In an article by eHealth, they covered a story about WhatsAppitis – but what exactly is this bizarre-sounding ailment?
Plenty of us (fondly?) remember a time before smartphones, mobile phones, or even cordless phones, where someone would have to physically be located near a rooted telephone to make or receive calls.
They had a traditional keypad of numbers from zero to nine, and nobody had a clue what the ‘hash’ key did. Going back further still they didn’t even have buttons – you had to ‘dial’ your number on a rotary wheel and wait for it to reset between each number.
Today though, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone under thirty-five without a phone glued to their palm, whether it be in the pub, a queue at the supermarket or even sat alongside loved ones on the sofa doing the exact same thing.
According to estimates:
- More than three hours a day are spent looking at a smartphone screen per user
- Millennials often look at their phone screens in excess of one-hundred times per day
- Overuse of such devices is beginning to manifest itself by way of various medical conditions
Use of anything requiring physical movement in a repetitive fashion over time can result in flare-ups of various maladies, affecting the joints, muscles or tendons in question.
What is ‘WhatsAppitis’?
First described as far back as 2014 in a medical journal called The Lancet, a doctor in her thirties lamented the pain she was experiencing in the joints of her wrists and thumbs. It later transpired that she had been using her phone over a period of six hours to send messages, and had thus developed inflammation of the tendos of the thumb as a result.
Prolonged, repetitive movements were the culprits and can result in inflammation and other injuries. In this doctor’s case, the pain broke out in her thumb, also causing difficulty in moving it.
How do you treat WhatsAppitis?
As the old saying goes, “Prevention is better than cure”. Try and cut down the use of your mobile phone and similar devices as much as possible at any given time, especially if you are experiencing pain and other symptoms from overuse.
If you believe you’re using your phone for a realistic amount of time, monitor yourself with a tracking app from the Google Play Store or Apple Appstore to see exactly how long you’re spending on your phone. You might be surprised to learn the true numbers.
Where use is necessary, keep these simple tips in mind when handling your smartphone:
- Keep your wrists straight
- Avoid use for longer than fifteen or twenty minutes
- Avoid long sessions browsing the internet or messaging friends
Other factors can contribute to WhatsAppitis, such as handling heavier or larger devices. Voice messaging functionality may be beneficial if you want to save your joints, as would a good detox from using the thing altogether. Where strain has occurred, it may be necessary to seek medical help from your GP to prescribe suitable painkillers, or even a brace for your hand/wrist.
Other medical conditions associated with excessive smartphone use
- DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis – Also known as ‘BlackBerry Thumb’, ‘Gamers’ Thumb’ or ‘Texting Thumb’ – is another form of inflammation of tendons, specifically in the thumb, and can be brought about through excessive use of handheld devices.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Often signalled by pain, tingling, burning or numbness on or around the thumb, index and middle fingers, often stretching as far as half of the ring finger.
- Arthritis – Usually triggered around the joints at the base of the thumb.
What if I believe my job has caused my condition?
You may not have developed any of the above conditions directly as the result of WhatsApp or smartphone overuse, but it is possible that a repetitive task (such as typing, sawing or sweeping to name just a few) at work may have led to such conditions as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Arthritis through years of doing the same role.
Your employer has a duty to protect staff from being negatively affected by their work, and necessary training, equipment or apparel may be necessary to achieve this. If you believe your workplace has failed to protect you properly and long-term damage or sickness has had a negative effect, you may be eligible to make a claim for compensation.
Why choose Oakwood Solicitors Ltd to make my claim?
We have a very experienced and dedicated team of people in the Industrial Disease department. They are able to identify whether a claim is likely to be viable at an early stage and give advice accordingly.
The team works with an extensive network of vascular surgeons, engineers, and hand surgeons. They have dealt with a number of claims in all areas of Industrial Disease and achieved some excellent results.
How would my case be funded?
Our cases are brought on a no-win, no-fee basis. If we accept your claim – as long as terms of the agreement are complied with by yourself, namely that you do not mislead and you co-operate, there will be no charge to you in the event the case fails. If the case succeeds, there will be a deduction to be made from the damages.
WHAT TO DO NEXT
For any advice about making an Industrial Disease claim, get in touch today for a free initial consultation. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9787 to find out how we can help you.
Article by Stuart Jones
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