Nintenditis - AKA sore d-pad thumb. any tips for relief?

[indstr]

I've only been recently playing shmups seriously for about 1 month. I play anywhere from 1-3 hours per day, with a modified snes controller
( http://djiomusic.googlepages.com/snes-mod.jpg here for pic).. the past week or so, i have noticed that my left thumb has been feeling a little bit weak. sometimes i have a slight tingling sensation, and it feels sore if i move it too far in any direction. a few times it has even hurt, like a shooting pain down the middle of my thumb. i'm afraid if i keep playing, that it will only get worse.

i'm only 26 years old so i don't think it's arthritis or anything like that... but i do have bad knees, so i probably do have joint problems. and i'm likely to get carpal tunnel since i have had jobs where i type all day at work for the past 8 years.

so ... anybody have any recommendations? stretches/medicines/folk remedies/herbs/mystic chants? anything is welcomed.

i might have to get some kind of joystick based controller ... but i LOVE my d-pad so much (i'm a huge 2d platformer nut) i fear i will be largely sucky at shmups on a joystick

[MrQuan]

In the words of Chopper, "Harden the f*** up!"... no seriously.

Maybe you could tie some tiny dumbells to your thumb, and do some reps, slowly working to heavier weights?

[nem]

I play anywhere from 1-3 hours per day, with a modified snes controller
( http://djiomusic.googlepages.com/snes-mod.jpg here for pic).

Umm, what's up with the hole?

[Shatterhand]

yeah, that hole in the Dpad could be hurting you....

[indstr]

I play anywhere from 1-3 hours per day, with a modified snes controller
( http://djiomusic.googlepages.com/snes-mod.jpg here for pic).

Umm, what's up with the hole?

i used a dremel tool to make a large space around the d-pad, to ensure that no part of the chassis was in the way. that way there is nothing to interfere between my thumb and the d-pad. i used super glue to attach the d-pad to the rubber contacts, and to attach the rubber to the pcb. yes, it's ghetto... but the tactile feedback is divine!

[indstr]

yeah, that hole in the Dpad could be hurting you....

the hole doesn't hurt me. my thumb doesn't touch any plastic except for the d-pad itself. it just makes it looser

plus, my right thumb has been having similar experience, only not as bad. it was a lot worse after playing contra and super c hardcore for about a week, and all that hitting the shoot button as fast as i can business

[rolins]

i might have to get some kind of joystick based controller ... but i LOVE my d-pad so much (i'm a huge 2d platformer nut) i fear i will be largely sucky at shmups on a joystick

Using a joystick over gamepad would def remedy that thumb pain. You might suck at shmups for couple days but once your comfortable, hand fatigue won't be a problem.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

You are probably sliding your thumb across the pad. Try to keep your thumb where it is and angle your thumb joint.

[PROMETHEUS]

I think you should go and ask a hand specialist : even a regular doctor probably could not answer your question very well, let alone us @_@

[indstr]

You are probably sliding your thumb across the pad. Try to keep your thumb where it is and angle your thumb joint.

no actually, i do keep it where it is and it is the thumb joint that is bothering me the most (the joint in the miuddle, not the lower one)

[indstr]

actually today while i was in a meeting @ work, i had some shooting pains and i noticed it was in the lower joint mostly

[sven666]

just put your thumbs to a powersander for 10mins every day, after aweek youll never have to worry about nintenditis again.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

I think Dr. Don and Dr. Dan would even be better to consult.

I can only remember sore thumbs when I was about 7 or so.

[Frederik]

I can understand you don´t want to give up your SNES controller. I had one plugged into a converter for MAME, until I killed it with spilling beer over it. (I´ve killed a lot of devices with beer - a modem, a keyboard...)
Best Nintendo controller ever.

And yeah, consult a doctor, health should always be top priority.

[PFG 9000]

Am I the only one that sees "Nintendo tits" everytime I try to read this thread's title?

[Specineff]

It's just you.

(Sorry, couldn't help it.)

[henry dark]

I play anywhere from 1-3 hours per day

Could this be the root of the problem?

[Herr Schatten]

Am I the only one that sees "Nintendo tits" everytime I try to read this thread's title?

Mmmh... Nintendo tits.

This screams for something photoshopped.

[Rob]

Could this be the root of the problem?

I'd blame the busted SNES controller.

[Frederik]

i used a dremel tool to make a large space around the d-pad, to ensure that no part of the chassis was in the way. that way there is nothing to interfere between my thumb and the d-pad. i used super glue to attach the d-pad to the rubber contacts, and to attach the rubber to the pcb. yes, it's ghetto... but the tactile feedback is divine!

I believe that it might feel better, but isn´t the d-pad itself lying deeper in the chassis now? I can´t really imagine how it plays now, but since you interfered with the pads ergonomic design (yeah, like they cared about ergonomics in the early 90ies...) that might be the reason. Make sure your thumb isn´t in any weird angle when you lie it on the pad.

[Sonic R]

…(yeah, like they cared about ergonomics in the early 90ies...)…

I think the late 80's/early 90's is when ergo was just beginning. The SNES controller is far more ergo than the NES "brick". I remember when the SNES was coming out Nintendo touted about the controller and how it was "comfortable" that and how it had 4 buttons(face) and 2 shoulder buttons.

[indstr]

but isn´t the d-pad itself lying deeper in the chassis now?

nope, it's the same height, it just doesn't have any plastic over it

[icycalm]

Forget about doctors: fight through the pain.

Alternatively:

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=12815

[indstr]

when i made the original post, i thought this was mostly affecting my left hand, but the past day or two, my right hand has actually been hurting more... including shooting pains all the way up my arm to my elbow ... eeek !!

[MathU]

Jeez, I'd really go see a doctor about this.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

[No_not_like_Quake]

Are you serious? Get that checked out.

[hermosaguy]

I read that as 'nintend-tits'...figured it was man-boobs from not getting enough exercise. Should probably raise my font size...