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Ok, it has been 3 days since completion of my first century and I have had great responses to all my questions! Thanks for that!
When am I going to get the feeling back in my pinky and ring finger on my left hand? I am not a downhill speed demon I have discovered, so I was riding my brakes pretty much all the way down all hills! I know I need different gloves, but I would like to be able to wash my hair again normally!
I take it this is normal? Any advice on this one?
Thanks again
Wizzer ;)
I don't have any direct suggestions, but I bet a physical therapist would. Or a good doctor. I think this condition needs some kind of professional attention. My totally uneducated guess would be that you've pinched some nerves somewhere, so if they're not recovered by now that would imply that they're still pinched (swelling somewhere?) and that you need to relieve that pinching somehow so the nerves can recover. Nerves to recover, though, so if you get the right way of relieving them, they should bounce back. IF, that is, my totally uneducated guess is anywhere near correct.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
You are already worried, so I would definitely go to see a doctor.
Last summer I went on a long and strenuous paddle. Afterwards I couldn't bend my thumb! I couldn't grip with my thumb either. It was scary. I told myself that if I didn't get the feeling back by the time a week was over that I would go to the doctor. Fortunately my thumb is back to normal, but am much more careful about overdoing things.
Going on Bikeless' opinion, if it is swelling, you might try some ice for 10-20 minutes every few hours to see if it relieves it. Peas work well :)
Ulnar nerve.
Go to a sports med doc, or a hand therapist. (it may require a visit to the doc first to get a referral, depending on insurance.) If someone walked into the clinic where I work, still numb 3 days later, we'd send 'em out. (to a doc)
Do not pass go, do not collect $200.
This is not normal.
And once everything is good again, get a bike fit by a physical therapist. You've got something to deal with which is most likely beyond the ken of your average bike shop fitter. PM me if you need help finding a PT who does bike fitting. Google should do it, and call around to sports PT's in your area and ask if they have a trainer to put your bike on for a fit. My clinic does 1 or 2 bike fits a week.
I've had mine feel, not numb, but not quite right, maybe _almost_ numb, for several days after my 400k. To avoid it in the future, I had gel pads put under my bar tape, and really, really tried to change hand position a lot- on the hoods, MTB grip, (like pushing a grocery cart) road bike grip, (like car steering wheel) keeping my thumbs on top of the bars and just holding with my fingers with thumbs resting on top, using the aerobars a lot...It helped and I didn't get anywhere near as much tingling on my 600k.
Knotted said it well - definitely ulnar nerve. I have been dealing with ulnar nerve issues since college - i thought what I was experiencing was normal for so long until I mentioned it to the team trainer one day. In looking for a doctor find one who specializes in hands - not the same ortho you would see for a knee problem. They are really specialized these days.
Sounds like its more than just gloves... but do check the gloves aren't tight cause it might contribute - I had a new pair of gloves that pulled so hard on the webs of my fingers when on the flat or going downhill that my hand ached for nearly a week...
Good luck with getting it sorted