Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by allison on August 26, 2013 at 2:42pm

I have major wrist problems, as in my hands are falling asleep almost everytime I ride more than a couple of miles. My commute is 7 miles and my hands will have definitely fallen asleep multiple times before I've made it to work.  I've tried every kind of bar with all kinds of hand positions (flat bars, curved, cruiser, drops) , I've gotten the shortest stem possible to keep me from being so stretched out, my saddle is tilted to keep the weight off of my wrists, but my hands still tingle and eventually become useless. (They're going numb just typing this). It's driving me insane.  I've gone to a couple of general practice doctors who just tell me it's carpal tunnel and that I should wear wrist braces when I sleep.  It doesn't make much sense to me how this would help, but I tried it anyway and nothing improved.

I feel like I'm eventually going to either have to chop my arms off or give up riding my bike. 

Can any recommend a doctor that might specialize in hands, nerves in the hands?

 I just want to know what's causing this in my body so I can go about fixing it.

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Permalink Reply by yai danche on August 26, 2013 at 2:57pm

if you type a lot for work, this can also cause ulnar nerve neuropathy.  basically from compressing the nerve against the edge of your desk (get those padded wrist rests for your keyboard).  i don't ride on drops, but i've heard of other cyclists who use cruiser style handlebars for their commute and drops for racing/cyclocross to limit compression.  i'm trying to limit the stuff i carry in my messenger bag, because i noticed some tingling and numbness on the shoulder where i carry my bag.    

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Permalink Reply by John C. Wilson on August 26, 2013 at 3:39pm

You can't heal if you keep re-injuring yourself. Sounds like your body is doing an impressive job pulling things back together and keeping you going while you daily thwart the healing process. How about maybe a week of no cycling and see what happens? And if that doesn't work try a month. You don't want to know how long and how badly you could be laid up if this turns into a real injury.

You could also try no-touch proximity sensor keyboards.

allison said:

I have major wrist problems, as in my hands are falling asleep almost everytime I ride more than a couple of miles. My commute is 7 miles and my hands will have definitely fallen asleep multiple times before I've made it to work.  I've tried every kind of bar with all kinds of hand positions (flat bars, curved, cruiser, drops) , I've gotten the shortest stem possible to keep me from being so stretched out, my saddle is tilted to keep the weight off of my wrists, but my hands still tingle and eventually become useless. (They're going numb just typing this). It's driving me insane.  I've gone to a couple of general practice doctors who just tell me it's carpal tunnel and that I should wear wrist braces when I sleep.  It doesn't make much sense to me how this would help, but I tried it anyway and nothing improved.

I feel like I'm eventually going to either have to chop my arms off or give up riding my bike. 

Can any recommend a doctor that might specialize in hands, nerves in the hands?

 I just want to know what's causing this in my body so I can go about fixing it.

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Permalink Reply by allison on August 26, 2013 at 4:35pm

Thanks for the thoughts! Not riding is just so hard to do but I might have to give it a try.  

I don't type for my job, so I won't be needing such a neat sounding keyboard.  My job involves heavy lifting

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Permalink Reply by John C. Wilson on August 27, 2013 at 1:19am

Thought some more how to explain this clearly. Multiple times per ride your hands go numb. Multiple times per ride they regain feeling. When your hands go numb and stay numb then you are out of luck and will have to go the medical route. But for now your body is trying - and succeeding- at recovery. No way could I tell you how close you are to the point where your your hands go numb and stay that way. The cautious way to proceed is to assume it could happen the next time you ride.

The part I don't understand is why this should be happening at all on a flat bar bike. The bike can be controlled with a fingertip on each grip. You only have to grab with a full hand when you squeeze the brakes. The only reason more than a fingertip is needed would be carrying out-of-balance packages or if your frame is bent, wheels out of line, etc. Try riding a straight bike with no packages sitting upright, one fingertip on each grip, one ounce of pressure on each grip.

allison said:

Thanks for the thoughts! Not riding is just so hard to do but I might have to give it a try.  

I don't type for my job, so I won't be needing such a neat sounding keyboard.  My job involves heavy lifting

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on August 27, 2013 at 5:13am

1) Who took the time to make Michael A speak French?

2) h' knows whereof he speaks.

3) h', I have the occasional pinky finger/ring finger numbness.  Setting aside the changing positions of things (which I will do), there are some simple hand and arm exercises here: http://www.livestrong.com/article/473338-exercises-for-the-ulnar-ne...

Do you have any thoughts as to the efficacy of these exercises to relieve the occasional symptoms?

 

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on August 27, 2013 at 9:53am

Completely OT to your original question, but is that language immersion thing on the computer or on your phone?  And how does one get it.  I am always trying to find ways to not forget my French vocabulary.

It is pretty funny that it does not translate the whole thing.  
 
The Gadget said:

Haha, whoops. I use the Language Immersion app for Chrome to try to stay somewhat current on my French otherwise I'd probably forget it...didn't realize I'd be quoting people in French.

Lisa Curcio 6.5 mi said:

1) Who took the time to make Michael A speak French?

2) h' knows whereof he speaks.

3) h', I have the occasional pinky fingerpetit doigt//ring finger numbness. Setting aside the changing positions of thingschoses (which I will dovais faire), there are some simple hand and arm exercisesexercices pour les bras here: http://www.livestrong.com/article/473338-exercises-for-the-ulnar-ne...

Do you have any thoughtsidées as to the efficacy of these exercisesde ces exercices to relieve the occasional symptoms?

 

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Permalink Reply by KayCee on August 27, 2013 at 10:46am

My new bike seems super comfortable, but I initially had some pain/soreness right in my palm, and a bit in my wrists. The position didn't seem to be the culprit.  I bought some riding gloves ($20) and it seems to have helped tremendously.  I feel more comfortable changing my grip, and I think I was squeezing the bars too tight before.  Worth a try!  Hope you're feeling better.

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Permalink Reply by John C. Wilson on August 27, 2013 at 12:35pm

WTF? Content-free insults and baiting. Medical diagnosis by a non-professional via comment thread.

 I guess that's supposed to be good. I am the bad guy here, I'm the heavy here because I would dare advocate for something so basic as REST.

You're the blog cop here h1. Your beat. Have it.

h' 1.0 said:

Jesus, I hate this type of discussion, but I can't let so much bad advice go unchecked.

There is nowhere near enough information here to support any of this. 

Most likely there is an underlying problem (which may or may not be CTS) that is being brought out by the positioning, or maybe the road shock while riding. 

John C. Wilson said:

Thought some more how to explain this clearly. Multiple times per ride your hands go numb. Multiple times per ride they regain feeling. When your hands go numb and stay numb then you are out of luck and will have to go the medical route. But for now your body is trying - and succeeding- at recovery. No way could I tell you how close you are to the point where your your hands go numb and stay that way. The cautious way to proceed is to assume it could happen the next time you ride.

The part I don't understand is why this should be happening at all on a flat bar bike. The bike can be controlled with a fingertip on each grip. You only have to grab with a full hand when you squeeze the brakes. The only reason more than a fingertip is needed would be carrying out-of-balance packages or if your frame is bent, wheels out of line, etc. Try riding a straight bike with no packages sitting upright, one fingertip on each grip, one ounce of pressure on each grip.

allison said:

Thanks for the thoughts! Not riding is just so hard to do but I might have to give it a try.  

I don't type for my job, so I won't be needing such a neat sounding keyboard.  My job involves heavy lifting.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on August 27, 2013 at 12:44pm

John, h' has been known to irritate more than one person from time to time on the Chainlink for all kinds of reasons, but on this one I feel that you are off base.  He did not offer a diagnosis--he suggested an orthopedic surgeon to consult for diagnosis.  He made the recommendation because that orthopedic surgeon refers patients to him for therapy.  His point was that many of us with no medical training were offering opinions primarily based on anecdote.  Frankly, I don't know if you have medical training or not. And rest is probably not a bad idea, but, as I said above, h' knows whereof he speaks when it comes to this type of discussion.

John C. Wilson said:

WTF? Content-free insults and baiting. Medical diagnosis by a non-professional via comment thread.

 I guess that's supposed to be good. I am the bad guy here, I'm the heavy here because I would dare advocate for something so basic as REST.

You're the blog cop here h1. Your beat. Have it.

h' 1.0 said:

Jesus, I hate this type of discussion, but I can't let so much bad advice go unchecked.

There is nowhere near enough information here to support any of this. 

Most likely there is an underlying problem (which may or may not be CTS) that is being brought out by the positioning, or maybe the road shock while riding. 

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Permalink Reply by Drewbacca on August 28, 2013 at 5:59am

FWIW, I had numbness for over a month due to pinching the Ulnar... it was a combination of five days of riding 60+ miles on the GAP and C&O + too high tire pressure + poor saddle placement (that thumb role that says the knee should be above the pedal spindle is bs). Thankfully, it finally went away. 

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