My left hand has slowly been deteriorating in motor function ever since I started riding. My thumb half of my palm gets slightly painful as I ride. I try and shift hand placement, move up to the hoods, grab just left and right of the stem, but the pain comes back pretty quickly.
I’ve searched and read all the threads on hand numbness.
I wear new gloves with good padding where it feels like a need it.
I primarily ride in the drops.
I do not lock my elbows, in fact, they are closer to 90 than 180 when I am in the drops.
The bike fits well.
The numbness doesn’t concern me too much. But days, even a week of no riding my hand is still significantly compromised from doing normal tasks. Its hard to open doors, hold a dinner plate, unscrew a tube lid. In fact, the kind of door you grab with your hand vertical and depress the button on top with your thumb is basically impossible to open.
Any suggestions?
I was thinking of buying some Profile Design Jammer GT bars to take some pressure off my hands. Good idea?
My left hand has slowly been deteriorating in motor function ever since I started riding. My thumb half of my palm gets slightly painful as I ride. I try and shift hand placement, move up to the hoods, grab just left and right of the stem, but the pain comes back pretty quickly.
I’ve searched and read all the threads on hand numbness.
I wear new gloves with good padding where it feels like a need it.
I primarily ride in the drops.
I do not lock my elbows, in fact, they are closer to 90 than 180 when I am in the drops.
The bike fits well.
The numbness doesn’t concern me too much. But days, even a week of no riding my hand is still significantly compromised from doing normal tasks. Its hard to open doors, hold a dinner plate, unscrew a tube lid. In fact, the kind of door you grab with your hand vertical and depress the button on top with your thumb is basically impossible to open.
Any suggestions?
I was thinking of buying some Profile Design Jammer GT bars to take some pressure off my hands. Good idea?
It’s a possibility that it might not be your hands. The muscles that control clenching of the fingers and grip actually attach way up in the forearm, a little below the elbow, ditto with the nerves that enervate them.
Otherwise, I’d look at your position on the bike. It sounds like you may be putting too much weight on your hands, and/or riding with your wrists bent rather than in line with your arms. Both of these can contribute, but a week is way too long for that. I’d have someone take a look at it (Doc wise.)
Sounds like Carpal Tunnel syndrome…compression of the Median Nerve at the wrist
Probably from pressure on the wrist by direct compression of nerve by the wrist on the handlebar
Here’s a test…flex the wrist 90degrees…does it reproduce the symptoms?
Do you have to take you’re hand off the steering wheel and “shake it loose”
Does your hand wake you up from sleep feeling like “pins and needles”
Do you have to stop typing and shake you’re hands loose?
These are symptoms consistent with carpal tunnel
Occassionally compression of the Ulnar nerve at the wrist can occur from riding a bike, but it affect the ring/little finger instead…doesnt sound like that
I would try:
Antiinflammatories
If hand wakes you up at night…wear a carpal tunnel splint at night
Since it’s early on sometimes a cortisone shot can help
Would not ride up on the bars, but instead use aero bars…it would unload the carpal tunnel area
Some feel VitB6 occassionally helps
Worse case scenario…if you’re progressive losing hand function, grip strength, fine motor and not getting better with conservative treatment, then surgical decompression is necessary…
Ditto what Jayhawk said as the most likely culprit. Like someone else said it could also be due to compression of the nerve in a more proximal location, ie at the elbow, shoulder or neck, but carpal tunnel sounds like the most likely diagnosis.
Definately get it checked out by a health care professional sooner than later. You don’t want to mess with issues affecting your nerves.
Ideally, look for someone who deals with athletes and cyclists in particular.
I had one ride where I let my left hand go totally numb (ulnar nerve) from my hands on the hoods and I couldn’t open doors or do fine motor skills with that hand for about 6 months. I assume with me it had to do with the fit on my bike. If it’s your thumb and first 2 fingers it is most likely median nerve (as someone mentioned above). If it’s the last 2 (and grip strength) it’s more likely the ulnar nerve. There’s a reason ulnar neuropathy is called bicycle’s neuropathy.
I trial of NSAIDs might do the trick if you’re dealing with some swelling in your hands causing nerve compression. But please be careful with NSAIDs. They are really caustic on the stomach so take with food! (I learned that the hard way).
You should definitely see your PCP or a neurologist if it continues. Most of us don’t go to the doctor frequently enough anyway, may as well use this as an excuse
My carpal tunnel seems to actually improve slightly as I ride. Perhpas this is due to the positioning of the my hands. Either way it is a slight relief.
Glad to hear things are back to normal. I remember reading this post. I know the feeling of what it’s like. Mine was complications from a broken collar bone. Once it came back, wow. Such a relief.
One of the best tips I got concerning riding long, from a guy who has done RAAM, is get out of the saddle every mile. Another benefit of doing so is also the hand position change. They both go hand in hand.
