NINTENDONITIS?

NINTENDONITIS?:

Oh, the injustice of it all! Imagine having to stop playing your Nintendo Playstation for a whole week! Just because your arm hurts too much. Where did this kid get a Nintendo Playstation anyway?

"An eleven year old boy presented to the Accident & Emergency department with a seven-day history of pain in his left (dominant) forearm and elbow. There was no history of trauma. The pain was absent at rest but became intense on using his left hand or arm. His mother had been contacted by his schoolteacher as he was experiencing pain and difficulty in writing on returning to school after the Christmas holidays. The child was otherwise entirely well and had no past history of joint problems. Clinical examination revealed no swelling, bruising or erythema of the left arm or hand. There was no bony or soft tissue tenderness and he had a full, pain free passive range of movements of all the joints.

On closer questioning it transpired that he had been given a 'Nintendo Playstation' as a Christmas present and had been manipulating the control panel for extensive periods over the ensuing days. He admitted that the pain was most severe after using his Playstation and was reproduced to a lesser extent by writing. A diagnosis of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) was made and he (reluctantly) agreed to stop using his Playstation for one week."