You may already have it set up this way, but make sure your brakes and shifters are in line with your hands when in riding position. You could try playing with the shifter position and angle to see if that helps. Make sure you’ve got clean cable and housing, maybe go with teflon coated cables, so there’s as little drag in the system as possible. Shimano is advertising their newer 11-speed shifters as having 20% lighter shifts - not sure if that applies to their higher-end 10 speeds too.
Is your shifter all thumbs? The older Shimanos (I’m using SRAM shifters on my Stumpie, which are all thumb) were thumb for cable pull, and trigger (index finger) for release. If your shifter is all thumbs, and you can replace it with a multi-release shifter, that could reduce your thumb shifts by half.
I had thumb issues during winter riding when I was using “lobster claw” gloves, which meant I had to use a two finger grip on the bar, and brake with two fingers. I switched to gloves so I could keep a 3-finger grip on the bar, and the pain went away. I’m pretty sure you’re already set up for one finger braking, but if not…
Have you tried checking it with Physio or RMT? I think it’s both playing with your MTB shifters and would likely be another scenario is at work since your a master Coder. you get to used keyboard and mouse a lot and might be holding beers! Lots of factors.Maybe. Just my thought. Cold and warm compress alternating should alleviate the swelling and heal’s fast if rested.
For the mouse it doesn’t take long for the brain to switch to left hand mouse. So that would take some load off your injured hand for several hours a day.
Hey man! I had hurt my wrist and thumb a few years back with repetitive stress from a job where I turned a screwdriver too much.
Ice it every night if you can. It was one of the most influential factors in helping me manage it and heal too.
The icing on such a regular basis will help keep the tendons and joints from being swollen and grinding against each other so that it doesn’t get worse.
I found Ktape worked really well on my thumb. I think I was also using hockey tape to reinforce the Kyape and keep it from falling off. I’ll tape my thumb up tonight and show you how I had it set up.
YouTube thumb physio as well as range of motion excercises and stretches. You don’t want to overdo it with the excercises but they are helpful.
Nowadays my wrist and thumb are 95% perfect but it was a long road and it took a lot of effort
I spilt melted sugar on my thumb once making a creme d’caramel. For a few races I ran a shimano xt thumbshifter and was able to shift using the palm of my hand. Fortunately they worked with 8sp. Dunno about 10sp.
XTR has bearings that reduce shifting effort. It also has more adjustment in the position of the shifter. And XTR comes with the Optislick cable and low friction housing. Bonus: it has a three year warranty to XT’s 1-year. I recently made a claim on a 2-year old shifter that broke inside.
Did some quick research on this and there really doesn’t seem to be anything made for left handed shifting for your set up.
Being 1x10 kinda pigeon holes you into a major upgrade if you want to go electronic.
My question would be how much smoother would an xtr shifter be then what you have? Or maybe something like a thicker grip and different position on the push is the most realistic answer. Or space between the grip and shifter.
I have it in my hands from years of being on tools. The vibration of drills, saws. Nailers and nail pounding. Im no longer in the field for construction so my days arent as long or intense but still notice them ache
On longer rides especially at ww or keppoch when i climb i really notice it in my right thumb and then my fingers from braking. ( i climb at ww)
I tend to do 3 things. Take magnesium i was told it helps, 2 i wrap my thumb in kt tape it gives some support and then fill a bucket with hot water and dump epsom salt into it.. ill soak my hands for 15 minutes after really long rides
you get to used keyboard and mouse a lot and might be holding beers! Lots of factors.Maybe. Just my thought. Cold and warm compress alternating should alleviate the swelling and heal’s fast if rested. 