Weird question...

[cyclinnewbie]

Hi guys! I'm new to the site and new to biking in general (haven't really ridden seriously since my teens). I just bought my first road bike, and have been taking it very slowly, getting used to the gears and all. Anyway, went for a short ride Monday (8 miles), then on Tuesday had pain in my ring finger of my right hand. Didn't bother me too much, was just weird. Well, rode 10 miles yesterday, got up this morning and the same finger is swollen and stiff, almost as if I've sprained it. My question is this...does anyone have any finger issues after riding? I've heard of the ulnar nerve problems, but this is not related to that, I wouldn't think. Can't figure out what's caused it, so am stumped, and really really don't want to go to the dr. Thanks for any input you all can give!

[Starfish]

There will be others with medical background who can speak more specifically about this issue.

But, when I first started riding again as an adult, I had a lot of hand soreness and elbow joint problems. Then, I got a different bike that fit me differently, and all the hand/arm problems simply disappeared overnight. It was the bike.

Have no idea in your case! Just my experience.

[OakLeaf]

I'm also just chiming in off the top of my head, but I wonder if you're using that finger exclusively to shift the rear derailleur? How is your reach to the shifters? Can you use the middle finger? Which joint(s) is the pain in?

[cyclinnewbie]

The first joint up from the hand. The upper joint, and the knuckle are ok. I'm not sure if I use that finger to shift...I will have to pay more attention. I bet I do. But it's swollen all the way to the tip of my finger. Not a whole lot of pain, but I have a very high tolerance. I do think I need to get my bike fitted, because it just seems off...maybe I need to adjust the handlebars? I dunno...I was expecting a sore bum, sore arms/wrists, but not a swollen finger! lol leave it to me to be the weird one!

[LBTC]

Hi, newbie! Welcome to TE!!

I think starfish is on the right track - you finger pain is almost surely a bike fit issue - your handlebar may be too wide, your weigh may be too far forward, your saddle may be too uncomfortable so you are shifting your weight to your hands - and those are just the things that I can think of, I bet there are more!

Find out if there is someone at a Local Bike Shop (LBS) that can do a good bicycle fit for you. This should take a few hours, and may require the purchase of a new handlebar (if your's is too wide), a new stem (if your's is too long or too short), or even a new seatpost if your's is too short; and it should take a couple of hours, or it always has for me. A good fit can usually keep all of your body parts happy!

Of course, some of the medical types on the forum may be able to point to a specific issue that I don't understand, so I hope they weigh in on this one, too.

I hope you get this resolved soon, so you can get out and enjoy the most fun way of keeping in shape that I've ever found!!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Andrea]

I 3rd the bike fit! Like everyone else said- it could be an issue with saddle position (especially if you've got it un-level with the nose down), with stem length, and possibly with the position of your shifters on your bars.

Other than that, periodically icing it throughout the day will help with the swelling until you find out what is causing it.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I had trouble with my fingers going numb until I figured out I have to keep the velcro closure straps on my gloves very loose.

[GLC1968]

Ditto on the glove straps!

I had a problem with the ring finger and small finger going numb on both hands (but mostly the right). After a longer ride (more than 2 hours) the numbness would last for days and it drove me NUTS. The first thing that I did to get rid of it was change my bike. The one I was riding was too big and the bars were WAY too wide (by 8 cm!). I just could not get that bike to work for me at all. When I got a bike that fit me and then had it fit correctly, the numbness and pain went away...until I got new gloves. I couldn't figure out why my hands were so numb that day until I took off my gloves...they were too tight at the wrists! Once I left them undone, the numbness went away (these were a weird glove style, I guess). I haven't had a problem since as long as I remember to keep the straps a little loose.

Moral of the story? Check your bike fit (professionally) and make sure your gloves aren't cinched up too tight.

[Crankin]

I had the issue with gloves, too. I can't wear gloves with any padding or gel.
Also, when I go hiking or walking in warmer weather, sometimes my fingers feel heavy and swollen. They don't look funny, but they ache, too. I never get this while cycling, x country skiing, or snow shoeing. I am wondering if it is the fit of my shoes or something else that causes this soreness in my hands.

You might also check to see that none of your rings are getting caught up in your gloves.

[Andrea]

I had the issue with gloves, too. I can't wear gloves with any padding or gel.
Also, when I go hiking or walking in warmer weather, sometimes my fingers feel heavy and swollen. They don't look funny, but they ache, too. I never get this while cycling, x country skiing, or snow shoeing. I am wondering if it is the fit of my shoes or something else that causes this soreness in my hands.

You might also check to see that none of your rings are getting caught up in your gloves.

The heavy fingers thing happens to me if I hike/walk a long time and swing my arms while they're straight. It's like the centripetal force keeps an excess of blood pooled at the end of your limb.

[Bron]

Did you keep your hands in exactly the same position on the handlebars? I found that on one long ride where my weight was in exactly the same place for the whole ride, my little fingers went numb. Gloves with gel padding also work for me.

[cyclinnewbie]

Hi guys...thanks for the responses! I have padded gloves, and try to move my hands around on the handlebars a bit, but I don't quite have my balance yet, so tend to sit in pretty much the same position. I contacted the LBS where I got my bike, and am going in tomorrow for a fitting...I hope that fixes the problem. Today I got up and my finger has a faint bruise running up the dorsal side, continues to be swollen, and my palm has swollen too. I'm wondering if I do use that one finger to shift with, so I sprained it. Either that, or I use it to brake with, and my brakes had loosened up a bit, so I had to really grip hard on them the last time I rode. I will try loosening my gloves and/or not using them at all. I really appreciate all the input, everyone! Thank you...