Growing number of millennials need surgery for ‘selfie wrist’ due to phone use after Kim Kardashian suffered condition
POSING up a storm for countless selfies like Kim Kardashian is crippling young adults, a plastic surgeon warns.
Kardashian, who famously took a record 6,000 selfies during a four-day holiday in Mexico, had to hire a “selfie assistant” to give her damaged wrists a rest.
Harley Street consultant, Dr Raj Ragoowansi, has noticed a rise in the number of millennials suffering from a type of carpal tunnel syndrome – which affects hands and fingers.
“In one 26-year-old I saw a month ago, the numbness was so severe that she couldn’t grip.
“It’s not just selfies, but texting too, about how you hold the phone and type.
“We’re also seeing ‘iPhone thumb’, whereby if you keep on using your thumb, you will get thumb-based pain, due to joint or tendon inflammation,” he said.
The surgeon told The Sunday Times that the reason more young adults are being injured is due to the way they repeatedly flex their wrists inwards to snap the perfect image of themselves.
He said this awkward movement was the “unfavourable position” for the wrist – especially when done repeatedly.
Continually taking selfies can “compromise” of the nerve in the carpal tunnel, resulting in pain and numbness, or pins and needles in the fingers, arms or arm, Dr Ragoowansi explained.
If painkillers fail to resolve the issue, steroid injections or even surgery, where the carpal tunnel is cut to ease pressure and swelling of the nerve, might be needed, he warned.
Scarlett McNally, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, told the Times that young people could avoid the painful condition by “avoiding prolonged postures”, having a healthy diet, stretching and being active.
Last year Kim Kardashian was in so much pain that she recruited a selfie assistant after her doctor instructed her to give her wrists a rest.
The reality TV star and model famously released a book of selfies called Selfish.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome and what are the symptoms?
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition which affects the hands and fingers.
It stems from pressure on the median nerve in your wrist.
This then causes numbness, tingling and sometimes pain in the hands and fingers.
CTS affects women more than men but people of any age can develop it, although it is more common in middle-aged and elderly people.
The NHS outlines the symptoms as;
- An ache or pain in your fingers, hand or arm
- Numb hands
- Tingling or pins and needles
- A weak thumb or difficulty gripping
These symptoms – which also include pain – can come and go, and are usually worse at night.
People with CTS usually report symptoms being more pronounced in the thumb, index and middle finger, although the whole hand can be affected.
An ache can sometimes extend up the arm and into the shoulder.
Sometimes pregnancy can lead to the onset of CTS, and often the symptoms will clear up by themselves in a few months.
CTS can be brought on by a repetitive movement or action, which could be caused by work, depending on what you do for a living.
Movements such as playing an instrument, using vibrating tools, or repeating a motion which causes you to bend your wrist or grip your hand can all cause CTS.
And while you may not notice symptoms during the day, simple activities such as writing, typing, housework or DIY can all bring on CTS.