In a bizarre incident, a 29-year-old man in the US ruptured a tendon in his thumb after playing ‘Candy Crush’ on his smartphone non-stop for over a month.
According to doctors, this case could be an example of how video games might act as ‘digital painkillers.’
We need to be aware that certain video games can act like digital painkillers. This case shows that, in a sense, video games may numb people’s pain and contribute to video game addiction. We have to be aware of the potential abuse of such use.
— Dr Andrew Doan, Head of Addictions Research, Naval Medical Center, San Diego
The man had gone to the doctor because of pain in his left thumb. He told doctors that he had trouble moving the thumb.
On further inquiry, it was revealed that he had played ‘Candy Crush Saga’ on his smartphone for the whole day - for six weeks.
Reportedly, he played the game with his left hand, while he used his right hand for other things. “Playing was a kind of secondary thing, but it was constantly on,” the man had said.
Tendon injuries are usually quite painful. But the man did not notice any pain while playing.
This maybe because, when people play video games, they feel pleasure and excitement at the same time.
This can release natural painkillers in the body. Similar to when a person feels a ‘runner’s high.’
The man would need a surgery to repair his tendon and a report on his case was published in the medical journal ‘Live Science.’
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