Forearm pain

[Lise]

Looking for insight and ideas. Since I started riding my Bianchi Veloche, I have pain in my right forearm, upper outer area. It feels muscular. I looked in my anatomy book--it seems to be where the palmaris longus attaches to the humerus. It feels warm and painful to the touch. It hurts to use that arm to twist or carry anything. I am right handed, so this is annoying.

I never had this pain when riding the Larkspur, so I figure the difference is the way I hold the handlebars (mtn bike-type straight bars vs. road/racing). There's no pain in my left forearm. I'm aware that I hold a lot of tension in my hands when riding. My 4th & 5th fingers are usually pretty tightly curled in. That may be the problem.

Sometimes it's so painful that I ice it and take NSAIDs all day.

Any thoughts or similar experiences?

[mimitabby]

aw, man!! dumb question; you been fitted?

[Lenusik]

Lise, yes, good question, have you been fitted. You could be just slightly off anf all your pain comes from it. Also, think about your other activities. If you work on a computer, you can get any kind of unexpected pains. Did you pick up anything heavy lately?

[KnottedYet]

I'm one of those mutants who doesn't have a palmaris longus. And even more rare, I don't have one in either arm!

At a family reunion (after I learned about the p.l. of mystery) we all checked, and I don't think anyone but spouses had 'em. Must be a dominant mutation in our family....


moooooo-hoooo-heh-heh!

[Denise223]

Hi Lise!

I'm sorry to hear that you're having pain in your right forearm. You stated that it feels warm & painful -- are you having any swelling in that area or tingling in your ring/pinky finger??


It hurts to use that arm to twist or carry anything

I know that you're a CNM & (obviously), use your hands A LOT....any chance that this might be carpal tunnel syndrome?

If I were you, I'd make an appointment with a hand surgeon, just to have it checked out. (or general orthopedic surgeon).

I hope that your arm/hand feels better soon -- Please keep us posted!

Denise

[Tuckervill]

A long time ago (10+ years) I got tennis elbow from using the mouse on my computer. Since I started college online, I have some other kind of -elbow, involving tendonitis on the outside of the elbow. (It's from using the touchpad on my laptop with my middle finger instead of a mouse.)

It really hurts when I ride sometimes, and my grip is useless and I can't twist like you said. But, I finally found the tennis elbow strap I was given way back and after wearing it for a couple of days, my arm feels GREAT and strong with the support. Maybe you should try one. They're available at the drugstore.

Karen

[Lise]

Thanks for the suggestions--

I was fitted to the bike when I first got it, mid April. It's probably time for a double check on the fit. The pain is localized to the top of the muscle, just below the elbow. No problems with hand/fingers, so I don't think it's carpal tunnel. Other activities are the same. Really the only difference this summer is the kind of bike I'm riding. I've done the same work, ridden approximately the same number of hours in the past few summers. It's entirely possible that I injured myself lifting or carrying something--but nothing I remember. I *do* work with my hands a lot, but have never had this kind of pain before. One thing that occurs to me is that the Bianchi is so light that I tend to pick it up with just my right hand when going up stair or through doors sometimes (like when I ride to work). That could be contributing.

Knotted--I was just guessing about the palmarus longus, based on pain location and the picture in my anatomy text. How did you know that you didn't have one? Unless of course they told you back on your planet before you made the jump into lightspeed to come over here...:p "...the only way they can tell we're not human is if they detect the lack of a palmarus longus..."

I'll look for a tennis elbow strap at the drugstore. I'll also go back into LBS and ask them to look at the fit again. I'll let you know if I figure anything out! L.

[mimitabby]

Hey Lise,
one more thing changed since last year. You are 1 year older this year. :( :(

[Lise]

Hey Lise,
one more thing changed since last year. You are 1 year older this year. :( :(
TELL me about it! My birthday is one week from today...I'll be 46. I finally get it why "grown ups" would say, "I don't feel that old!" Maybe my palmarus longus feels that old. :rolleyes:

The funny thing is that I am in so much better shape now than I was at 40. So how can my body have aged 6 years, when I feel 15 years younger?!? It beats the alternative, as they say.

[snapdragen]

Hey Lise, sounds very familiar - I ended up in PT last year with "tennis elbow". Mine was a combination of work (computer geek) and gripping the handlebars on my bike too tightly.

Here's a couple of the stretches I did:

http://www.sportspti.com/tennis_elbow.htm

Don't know about the weight work though. Later on in the PT I was doing some work with bands, but never any weights. Besides that, heat, massage and ibuprofin.

Try to relax your hands and arms when on your bike. Stretch whenever you can .

The book "Stretching" by Bob Anderson is really good - all kinds of info.

[Lise]

Snap--thanks a lot. That looks very useful. The article describes the pain well. I'll start with the exercises today. I have that book, Stretching. Didn't occur to me to use it for this! I am so bad with the stretching...I just forget. Haven't yet incorporated it as a discipline.

I know that I keep a lot of tension in my last two fingers when I'm riding, and grip the handle bars pretty tightly in general. I need to learn to be alert, but not tense.

Funny to say it, but another thing that's changed this year is that I type a lot more on a daily basis--posting at TE! Hmmm...any suggestions for "healthier" wrist stuff at the computer?

[snapdragen]

Another thing we figured out I was doing, clenching my fists when I slept! Another thing to be aware of.:rolleyes:

I did have my desk at work evaluated. I was told not to rest my wrists on the keyboard when I type (like I'm doing now on my laptop...) And when I do rest, put my hands in my lap, don't drape them on the wrist support or keyboard tray.

[Lise]

I iced my forearm, then did the exercises in "your" article, and the hand & wrist stretches in Stretching. My arm feels better than it has in weeks.

THANK YOU! :D :D :D

Come to think of it, I often clench my right fist unconsciously. I'll look down during a meeting, and my left hand is covering my clenched right fist. The I relax it until I do it again...but how do you stop clenching your fists in your sleep? Good luck, my friend.

Seriously, though, this is giving me hope for the rest of the season. I was thinking, "I'm scr*wed if I have this much pain from relatively short training rides." So, daily stretching, get the bike fit double checked, ice and NSAIDs when it's bad. Check out tennis elbow strap. Thanks, ladies. :) L.

[snapdragen]

I didn't like the tennis elbow strap - I tried a couple of different ones. One even made my arm hurt more!

I really don't know if I'm still making fists when I sleep. I know when I'm just falling asleep, I make sure my hands are open.

I still get twinges in my arm, but I keep up with the stretching, that seems to keep everything under control.

Good luck!

[SadieKate]

Lise, I really have no clue but am wondering if you have your wrists at a funny angle on the Bianchi. Your wrists should be as straight as possible both on the hoods, the tops of the bars and in the drops.

This is specific to each person and may not be caught in an initial fitting, and a tense grip could exacerbate the problem.

[Lise]

Lise, I really have no clue but am wondering if you have your wrists at a funny angle on the Bianchi. Your wrists should be as straight as possible both on the hoods, the tops of the bars and in the drops.

This is specific to each person and may not be caught in an initial fitting, and a tense grip could exacerbate the problem.
I probably do have my wrists at a funny angle. They should be straight as in, lined up straight with my arms? I am sure that my wrists are rotated about 15 degrees out when I'm on the hoods. I put them on top of the bars occasionally for a rest. Tense grip with the hand, and pulling back hard with last two fingers doesn't help. This is something to practice on the bike. On the Larkspur, my wrists are pretty straight, holding onto the tops of the bars. It's a more comfortable grip for me, and I'm less tense. Thanks for that suggestion, SK.

[SadieKate]

I like my levers turned slightly inward to keep my wrists straight side to side on the hoods. Levers may also need to be moved up or down on the bars if you have them bent up or down vertically. This adjustment can be tricky because your bars may need to be moved or just the levers on the bars. Having a good fitter take a look specifically at hands while in the different positions could be worthwhile if you don't get this solved easily.

Of course, we're assuming you're keeping your elbows and shoulder relaxed? Locked elbows will force your wrists inward also.

[yellow]

Y'know, my tennis elbow gets a little aggravated when riding sometimes on really bumpy/rough roads. Probably from gripping the bars harder to maintain control. Channels more of the bumps through the body, I suspect. It's kind of always with me, but never so bad I can't function. I think I've had it for, oh, about 10 years now (started back in my whitewater kayaking days).

It's also aggravated by extended Chuckit sessions with the dog. So that means less Chuckit and more trips to the creek, which she appreciates.

[tulip]

are you bending your elbows? Straight arms put pressure on the joints, including the elbow.

[spokewench]

My husband is prone to tendinitis - all just below the elbow. It never bothers him on the roadbike, but almost always is irritated by the mountain bike.

Are you riding off road, bumpy roads? You have to use your upper body on a mountain bike more if you are offroad and this can cause some tendinitis.

It is hard to tell what is going on when you are talking on the web, go to the doctor have it checked out - then go to a fit expert to try to minimize the problem.

[Lise]

Hey, guys, I tend to keep my arms straight, so that is a problem. It's not off road riding, but Chicago streets can be pretty rough. I assume that the Bianchi absorbs less of the impact than the heavier Larkspur, which I'm used to riding.

Today I've done the arm exercises from Snap and the Stretching book, taken Motrin, iced it for awhile, and worn a compression band for part of the day. It's feeling a lot better. Tomorrow I'll be back on the bike, and I'll notice how I hold the handlebars and my arms. Tuesday I can go in to LBS for a fit check.

Thanks for all the help! L.

[deena]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I was having the exact same problem with forearm pain. I bought a tennis elbow strap and started using it today. Immediate relief! :p

You guys are the best!

[Lise]

Hey, Deena,

Welcome to TE. Glad to hear the suggestions helped. Another good use for the compression band is to put it over a flexible ice pack, to hold it in place.

I had a brainstorm the other day. I have a hot wax thing for my hands--the kind of thing they use at manicure places. Sometimes my hands get very sore from work, and it feels great to do a hot wax dip. So I turned it on the other day, and dipped my elbow a couple of times, wrapped it in Saran wrap, a towel, and put the compression band around the whole thing. It felt wonderful. Heat is so good sometimes.

Hope your arm stays better. Mine is generally better with the tri-design seat post instead of the road-design post. My elbows are less straight and stiff. Or could it be the 2 naprosyn I took 12 hr ago...? :p

[snapdragen]

I had a brainstorm the other day. I have a hot wax thing for my hands--the kind of thing they use at manicure places. Sometimes my hands get very sore from work, and it feels great to do a hot wax dip. So I turned it on the other day, and dipped my elbow a couple of times, wrapped it in Saran wrap, a towel, and put the compression band around the whole thing. It felt wonderful. Heat is so good sometimes.


Lise! That is exactly what they did when I was in PT for my forearm! Hot paraffin, plastic, towel and a heating pad on top. It was wonderful! After you do that, try a little self massage too. They would finish off with an ice massage :eek:

[Lise]

Heating pad on top--what a great idea. Then ice massage? Like massage the area with an ice cube?

[snapdragen]

Heating pad on top--what a great idea. Then ice massage? Like massage the area with an ice cube?

Yes, they had these nifty holders, about the size of a dixie cup. Here's a couple things I found:

Ice massage

Ice can help decrease pain, swelling, and inflammation that can result from injury and from some conditions such as arthritis. Ice massage is a quick and easy way to get the benefits of ice.

You can use an ice cube, but it's easier to use an "ice cup" for ice massage.

To make an ice cup, fill a small paper or Styrofoam cup about two-thirds full, and freeze it until it is solid.
To use the ice cup, peel off the top of the cup so about 0.5 in. (1.3 cm) of ice is showing. The remaining part of the cup is for you to hold on to.
As the ice melts, it will drip, so put a small towel under the area you are icing.
Rub the ice in small circles all over the affected area. Avoid areas where the bone is close to the skin, such as right over your knee cap, the point of your elbow, or your spine.
If the ice melts down so the cup is touching your skin, peel more of the cup off.
Continue for only 5 to 7 minutes. The area will feel cold at first, then it will ache, then finally become numb. Your skin will be pink and cold when you finish.
You can do an ice massage several times a day if it helps you.

Ice Massage (http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/pdfs/PatientEd/Materials/PDFDocs/exer-reh/modality/ice-mass.pdf#search='ice%20massage')