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Numbness in hands

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forlinianslip	22 Aug 03:15
Joined: 22 Aug 2009 Posts: 17 Bike: My Profile	I rode through Wales in three days. On the second day, I developed numbness and tingling in the thumb and fingers (less so in my fourth and fifth fingers) of my left hand. I had a similar experience in my other hand last year, but the numbness was more in my fourth and fifth fingers. I saw the doctor last year about my hand, and she said it would heal itself. However, it took 3 months. This is a bit annoying, and I wish I could prevent it next time.

forlinianslip

22 Aug 03:15

Joined: 22 Aug 2009

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I rode through Wales in three days. On the second day, I developed numbness and tingling in the thumb and fingers (less so in my fourth and fifth fingers) of my left hand.

I had a similar experience in my other hand last year, but the numbness was more in my fourth and fifth fingers.

I saw the doctor last year about my hand, and she said it would heal itself. However, it took 3 months.

This is a bit annoying, and I wish I could prevent it next time.

tonythegreek	22 Aug 09:22
Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 45 Bike: My Profile	hi i get the same problem but i was told that it could be the handle bar height your body pushing down too much on the bars or the seat too high try both just to see
My Latest Route: Apr 2009 New Hartley Circular via Seaton Burn

forlinianslip	22 Aug 09:58
Joined: 22 Aug 2009 Posts: 17 Bike: My Profile	Thanks, Tony. I will try it. Actually I use handle bar extenders tilted way back toward me to a position slightly under my wrists. This actually supports my wrists so that they don't bend so much. I bought the extenders recently in light of last year's trip and the my first numbness problem. It seems to have worked for the right hand, but I think that I need to raise the left extender just slightly. But I'll also see about raising the handlebar a bit more. Glad to see I'm not alone....

forlinianslip

22 Aug 09:58

Joined: 22 Aug 2009

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Thanks, Tony. I will try it.

Actually I use handle bar extenders tilted way back toward me to a position slightly under my wrists. This actually supports my wrists so that they don't bend so much. I bought the extenders recently in light of last year's trip and the my first numbness problem. It seems to have worked for the right hand, but I think that I need to raise the left extender just slightly.

But I'll also see about raising the handlebar a bit more.

Glad to see I'm not alone....

STID	22 Aug 12:25
Joined: 01 Jun 2009 Posts: 116 Bike: My Profile	I always get a numbness/hand goes to sleep during my rides. A quick shake of the hand, or a flexing of the fingers returns the blood back into the hand. I do use well padded weight lifting gloves which might help a bit. I do believe it is the pressure exserted on the handle bars with your forward weight, plus the bone jarring knocks that travel throught the road bike to the first port of call, your hands. I did find in the beginning I also had very sore shoulders, neck and upper arms, but that passed with time. Hope your solve the problem soon.
My Latest Route: Aug 2009 Abingdon to Long Crendon and Long Hanborough Loop.

STID

22 Aug 12:25

Joined: 01 Jun 2009

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I always get a numbness/hand goes to sleep during my rides. A quick shake of the hand, or a flexing of the fingers returns the blood back into the hand. I do use well padded weight lifting gloves which might help a bit.

I do believe it is the pressure exserted on the handle bars with your forward weight, plus the bone jarring knocks that travel throught the road bike to the first port of call, your hands. I did find in the beginning I also had very sore shoulders, neck and upper arms, but that passed with time.

Hope your solve the problem soon.

My Latest Route: Aug 2009 Abingdon to Long Crendon and Long Hanborough Loop.

happy	22 Aug 12:55
Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile	Cycling is my main passion but I also like to run every now and then. Sometimes it's just easier to get up, leave the house and start running. One of the things I found about running however was that I frequently got really bad pins and needles and numbness in my feet after about 3K. I tried pretty much everything to try and shift it, different stretches, different running strides, looser socks, shoes with shoe laces more or less untied e.t.c. e.t.c. Nothing really kicked it tbh and the doctor pretty much said, some people just have bad circulation, great! However, perseverance was the key for me. I just kept trying different things, different socks, running on woodland rather than road, different trainers, insoles.... and while I still get pains and needles, they're not nearly so bad. So in a long winded way, just keep trying one different thing at a time, and see if anything works for you. There's probably no right or wrong answer. Hope you get it sorted.
My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71

happy

22 Aug 12:55

Joined: 15 Mar 2006

Posts: 302

Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset

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Cycling is my main passion but I also like to run every now and then. Sometimes it's just easier to get up, leave the house and start running.

One of the things I found about running however was that I frequently got really bad pins and needles and numbness in my feet after about 3K.

I tried pretty much everything to try and shift it, different stretches, different running strides, looser socks, shoes with shoe laces more or less untied e.t.c. e.t.c.

Nothing really kicked it tbh and the doctor pretty much said, some people just have bad circulation, great!

However, perseverance was the key for me. I just kept trying different things, different socks, running on woodland rather than road, different trainers, insoles.... and while I still get pains and needles, they're not nearly so bad.

So in a long winded way, just keep trying one different thing at a time, and see if anything works for you. There's probably no right or wrong answer.

Hope you get it sorted.

My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71

tonythegreek	22 Aug 16:00
Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 45 Bike: My Profile	happy forgive me but the second line sounds as if it was off forest gump LOL Just joking you gotta laugh or we would be a right sorry bunch
My Latest Route: Apr 2009 New Hartley Circular via Seaton Burn

happy	22 Aug 16:04
Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile	lol, I should really stop watching that film for inspiration... ;)
My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71

raywebb	22 Aug 16:37
Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Posts: 21 Bike: My Profile	Film ?...I thought it was a bloody documentary !!

RonnieG	23 Aug 03:38
Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 24 Bike: My Profile	F/slip, I had his, not so extreme though. I have two bikes and it was more apparent on one. On this particular bike the frame was larger wih the geometry causing me to lean forward more. It also hurt my shoulders/neck muscles. Is your bike the correct size for you? Ronnie

dorsetscout	02 Sep 07:55
Joined: 31 Aug 2008 Posts: 2 Bike: My Profile	I too have suffered from a similar complaint - the fist time was some years ago when I cycled accross Brittany. It only happens to me on long journeys. It also took a long time for the effects to go away, and as you said it's very annoying. I bought some gel pad mitts, which cushion the nerves on the palm of the hand. This seems to have sorted the problem. For me I don't think adjusting the handlebars would help, as on a long ride I alter my hand position and weight distribution from time to time, just to ease pressure points. However, I will try anything once (well, within reason!)
My Latest Route: Feb 2009 Old Bolingbroke Wolds Circuit

dorsetscout

02 Sep 07:55

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I too have suffered from a similar complaint - the fist time was some years ago when I cycled accross Brittany. It only happens to me on long journeys. It also took a long time for the effects to go away, and as you said it's very annoying.

I bought some gel pad mitts, which cushion the nerves on the palm of the hand. This seems to have sorted the problem.

For me I don't think adjusting the handlebars would help, as on a long ride I alter my hand position and weight distribution from time to time, just to ease pressure points. However, I will try anything once (well, within reason!)

My Latest Route: Feb 2009 Old Bolingbroke Wolds Circuit

forlinianslip	02 Sep 11:13
Joined: 22 Aug 2009 Posts: 17 Bike: My Profile	It's helpful to know that someone else has had the numbness for a long time afterward. I'm still numb, but it is getting better. However, this weekend I'm doing an intensive 130 trip through the Scottish lochs and highlands. Hopefully, I want do more damage. I have made some adjustments, and feel much better about my position. We'll see if that helps any! Thanks for the input.

stuartkendall	20 Sep 20:40
Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Posts: 25 Bike: My Profile	Brake lever position makes a huge difference. I used to run at a steep angle about 45 degrees but have reduced them to more like 30 and the problem has dimished to a great extent. I also always wear full fingered gloves to give the finger joints some protection from the vibro.
My Latest Route: Apr 2009 St Mellons to Coed Coesau and Draethen Loop

forlinianslip	21 Sep 01:43
Joined: 22 Aug 2009 Posts: 17 Bike: My Profile	Two good tips. Thanks, Stuart. Numbness is still there, but not so bad. I did change the position of my handlebars prior to my last 120 mile ride through Scotland with good success. Now if only I could get this very small, localised pain in my left shoulder to go away!

STID	21 Sep 04:06
Joined: 01 Jun 2009 Posts: 116 Bike: My Profile	Another tip; I have added another layer of handle bar tape on top of the existing tape, from top of brake lever to centre, and noticed a marked decrease in numbness. Don't buy the cheapest, and I did not get the gel filled tape. I paid Â£15.99 for mine and was easy to fit. Odd that it is mostly my left hand that suffers and hardly ever the right.
My Latest Route: Aug 2009 Abingdon to Long Crendon and Long Hanborough Loop.

Shortbusdriver1969	27 Sep 13:38
Joined: 16 Sep 2009 Posts: 19 Bike: My Profile	Its called: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. as you are putting pressure on the ball of your hand / palm, this area holds a nerve where the carpal tunnel lives. I had CTS from working at a factory for 4 years and had to have the Carpal Tunnel sysdrome release operation on both hands, and its very very very painfully, CTS manifests itself to a point where your hand(s) are numb all the time, just like you have woken after sleeping on your arm, its a debilitating reconised industrial injury one way of avioding this is to keep changing hand possitions, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpal_Tunnel_Syndrome

Shortbusdriver1969

27 Sep 13:38

Joined: 16 Sep 2009

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Its called: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. as you are putting pressure on the ball of your hand / palm,
this area holds a nerve where the carpal tunnel lives. I had CTS from working at a factory for 4 years and had to have the Carpal Tunnel sysdrome release operation on both hands, and its very very very painfully,
CTS manifests itself to a point where your hand(s) are numb all the time,
just like you have woken after sleeping on your arm,
its a debilitating reconised industrial injury
one way of avioding this is to keep changing hand possitions,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpal_Tunnel_Syndrome

Grattan	18 Nov 17:52
Joined: 18 Nov 2009 Posts: 1 Bike:	I have similar problem after only 4 yery enjoyable months of road cycling. Having researched the injury and discussed with my Physio and Sports Rehabilitator, we have concluded that the condition is known as 'Handlebars Pasly'. Google it and you will find 'Reasons for injury', 'Recommendations for treating injury' and 'Rehab exercises'. Very important to REST until condition abates.

yoyo123	16 Sep 21:56
Joined: 16 Sep 2011 Posts: 1 Bike:	Hi there When cycling ensure you have the right adjusted handlebars, level with your seat, if possible. The numbness in fingers, can be caused by your grips, ensure your grips are not that, that are making numbness and tingling in your hands! A decent and smart pair of grips I've found is the race face lock on grips, they are professional and offer a very smooth grip! Their around Â£22 - Â£35.00 for the pair! Pricey I know but worth it. I hope this review was worth it! Regards YO YO!

yoyo123

16 Sep 21:56

Joined: 16 Sep 2011

Posts: 1

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Hi there

When cycling ensure you have the right adjusted handlebars, level with your seat, if possible.

The numbness in fingers, can be caused by your grips, ensure your grips are not that, that are making numbness and tingling in your hands!

A decent and smart pair of grips I've found is the race face lock on grips, they are professional and offer a very smooth grip! Their around Â£22 - Â£35.00 for the pair!

Pricey I know but worth it.

I hope this review was worth it!

Regards

YO YO!

peej	06 Mar 07:29
Joined: 06 Mar 2012 Posts: 4 Bike:	not wanting to sound like the nerd , i had carpel tunnel and ulna nerve operation two weeks ago on the right side , the left side was done last august simply put it an issue of pressure on the nerve causing problems in the hands , you can buy flat gips and yes they have made a difference for my left hand , just hope when i can get back out they do the same on teh right side i have heard there is a flat style for drop bars too

peej

06 Mar 07:29

Joined: 06 Mar 2012

Posts: 4

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not wanting to sound like the nerd , i had carpel tunnel and ulna nerve operation two weeks ago on the right side , the left side was done last august
simply put it an issue of pressure on the nerve causing problems in the hands , you can buy flat gips and yes they have made a difference for my left hand , just hope when i can get back out they do the same on teh right side
i have heard there is a flat style for drop bars too

harley772	23 Mar 11:46
Joined: 23 Mar 2014 Posts: 10 Bike: My Profile	u have a ulnar nerve in part of ur hand that makes ur hand go to sleep ,good gloves and ergon grips barends so you can change position on long distance should sort it out

leelee	29 Mar 09:37
Joined: 10 Feb 2012 Posts: 30 Bike: My Profile	i had this as have many of you i was told in end that. the nerve affected runs up the middle of your palm an exits up your wrist damage to this area will result in ache of wrist some times known as tennis elbow as if not adressed does get worse and not just bike bars do this watch out for pliers mole grips and the best rivit guns there are palm grips you can buy they go well with mountain bikes but not so good on drops they account for this nerve so they claim while im at it i did race home one day and i held my bars so tight that the day after i sufferer pins and needles in three fingers on right hand that i went to hospital happy peddling use you legs as well

leelee

29 Mar 09:37

Joined: 10 Feb 2012

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i had this as have many of you
i was told in end that.
the nerve affected runs up the middle of your palm an exits up your wrist
damage to this area will result in ache of wrist
some times known as tennis elbow
as if not adressed does get worse
and not just bike bars do this
watch out for pliers mole grips
and the best rivit guns
there are palm grips you can buy they go well with mountain bikes
but not so good on drops
they account for this nerve so they claim
while im at it i did race home one day and i held my bars so tight
that the day after i sufferer pins and needles in three fingers on right hand
that i went to hospital
happy peddling
use you legs as well

louistarmac	15 Aug 06:39
Joined: 15 Aug 2015 Posts: 5 Bike:	id have to agree with the bars being a little low ive just raised my seat dropped my bars and got the tingling in the left thumb and fingers now its bars going up a little time

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