Is your Smartphone or Computer causing you injury?

Upper extremity overuse syndromes are making a comeback with modern day technology. For example, one used to suffer from “DeQuervain’s Tendonitis” with gripping activities during manual labor or when first-time mothers would repeatedly carry their newborn. Pain and swelling of the tendons at the bottom of the thumb would occur as the wrist would be overused and become inflamed. Now, we see DeQuervain’s in many people as an overuse syndrome from using smartphones and texting - same tendons, same inflammation, different activity that caused it. Similarly, too much texting can aggravate any pre-existing arthritis at the base of the thumb (i.e., “basal joint arthritis”), also. Surprisingly, we are not seeing an increased incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome related to smartphones and texting, probably because the main nerve is not being compressed with this type of finger motion.

However, other common computer use habits are bringing back old conditions. Touch screens can cause tendonitis at the tip of the finger if striking the screen too hard, or can also cause finger sprains (i.e., “Mallet Finger”) at the fingertip. Further, frequent use of the computer mouse has resulted in a condition recently coined “Mouse Elbow,” which is an overuse tendonitis at the outer part of the elbow that was previously referred to as “Tennis Elbow.” The muscles of the wrist and forearm that help you grab, click, and maneuver the mouse attach to the lateral elbow and can frequently become inflamed with overuse. We also use these muscles for driving, eating, reaching, etc. so it is difficult to give them the proper rest they need.

Fortunately, all of these “modern day technology” conditions can usually be treated by decreasing the amount of time spent on the activity that caused them, using ice and oral or topical anti-inflammatory medication, sometimes a brace helps in properly positioning your hand or wrist to cause the least amount of irritation, or possibly a cortisone injection. Surgery may be recommended for severe cases that do not go away.

See your local orthopedic surgeon if you believe you need treatment for any of these conditions.