Dermatologists Identify "PlayStation Palm" Skin Condition

See? That's what you get for playing so much PlayStation!

According to a recent article at Yahoo Games, it appears that having a PlayStation controller in your hands for an extended period of time can produce something called "PlayStation Palm." As reported by the BBC, skin specialists in the UK have mentioned a certain condition in the British Journal of Dermatology, and the cause is "excessive gaming." Called "PlayStation palmar hidradenitis," it was first identified after Swiss doctors examined a 12-year-old girl who suffered from "painful bumps on her hands." The doctors concluded that it was a result of sweating, but as it wasn't occurring on her feet, they connected it to her PlayStation playing. The girl went 10 days without gaming...and lo and behold, the bumps disappeared. This may remind you of what became a commonly spoken term - "Wiiitis" - which appeared back in 2007; it was similar to tennis elbow and afflicted those who swung that Wii-mote about a little too often. Sony's response to these new findings was quite diplomatic:

"As with any leisure pursuit there are possible consequences of not following common sense, health advice and guidelines, as can be found within our instruction manuals. We do not wish to belittle this research and will study the findings with interest. This is the first time we have ever heard of a complaint of this nature."

Well, we don't wish to belittle it either, but we're hoping that someone will soon point out the obvious fact that it wouldn't just be the PlayStation controller that causes this condition. We're figuring any controller will cause this to happen; the hands tend to sweat when playing, right? So perhaps it's not ridiculously far-fetched, and maybe even some of you have noticed it... But it certainly doesn't sound dangerous. If you have those bumps, maybe it's just a sign you should put the gamepad down and do something else for a little while, eh?

2/25/2009 Ben Dutka

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coverton341
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:10:31 PM
Reply

How long of a marathon did this chick go on to develop "playstation palm"

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:15:38 PM
Reply

This reminds me of the disclaimer on most games suggesting the player take a 15min break for every hour spent in front of the TV. I've logged entire days worth of gameplay and never had a negative reaction. This article just reminds me that "shit happens" applies to everyday life.

1 up, 0 down

faraga
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:17:45 PM
Reply

yeah, i heard just today on the radio that now, apart from a mouse hand, people are also starting to to suffer from wii hands and, i translate a quote from the news report, "you should get a decent warming-up before you start playing your on wii"

edit: a friend of mine who had a gamecube (still has it, never uses it because of his wii) had a controller with some fan in it, didnt work well though, it was too hot when it was off, but your hands froze off when you did turn the fan on

Last edited by faraga on 2/25/2009 3:25:06 PM

0 up, 0 down

Arvis
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:20:03 PM
Reply

It's Sony's fault for putting so many good games on their consoles. They're evil.

-Arvis

8 up, 0 down

ZubraZap
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:20:18 PM
Reply

WASH YOUR HANDS!

0 up, 0 down

Zaben
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:21:08 PM
Reply

Is she allergic to her own sweat or something? I'm not an excessive sweater so forgive my ignorance on the matter, but I thought sweating was good for the body as it removes toxins in the skin. And most people tend to wipe their sweaty hands on their pants real quick instead of letting it just sit there.

Pretty pathetic to put all the blame on Playstation's controller.

0 up, 0 down

PS3_Wizard
Thursday, February 26, 2009 @ 11:46:30 AM

Thats just it...the toxins. I deduce that the little girl didn't bathe frequently enough inbetween play time in order to remove those toxins. So over time they probably accumulated on her skin and when holding the controller, the friction rubbed it deeper into her open poors. Thus causing an allergic reaction from the bile not being able to leave her hand.

Damn I sounded smart.

2 up, 0 down

PS3_Wizard
Friday, February 27, 2009 @ 11:23:40 AM

Edit: Pores

0 up, 0 down

crapreviews
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:24:37 PM
Reply

this was on the news last night lol

0 up, 0 down

Luiscosmo2
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:24:59 PM
Reply

I've played my Ps3 and 2 a lot for days on end. I never got bumps in my hands!Maybe its just something she did beside playing too much playstation?

0 up, 0 down

Skatejimmy5
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:27:53 PM
Reply

"The girl went 10 days without gaming..."

Oh my, that's not possible.

0 up, 0 down

Arvis
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:31:45 PM
Reply

Actually, now that I think of it, the Playstation controller never actually touches my palms when I am playing....

Of course, I may be the abnormality in that, rather than the norm.

-Arvis

0 up, 0 down

hart_attack
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:12:04 PM

really? mine sit right in the center of mine

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Arvis
Thursday, February 26, 2009 @ 1:36:11 PM

The DS3 lays comfortably in the crooks of my fingers and never touches my palms.

I'm 6'3" and have pretty long fingers.

-Arvis

0 up, 0 down

Ultimadream
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:31:50 PM
Reply

lol i should ease up on Street Fighter IV thats being battering my hands the last few days.

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:32:15 PM
Reply

I bet she has a better cellphone than me.

0 up, 0 down

CH1N00K
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:33:56 PM
Reply

well D-uh....

This is nothing new, People that use a mouse all day long have had this problem for years. If you do AutoCad work or something along those lines then this is going to happen. Before there was a controller to blame some people called this skin infection "Eczema" If you got it on your feet from wearing wet socks (usually if you played sports) it was called Athlete's foot....But since Playstation doesn't have enough bad publicity then lets call this "PlayStation palmar hidradenitis" why didn't they call it X-Box Rot? or Wii Rash.... Must be because of the Six-Axis Dualshock controller...that's the only logical answer....

This sounds like someone wanting to get their name out there by targeting video games...better watch out, they'll be an "expert" working for Fox News soon....

1 up, 0 down

Arvis
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:51:33 PM

Athlete's Foot (and jock itch) are skin conditions caused by a fungus known as tinea pedis. I don't think that's the same thing this girl got from her sweaty palms.

Besides, there is already something known as Xbox Rot... Halo!!! =D

Sorry, couldn't resist....

-Arvis

0 up, 1 down

Troy Powers
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:36:34 PM
Reply

Now if they could just figure out what's causing all this HAIR on my palms!

In other news: If I get that windows asking me what country I'm from one more time I'm going to CHOKE someone! (Ben, I'm looking at you. And NO, I don't care how far you can toss someone up a tree.)

3 up, 0 down

CH1N00K
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:41:34 PM

Hairy Palms...LOL doesn't that lead to blindness as well?

1 up, 0 down

Troy Powers
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:47:28 PM

Sorry. I'm having trouble reading your comment.

3 up, 0 down

Jojoman
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:40:14 PM
Reply

O.k. but what about hair on your... um... nevermind.

0 up, 0 down

ZubraZap
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:46:28 PM
Reply

PSXE GET RID OF THE ****in' SURVEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last edited by ZubraZap on 2/25/2009 3:46:52 PM

2 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:47:40 PM
Reply

Zubra is that a porn pic?

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Arvis
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 3:52:20 PM

SERIOUSLY, Zubra. Answer the question so people will stop asking. =D

-Arvis

0 up, 0 down

ZubraZap
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 4:09:10 PM
Reply

Do you see any sex? Its a womans face...

Its Sunny Lane, she does do porn.

I freaking censored it, don't give me crap like Mexi Fighter.

Last edited by ZubraZap on 2/25/2009 4:11:20 PM

0 up, 1 down

PS3_Wizard
Thursday, February 26, 2009 @ 11:49:53 AM

HA! So am I right when I say its Cody Lane's sister?

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Geobaldi
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 4:20:13 PM
Reply

Sounds to me that she could possibly be allergic the plastic of the controller. Never heard of sweating causing bumps on hands like that. And I agree, that survey has to go!!

1 up, 0 down

Naga
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 4:21:16 PM
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Playstation has been released over AN DECADE!! surely on Planet Earth Year 1996 some Human got Playstation plam so why reported on BBC?

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LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 4:21:37 PM
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@ Zubra

I thought I recognized that face... ;)

0 up, 0 down

Victor321
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 4:23:02 PM
Reply

Wow....has anyone spent 20+ hours playing FF, then ratchet, jak, then GOW on their PS2 like me? I also had very few breaks...lol

And I have never had this situation. So far, I have found two flaws with this scenario.

1. This could happen to any controller (it happened to my brother on my PS2, but it was a short time, about 5-6 days before it wore off.)
2. Yet another unneccesary backstab to PS and Sony. Are they trying to attack sony with something that they should "fix"?

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Phoelix
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 4:37:26 PM
Reply

What Yahoo is leaving out is that correlation does NOT prove causation; just because she was playing a lot of Playstation and her hands got bumps doesn't mean that's what caused it. Yahoo games is just trying to make a story to increase their site traffic.

I'll believe a scientific study, but not a single isolated case. That's probably what Sony was trying to say.

1 up, 0 down

The Stig
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:33:21 PM

@Phoelix, It was the BBC that originally posted the story not Yahoo.

I do think its fair to call it Playstation Plam.......... whatever. If I got a rash from wearing Nikes their not gonna call it Nike foot.......whatever. It does just seem to be another dig at Sony. Sayin that, wasn't there a condition a while back called Nintendoitus or somethin that was basically RSI.

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 4:40:01 PM
Reply

Um Mexicanfighter the way you responded to Zubra made it pretty clear you're the antagonist.

1 up, 0 down

ZubraZap
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 4:49:30 PM
Reply

@MexiFighter

Calm yourself, that was barely a knock...Your a pretty cool dude(just work on lashing out LOL). Not changing it anytime soon bud, regarding my icon. Oh and if it gets changed its gonna be to Lauren Phoenix.

You actually made me laugh with thinking she was dead in one of your earlier comments!

Last edited by ZubraZap on 2/25/2009 4:51:22 PM

1 up, 0 down

KevinCairo
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 10:08:54 PM

Can't exactly say I approve of that one; it would definitely be a downgrade from Sunny.

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NoSmokingBandit
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 4:54:18 PM
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The playstation controller has been used by almost everyone at this point in time, so some retard "scientist" is going to base this "research" off of one child and not the other several million who have played ps1/2/3 regularly the past 15 years? Modern media at its finest...

1 up, 0 down

Phoelix
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:17:47 PM

You and I think alike.
I hate it when people are marketed products that aren't based on scientific research. (i.e. Nutrisystem--what a crock)

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ZubraZap
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:04:20 PM
Reply

Look at this guy LOL!

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LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:12:00 PM
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MexicanFighter adds nothing to the conversation but insults, poor ones at that.

1 up, 0 down

hart_attack
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:14:54 PM

too true. relax man

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Geobaldi
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:14:14 PM
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Yeah I think anger management class will have a new student soon lol.

1 up, 0 down

Reccaman18
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:17:38 PM
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A dermatologist found this? That's like the lowest type of doctor you can be next to pediatrics. lol

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Reccaman18
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:18:31 PM
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I think I smell a ban...

1 up, 0 down

MeXiCaNFiGhTeR
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:20:17 PM
Reply

@Reccaman
Will see

0 up, 1 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:22:11 PM
Reply

MexicanFighter: First and last warning. No flaming in the Comments section.

1 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:25:15 PM
Reply

Anyone else find it sexy when Ben lays down the thunder?

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Reccaman18
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:31:20 PM

....not particularly. lol actually he's a little like Zeus. which is a bit scary!

Last edited by Reccaman18 on 2/25/2009 5:33:58 PM

0 up, 0 down

PS3_Wizard
Thursday, February 26, 2009 @ 11:51:26 AM

*Puke*

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Fabi
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:26:17 PM
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I guess I missed a few posts, what's eating up MexicanFighter?

No wonder he lashed out at me earlier.

Last edited by Fabi on 2/25/2009 5:26:26 PM

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ZubraZap
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:27:53 PM
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@Fabi

My avatar. I don't see the probleng, his is pretty cool too. What is that a Killzone one?

Last edited by ZubraZap on 2/25/2009 5:29:20 PM

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bamf
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:38:13 PM
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If a doc told me I have to go 10 days without gaming, they would need to put me in rehab.

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ZubraZap
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:43:55 PM
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@Bamf
Amen to that. Go ahead and throw a staright jacket in for me, because I'd make a game out of real life. God knows how that would turn out ;)

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Fabi
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:45:44 PM
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Yeah it's a Sackboy in a Helghast get up.

I dunno if he's cool or not, but he does seem real childish when it comes to dissing people.

That doesn't fly here though, we all need to get along respectfully or we don't post.

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Fabi
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:46:33 PM
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"I'd make a game out of real life"

Haha...quote of the month...classic

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LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:53:38 PM
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MexicanFighter's comments towards Zubra show how much of an ignorant flame bot he is. His comments have lost all credibility, I look forward to the day he is banned since we all know he wont stop with the flaming.

0 up, 0 down

ZubraZap
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:55:08 PM
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Thanx LOL, yeah I was trying to cool him off.

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Robochic
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:59:16 PM
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WOW what the heck did she touch before hand. I've done Gaming Marthons for days and never had anything growing on my hands, the girl needs to wash her hands more.

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King James
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 5:59:35 PM
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See, if u wash your hands and clean ur controller every now and then like your mommy told you to....

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Sir Shak
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 6:59:36 PM

James , I forgot your psn id , and how do I get into the psx clan ?

0 up, 0 down

fundando
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 6:09:08 PM
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I think I have played so much smash brothers (melee) that I developed tendinitis in my right thumb

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bigrailer19
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 6:35:28 PM
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hahah maybe this explains me j/k i get bumps on my fingers from what i dont know and my fingers swell up but i am so clean i wash my hands atleast 5 times a day and i dont like touching gross things so whatever it is i dont think its from me sitting with controller in hand for hours!
and yes i know its not good to wash your hands alot but i cant help it!

0 up, 0 down

PS3_Wizard
Thursday, February 26, 2009 @ 11:55:02 AM

You are a sad...sad little boy. Grow up.

1 up, 0 down

Big_Boss
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 6:58:59 PM
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Off Topic: Zuprazap, who is that girl on your avatar?

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LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 7:01:00 PM
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Lol Big_Boss if you scroll up you will see he mentioned who it is. If you're feeling lazy it is Sunny Lane, an actress.

0 up, 0 down

firehahahahaha
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 7:05:28 PM
Reply

Maybe the battery in the controler was leaking?

In all honesty, I'd blame the cell phone before the video games

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Big_Boss
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 7:07:22 PM
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Thanks Vertigo! I didn't feel like going through all of those comments. LOL

Last edited by Big_Boss on 2/25/2009 7:10:29 PM

0 up, 1 down

Scarecrow
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 7:08:53 PM
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That girl is special

The Dualshock has been around more than a decade now.

One case of Playstation palm just shows that if you hold the controller like a jackass ALL DAY this'll happen to you.

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 7:09:07 PM
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She is at the age where she might decide to do some "experimenting"...I'm just saying..............

1 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 10:48:18 PM

lol....

0 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Thursday, February 26, 2009 @ 5:11:28 PM

She must not be using a Sixaxis, because it doesn't rumble.

1 up, 0 down

shaydey77
Friday, February 27, 2009 @ 11:02:49 AM

lol..yeah and she also wouldnt have the bumps on her hands..

0 up, 0 down

WelcomeOblivion
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 8:48:59 PM
Reply

the bumps sound similar to the ones i would get when i would swing on the monkey bars to long as a kid. maybe shes gripping the controller to hard. fist bumps, then blisters, next thing you know your missing a junk of skin that use to be on your hands.

0 up, 0 down

bxshotboi
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ 11:59:04 PM
Reply

now controllers give diseases wat is this world coming to i play every day so many hours for the past bunch of years and never had a problem

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Randomhero1
Thursday, February 26, 2009 @ 9:17:56 AM

Same!

0 up, 0 down

ceedot
Thursday, February 26, 2009 @ 2:56:10 AM
Reply

The girl was obviously clenching the playstation controller a bit too hard. The hundreds of millions of consoles that have been distributed can obviously destroy this research as I'm sure no one else would have got this unless they are stupid.

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Fenrir
Thursday, February 26, 2009 @ 3:44:56 AM
Reply

Best thing - that 'doctor' said: "This problem is not to be underestimated!" LOL!!! - Ok, now you had your 15 min of fame - go back under your bridge, troll! We´re not 6 and this is not the fairy tale hour.

0 up, 1 down

Arvis
Thursday, February 26, 2009 @ 1:43:20 PM

I love how we're using internet-specific comebacks to lash out at anyone that says anything we disagree with now.

Next time someone says the Cavaliers are better than the Magic, I'm gonna tell them to go back under their bridge... :D

-Arvis

1 up, 0 down

Fenrir
Friday, February 27, 2009 @ 1:46:24 AM

Oh, ok youre talking about the NBA. Had to check this cause I´m not into that stuff.
So you don´t think a news like is complety ridiculous? You don´t think he´s just someone you wants be heard, just once in a lifetime? You don´t think he´s a troll? ....Ok, fine :-)

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whooka
Thursday, February 26, 2009 @ 6:54:16 AM
Reply

Her parents need to stop giving her Adderall XR or whatever and she prob wouldn't sweat so much. Don't they have moisturizer lotion over there in the UK? If they had to pay outrageous fees to see a doctor in the UK like we do in the States people wouldn't go for stuff like this in the first place and give doctors crap to talk about.

0 up, 0 down

NULL
Thursday, February 26, 2009 @ 10:38:37 AM
Reply

All problems Xbox gamers get are pyshcological

1 up, 0 down

shaydey77
Friday, February 27, 2009 @ 11:04:49 AM
Reply

The only problem I get is more like 'assgrooves' in my hands from the controller..but then again palms are naturally indented...

0 up, 0 down

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