Oh, my aching wrist.

Venus97 · 03-11-2007, 6:21 AM

I went for about 120 mi ride Sat. 3/10-no big deal and by the time I got home I did not have the strength in my left wrist to even make a fist.

I've riden much longer distances in the past and never had this problem before on this bike.

I did some adjustment to my converti-bars and angled the clutch lever down more.

I'll can only think maybe start of carpal tunel?? I type big time in my job.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Mikesblackbird · 03-11-2007, 7:34 AM

Could be a function of age. I just turned 50 and last year started to feel the effects of riding on my wrists beginning last season. Up until then, I never had a problem. I now stretch my body before longer rides including my wrists and now I feel fine. I also take a naprosyn/alleve every morning to help with the sore muscles from jogging. Like you I spend alot of time on a keyboard and I might even have the start of some carpal tunnel syndrome, but stretching seems to help.

Good luck and ride safe.

Mike

OMG · 03-12-2007, 12:42 AM

Absolutely the best thing to do is sell the offending device to my son who has been trying to talk me out of mine.
Long trips won't bother him at all. He will even come down there to pick it up.

Seriously though there are some specific stretches you must do to prevent carpal damage. As owner of a health spa, I suggest you call a few massage therapists to learn how.

apprenticexx · 03-12-2007, 1:30 AM

You should do some research and look into Prolotherapy. It is a natural healing method. I have several friends with carple tunnel, tennis elbow, bad rotator cuffs and a host of other join problems. 4-6 treatments, no drugs, no more pain ever again. It utilizes injections with a saline/steroid solution (only like 5% steroid) to cause the area to swell and heal. For carple tunnel, my friend had 6 injections in one day around the wrist and the shoulder to relieve nerves....6 visits to the good doctor and no more problems. Been two years now. She was in so much pain daily that she couldn't work or move her hand for that matter. Because of the nerve problems she had no feeling in her fingers. Medical doctor told her to get surgery with only a 50-50 chance of repair. She's good as new. Same with my buddy with tennis elbow and two friends with bad rotator cuffs. Try it if the pain persists...good luck.

Venus97 · 03-12-2007, 8:44 AM

Thanks for the good suggestions. If it happens again, I'll need implement some corrective actions.

redxxrdr · 03-12-2007, 10:02 AM

I find that I change my riding position after being off for a while. With my bird, stock set up, I need to keep my elbows in towards the tank to eliminate wrist pain. Funny thing, this keeps my arms bent properly, and actually puts less stress on my back.

dunedain · 03-12-2007, 11:39 AM

If you've ever been to a racing school they'll make you flap your elbows like a chicken wing or control the bike with just your finger tips to show your light on the bars. This reduces fatiuge and helps you better control the bike. It also helps to strenghten your stomach and back muscles so you can sit at an angle that more comfortable. I'm a big typer too.

I did about 500miles Saturday two up and it was good. My knees suffer some.

I'm your age and take 800mg motrin before I ride and after.

That prolotherapy thing sounds intersting. I'm going toi chack that out for some aches and pains.

I completely agree with a good preride stretch and post ride stretch. Take your 4 fingers and pull them back and hold them, then pull them down the opposite way together. then individually then the thumb.

jcrich · 03-12-2007, 5:14 PM

Quote:

I did some adjustment to my converti-bars and angled the clutch lever down more.

Ummmm...trying changing it back to the way it was?

Coggy · 03-12-2007, 5:39 PM

Have you got a pad in front of your keyboard to rest your wrists on when typing? Might help
Ours are about an inch tall and two inches wide and run the full length

sandyraz · 03-13-2007, 12:10 AM

massage therapy is way helpful,you may be holding too tight but i believe the very operation of carpal tunel creates more blockage from scar tissue in the rentinaculim band tight pronator teres bicips and thorasic area could be the culprit i would seek a sports massage therapist or medical massage setting etc.

Venus97 · 03-13-2007, 8:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandyraz

massage therapy is way helpful,you may be holding too tight but i believe the very operation of carpal tunel creates more blockage from scar tissue in the rentinaculim band tight pronator teres bicips and thorasic area could be the culprit i would seek a sports massage therapist or medical massage setting etc.

-----------------
Could not have said it better myself. Thanks. I've had on going back pain since getting r/ended 2 yrs ago. I've been doing stretching everyday, which was taught by physical therapist-but still develop muscle pain/tighening after hitting the weights repeatedly. I'll try stretching more, taking OTC anti- inflammatories, and monitor my weight on the wrists. I just adjusted the clutch down more after the ride, so I'll see if that helps. We've had wonderful weather but I've got the flu Sat. night (maybe the bird flu after riding the BB for a few hours??) and have lost my strength and abt 4 lbs. Thanks for the suggestion.

rdkng88 · 03-14-2007, 9:54 PM

I will soon be 56 I try to get a 40 mile ride in every evening. I have a bulging disk in my neck and the position on my stock XX helps keep everything pullrd apart and I live without pain most of the time. When I go a few days without riding I begin to hurt. As far as my wrists I put pressure on the gas tank with my knees while applying the brakes and this keeps the pressure off my arms and wrist. When going 110 MPH the wind keeps the pressure off my wrists. I also use one of those throttle levers this helps.

Tlindley · 03-14-2007, 10:20 PM

I've spent most of my time in front of a keyboard for 18 years. When I began having problems with my wrists I took therapy called "Active Release", which worked amazingly. I also did it when I injured my rotator cuff and couldn't raise my arm above my head.. again, worked perfectly.

Here's why you should try it first:

It's inexpensive, quick, permanent, and you'll know in the first treatment whether it will work or not. And nothing gets injected anywhere. Oh, it does kind of hurt. But it's a good hurt.

It costs about the same as a trip to a chiropractor or masseuse, and you will get 70% results in the first visit if they can solve the problem. Typically 3-5 follow-up visits to get you to 100% and away you go. There is no long term follow-up, once you are fixed you are fixed.

You can find a practitioner at:

Active Release Techniques®

This Prolotherapy does sounds intriguing.

bhanxx · 03-21-2007, 10:43 PM

arch the lower back leaning more backwards and loosen your grip on the grips, it does miracles. Also, if u unconsciously clench (or grind) your teeth, relax (don't ask how i know this)...

billypf · 03-22-2007, 12:51 AM

Another huge factor that can cause carpal tunnel like symptoms is the position that you have your wrists while you sleep. If you sleep with any tension on your wrists in can cause pain, discomfort, numbness, and other symtoms. I would just wait to see if it happends again, and make sure that you arnt sleeping with your wrists bent at all.

WWW · 03-24-2007, 8:54 PM

I use a throttle lock to give my throttle wrist, arm and shoulder a breif rest during a long ride, by a long ride I mean 1000 klm's or more. Done it many times...I made 2'' riser for the handle bars also. I race on the track and my arms pump up I ride tight gripped, you have to learn to relax and steer more with your lower body keeping light pressure on the bars...Your wrist may not fade as soon if your riding relaxed, lighten up on the grips when you first experience fatique. It's a mental thing sometime also...

WWW

Good-n-sticky · 03-25-2007, 10:01 PM

I find that when I'm starting to be aware of hand and shoulder pains I am not as relaxed as I should be, and have to much of my weight forward resting on the handle bars..usually on the long straight aways. as soon as I catch myself and make corrections, it seems to go away quickly...

flipy351 · 04-02-2007, 8:27 AM

As www says try to relax your grip. Also try riding with your hands just lightly resting on bars with no grip and tighten up your back to lift weight of hands. Youll be surprised just how much your probably lying on the bars.

Also I have a nep throttle lock fited which frees up right hand.

Often ride on straight boring parts with left hand only and right elbow leaning on tank with throttle lock doing work.

I find also a certain speed (classified) wind will hold your weight of bars to make it comfortable.

bhanxx · 04-03-2007, 9:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipy351

I find also a certain speed (classified) wind will hold your weight of bars to make it comfortable.

that classified speed is 95, the sweet spot, smooth as a babys bottom and the boiler room fully lit ready for more instant on giggles. Anyway, that's what I've heard, hehehehehehe...

flblackbird · 04-03-2007, 9:58 AM

Acupuncture helped me, I shattered my right wrist about 13 years ago @ Road Atlanta (laid her down going into turn 10), & it hasn't been the same since. Those long 300+ milers on the weekends really takes it's toll on the throttle wrist.
Those Chinese guys really work wonders with those little needles

SSUXX · 04-06-2007, 11:38 AM

Heli bars.

I rode my '99 with Heli bars (And stiffer springs). When I rode my newly bought stock '03 home, I IMMEDIATELY noticed the difference. Needless to say, I installed Heli bars shortly after buying the '03. Get one of those $10 throttle rocker things too. Big help.

shovelstrokeed · 04-09-2007, 8:48 AM

You have convertibars, all you really need to do is angle the bars outward just a bit more. About 5 degrees worked for me. The stock bar angle has you turning your wrists at a bad angle which multiplies the forces passing through them. I use the stock bars and what I did was slid my fork legs up in the triple a little bit and then moved the bars upward till the locating tang cleared the slot in the upper triple. Turned them outward till they felt right and tightened everything down.

Before anyone tells me about the danger of this, the front wheel will slide under braking before the bars turn so it shouldn't be a problem.

snowman4god · 04-23-2007, 7:28 PM

i have had carpal tunnel for many years ,most drug stores sell wrist braces
you can wear to relieve it ,i wear mine at night when it gets bad and it tends to help
snowman

smoothmotion · 04-23-2007, 9:06 PM

Stop typing? Ride more! JMHO

SoutherncrossXX · 06-12-2008, 6:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipy351

As www says try to relax your grip. Also try riding with your hands just lightly resting on bars with no grip and tighten up your back to lift weight of hands. Youll be surprised just how much your probably lying on the bars.

Also I have a nep throttle lock fited which frees up right hand.

Often ride on straight boring parts with left hand only and right elbow leaning on tank with throttle lock doing work.

I find also a certain speed (classified) wind will hold your weight of bars to make it comfortable.

Flipy351 - would you have any photos of your NEP throttle lock &/or fitting details???

canuck · 06-12-2008, 8:44 PM

Here is a picture of my setup.

After having my right hand go so numb I could barely use it I tried all sorts of things, but now that my bars are up way high, and I have the throttle lock in place I can really enjoy my rides rather than deal with the wrist problems.