loss of hand strength?

Help! I went cycling all three days this weekend (first time I've done 3 days in a row). 46 miles w/*ouch* hills on Sat, 31 miles w/smaller hills on Sunday and 50 miles of flat on Monday. I felt no pain in my left hand any of the days, although I did start to feel like my hand wasn't getting blood flow toward the end of the ride on Sunday, and was shaking it out a bit.

However, close to home I started to notice I couldn't shift into and out of the big ring-I had no strength in my left hand.

By the time I got home (I'd taken the light rail from the end of the ride, so had about 10-15 minute break), my hand started spasming in my pointer finger (closest to the thumb). That went on for actually at least a few hours. And I didn't have enough strength to type.

I thought this would go away by today, but it's still really weak! And I"m left handed and I'm freaking out. I can type today, but holding a pen and writing is really hard, and I need to be able to do that for work.

I notice that the pad on my hand toward the wrist on the pinky side is sore to pressure. I will get new gloves, but I'm worried about how long it's going to take to get my strength back? I'm off of riding until it comes back fully. Anyone ever had this happen before?

Same thing happened to me with my right hand. It happened right after I started riding a road bike with drop handlebars & combo brake levers/shifters. Previously, I was riding a Terry Classic w/a flat handlebar (really had wrist numbness w/that set up, but haven't experienced it w/the drop handlebars). Anyway, I put in a lot of miles when I first switched to the road bike and I think my hand/forearm simply got tired. I had a hard time holding a pen/writing, and a couple of fingers on my hand would shake. Creepy beyond belief. Anyway, I stretched out my forearm/wrist good and made sure I rested that hand as much as possible. I've also made it a point to relax my hands as much as possible when riding, flex my fingers, and move my hands around from hoods to flats. Luckily, I never completely lost strength like you did, as I could still ride/shift with no problems. It was post-ride that it really affected me. After taking a day off, stretching, and resting, I was good as new. Your poor hand just wasn't used to shifting/braking for all those miles :) By the way, check out the Castelli Donna gloves that TE sells. I love them!!!

Do you have your arms locked? Or your wrists bent?

For a riding position that is kind to your hands, your wrists should be straight and your elbows should be bent - and your weight should not be concentrated on your hands.

There was a good discussion yesterday in the thread titled Handlebars with some good hand & arm-related advice - you might want to check out http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=3206.

--- Denise

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Originally Posted by DeniseGoldberg

Do you have your arms locked? Or your wrists bent?

For a riding position that is kind to your hands, your wrists should be straight and your elbows should be bent - and your weight should not be concentrated on your hands.

There was a good discussion yesterday in the thread titled Handlebars with some good hand & arm-related advice - you might want to check out http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=3206.

--- Denise

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I'm actually a little frustrated w/this, to be honest. I had a fitting (from a very good LBS) about 7 rides ago. I think the fitting put even more weight on my arms than I'd had before. I have not built up my back strength enough yet, so I can't hold the upper body weight anywhere but on my arms/hands/wrists. My elbows are not bent as much as I'd like, but admittedly, I have a VERY short torso.

I shift hand position constantly, but keep going back to being on top rather than on the hoods, particularly since the fitting (which rightly put me more over the pedals than I had been).

I'm not sure how to resolve that issue; positionally, I'm where I need to be to get power all the way from my hips down through my quads, my feet and into the bike. But that puts me more forward and having to rely more on upper body than I had been before.

And unfortunately, I can't rest my hand today since I have work!

I suppose this is another "time in the saddle" thing...but I have Cycle Oregon coming up, and really need to be able to be in the saddle for 3 long days followed by a rest day followed by 3 more long days (that's coming up on 9/10).

I have only been riding since December, and really only hitting it hard since February as I'd sprained my knee the first time out in December. I really think I'm being realistic about being able to do this ride in a few months...but of course, I'm very nervous now that I've had this pretty serious issue. This hand thing would have put me out of riding if it had happened during the vacation!

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Originally Posted by Lynne

I'm actually a little frustrated w/this, to be honest. I had a fitting (from a very good LBS) about 7 rides ago. I think the fitting put even more weight on my arms than I'd had before.

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That sounds more than a little frustrating. Have you considered going back the the LBS that did your fitting and talking with them about your problems? Did you experience this problem before the fitting (sounds like it is a new problem from your initial posting)? Maybe there are some slight adjustments that can be made relative to your fit and position on the bike that could help.

--- Denise

Hi Lynne,
I've have this problem also. I have Carpal tunnel syndrome so any pressure on my hands and they go numb. What helped me was putting an extra set of brake levers on the tops. I tend to ride there the most and constantly switch between those and the hoods. Changing hand positions helps a lot. I also wear gloves with gel padding in them and I use Phat bar gel and tape from specialized on the bars. At night I wear a hand brace that keeps my wrist from bending. You can find them at most drug stores. I had a few weeks where I couldn't shift either. It is really frustrating. Some tweaking of the derailer helped and maybe playing with the position of your handlebars and hoods may also help.

I used to get awful numbness in my hands, couldn't turn the key to open my car! I switched to Specialized Body Geometry gloves at first, which I still like. Now I'm using Louis Garneau Ergo Air gloves.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=2704

I tried the women's, they didn't fit me, too tight, so I bought men's and they're great.

While shopping for gloves, LBS guy told me many people have hand problems due to too much padding! Make sure that's not your problem. While riding, coast and shake out your hands occasionally, this helps me too.

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Originally Posted by snapdragen

While shopping for gloves, LBS guy told me many people have hand problems due to too much padding! Make sure that's not your problem. While riding, coast and shake out your hands occasionally, this helps me too.

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This was the problem for my riding partner - gel gloves (PI) with the padding in the wrong place.

Hand problems are one of the reasons I switched to a recumbent bike. No matter how I tried, I just could not make my hands happy on the upright - and I make my living with my hands, I want to take care of them.

I took TWO days off...count 'em...two! While I had great improvement in my hand strength the first day, I've had none since yesterday morning. I'm still having problems holding a pen and writing for any length of time...my hand is just so weak. This isn't numbness and there's no pain (except the pad below the pinky with pressure, but it's really really mild). Please tell me this is going to go away soon! I'm not seeing a doctor because they're all idiots (sorry, bad experiences).

Most of the posts refer to numbness...do you guys mean that's typically accompanied by weakness? (thank goodness I can type!).

I plan on riding to work tomorrow (11 miles each way), which is on a different bike than I rode this past weekend. I hope the change in position and whatnot prevents the full recurrence.

I will try the gloves but can't get them until payday (always payday...ugh). I will try changing position often in the meantime, but I'm worried this is something different since I'm not numb?

I wonder if some hand strengthening exercises would help? Hold a tennis ball, squeeze, release...etc., etc. Or one of those squishy "stress ball" things. To avoid problems in the future, not to fix your existing problem.

I'm out of my element here - ladies, any suggestions?

Idiots or not - I'm thinking you need to see a Dr. There's a difference between numbness and loss of strength. If you've lost strength in your hand and you weren't riding - I'm athinking ya'll got more issues going on than the bike.
There are good drs out there ---really there are....maybe you can find a dr who specializes in hands.

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Originally Posted by CorsairMac

Idiots or not - I'm thinking you need to see a Dr. There's a difference between numbness and loss of strength. If you've lost strength in your hand and you weren't riding - I'm athinking ya'll got more issues going on than the bike.
There are good drs out there ---really there are....maybe you can find a dr who specializes in hands.

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Never had this happen before-this is new with the 3 days in a row of riding. Could be the Fuji, could be the 3 days riding, I don't know. Eh, all those idiot doctors say is "oh, it will probably go away in a few weeks. Just don't do anything for two weeks and if it's still XXXXX, come back and we'll take another look." Really hate doctors, especially since most of the ones that are actually taking any kind of insurance plan are lazy and couldn't manage to do 10 miles on a bike, let alone ride one 3 days in a row! :mad:

This morning was really suckie (new word, thank you very much!), I chose not to ride again today. I *will* be riding after work tonight because there is no way in frickin' hell I am going 3 days w/no ride! I'm already fidgeting myself to death as it is!!!

Ok, thanks...I feel better now :p

I am having the EXACT same problem as you not that it will make you feel any better. I literally could not shift with my right hand by the end of my ride last night. If I go out tonight I will be able to shift but I will have to use my index and middle finger and really have to concentrate on it to make it happen. It is so frustrating. Of course I am riding with my husband that thinks I am being a typical 'soft' woman. If he cannot see blood or bone coming out of me then I really don't have a problem. (I think he grew up with a hypocondriac sister...hence the lack of compassion!!!) Of course, I don't have ANY problem with my left hand. I am right handed so it is killing me!!!!!!!!! I feel the same way about DR's but I may have to go soon anyhow.

I had some hand problems earlier in the summer. It was mainly with numbness and shaking after I rode. The shaking usually went away pretty quickly but the numbness stayed around for about six weeks. I started to get relief when I used a massage/vibrator on my hand and the area between my shoulder blade and my spine. I evidently had caused a muscle to cramp in that area between my spine and shoulder blade. I could really feel it when I put the massager on it. It took about two weeks but I finally started to have some relief. I also kept riding during this time. I'm pretty stubborn. I think the nerve to that part of your hand comes out of your spine in that area. It worked for me. Hope you get some relief.