Radial Collateral ligament pain (my wrist hurts)

[cherinyc]

Hi - I hate to bring up another ailment, but I am absolutely determined to keep working towards that century, which means I need to correct all the stupid little things I am doing wrong (and in turn are causing me pain).
My distance is improving, as is my avg mph. I can definitely feel my legs getting stronger, and my lungs are now greatful for the albuterol and Asmanex I have recently started using. Having conquered these "bigger" problems, I guess my body feels it's OK to start feeling nagging little pains elsewhere.
It's really getting old, but I am sure it's just part of the process. Can't expect to go from nothing to a century overnight. Or can I?
Ummm, no.
So almost 2 months into cycling, my problem is now my left wrist. I looked up an anatomy diagram, and it looks to be my Radial Collateral Ligament. It's the ligament that connects the base of the thumb to the top of the wrist. It's become a nagging pain. When I press there it hurts, and when I pinch my fingers and thumb together it hurts. I am guessing this is a product of fit, though I have been fit and adjusted a few times. The pain is tolerable, but gets gradually worse after each time I ride. I don't want to cause damage, but I REALLY don't want to go to another doctor. I feel like my seat is pushing me forward, but when I try to adjust it, maybe tilt it back, it doesn't tilt - just slides forward and backward.
This is frustrating. I just want to be able to ride, concentrating on fitness. Not all these other stupid little things.

[DebW]

I feel like my seat is pushing me forward, but when I try to adjust it, maybe tilt it back, it doesn't tilt - just slides forward and backward.

Maybe if you post your seatpost model or a pic of it, someone here has used it and can help you get it adjusted. You shouldn't be sliding forward. The nose of the saddle should probably be raised. You might have to loosen the bolt quite alot before it will move to a new notch to change the angle.

[Kano]

Cheri -- something to try, just to see if it helps any, or at least doesn't make the next ride add to the hurting. (it was my left thumb area too, and for a silly reason I could go into detail about....) Try riding without wrapping your thumb around whatever grip you're gripping. My bike is a "comfort" bike -- sort of a hybrid/mountain type, but they call it "comfort." This means I sit pretty upright, and have a flat type bar. It's not actually flat, but....

So, here's the thing: for a while, my thumb hurt -- well, my hand between my thumb and forefinger was like the worst spot. So I tried not wrapping my thumb around the handgrip whenever I was in a safe spot to do so, and lo and behold, things got better.

The actual problem was that my pinky finger hurt, and I was "pronating" my hand, putting more weight on that part than on the outside edge, and it protested! (pinky pain was unrelated, but I musta been babying it!)

It's not a real solution, but it might be something that will help you figure out what's making the pain happen, like I did, and a way to kind of nurse it back to health!

Karen in Boise

[makbike]

Cheri:

Have you considered seeing a chiropractor for this? I went to one for three months for tendinitis in both wrist and they did wonders for me.

Marcie

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If you feel like you are sliding forward too much in your saddle you need to tilt the nose up more so that the seat is level. That happened to me. Maybe the bolt to loosen to do that is perhaps NOT the same bolt as the one that adjusts forward/backward saddle adjustment?
Little adjustments make a big difference, so make changes little by little.

[Bicyclette]

Cheri -

I have the exact same problem - but it started before I got my bike - but it has been aggravated with the bike - and now I have it in my other hand too - I do what Kano suggested because it feels so much better - I've also ordered new grips for my handlebars that are for smaller hands - I just had x-rays taken of my hands to see if there is something going on there. Hope you find out what it is - I'd be curious to know... good luck

[Kano]

At first, when my thumb thing started, and I talked with the guys at the shop, they adjusted my handlebars some, on the chance that I was leaning forward on my hands too hard, and that my core wasn't supporting me enough yet. We've adjusted that back now that my core strength has improved.

and I just realized: that pinky finger that started the whole thumb thing has finally quit hurting!

Karen in Boise

[roshelleuop]

Hi Cheri! I agree that you may need to adjust your bike, but I also have some ideas about adjusting you.

I also have this problem and as I type I'm wearing a wrist support on my left had. Typing all day at my job is so not helping the problem, but my DH doesn't believe quitting my job to continue my training is a good idea (I'm still working on him). My wrist started feeling, not so much painful, but like there was no muscle power there and it was difficult to use my left shifter, etc. My DH watched me ride and realized when holding my bars, my wrists were not straight. They were bent almost to a 45 degree angle, so any bump, railroad track, or pothole I hit was jarring my wrists. I think becuase I'm right handed, the muscles in my right wrist were able to sustain the impacts, but my poor little left wrist cuoldn't take it.

I started making sure I straighten my wrists when I rode and wearing a wrist support at work (I also wear it when riding) for the past 2 weeks and it has really helped. I really try to avoid chiropractors and doctors, so this is my idea for now.

Roshelle from Milwaukee