I May Never Hitchhike Again!
I appear to have developed "Blackberry Thumb!"
No, I have not been foraging in the forest, nor do I own a "Blackberry," one of a line of smartphones, tablets, and the like, originally designed by the Canadian company, Blackberry Limited, and currently designed, manufactured, and marketed by TLC Communication (Blackberry Mobile), BB Merah Putih, and Optiemus.
BlackBerry was one of the leading smartphone vendors in the world in 2013, with 85 million BlackBerry subscribers worldwide. It has since lost its dominant position in the market due to the success of the Android and iOS platforms, and accounted for only about 23 million in 2016.
As many of you know, I do not own a cell phone...not even a "Jitterbug," which is marketed to us dinosaurs still roaming the Earth.
"Blackberry Thumb," or "teen texting tendonitis," is a repetitive stress injury, which occurs due to reliance on the thumbs for typing (My thumbs do come into play frequently with my laptop, a lot of the time for positioning the computer).
This injury may cause cramping, pain, and numbness at the base of the thumb, and is a result of bad posture (I'm usually lying in my bed, with the laptop on my belly or chest), repetitious movements (Yes!), and long periods of time doing the same movements (And yes).
Tendonitis (includes Blackberry Thumb) involves inflammation of a tendon caused by overuse or repetition. This can additionally involve the wrist joints (which I am also having issues with.
Other related conditions are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, resulting from nerve pressure, and De Quervain's Tenosynovitis, which can cause wrist and forearm pain.
Untreated repetitive stress injuries can lead to Thumb (CMC Joint) Arthritis.
I have found that applying ice to the affected area provides some immediate reduction of pain. People have suggested to me that cortisone injections may provide temporary relief. Anti-inflammatory lotions may also give some relief from the pain, which can be quite intense.
Here are some positive steps to take to alleviate the condition:
1. If it's hurting, stop the activity (easier said than done).
2. Try using the other hand, or putting the thumb in a different position.
3. Take a break every few minutes, and stretch your hand and fingers.
4. Touch your thumb to each finger. Repeat several times.
5. Stretch the thumb with your other hand.
6. Wrap an elastic band around your hand, and force your hand open.
7. Shake your hands.
8. Massage the sore areas.
That's what I get for writing 775 Blogs in less than a year and a half (and about an hour a day misspent on Forge Of Empires).
Recent Comments
39
Good Morning Rick,
I know exactly what you are talking about but I did not have the same thing as you do. To repeat a movement multiple times and which is neither a usual movement for people causes those pains. Here on my farm, I have build a lot of things myself. Flower beds, fish ponds, and book shelves. My biggest construction adventure was the pergola in Mother's garden. 11 Pillars of some 2.5m high, they are all still standing by the way. All this work caused me to have a tennis elbow, hurt like hell, but it was due to pressing the cement on the bricks. 2 Drops of CBD will help for the pain.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
Thanks, Taetske! You are a talented lady. Is CBD the cannabinol based stuff? (I have no issues with that if it will work)
Yes, indeed it is Rick. Michael and I we both take 2 drops a day and Shugar his cat and Cindy my dog get each 1 drop. Some time ago we followed a 7 video series on this and then decided to have a summary on the Sacred Plant as a page on my health site. I am not too old to learn and I have had an open mind to new things most times in my life. In Spain, we have shops where you can buy the oil and the seeds. In Coin, a neigbouring village, a Dutch couple have a big plantation under the supervision of the Guardia Civil of course. On the tv, you sometimes hear the police finds an illegal plantation and destroys it sending the people involved to jail. For private use you can have some plants in your house, we will start with that now and as soon as possible everybody will get a leaf in their smoothies.
Have a good Sunday, Taetske
great story--when Blackberry was the leader in smartphones they dominated but they were complacent and didn't keep up with technology and slowly lost their dominance
Sounds like a bad thing to happen, Rick.
I checked now- ice, stretching, massaging, cortisone injections,taking breaks- yeah...
But the main - don't play (not the guitar- games!).Don't type being in an awkward position- you may worsen the condition and strain your neck as well...
Take care of yourself. We all need your songs and your new blogs and stories...:)
I would still rather have Blackberry thumb than focal hand dystonia, Rick! I will trade you any day!
Yeah, Kaju, I hear you. I've never had any problems with cramps from guitar. I have picked till my fingers bled, though.
Oh, yeah-one time during a long gig, I glanced at my strings and saw what I thought was red fuzzy-looking string or thread. I came to realize my right fingers were bleeding, and it was bits of accumulated bloody skin. I use a pick more now. Not quite as versatile, but I'm not bleeding! :)
You are the workhorse guitarist, Rick. Respect!
I too have bled my hands out at gigs.
However, focal hand dystonia is an unexplained neurological disorder that happens inexplicably. I still do all my gigs and have compensated well. However much of my lead playing now is Django Reinhardt 2-finger style.
You should read my post here. Unless one have been afflicted personally, one cannot even begin to understand the trauma and frustration. Mysterious Hand Disorders and Reconnections: Part 1
Thanks Vera, we certainly do but its difficult for others to understand the trauma sometimes.
Did you ever read my post about my hand troubles? Mysterious Hand Disorders and Reconnections: Part 1
I do know the feeling and it is not good! have to give your exercises go but I think mine has gone further :)
Rick - Great therapeutic tips for mobile repetitive stress injury. No cell phone. Interesting. I'm not judging. :-)
See more comments
I can totally sympathise with you there Rick as I have had tendonitis in my thumbs with being in a secretarial job for a long time and it is a really really sore thing to suffer.
What I do want to ask you though is how on earth do you manage to type when you are lying in bed lol.
When I saw the title I wondered what you were going to talk about so was glad to see it was not as bad as I thought lol.
Take it easy Rick over the weekend and try to do less typing or if you can't don't use your thumbs as much and let them rest. You don't want to land up getting carpal tunnel syndrome. xx
Hi Cheryl . I have the laptop on my chest or belly, supported by my left hand (including the thumb), and type with my right hand. For the video game, maneuvering uses my right thumb also. As I said above, mowing makes me use both thumbs. :)
No wonder you have sore thumbs if you are typing that way lol. Would you not be better sitting up in the bed and resting the laptop on your knees and you wouldn't need to hold on with one hand while typing with the other as you would be able to use them both.
I don't know what you are mowing as the only thing we mow here in Scotland is the grass. I am taking it that is what you are meaning too.
You just need to not do so much typing or playing and they will get better slowly. xxx