Numbness in hands: Repetitive Stress Injuries in teenagers

Dear Ask The Doctor: Hi i text a lot and recently i have been having numbness in my hands and fingers. i dont want to stop texting forever but what should i do?

Dear Amber: Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs)  happen when too much stress is placed on a part of the body, resulting in inflammation (pain and swelling), muscle strain, or tissue damage. This stress generally occurs from repeating the same movements over and over again. Most likely you are developing a Carpal tunnel syndrome as a consequence of overusing your hands and fingers. In carpal tunnel syndrome, swelling occurs inside a narrow "tunnel" formed by bone and ligament in the wrist. This tunnel surrounds nerves that conduct sensory and motor impulses to and from the hand, causing pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by repeated motion that can happen during activities like typing , texting  or playing video games. RSIs are common work-related injuries, often affecting people who spend a lot of time using computer keyboards, playing video games, or may be in your case texting with the phone. While most common in adults, RSIs are becoming more prevalent in teens because they spend more time than ever using computers, video games and phones. Playing sports like tennis that involve repetitive motions can also lead to RSIs. You may hear sports-related RSIs referred to as overuse injuries. Teens who spend a lot of time playing musical instruments or video games are also at risk for RSIs. In general, RSIs include more than 100 different kinds of injuries and illnesses resulting from repetitive wear and tear on the body. These injuries vary from person to person in type and severity. In teens, overuse injuries most often occur at growth plates (areas at the ends of bones where bone cells multiply rapidly, making bones longer as someone grows). Areas most affected by RSIs are the hands, elbows, shoulders, knees, and heels. Symptoms of RSIs include: tingling, numbness, or pain in the affected area, the hands in your case,  stiffness or soreness in the neck or back feelings of weakness or fatigue in the hands or arms popping or clicking sensation If you notice any of these warning signs of RSIs, make an appointment to see a doctor. Even if your symptoms seem to come and go, don't ignore them or they may lead to more serious problems. Without treatment, RSIs can become more severe and prevent you from doing simple everyday tasks and participating in sports, music, and other favorite activities. The sooner an RSI is diagnosed, the sooner your body can heal, so be sure to see your doctor if you have symptoms. The doctor will try to assess how the injury occurred and what motions cause pain. Your doctor may perform X-rays, blood tests, or other tests to make sure there are no other health problems. In addition to doing a physical examination, the doctor may ask you about any concerns and symptoms you have, your past health, your family's health, any medications you're taking, any allergies you may have, and other issues. If you are diagnosed with an RSI, resting the affected area is the key to getting better. Your doctor may recommend that you take anti-inflammatory medication (such as “motrin”, “aleve”) for a period of time. Ice packs are sometimes recommended to reduce pain and swelling. After the swelling and pain have gone away, your doctor may suggest a rehabilitation program with a physical therapist to exercise your muscles and prevent loss of joint movement.