The
BlackBerry thumb is what orthopedists refer to the increasing amount of
carpal tunnel syndrome and
tendinitis caused by the overuse of mobile devices (especially those with tiny keyboards). First the area between your thumb and wrist begin to throb, and in more severe cases you are forced by chronic pain to put your device down.
The Washington Post
writes:
Workplace injuries in white-collar jobs have grown with the widespread use of mobile communications technology. It used to be that worker's compensation was reserved mostly for blue-collar workers who smashed fingers in heavy machinery or fell off ladders. Factory workers complained for years of what were then mysterious ailments -- carpal tunnel, tendinitis and "trigger finger." Today, those injuries have spread across cubicle-land.
To avoid from this kind of injury, you should try to hold your device properly (keep your wrists in a more upright position), take more breaks, and write fewer and shorter notes and messages.