Comments on: The Man With No Right Hand

By: Isaac

Isaac — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 19:08:20 +0000

I had a similar issue with my left hand… Got to a point 5 miles into a 99-mlie mtb race where I couldn’t shift with my left hand because I couldn’t push hard enough on the shift levers. Couldn’t pick up an iPad for 3 days because I didn’t have any pinch strength. Couldn’t play guitar for a couple of months.

I went to a neurologist to do some nerve tests and it turned out to be a pinched left ulnar nerve. The surgeon I was referred to suggested I could try PT (he said if it didn’t work within 2 weeks or so, it probably wouldn’t at all), acupuncture (“There’s lots of stuff we don’t know about medicine, and if your insurance will cover it, there’s no reason not to try it), surgery (that this was only one of the options the _surgeon_ gave me was actually really impressive), or ignoring it and hoping for the best.

I was able to pretty conclusively prove that it was the bike position (not riding that specific bike for 4-6 weeks made it go away; riding it once had it start showing back up again immediately) but didn’t have the time/money to put into trying to fix that bike’s positioning of my body. I sold the bike and got a different one and have had minimal issues with it since.

I am noticing it kick back up again, so there may come a point where I have to look into it again — but I’d recommend checking with a neurologist. They’ve got some pretty good tools for diagnosis these days, and it’ll at least give you a jumping-off point on actually solving it long-term.

I hadn’t thought to try a neurologist. I will check into it. Thanks! – FC

By: THOMAS

THOMAS — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 12:39:19 +0000

I had this problem until I switched handlebars. I think the folks above who are saying you have a pinched nerve are correct; but the folks who suggest different positions for your hand are probably not correct. I think it’s the position of your ARM, not your hands.

By: walter

walter — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 18:39:30 +0000

As a non-medical provider, I would suggest lowering your seat a tad (that’s a technical bike term) to relieve some of the pressure you may be putting on your hands.

By: AndyB

AndyB — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 18:43:34 +0000

I actually am a man with no right hand and found this post rather funny. Not much of a mountain biker as a result, but do get out on the roads almost every day.

By: MattC

MattC — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 16:48:14 +0000

Hey Fatty…just wondering if you’ve running a dropper posts (I seem to recall in most pics I’ve seen of your mtb’s in the past that they didn’t have dp’s). All I can say from my own experience is that being able to drop my center of gravity 4 inches vastly changes my body-position on steep descents, thus making them fun rather than a thing of terror. The point of all that is that by NOT being terrified on descents I’ve noticed I no longer have the “death-grip” on my bars that I used to…and my right-hand numbness takes a whole-lot longer on the bike to show up now than it used to (if I ride for 7 to 8 hours I’ll still get it to some degree, but I used to get it even on short rides of an hour or so). I also use Ergon grips as they do help some, but the DP seemed to be the big ticket fix for me. Just my 2 cents.

By: UpTheGrade

UpTheGrade — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 20:29:16 +0000

Judging by the fact your numbness affects primarily two fingers and not your thumb or rest of hand, I’d suspect a branch of the Median nerve in your palm is getting pinched between a bone or tendon and your handlebar. Pressing opposite of that area shifts the pressure and relieves the compression of the nerve temporarily. When I said padding, I meant cause the pressure to divert away from that point by using something like a piece of moleskin cut in the shape of a doughnut with the hole placed where you think the problem is originating. However, pinpointing the exact location can be tricky and it could even be originating in the wrist (carpal tunnel). There is tons of info on the net about the position of the median nerve branches to guide you. Hope you find a solution.
Example of moleskin: https://tinyurl.com/y8oa89f9

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 18:21:36 +0000

This is a pretty common complaint in powerlifting.

We have a supportive device called a “wrist wrap”. It’s a soft stretchy piece of fabric you wrap around your wrist like a very soft light cast. In heavy exercises or in your case a rather difficult descent you can grab the wrap and make it a little tighter, then loosen it at the bottom for more comfort.

The wrap does a few things. It provides warmth in the wrist which can help a lot. It also provides a better proprioception of where your wrist is positioned during vigorous activity and will usually prevent you from unconsciously putting it in a bad position.

I hope that helps and you find some relief!

By: Anon

Anon — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 14:59:57 +0000

I have a similar problem that occurs both on a mountain bike and a road bike, however, it is more noticeable on a mountain bike. My theory is that it’s because there are fewer hand positions to move to and I move my hands less frequently on the mountain bike. If I consciously remind myself to pick my hands up occasionally, it does help (on both types of bike). As UpTheGrade mentioned earlier, death-gripping the handlebars doesn’t do me any favors either, so I’ve learned to try to loosen up a bit. Neither of these options have completely taken away the problem, but it does help and/or limit the discomfort and numbness. Hope you find a solution that works (and that you’ll share it with those of us who also deal with this issue).

By: Bill Claypool

Bill Claypool — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 14:54:14 +0000

I think the (temporary) relief you get from rolling/pressing maneuver is due to position it puts your wrist.

I bet that your right hand is also your mouse hand?

I have a wrist band which a wear on my forearm just above my wrist when my symptoms get bad. It’s a couple of inches wide with a cinch buckle and Velcro. I wear is tighter than you would think comfortable. After a week or so, things are better for a while.

The same band may improve tennis elbow too.

By: Tominalbany

Tominalbany — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 12:25:34 +0000

Have you considered massage? My guess is that tension isn’t just in your hand but, it’s all the way up your arm and into your torso. Since you’re likely right-handed, (?), you probably do so much more with that side of your body as well.