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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2013 14:35:28 GMT
I had to go to my doctor yesterday as I have been experiencing numbness in my fingers, specifically my little finger and the one next to it, makes using a knife and fork a little tricky, etc. It came on just after I began cycling in earnest, so I suspected a link. GP agreed and said it's quite common in the nerves in the hand. He had two suggestions: make sure I wear well padded gloves when riding (I do wear gloves as a rule) and visit a professional bike shop for a proper fitting. The GPs suggestion was that my arms needed to be straighter - I tend to alternate between pretty straight and a slight crook. If this doesn't sort it I'll need a nerve conductivity test, whatever that is.
Has anyone else experienced this problem, and if so, what solution worked for you?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2013 14:51:56 GMT
The Ulnar Nerve getting constricted somewhere by the sound of it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2013 14:55:28 GMT
This is ulnar nerve irritaion or "handlebar palsy" and is due to the ulnar nerve in the hand being compressed due to your grip on the bars. The GP advice seems sound. Change your position, wear padded gloves. Nerve conduction tests would be indicated if it fails to settle. It can take some time to but will if you change your position on the bike, doesn't need to be by much. Other things that can help are the use of anti-inflammatories and also stretching of the hand/wrist area. Use less force on the bars and relax when cycling. Hope this helps.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2013 14:55:49 GMT
Yep, that's what the doc said it was likely to be.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2013 14:58:44 GMT
This is ulnar nerve irritaion or "handlebar palsy" and is due to the ulnar nerve in the hand being compressed due to your grip on the bars. The GP advice seems sound. Change your position, wear padded gloves. Nerve conduction tests would be indicated if it fails to settle. It can take some time to but will if you change your position on the bike, doesn't need to be by much. Other things that can help are the use of anti-inflammatories and also stretching of the hand/wrist area. Use less force on the bars and relax when cycling. Hope this helps. Thanks @seventiesboy, really good post. I'm definitely going to ride more relaxed in my hands, thought I was already but probably room for more.
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Post by captslog on Jul 4, 2013 15:59:10 GMT
Damn! This forum is doing away with me by degrees! My sympathies to perniciousviper for his problems, I hope you get better soon. I'll explain my outburst..... I read about problems with shoes, I'd never had a single problem, but the next day my feet start to hurt on a ride. I read about over-reaching, never had a problem the next time out my back starts to ache. I read about back of the leg troubles, my saddle height was fine, but the next time out I get pains in the back of the legs I read about going commando, I'd always worn something underneath, but the next day they're disappearing where the sun never shines and there is much chafage. I read about satnavsaystraighton being poorly, the next week they take out my appendix and I'm grounded for 6 weeks. And now I might not be able to wield a knife and fork? It's a good job the TDF is on, if anyone had a broken TV, DON'T post it on here, please.
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Post by bandit3 on Jul 4, 2013 16:18:43 GMT
I had to go to my doctor yesterday as I have been experiencing numbness in my fingers, specifically my little finger and the one next to it, makes using a knife and fork a little tricky, etc. It came on just after I began cycling in earnest, so I suspected a link. GP agreed and said it's quite common in the nerves in the hand. He had two suggestions: make sure I wear well padded gloves when riding (I do wear gloves as a rule) and visit a professional bike shop for a proper fitting. The GPs suggestion was that my arms needed to be straighter - I tend to alternate between pretty straight and a slight crook. If this doesn't sort it I'll need a nerve conductivity test, whatever that is. Has anyone else experienced this problem, and if so, what solution worked for you? "Nerve conductivity test" That's lots of fun I've had it done twice. Right arm suspect ulnar nerve problem had an op & the result is it's still the same . On my mountain bike i use the grips that have support built into the grip I don't know what you could do on drop bars .
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 4, 2013 16:24:15 GMT
What angle and height are your bars set at PV? Perhaps show us a pic? I used to get this when MTBing and partially at times when I started on the road. I angled the bars further forward so the wrist wasn't so twisted back and also take care to alternate my grip positions more whilst riding, as well as consciously keeping good form with back and arms and adopting a stronger position from the core, so I lean on my hands less ... and it went away. I might also sometimes get numb hands if pushing on (when it's a bit chillier particularly) and forgetting to shift grip position every now and then, this comes on after a long while of hard effort and is similar to the other numbness but I don't think that it is the same issue as the Ulnar Nerve one, just lack of circulation and not moving enough whilst the body focusses the blood flow on the parts that need it most; I think it's possible to confuse the two issues sometimes though and you might have a degree of both going on at times, or once the Ulnar Nerve issue is solved, be worried it's back when it's just circulation (my experience this). These articles are useful: bikedynamics.co.uk/fit03.htmbikedynamics.co.uk/achesandpains.htmI would have thought there is plenty of scope to set yourself up better without a bike fit - issues to work through: Bar angle (see link). Bar height (in order to avoid loading hands too much, maybe raise them by flipping the stem or a different stem, this might not be so 'racer' but it might allow you to ride on the drops more or be more comfortable on the hoods). Stem length/ angle (in relation to the last point, might benefit from a shorter one to avoid arching the back or stretching out or aiming to rely too much on core strength etc). Transition between hoods and bar (maybe altering position of the lever on the bars, by taking off all the tape and moving the levers). Padding out the hoods / bar transition, perhaps with extra tape or foam ... and the more expensive option; specialist padding or gel packs under the bar tape at the hoods and elsewhere.
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Post by zoltansocrates on Jul 4, 2013 16:30:38 GMT
Damn! This forum is doing away with me by degrees! My sympathies to perniciousviper for his problems, I hope you get better soon. I'll explain my outburst..... I read about problems with shoes, I'd never had a single problem, but the next day my feet start to hurt on a ride. I read about over-reaching, never had a problem the next time out my back starts to ache. I read about back of the leg troubles, my saddle height was fine, but the next time out I get pains in the back of the legs I read about going commando, I'd always worn something underneath, but the next day they're disappearing where the sun never shines and there is much chafage. I read about satnavsaystraighton being poorly, the next week they take out my appendix and I'm grounded for 6 weeks. And now I might not be able to wield a knife and fork? It's a good job the TDF is on, if anyone had a broken TV, DON'T post it on here, please. ok capslog, on this logic, and on the proviso i get 10%, lets talk about the national lottery! good luck mate
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2013 16:50:23 GMT
Cheers for that post, Radchenister, really good info. Just taken a pic of my bike, hopefully it's clear enough to make out the various bits - may appear upside down, sorry if so. My hip is about the same height as saddle when I'm standing next to the bike. I think my saddle height is OK as my legs just have a touch of bend in them at full extension, I wonder if the seat needs to move forward or backward though. Bars seem the right height. It's a 63, and I'm 6'5". Attachment Deleted
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Post by chas on Jul 4, 2013 17:21:07 GMT
I've got a sore neck now from standing on my head It looks to me as if you've got the nose of your saddle pointing to far down causing you to slide forewards putting extra strain on your hands.
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Post by baldbloke on Jul 4, 2013 17:22:43 GMT
I've had a similar problem and I try to change my grip during longer rides. Perhaps riding your bike upside-down isn't helping!
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 4, 2013 17:24:28 GMT
I'm 5'10'' and the geometries / angles are different but I think we can see that your hand is likely twisted back a bit more than mine. My hands sit in the curve of the hoods and the bars quite naturally and are a bit like a tennis grip with a v pointing back up my forearms, I set it this way a fair few months back now after having hand troubles. I twisted it forwards twice on consecutive rides to get to this position as at first it didn't feel intuitively right but when you settle to it, it works well. I wonder about pushing the hoods / levers down around the bar a little more still yet, whilst leaving the bars in the same angle but haven't done this, as the position is quite comfy at the mo' and gives good support, so I'm not messing with it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2013 17:25:59 GMT
I've got a sore neck now from standing on my head It looks to me as if you've got the nose of your saddle pointing to far down causing you to slide forewards putting extra strain on your hands. Good spot, Chas, it's maybe a little nose down. Always thought it was horizontal, but looking again perhaps a touch downwards. Coupled with sliding back or front, this may help. Sorry for upside down pic - when you click it, it turns the right way up, right? (Does for me).
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2013 17:34:55 GMT
Thanks Radchenister, good illustration, I'll try that. Just loosen the handlebar mount and rotate the handlebar assembly a few degrees?
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