Overuse Injury - Gamer's Thumb

[harriettheguy]

I get a shooting pain at the base of my left thumb (closer to the crotch on the backhand side) whenever do a pushing motion (full dash right from a bent thumb). Some google research says I have Gamer's Thumb, an overuse injury. I wanted to ask if any of you guys have gotten this pain. If so, how long did it take for it to spontaneously disappear?? Or has it persisted? Did you use a thumb splint?I'm really worried this injury will put me out of commission.


Extra info: This injury was caused from playing 4 hours the night before a tournament, playing about 5 hours during the tournament, then playing 9 hours at an after party, the next morning I played another 2 hours (OF LUIGI). First time I played so much, so my thumb was like "GG, brah"

It has been about 12 days since I first felt the pain.

May this be a lesson to everyone else to protect yourselves through moderation!!

 

[The_Doug]

Hmm... sounds like RSI.

Repetitive Strain Injury is what I got diagnosed with in 2006. I started getting shooting pains at the base of my fingers at first but just sucked it up. Then several days later my hand at the base of those fingers all of a sudden went numb and felt weird. Then I tried to use a keyboard/mouse and got a massive icy cold shooting pain up from my wrist to my fingers that stopped me dead in my tracks, and made me think WTF was that?! After the numbness continued through the night to the next morning I took a day off work and saw a doctor who ended up referring me to both a physical therapist and a hand specialist.

A few things I have tried over the years:

1) Trackball mouse and ergonomic keyboard
2) Wrist straps (usually wear these a month out of every year)
3) Soft tissue therapy
4) Ultra sound treatment
*5) Surgery. (I have not actually tried this yet but have researched it a ton)

Never actually injured my thumbs, but from what you've described my index and middle fingers on both hands have similar problems, and I try to alternate between using them on a mouse, or take extra breaks every hour.

Unfortunately it's tough to endure those awesome 12+ hour smash 'till dawn sessions ;-)

 

[MTKO]

Sometimes I get pains in my wrists, cramping, and some tingling in my fingers after practicing a lot of tech skill for hours or playing non stop against people for many hours. I also play guitar and played a bit of piano which causes the same thing to happen to me when I play for too long.

 

[Signia]

http://forums.sirlin.net/showthread.php?t=4990&highlight=hand+health

A better thread than this will ever be.

 

[LLDL]

I get it repeatedly in my left thumb all the time Harriet. I'm sure it's nothing long term. It happened at Apex (T.Webb came up to me and sadi it happened to him as well), before rom 3, before rom 2...you get the picture. It heals in about a week or 2 depending on the severity and then never happens again until right before an important tourney... Just try to play in short intervals instead of going at it all day unless you're actually at the tournament.

 

[harriettheguy]

Spoiler

Hmm... sounds like RSI.

Repetitive Strain Injury is what I got diagnosed with in 2006. I started getting shooting pains at the base of my fingers at first but just sucked it up. Then several days later my hand at the base of those fingers all of a sudden went numb and felt weird. Then I tried to use a keyboard/mouse and got a massive icy cold shooting pain up from my wrist to my fingers that stopped me dead in my tracks, and made me think WTF was that?! After the numbness continued through the night to the next morning I took a day off work and saw a doctor who ended up referring me to both a physical therapist and a hand specialist.

A few things I have tried over the years:

1) Trackball mouse and ergonomic keyboard
2) Wrist straps (usually wear these a month out of every year)
3) Soft tissue therapy
4) Ultra sound treatment
*5) Surgery. (I have not actually tried this yet but have researched it a ton)

Never actually injured my thumbs, but from what you've described my index and middle fingers on both hands have similar problems, and I try to alternate between using them on a mouse, or take extra breaks every hour.

Unfortunately it's tough to endure those awesome 12+ hour smash 'till dawn sessions ;-)

So the pain still persists??

Sometimes I get pains in my wrists, cramping, and some tingling in my fingers.

Hm, you are compensating for the workload with different parts of the hand compared to me. Hope it turns out for the better (better than my case at least).

http://forums.sirlin.net/showthread.php?t=4990&highlight=hand+health

A better thread than this will ever be.

Interesting to see RSI being addressed in different communities.

Spoiler

I get it repeatedly in my left thumb all the time Harriet. It's nothing to worry about. It happened at Apex (T.Webb came up to me and sadi it happened to him as well), before rom 3, before rom 2...you get the picture. It heals in about a week or 2 depending on the severity and then never happens again until right before an important tourney...

Obviously, the pain recurs when I put any kind of twist on the thumb, and I'm afraid each jolt of pain is resetting the healing that's been done.

Is this a big issue amongst Starcraft players? I know they clock in!! I've also heard they retire around the mid-twenties because of slower reaction and other life goals, but I'm wondering if RSI is a common factor for retirement?

 

[Rubyiris]

I'm a ****ing boss. I play 12~24+ hour sessions with absolutely no finger/wrist fatigue/pain and I've been doing this since I was a little kid, now 21. Don't have any calluses either.

I've been playing Street Fighter 2/Tekken Tag/Soul Caliber 2/SSB64/SSBM/O2Jam/Beatmania/SMO/GunZ/Melty Blood/Guilty Gear/Tekken 5 hardcore since I was in 6th grade, so I've never understood how people get carpel tunnel or RSI. I've even got naturally weak wrists (had this before I became a gamer), being incapable of writing or doing other strenuous activities for long periods of time, yet gaming has never bothered me outside of cross pads eating away at my skin.

Yall are ****ies :3

 

[Prince_Abu]

smash is dangerous guys, i usually have an on-site medical specialist in case things get too bad.

 

[Divinokage]

I'm a ****ing boss. I play 12~24+ hour sessions with absolutely no finger/wrist fatigue/pain and I've been doing this since I was a little kid, now 21. Don't have any calluses either.

I've been playing Street Fighter 2/Tekken Tag/Soul Caliber 2/SSB64/SSBM/O2Jam/Beatmania/SMO/GunZ/Melty Blood/Guilty Gear/Tekken 5 hardcore since I was in 6th grade, so I've never understood how people get carpel tunnel or RSI. I've even got naturally weak wrists (had this before I became a gamer), being incapable of writing or doing other strenuous activities for long periods of time, yet gaming has never bothered me outside of cross pads eating away at my skin.

Yall are ****ies :3

Congratulations, your tolerance level is greater than some other people. Do you want a ****ing cookie? Or should I say, ya I'm the warrior and I don't get these kinds of injuries either!

 

[Lovage]

ya my hands hurt nowadays if i play fox for too long straight


edit: this doesn't have much to do with your thread tho LOL

 

[The_Doug]

So the pain still persists??

Yea man I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it definitely does persist. The good news is you learn over time how to deal with it better.

See a doctor if it feels serious because in hindsight I regret not seeing one earlier. I also recommend being very careful if you get that overly numb and/or crippling feeling in your thumb because that is the next step. As a Data Analyst back then I came close to losing my job; luckily I was about to work out a deal with my boss to use a keyboard less while I had my tissue and ultra sound therapy done over the course of 6-8 weeks.

I was only 24 when the pain started getting worse yet I still chose to ignore it for another year. Bear in mind I'm one of the older gamers in this community (possibly the eldest now??) and am just trying to pass down some words of wisdom.

 

[azianraven]

Extra info: This injury was caused from playing 4 hours the night before a tournament, playing about 5 hours during the tournament, then playing 9 hours at an after party, the next morning I played another 2 hours (OF LUIGI). First time I played so much, so my thumb was like "GG, brah"

True Story.

Real talk though, you're going to be fine probably. The world will still see your fox.

 

[Rubyiris]

Congratulations, your tolerance level is greater than some other people. Do you want a ****ing cookie? Or should I say, ya I'm the warrior and I don't get these kinds of injuries either!

A cookie would be cool.

 

[Divinokage]

A cookie would be cool.

Cookies are reserved for true warriors.

 

[Rubyiris]

Which qualifies me for a cookie, then.

 

[Orko]

You don't have a cookie, so you mustn't be a warrior.
Basic logic, son.

 

[Hydro_Smasher]

related to smash health
____________________________________________

I pop my joints in my hands alot, and I love smash, anyone here deal with pain from popping these joints?
artharitus? >_>

plz let me know so I know how desperately I need to stop

 

[Bigfish]

I'm a ****ing boss. I play 12~24+ hour sessions with absolutely no finger/wrist fatigue/pain and I've been doing this since I was a little kid, now 21. Don't have any calluses either.

I've been playing Street Fighter 2/Tekken Tag/Soul Caliber 2/SSB64/SSBM/O2Jam/Beatmania/SMO/GunZ/Melty Blood/Guilty Gear/Tekken 5 hardcore since I was in 6th grade, so I've never understood how people get carpel tunnel or RSI. I've even got naturally weak wrists (had this before I became a gamer), being incapable of writing or doing other strenuous activities for long periods of time, yet gaming has never bothered me outside of cross pads eating away at my skin.

Yall are ****ies :3

this guy is a boss!!!

 

[Zimbagwe]

I usually play at least 3-4 hours per smash session and at the most is about 10-12 hours. And i play 3-5 days a week. As a result of this i have bruised my left thumb on occasion from the continuous use of it to the point where i can't play because of it.

I have now developed a super callous on my thumb in which i feel almost nothing now lol.

 

[Mooo]

i play puff

 

[harriettheguy]

My parents used ancient chinese arts to massage this pressure point in the crotch of my thumb, almost grinding against my thumbs bone. I do not feel the pain anymore, but need to play some smash to see.

 

[Rubyiris]

You don't have a cookie, so you mustn't be a warrior.
Basic logic, son.

Except I have plenty of cookies. :|

 

[Divinokage]

Except I have plenty of cookies. :|

You don't have the warrior cookie though.

 

[Windrose]

You don't have the warrior cookie though.

 

[GK_]

Like, if my thumbs or fingers hurt from playing Smash, I usually like let like a cute litte kitten or something else equally cute just kinda lick it a little and then it goes away~ It's like unicorn magic! But like, with kittens! <3 I heal using the power of Nyan! :3 You should totally like try it! n_____n~