Move over ‘Text Neck’. There’s a new problem on the block, and it’s called ‘Numb Thumb’. If you’re a serial texter, chances are that you might be experiencing pain and/or numbness in thumb.
And before you brush it off as a teen problem, you’ll be surprised to know that this problem is not limited to teens alone but also affects adults, especially professionals who are glued to their phones all the time.
Case in Point
A 24-year-old female recently purchased the latest fancy smartphone as a gift from her parents. She started feeling pain in her thumb, specifically her right thumb, over four to six months.
Using her phone for more than two hours a day, she suffered from pain. Ignoring it, she was sure that it would go away on its own. However, the pain disappeared for a week.
Later, she noticed the pain again but with increased severity and experienced numbness in thumb as well. It was then that she sought medical help, and medication was given accordingly, recalls Dr Nilesh Makwana, director and consulting physiotherapist, Muscle N Mind Physiotherapy Center.
What is a Numb Thumb?
“‘Numb Thumb’ is a cause of repetitive stress injury to the thumb or even fingers. Due to repeated stress over the tendons and joints, the thumb becomes temporarily numb. That’s because the thumb is more involved most of the time for texting or playing games,” explains Dr. Makwana.
Dr. Shirish Hastak, consultant neurologist at Wockhardt Hospital, says, “This condition is called De Quervain tendinopathy. The patient has pain and mild numbness at the base of the thumb and the distal part of the wrist.
Movement of the thumb will increase this pain. Texting with the smartphone will definitely produce pain and may be one of the mechanisms of more frequent occurrence of this problem.”
Numbness in Hands: What Your Hands Are Trying to Tell You
Let’s be honest. This text you are reading right now is on your cell phone, and your thumb is doing all the clicking. If that thumb seems a little odd recently, feeling tingly, sore, or even numb, you came to the right place.
That numbness in thumb you keep shaking off is worth paying attention to. Let us find out what’s causing it and how you can manage it.
Signs to Watch For
Your body is good at warning you when something’s wrong. Below is a list of symptoms that suggest it is time to take care of your thumb:
- Numbness or tingling sensations in your thumb and fingers.
- Weakness when you grab something, like your mug suddenly feeling too heavy
- A clicking or catching feeling when you move your thumb
- Stiffness in the morning that takes a while to ease
- Trouble holding things or dropping stuff more than usual
- Numbness waking you up from sleep, which is a classic symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome
Do not worry if you have some of them. Just keep reading further. As stated by Cleveland Clinic, these symptoms start off slowly and come and go, so many people don’t pay attention to them.
Who Is Most At Risk?
Numbness in hands affects not only older people and office workers anymore. Our thumbs are working harder than ever. You might be more at risk if you’re:
- A gamer who spends hours on a controller or phone
- Someone working from home, typing and scrolling all day
- A social media manager or creator whose job lives on a screen
- A delivery or gig worker tapping apps between stops
- A new parent (holding a baby puts your thumb in awkward spots, as shown in this study on De Quervain’s tenosynovitis)
- Living with arthritis, diabetes, hypothyroidism, or pregnancy
And here’s something interesting. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, women get carpal tunnel syndrome three times more often than men. It comes down to women having a smaller wrist area.
So if you’ve been nodding along, know that you’re in good company.
Frequent Use of Phones is a Common Contributor
Many patients suffer from ‘numb thumb’. Almost one or two out of 10 cases with thumb issues have a repetitive stress reaction in tendons or joints.
A common reason is a newly purchased smartphone, usually among the 18 to 28 age group and the female population. For gender specificity, a detailed work needs to be carried out for the actual ratio,” adds Dr. Makwana.
Dr. Hastak has seen a few patients with this problem, the most recent one being a 35-year-old lady who got this problem after delivery. Post-pregnancy, this problem may be more common due to the thumb position used to hold a child, which may precipitate this problem. This disorder is mainly related to frequent thumb extension and abduction movements.
These movements frequently occur while texting on a smartphone and while holding a baby.
Is it a Neurological Issue?
“‘Numb Thumb’ is more like a repetitive stress injury in the tendons and joints of the thumb; it can lead to degenerative changes in joints and tendons and can cause numbness in thumb.
I would not say it is neurological, as I have not seen that severe a case as of now. But degenerative changes can also affect nerves and can lead to neurological signs,” says Dr. Makwana.
On the other hand, Dr. Hastak says this is not a neurological (nerves) or arthritis (joints) problem, but an overuse problem of the thumb muscles.
Treatment For Numb Thumb
The best treatment is to give yourself a period of rest once you experience the pain while texting. Try applying ice and resting for a day. Stretch your forearm and your fingers. In case of persistent and severe pain, visit an orthopedist or physiotherapist, Dr. Makwana says.
How to Hold Your Phone the Correct Way
Most of us hold our cell phones like we’re competing in one-thumb typing games. However, with a few small modifications, you’re good to go:
- Type using both hands rather than extending a thumb across the entire screen
- Let the phone lie on a surface like a table or a stand, and don’t clutch it firmly
- Go for voice typing because that helps save the effort of your thumbs and is usually faster
- Let your wrist stay straight and relaxed as you are scrolling, not bending upwards or downwards
- Make sure you take a 15 to 20 minute break to relieve the tension in your hands
See, it’s like good posture, but for your thumbs. According to Healthline’s guide to texting thumb pain, such strain develops gradually; hence it is much easier to prevent than cure.
Simple Habits to Prevent It
A few smart habits go a long way:
- Set the limit on how much you can use your screen per day and have the phone remind you of it
- Try this simple tip to relax your hands: every 20 minutes of usage, take a 20-second break to stretch your thumb and wrist.
- Switch between fingers instead of putting all the work on your thumb
- Use a stylus for long typing or gaming sessions
And don’t overlook your posture. After all, slouching doesn’t seem to pose any risk. But it can actually pull on the nerves that travel down your arm.
Easy Exercises and Stretches
These are a few exercises you can perform every day to keep your thumbs healthy. Just take things slow. Afterward, pull your thumb backward using your other hand
- Thumb stretching: Gently stretch out your thumb with the other hand and keep it that way for about 15 to 20 seconds.
- Prayer stretch: Bring your palms together as if you are praying and slowly bend them down to feel some stretch in the wrist. This will only take you 15 seconds.
- Finger curling: Begin with straight fingers. Curl them into a fist slowly, then open back up. Do the exercise five to ten times.
- Thumb touches: Touch your thumb against each fingertip. It will seem as if you were preparing yourself to play the piano.
- Wrist lifts: Grab something light. A water bottle works great. Hold it with your palm up and lift your wrist up and down, around 10 times.
And here’s the thing. The Cleveland Clinic actually recommends stretches and nerve exercises for mild symptoms.
When to See a Doctor
Taking care of yourself at home works just great. But sometimes, you need an expert to take a look. See a doctor if
- Numbness that won’t go away or keeps you up at night
- Weakness that affects your grip or daily tasks
- Pain moving up your arm toward your elbow or shoulder
- Shrinking muscle at the base of your thumb (yes, this can happen)
- Symptoms that have been persisting beyond a few weeks despite adequate rest
If you need a specialist for physiotherapy to relieve the strain on your nerves before it turns into a serious condition, contact the physiotherapy/orthopedic team at Wockhardt Hospital.
How Doctors Diagnose and Treat It
Simple hand tests like Finkelstein’s test (for De Quervain’s) or the Tinel’s and Phalen’s tests for carpal tunnel.
- Nerve tests to check how well your signals are moving
- Splints or thumb braces, often worn at night, to rest the joint
- Anti-inflammatory medicine to bring down swelling
- Steroid injections for tougher cases
- Surgery, in rare cases, to take pressure off the nerve
Research on PubMed shows most people get better with simple, non-surgical care when they catch it early. Which brings us right back to why that little numbness in thumb is worth noticing in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can texting do any harm to my hands?
Yes, excessive texting can cause injury to hand joints and muscles leading to pain, numbness, or stiffness of the hand known as ‘texting thumb.’ You can avoid developing this issue by texting with both hands and speaking voice commands.
2. What steps should I take to treat thumb numbness fast?
Rest your hand, put ice on it to decrease inflammation, and stretch your thumb and wrist. Do not perform actions that can lead to thumb numbness for at least a few days.
3. Is it necessary to wear a thumb splint?
Braces or splints can assist you in resting your joint, especially during the night time. It is one of the most common ways to manage mild thumb numbness. You need to consult your doctor before doing this
4. Does the numbness vanish naturally?
If it is not too severe, numbness can go away on its own after sufficient rest, exercise, and correct use of the phone. But if it does not vanish within two weeks and gets worse, visit your doctor.
5. What should I understand if I get thumb numbness?
Not very important. Numbness can show that you spend too much time working with your hands. Numbness can be a sign of other diseases such as diabetes, thyroid conditions, or nerve problems. Consult your doctor.
6. Can I use my smartphone if my thumb is sore?
Yes, but do not forget to avoid using your thumb too often. If your thumb is sore, then you can use the voice-to-text feature, which will type everything for you. In addition, try not to carry your smartphone wherever you go; use a stand for your smartphone instead.
