Fifty Plus (50+) - Numbness in hands and fingers

I am having some serious issues with numbness in my arms and hands after a ride of any length.

It seems to be worse on the right side, and has increasingly become a problem in recent months.

Thoughts on the causes will be appreciated.

Hand numbness is usually related to direct pressure on the base of the palm where the median (central palm) and ulnar (small finger side) come in to supply both motor and sensory function. If the numbness is more toward the index middle then median n. compression is the problem. If the small/ring fingers are involved then it is ulnar neuropathy, less common than median. Typical road bars or drop bars give you a lot of options for hand positioning to relieve this, on top of the bar inside of the brakes, on the brake hoods and on the drops. By rotating your position you can reduce the problem. A flat handlebar, like ATB or comfort bikes does not give you many options. Barends might help. I assume you are wearing cycling gloves and have the bar wrapped? There are thicker foam bar tapes which can spreadout the pressure. The bar can be raised so it is at least as high as the seat or higher to reduce hand pressure. Numbness up the arms suggests a nerve compression up higher, usually in the neck or within the first 8 inches of travel of the nerve away from the neck. That would require MD involvement to evaluate.

Steve

I am having some serious issues with numbness in my arms and hands after a ride of any length.

It seems to be worse on the right side, and has increasingly become a problem in recent months.

Thoughts on the causes will be appreciated.

I have a similar problem. I rode 29 miles today and was experiencing some numbness in my right hand and a little in my right forearm. While my seat is comfortable, I am thinking about getting another one. I am hoping someone replys to your post who has had this problem. I was also thinking it was because I was riding an aluminum bike but it could be anything.

Book,
Besides the usual admonition to change hand positions frequently from bar sleeves down to hooks and in between, consider whether your bars are too low, which pulls your torso down and puts more weight on your hands/arms. Many riders, especially "mature" riders, find that bars that are near, at, or even slightly above seat height are more comfortable. I find an aero bar on long, solo rides to be a big help in periodically getting weight totally off hands and arms. Riding no-hands now and then is nice for back and hands alike. Gel cushioned tape and gloves can't hurt. Staying "loose", no death-grip on the bars, with frequent movement of hands/arms helps. Little things like fatter tires with lower pressures might also help cushion road buzz and shock. So can riding on the sides or the "heels" of your hands, or hooking your thumbs over the hoods.

As Granny says, the most obvious reason for hand numbness is that you are putting too much weight on your hands. Modern bicycles with their admonitions for smaller than ideal sizes and threadless headsets don't put the bars high enough for REAL(tm) people.

The rule at one time was that the bar tops weren't suppose to be more than one inch below the saddle nose. (Anyone see that on any modern bike lately?) Most modern bikes start out with 3 inches below. Consequently you are supporing far too much weight on your hands and pushing on the ulnar nerve.

You might have your local bike shop raise the bars as much as possible and check your position to determine if the reach is too long as well.

Gloves and bar tape are derigor so I won't suggest them.

I am having some serious issues with numbness in my arms and hands after a ride of any length.

It seems to be worse on the right side, and has increasingly become a problem in recent months.

Thoughts on the causes will be appreciated.

I think everyone battles this one at one time or another. Some things to look at:

- Get some good gloves that will protect the median nerve. After trying a many pairs of gloves, Linda and I have settled on Ironman Gloves (http://www.ironmancycling.com/index.html) that really helped.

- Get the weight off your hands. Seat adjustment can play a big part in the problem. A saddle tilted too far forward can cause you to lean on your hands all the time.

- Make a conscious effort to not lean on your hands so much. I'm guilty of this towards the end of a long ride. I start getting fatigued and start leaning on my hands.

- Increase your core strength. Stong abdominals and back muscles will help you to not have to lean on your hands so much.

- Bike material can make a difference. Carbon absorbs road shock and vibration. I *believe* that steel does too, but I can't verify that as I've never owned a steel bike.

- Handlebar tape (or more importantly, what's under the tape) can make a huge difference. Some manufacturers make gel products to go under the tape that makes for a softer surface to hold and can absorb a lot of the vibration. Specialized makes a product called Bar Phat (javascript:reviewPopup('http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2004/reviews/specialized_bar_phat')) that works really, really well.

Unfortunatly, there aren't any "one size fits all" solutions to this one. Lots of other factors can figure in there too. I know my hands bothered me more when we were riding comfort or hybrid bikes than they do now on a road bike. I think flat style handlebars aggravated the problem on long rides.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Steve

I also suffered from numbness in my hands. I also have a shoulder that would ache really bad after a long ride, the results of a tear years ago. I have 2 flat bar bikes and even with bar ends there was never enough places to move the hands to. So, most of my riding was done on my Cannondale T2000. I finally extended the stem and shortened it but though better, I still had pain. The pain appeared even on my short 5 mile daily commute.

In May this year I bought a Easy Racer Tour Easy recumbent. First day to work, and no hand pain at all. This week I will roll up 2,100 miles with the longest trip of 450 miles in 5 days with no hand pain at all. The shoulder has not bothered me since I started riding the bent. I am much slower up hills but I still get there in the end. I just completed 82 miles of the Harvest Century in Oregon yesterday and rode to work this morning with no pain. Needless to say I am sold on recumbents.
Phil

Note you have a mountain bike, so do you have Bar ends? These offer alternative hand positions and relieve some Numbness. Bar grips come in all sizes and shapes and materials. I have a small hand but have gone for a very firm thick rubber on the grips, and this helped me. The other point is do you have a death grip on the bars? Holding the bars loosely, but with stiff fingers will lift your weight off the bars. You have to keep the forearms stiff aswell, and take some doing, but this works for me- particularly downhill.

Then there are exercises. Take one hand off the bars and clench and unclench a fist. This always works when the damage has been done. Finally- Are your fingers cold when this happens. Don't mean cold weather, but when the numbness comes- if your fingers feel cold you may have a circulation problem.

Then there are exercises. Take one hand off the bars and clench and unclench a fist. This always works when the damage has been done.

This exercise suggestion makes a huge difference for me. I regularly turn my head from side to side and tilt it left and right frequently.

I remove one hand at a time from the bar and elevate it over my head and then extend it behind me while clenching, unclenching and shaking my hand.

I change position on the bar frequently.

I try and never grip the bar hard over an extended period. Keep a thumb hooked though in case you hit something which might jerk it from your hand.

Lastly, I do use the weight machine to work the upper body, including the abs and lower back. High reps and low weight works for me.

I've had this problem and raising the handlebars offered some help. Unfortunately, when I got the bars high enough to do some good, I began to have seat induced prostate problems. The real problem is the DF bike layout. It just doesn't work well for over 50's. It seems like you are always trying some new adjustment to deal with pain. The answer is a long wheel base recumbent like the Tour Easy, EZ sports, Rans Stratus etc. They are waaay more comfortable and your hands just rest on the bars without carrying any weight. Try one, you'll be amazed at the difference. bk

I also suffered from numbness in my hands. I also have a shoulder that would ache really bad after a long ride, the results of a tear years ago. I have 2 flat bar bikes and even with bar ends there was never enough places to move the hands to. So, most of my riding was done on my Cannondale T2000. I finally extended the stem and shortened it but though better, I still had pain. The pain appeared even on my short 5 mile daily commute.

In May this year I bought a Easy Racer Tour Easy recumbent. First day to work, and no hand pain at all. This week I will roll up 2,100 miles with the longest trip of 450 miles in 5 days with no hand pain at all. The shoulder has not bothered me since I started riding the bent. I am much slower up hills but I still get there in the end. I just completed 82 miles of the Harvest Century in Oregon yesterday and rode to work this morning with no pain. Needless to say I am sold on recumbents.
Phil

Do recumbents go as fast as regular bikes? How expensive are recumbants?

In May this year I bought a Easy Racer Tour Easy recumbent. First day to work, and no hand pain at all. This week I will roll up 2,100 miles with the longest trip of 450 miles in 5 days with no hand pain at all. The shoulder has not bothered me since I started riding the bent. I am much slower up hills but I still get there in the end. I just completed 82 miles of the Harvest Century in Oregon yesterday and rode to work this morning with no pain. Needless to say I am sold on recumbents.
Phil

Numbness in hands, arms, legs or feet? :(

Buy a recumbent! ;)

Here are a couple of nice dealers
of which I own their products but
have no financial interest. I recommend
either of them tho for their fine products.

Easy Racers http://www.easyracers.com
Lightning Cycle Dynamics http://www.lightningbikes.com

Ned Goudy

Crosscreak makes some bar ends for straight bars that are rubber over an aluminum body. It's like a molded clay shape and I find I like them a lot. I have them set just so and they provide an alternate hand position. I got rid of my long metal bar ends when I found out I should not bear down on them, seeing as how they could torque the handle bar in the stem.

Numbness in hands, arms, legs or feet? :(

Buy a recumbent! ;)

Here are a couple of nice dealers
of which I own their products but
have no financial interest. I recommend
either of them tho for their fine products.

Easy Racers http://www.easyracers.com
Lightning Cycle Dynamics http://www.lightningbikes.com

Ned Goudy


Ned,
Which ones do you own...I kind of like this one. I will keep my bike but I may want to ride one of these.
http://www.easyracers.com/images/riding2.jpg

Thanks to all for the various feedback.

I wear a decent set of Specialized gloves, and long since installed a set of bar-ends on the flat, stock handlebars.

The bars could probably be raised a bit, but to get much more would require a new stem.

Several years ago I horsetraded a cushy seat I had laying around for a Trek prostate friendly seat (model number forgotten). My private parts have since been very grateful...

Giving it some thought, I think I am about due for a visit to the bone and nerve quack. In '96 I suffered an injury that damaged a rotator cuff (right shoulder), and misaligned a vertabrae in my back. PT and Cortisone and time helped the shoulder. And about eight trips to the chiropractor took care of my upper middle back. My suspicion is that the back injury is a big part of this issue.

When I went riding this evening, I first noticed a burning sensation between my shoulder blades, and at this writing (typing?), am still having tingling sensations on both hands. That is two hours after the ride.

Finally, the recumbent idea is one I have not seriously considered, but perhaps I should. I bookmarked those links. In fact, I already browsed around. The darn things are pricey!

Thanks again,
Rick