Gamer’s Thumb treatment

1. Improve your wrist and thumb mobility with appropriate Gamer’s thumb treatment!

2. Do you love playing video games but cannot play for a long time? You may have the Gamer’s thumb, otherwise known medically as Radial tenosynovitis or De Quervain’s tenosynovitis. It is also known by its many nicknames like PlayStation thumb, Nintendo thumb, WASD Wrist and Nintendonitis. • Though the names sound a bit specific to gaming word, radial tenosynovitis can occur for any person. Let us dive into the topic and learn its causes, symptoms and how Medica Stem Cells treatment may help with Gamer’s thumb treatment.

3. What is Radial tenosynovitis? • Radial tenosynovitis is a painful inflammation of tendons in the lower thumb and wrist. As these tendons swell, they rub against the narrow tunnel they pass through. It causes inflammation of the sheaths covering the tendons. Hence, there will be intense pain in the lower portion of your thumb and the lower arm.

4. Whatcauses De Quervain'stenosynovitis? • The exact cause of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis (Radial tenosynovitis) is unknown. However, it usually results from: • Playing video games • A direct blow to the lower thumb • Overuse • Repetitive work involving wrist/ thumb • Gardening • Playing racket sports • Lifting heavy baggage using its handle • Inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis

5. Risk factors • As mentioned already, anyone can get radial tenosynovitis. However, the following factors make it more likely: • Age – People between the age group of 30 to 50 are more prone to radial tenosynovitis. • Gender – Females are ten times more likely to get radial tenosynovitis compared to males. • Repetitive wrist movements either in work or leisure • Motherhood – frequently lifting new-born can cause radial tenosynovitis.

6. What are the symptoms of Radial tenosynovitis? • If you are having radial tenosynovitis, you will experience pain and swelling: • along the backside of the thumb • on the side of your wrist • below your thumb • Other symptoms include: • Numbness at the backside of your thumb and index finger • Catching or snapping sensation while moving the thumb • A squeaking noise when the tendons move within the swollen sheath

7. Radial tenosynovitis treatment 1) Home treatment – R.I.C.E. formula • Rest your wrist frequently, and don’t do anything that may worsen your pain, like holding or moving your thumb and fingers repetitively. Avoid activities that may irritate your tendon. • Ice the injured area to reduce inflammation. • Compression: Wear an elastic compression bandage to prevent swelling and inflammation. • Elevation: While resting, place your wrist on two pillows while sitting or lying down. 2) Physical therapy and splint • Wear the splint to hold your wrist and thumb firmly. You can wear it round-the-clock for 4-6 weeks. You will be doing specific physical therapies provided by your physiotherapist to strengthen your arm, hand and wrist.

8. Radial tenosynovitis treatment 3) Medications • Your physician will prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to ease your pain and swelling. 4) Corticosteroid injections • Physicians may recommend steroids in case if medications don’t work. • However, the administration of medications and steroids for a prolonged duration may lead to severe complications. Hence, your physician will never recommend them for a longer duration.

9. Radial tenosynovitis treatment 5) Surgery If all the above-listed modalities don’t provide any significant improvement, your physician may recommend surgery. The surgical method is comparatively successful at resolving this ailment. Surgery aims at releasing your tendon sheath. By doing so, the tendon will move smoothly. It is a same-day outpatient procedure, and you can go home within a few hours after the completion of surgery. Your stitches will be removed in 10-14 days. The pain and inflammation may subside immediately after the surgery. However, the surgical area may remain tender for a few months.

10. Your first step to exploring your treatment options for hand or wrist pain is scheduling a consultation with our Consultant. To do so call us from the UK on 020 8168 2000 or Ireland on 01 298 8000. Alternatively book a consultation online or request a calll back today!