I rode a full season on my road bike with a wrist brace that had the metal insert after I pinched a nerve in my hand. There were some hand positions I couldn't do, but it is possible. I managed to perch my brace where it took most of the weight - the handle bar was between the metal stay and my hand. Folks called it my "witch blade". Considering I didn't have any pain - I don't know how that would come into play. One good thing about a pinched nerve, it didn't hurt. Which was also a bad thing, I didn't know I had pinched the nerve until after the ride (45 miles) and I realized that my hand didn't work very well.

Good luck!