Carpal Tunnel Tied to Biking

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on March 19, 2009 at 3:54pm

Yes!!!! Laura Cooper (Coop) is an amazing therapist, fellow biker, and Chainlinker. She works in both Lakeview and Ravenswood. Check her out here. You can set up a free consultation with her. Call Novacare - 773-281-4220.

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Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on March 19, 2009 at 4:11pm

FYI...I have had three surgeries, physical therapy, accupuncture, massage, occupational therapy and endless homeopathic treatments for bilateral chronic carpal tunnel syndrome.

I don't think your physician is off base. Those are classic signs and the cumulative abuse affects some and not others, but once it is present, start treatment early! Physical therapy is vital. There are a number of exercises that you can do as well, but my guess is your OT/PT will prescribe some.

I know so much more about this topic than I want to. For what it is worth, i developed the problem years ago. Three things I did/do regularly contributed....drumming, carpentry (vibrating sanders and tools in particular) and cycling - (face it, you put a lot of weight on your flexed wrist with most bikes. Even when there isn't weight on the cycle, people often bend their wrist, putting pressure on the median nerve and compressing the carpal tunel....it is a common problem for many after years of no problems). I still do all three things and while my right hand is mostly cured, it is also significantly weakened after a post-surgical fall while healing. My left side still bugs me. every ride I have lead, people ask me what I am doing when I put my left hand behind my back and start flexing my hand....those are my tendon glide exercises! I do them as the problem occurs, and that is just how i live at this point.

Sigh.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck a Muck on March 20, 2009 at 7:36am

hey Jim here's my 2 cents worth. I suffered a mild carpal tunnel attack back in the mid 90's due to my riding habits. Went to the doc, took 2 weeks off of from riding, modified the way I held my handle bars and have no prob since.
But I agree with h3 yours does not sound like carpal tunnel more like a pinched nerve in your neck. I suffered the same symptons as you a few years back, only i chose to ignore them to the point I could not move my hand past my waist without intense burning pain shooting down my arm. Went to the doc and it was found that I pinched a nerve in my neck.
My advice would be to make sure the docs take the time that they look at everything. I never had to go thru surgery for the nerve issue I just had to modify my work habits and go thru therapy.

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Permalink Reply by RodimusPrime on March 20, 2009 at 7:49am

I do that too! ( the exercises) I broke my wrist when I was younger, and had to do them ever since, or my left wrist gets all achy.

Lee Diamond said:

I know so much more about this topic than I want to. For what it is worth, i developed the problem years ago. Three things I did/do regularly contributed....drumming, carpentry (vibrating sanders and tools in particular) and cycling - (face it, you put a lot of weight on your flexed wrist with most bikes. Even when there isn't weight on the cycle, people often bend their wrist, putting pressure on the median nerve and compressing the carpal tunel....it is a common problem for many after years of no problems). I still do all three things and while my right hand is mostly cured, it is also significantly weakened after a post-surgical fall while healing. My left side still bugs me. every ride I have lead, people ask me what I am doing when I put my left hand behind my back and start flexing my hand....those are my tendon glide exercises! I do them as the problem occurs, and that is just how i live at this point.

Sigh.

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Permalink Reply by GabeW (not the other Gabe) on March 20, 2009 at 10:28am

I get aches and pains too from cycling (like the one's you're describing) and from my previous job slinging 100's of #'s of bread dough around. My wife's a PT and is always able to find the muscle area that's been overworked (not always in the same spot as where the pain is), and gives me stretches and exercises that within a week or so fix the problem. Her big objection to surgery for muscular skeletal stuff is that the surgeon is going to cause damage going in to the problem area, and then prescribe PT to heal. Why not just get the PT for the problem area in the first place?

And like H3 said - look at your sleep. I'm a side sleeper and it's awful for my neck and shoulders.

Also - I recently had pain in my lower forearm, and a tennis elbow brace above the elbow made it go away. (but note that the brace didn't fix the problem - the stretches and exercises did)

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Permalink Reply by RodimusPrime on March 20, 2009 at 11:07am

Gabe,It'd be cool if you could possibly make a post for cycling stretches we should all know. I know i'm very interested in learning more cycling specific stretches/exercises. Or at least point me in the right direction.

GabeW (not the other Gabe) said:

I get aches and pains too from cycling (like the one's you're describing) and from my previous job slinging 100's of #'s of bread dough around. My wife's a PT and is always able to find the muscle area that's been overworked (not always in the same spot as where the pain is), and gives me stretches and exercises that within a week or so fix the problem. Her big objection to surgery for muscular skeletal stuff is that the surgeon is going to cause damage going in to the problem area, and then prescribe PT to heal. Why not just get the PT for the problem area in the first place?

And like H3 said - look at your sleep. I'm a side sleeper and it's awful for my neck and shoulders.

Also - I recently had pain in my lower forearm, and a tennis elbow brace above the elbow made it go away. (but note that the brace didn't fix the problem - the stretches and exercises did)

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Permalink Reply by GabeW (not the other Gabe) on March 20, 2009 at 11:37am

I could post pics of stretches and exercises that have helped me, but I would disclaim that I am merely the husband of a DPT sharing what's worked for me, and should not be taken as serious medical advice or recovery program, etc....

If you're experiencing any ache, pain, or injury, I strongly suggest a face to face examination with a professional for determining a treatment plan.

And remember, just cause we're cyclists, doesn't always mean that the soreness is cycling related. I had some knee pain too - but figured out it was from how I was sitting at my job, not the cycling. Some playing with my desk setup fixed it. My body isn't teenage anymore :(

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Permalink Reply by Jim Adgate on March 24, 2009 at 10:43pm

Thanks for all the responses. I did go see a physical therapist over the weekend. The PT thinks it is posture (neck) related and not my arms/hands or CT. It appears that the muscles around the upper neck vertebra are pressing on the nerves that radiate out to my hands and arms, hence the symptoms in them (tingling, and when really bad, pins and needles). As of today, I am still experiencing some symptoms. I've started some exercises to work certain muscles in my neck, upper shoulder/pecs, and to drop my chin in such a way to work those neck muscles. Hopefully the symptoms will lessen over time, for now, its exercises, ice, and lots of extra strength Tylenol. I think its probably time for a new bed mattress as well. What really sucks is that I haven't ridden much over the last 2 weeks, other than to pick up my bike from the shop after getting some maintenance done. My GP and physical therapist have advised me to forego riding until this clears up.

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Permalink Reply by RodimusPrime on March 25, 2009 at 12:28am

yup, I've had a hard time figuring out if my knee pain was from saddle position, or just the fact I was working 8 hour shifts standing up . . . it was work

GabeW (not the other Gabe) said:

I could post pics of stretches and exercises that have helped me, but I would disclaim that I am merely the husband of a DPT sharing what's worked for me, and should not be taken as serious medical advice or recovery program, etc....

If you're experiencing any ache, pain, or injury, I strongly suggest a face to face examination with a professional for determining a treatment plan.

And remember, just cause we're cyclists, doesn't always mean that the soreness is cycling related. I had some knee pain too - but figured out it was from how I was sitting at my job, not the cycling. Some playing with my desk setup fixed it. My body isn't teenage anymore :(

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Permalink Reply by Michael on March 25, 2009 at 10:37am

Jim Adgate said:

...and lots of extra strength Tylenol...

From another person who does different stuff from h3 for a living...make sure you do not exceed the maximum recommended daily dosage of Tylenol (aka acetaminophen or APAP). The stuff can be stupendously damaging to your liver in large quantity, and with chronic pain, it can be tempting to "just take more". Alcohol lowers the damage threshold, so if you like to finish a ride with a cold one, keep that in mind, too. If you find you are not getting the relief you seek with APAP, talk to your doc about alternative methods of pain management.

/lecture

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Permalink Reply by T. Mo on March 25, 2009 at 11:54am

Look into the possibility of this being TOS - Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Your body is being put into a position that might be causing muscles or structures to compress the brachial plexus. Which fingers are numb/tingly? What are your other symptoms?

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Permalink Reply by RodimusPrime on April 2, 2009 at 10:54am

Exercises that protext against carpal tunnel syndrome - Lifehacker

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