Just like any other traditional sports players, professional gamers spend hours practicing their skills as well. Some esports players spend as many as 15 hours practicing. This often results in injuries and Gamer’s Thumb is one such. In this article, we will talk about this injury, how to prevent and heal it.
What Is a Gamer’s Thumb?
The original name of this injury is De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis – kind of hard to pronounce, no? So, we should focus on the more common names. Gamer’s thumb is commonly known as Playstation Thumb, Nintendo Thumb, Nintendonitis, WASD Wrist, etc.
Heavy practice of long hours, without proper breaks results in stress, which further causes irritation and inflammation of the sheath and the tendons in the hands.
Common Symptoms Of Gamer’s Thumb
The earlier you sport an injury the less damaging it can be. So, keep an eye on these symptoms and seek assistance if you have any one of them.
- Swelling or continuous pain at the bottom of the thumb
- Pain during wrist movements
- Inability to pinch or grasp things
- Pain while making a fist
The above symptoms can range from mild to acute, depending upon the severity of the injury. We suggest, if you are a pro gamer, always keep an eye on these symptoms and consult a doctor as soon as you can.
true gamers get gamers thumb on both of their hands 🤪🤪 pic.twitter.com/Cm2zBy1JKc
— fer (@reiinx) December 11, 2019
How to Fix Gamer Thumb?
There are many therapies prescribed by professionals for treating a gamer thumb.
- OTC Medication: Under most cases, the doctors will prescribe over-the-counter pain killers to ease the pain and swelling around the thumb. Depending upon the severity of the injury, and how much rest the gamer is taking, medications can cure gamer thumb in 2 – 7 days.
- Therapies: For mild cases, your doctor might go for splint and physical therapy.
- Home remedies and gamer’s thumb exercises: Many cases can be treated by simple home remedies or adjusting your daily routine like taking a break from practicing, resting much, etc.
- Surgery: In severe cases, the doctor may carry out a small surgery. This, however, is rare!
How Long Does Gamer’s Thumb Take To Heal?
If the injury is not severe and you don’t need surgery, your injury may heal within 4 – 6 weeks. Of course, this time will eventually be dependent upon the medication, how well the patient rests, and the type of injury.
In the case of surgery, gamers thumb may take more time. You will get quick relief from the pain and swelling but the area around the bottom of the thumb will be soft and tender for several months. During this time, you will be advised to rest as much as possible and avoid long gaming hours.
Esports like Fortnite draw big money for players, and worries about health – The Washington Post
(…including “gamers thumb”….) https://t.co/FxEt9zZsS0— Brenda Davy, PhD RD (@DavyBrenda) June 3, 2019
Final Thoughts:
If you are a pro gamer, you should take injuries seriously. Just like a soccer player would lose everything to a bad thigh injury, a professional esports player can lose everything to a bad wrist injury.
