming? 

Gamer's Thumb

You may be suffering from "gamer's thumb."  Gamer's thumb is a newer term for a condition that has been around for a long time (discovered in 1895) under the name of Quervains Tenosynovitis, De Quervain’s disease or de Quervain syndrome.  Gamers play for several hours and use repetitive movements of the thumbs, same issue when texting excessively (texting thumb).

So what's happening?  Short answer:  The tendons in your wrist and lower thumb swell and rub against the narrow tunnel they pass through.  The painful inflammation of tendons, muscles and ligaments causes aching throbbing pain at the base of your thumb and into the lower arm.  It can also occur index finger or middle finger of the hand.

Symptoms of Gamer's Thumb

If you are experiencing the one or more of these symptoms, you may have gamer's thumb:

• Pain and swelling around the bottom of your thumb
• Wrist pain that could move up your arm
• Moving your thumb or wrist increases the pain
• Moving your thumb causes a catching or popping feeling 
• Weakness in your hand wrist or fingers
• More noticeable symptoms when extending, pulling your thumb away from your hand or bending to the pinky side of your hand
• Difficulty grasping or pinching
• Pain when turning or flexing the wrist
  
• Pain when making a fist
• Pain and swelling worsening one day after periods of playing video games
• Relief or improvement after periods of rest.

What Can You Do?

We know there is no way you are going to stop gaming...so how can you treat this game injury and how long does it last?