Dan the Beginner
Premium Member
Hi! I have been away for a few months due to this problem with my left thumb. I hope this is not alarmist but it seems I got this injury from cubing. OK, I got this problem because I only started cubing at the age of 75, last year, and I was quite keen and have continued to ignore a soreness that developed, as I continue to do more and more solves. It started as a trigger thumb, and a minor soreness in both the joints of the thumb.
After 6 months, I paused cubing, hoping for a heal, which takes very long for older people. After 2 or 3 weeks, I would come back and the soreness and swelling would reappear. The doctor told me to rest and use an anti-inflammation gel, each time I saw him. Then last time, just to be sure I stopped cubing for 2 and 1/2 months and although the thumb appeared to be normal, the problem again appeared as soon as I do solving again. The triggering has stopped now and the main problem is a swelling and sore second joint (the base of the thumb). It seems a much longer rest may be required, 6 months or more? Who knows.
It is nothing too serious, but annoying as I would like to continue to cube, and was just at the point of breaking the 1-minute average when it happened.
I hope to get advice from anyone else who experienced a similar problem and I also hope it can be a warning to those who start at either very young or very old age, to watch out. The odd thing is that the other fingers that do all the work turning the cube are fine. Perhaps the constant pressure the thumb has to put and stablise the cube is the reason. I am right handed.
After 6 months, I paused cubing, hoping for a heal, which takes very long for older people. After 2 or 3 weeks, I would come back and the soreness and swelling would reappear. The doctor told me to rest and use an anti-inflammation gel, each time I saw him. Then last time, just to be sure I stopped cubing for 2 and 1/2 months and although the thumb appeared to be normal, the problem again appeared as soon as I do solving again. The triggering has stopped now and the main problem is a swelling and sore second joint (the base of the thumb). It seems a much longer rest may be required, 6 months or more? Who knows.
It is nothing too serious, but annoying as I would like to continue to cube, and was just at the point of breaking the 1-minute average when it happened.I hope to get advice from anyone else who experienced a similar problem and I also hope it can be a warning to those who start at either very young or very old age, to watch out. The odd thing is that the other fingers that do all the work turning the cube are fine. Perhaps the constant pressure the thumb has to put and stablise the cube is the reason. I am right handed.
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