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Blackberry Thumb. Is This Leading to the Next Generation of Hand Conditions?
By Julie Donnelly, LMT
Patient: "Doctor, it hurts when I make this movement. What should I do?"
Doctor: "Simple...don't make that movement!"
This little joke may make us laugh, unless it's you being told you can't do the movements necessary for work or play! This is actually the answer that was given to WebMD by the medical experts they quoted on the website. A good idea, but it isn't always practical or even possible.
As a person uses their thumb to type out messages on their cell phone, or to play the electronic games that are so common, the movement of the thumb stresses the muscle that forms the thick pad that lies between the base of your thumb and your wrist. The pain at your thumb joint may be diagnosed as tendonitis, an inflammation where the thumb muscle tendon merges into the bone. While there is an inflammation of the tendon, this diagnosis doesn't explain why there is an inflammation, it only states that there is an inflammation. You are no closer to an answer than you were before.
Another problem that can occur is called "trigger finger." Trigger finger is a condition where a finger either won't bend at all; or if it is bent, it won't straighten. As the muscles that move your thumb in toward your palm become shortened due to the repetitive use, they are unable to return to their normal length. The thumb is now held in the bent position, which may be called trigger finger, or in come cases it may even be misdiagnosed as arthritis. Also, the tightening of this muscle will frequently cause the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, and you may find yourself looking at the possibility of facing surgery. This doesn't need to happen and it's quite easy to reverse, or prevent, the problem in the first place.
You can see a good graphic of this muscle by going to www.CarpalTunnelTreatment.org and then to the section titled "Anatomy Lessons." Take a look at the muscle called opponens pollicis.
The standard medical treatment for wrist or thumb tendonitis is to first recommend a thumb brace, but this can just move the repetitive strain to a different muscle. Cortisone injections are used to focus this strong drug directly into the site of the inflammation. A cortisone shot treats the symptom, not the cause, of the inflammation. The cause is the muscles which are being held in the contracted position, and therefore causing the tendon to strain at the insertion point at the bone. In order to release the tension on the bone, thus eliminating the cause of the inflammation, the muscle must be relaxed.
Fortunately for the users of Blackberry, Sidekick, Treo, and all of the electronic games on the market, the treatment is easy to do and is highly effective. Pressure needs to be placed directly on the shortened fibers of the muscle by pressing with the fingers of your opposite hand, or by using your opposite elbow as the point of pressure. After 60 seconds the muscle needs to be stretched by holding the pressure on the muscle and bringing your thumb out as far as you can away from your palm. Doing this simple movement releases the tension in the muscles and the strain is eliminated from the thumb joint.
© 2008
Julie Donnelly is a licensed massage therapist specializing in the treatment of chronic pain and sports injuries. She has co–authored several self–treatment books, including "The Pain–Free Triathlete" and "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome–What You Don′t Know CAN Hurt You." She teaches Julstro self–treatment workshops nationwide and is a frequent presenter at Conventions and Seminars. Julie may be contacted through her website: www.julstro.com.
