Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Anyone?

[Footie]

Been on holiday so missed this post until now.

I had Carpal Tunnel Release surgery (on my right hand) last year and it helped immensely. At the time I only had the right hand done, as the left one was mild. Unfortunately, the symptoms have got a lot worse (I now get painful electric shocks in the wrist that make me drop things) so I have had to ask my Doctor to re-refer me. It's a nine-month waiting list here, so I've got to put up with it for a while.
No problem driving the van but my thumb goes to sleep when driving the wife’s car
I get pins and needles (in the whole of my hand) on the ebike. But it's worse when riding the motorbike. Luckily, it's the left hand, a few good shakes (in both cases) usually brings it back to life
I don't know that any 'one' thing causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. As far as I know, it's due to trapped nerves running through the wrist and it's their 'release' that cures the problem. For my own part, I try to avoid gripping handlebars and steering wheels too hard (not easy as it can be essential to maintaining control).
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[Shroppielass]

This thread from a little while ago is pertinent to me as I’m currently looking for a suitable e-bike. I too have carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand and a problem with my thumb which may or may not be related. I am reminded that the main thing that aggravated it in the past was the combination of vibration, grip and putting weight through the wrist when riding my mountain bike. As I now hardly ride this bike the CTS has become less of a problem.
I had been thinking that I should opt for a bike with a more upright position but your comments John, on the different riding postures are helpful in confirming this.

My question relates to using a throttle. I have speculated that operating a throttle would aggravate things. Does anyone find this?
I recently tried Powabyke’s new X-bike. The throttle operation is between thumb and forefinger and after just a few minutes of cycling around I knew that I would not be able to sustain this mode of operation for very long.

 

[flecc]

My question relates to using a throttle. I have speculated that operating a throttle would aggravate things. Does anyone find this?

Many find the twistgrip throttles a problem too, and they can be very tiring to hold open for long periods. Many e-bike throttle twistgrips have quite strong springs, so the strain mounts up, especially since with e-bikes, it's mostly at or near full throttle.

There's no doubt that a true pedelec bike is the least tiring on the hands and wrists.
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[Phil the drill]

Hi

It's also well worth taking a good look at the type of handlebar design. Straight bar designs are very uncomfortable to hold for many carpal tunnel syndrome sufferers as you tend to place a large portion of your forward weight into just the one spot between your thumb and forefinger, rather than spread more evenly over all the fingers and palm. More relaxed, upright and backswept handlebars are more comfortable for those with carpal tunnel syndrome or scaphoid injuries to hold. Note that you won't be able to 'get your head down and pump away' on that type of arrangement though! Although much maligned in general, a decent front suspension fork setup can also be a great help here.

Phil

 

[Cyclezee]

I couldn't agree more Phil. From personal experience my Agattu with the step thru frame is a much more relaxed and comfortable ride with it's upright sweptback handlebars and front suspension. The daimond frame Agattu's bars are flatter, but personally, still tolerable for a CTS sufferer. In contrast the Cytronex was extremely uncomfortable from my point of view, bringing on CTS after a very short period of time and the main reason I sold it.

J hn

 

[frank9755]

I agree completely with the point about ergonomic bars. Cyclists who spend a long time riding bikes have drop-bars where your grip is parallel to the direction of travel. It always amuses me to come up behind a cyclist riding a mountain bike with flat bars and see their elbows twisted out in an attempt to get a grip on bars designed for looks, not practical usage.

The other pitfall for wrists is having a bike set up for the wrong style of riding - again often a fashion / appearance thing. Even if you don't have CTS or other hand/wrist problem, it's never a good idea to have too much weight on your hands or wrists as they are not designed for long-term load bearing!

Of course the harder you pedal, the more you are supporting yourself on your feet and there is less weight on your hands (and if you pedal really hard, like a sprint-cyclist, the weight on your hands goes negative and you are actually pulling up on the bars). Riders who want to pedal hard therefore need to have their weight distributed differently and can get away with very low handlebars because their pedalling means there is actually very little weight on their wrists.

The error therefore is taking a set-up configured to be comfortable for someone who is pedalling hard and giving it to a rider who wants to pedal gently. That's another reason why I think that the Cytronex is potentially a great bike for the right rider, but not for everyone!

 

[Jeremy]

I find that the handlebar position on my 'bent is just about perfect for combating CTS. The bars are under the seat, positioned so that your arms are at your side with your hands positioned in a "thumbs up" position.

Although not fashionable, the old style of bars that placed your hands almost parallel with the direction of travel seemed to always be comfortable. When it comes to cycling comfort we could take note of the Dutch. Their upright bikes with swept back bars might look odd and be a bit draggy, but they are very comfortable for low speed cycling on level ground.

Jeremy

 

[eddieo]

My wife had surgery for this condition years ago and has not mentioned it since....

 

[flecc]

I'm with everyone above on handlebars, the traditional comfort shape is ergonomically far better overall and the step through Agattu's bars are a very good example of best practice. The similar earlier Lafree series were also very good in this respect.

Straight or near straight mountain bike handlebars were fine for their original purpose, wrestling a bike over very difficult terrain for quite short periods, also true for motorcycle trials bars, but as road handlebars they are physically uncomfortable and potentially damaging.
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[Footie]

Thought I would resurrect this thread to say, I’ve recently had my appointment come through for my carpal tunnel release - 27 Feb 09.
My thumb now has almost continuous pins and needles and the electric shocks I get are eye wateringly painful.
It's going to be hell - 2 months not able to ride.
But at least it will be all healed up for the start of spring and the sunshine
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[flecc]

Best wishes for that Footie, it will be good to have that relief.
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[gwing]

Thought I would resurrect this thread to say, I’ve recently had my appointment come through for my carpal tunnel release - 27 Feb 09.
My thumb now has almost continuous pins and needles and the electric shocks I get are eye wateringly painful.
It's going to be hell - 2 months not able to ride.
But at least it will be all healed up for the start of spring and the sunshine
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Hi Footie,
Sorry you are suffering with this, there may be stuff you can do to ease the problem while aiting for the surgery though.
Basically CTS is caused by the nerves getting compressed and pinched where they pass through the tunnels. They share these with tendons which similarly suffer and become inflamed. As they get inflamed they swell causing more pressure so that subsequent movement becomes even more painfull and produces yet more inflammation so it is a sort of vicious spiral.
As well from avoiding positions that bend and compress the wrist (handlebar position and type) you can help greatly by doing anything that reduces inflammation - so ibruprofen gel or herbal alternatives are excellent. A good osteopath or physio can also really help by freeing the tendons and enabling smoother movement - this combined with anti inflamatories can sometimes avoid surgery completely but should at least help. Worked for me
Rob.

 

[torrent99]

Hi Footie,
Sorry you are suffering with this, there may be stuff you can do to ease the problem while aiting for the surgery though.
Basically CTS is caused by the nerves getting compressed and pinched where they pass through the tunnels. They share these with tendons which similarly suffer and become inflamed. As they get inflamed they swell causing more pressure so that subsequent movement becomes even more painfull and produces yet more inflammation so it is a sort of vicious spiral.
As well from avoiding positions that bend and compress the wrist (handlebar position and type) you can help greatly by doing anything that reduces inflammation - so ibruprofen gel or herbal alternatives are excellent. A good osteopath or physio can also really help by freeing the tendons and enabling smoother movement - this combined with anti inflamatories can sometimes avoid surgery completely but should at least help. Worked for me
Rob.

Speaking of tendinopathy... The handlebars on my Wisper have given me a really nasty acute case (and the Crampbuster I tried on the throttle made it much worse!). Any one know where I can get some nice dutch style handlebars that dont cost a fortune? (and what's yheir proper name?)

Cheers Steve

 

[Footie]

.... (and what's yheir proper name?) ....

Same as yours
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[torrent99]

Same as yours
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What Steve? Steve handlebars? Wow!

 

[Footie]

What Steve? Steve handlebars? Wow!

Dah! Foughts yous weres twalking 2 me
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