Numbness in hand isn't going away

[GulfCoastAmy]

Thanks everyone. It actually feels a little better today. If it's not back to normal by Monday I'll go to the doc. I'm going to get some special gloves too! I actually don't have any tape/gel on my handlebars. I am riding a really old MTB I pulled out of our garage. It just has rubbery grips which I'm sure is not helping the problem. Time to fix that!

(Mr Silver - no I'm in Mobile Co., pretty far from Foley, but thanks anyway!)

[owlice]

If the numbness is in the ring and little fingers, your ulnar nerve might be getting compressed behind the elbow (ulnar nerve entrapment). I have this all the time and bike riding definitely aggravates it. There are other areas in which the ulnar nerve might be getting compressed, but behind the elbow is the most common.

Carpal tunnel affects the index, middle, and ring fingers; the compression there is indeed in the wrist (in the carpal tunnel! ).

[Miranda]

Well, your position is a bit diff on a mtb, than a roadie set up. But, none the less... riding position and fatigue can affect your hands too.

For me, when I start to get tired, and the riding form of the rest of my body starts to go... I put more pressure / lean on my hands. Keeping your core really strong helps. Supports your weight with form, vs your hands doing the work.

I also try to make a point to stretch my wrist / hands post / pre ride. I had some stretching exercises I did when I worked in an office on a pc a lot (like carpal tunnel related). Very simply things that can help those tendons and tiny spaces between the bones.

Hope it's better soon.

[cylegoddess]

I have that.It was really getting bad, I could hardly hold up my books in bed. Went to doctor. Mine is carpal tunnel.She has me assuming, a 'neutral wrist" position, when I ride, if it gets numb( and anywhere else). I find myself riding with one hand, the other in my lap with wrist straight, until it gets feeling.
That helped, as did training myself to take more weight on feet and butt,but what helped the most was paying for fit on the bike . It turned out that I was about 5 cm too far up ! Now its much better. I feel like a old granny sitting up so far, but now hands much better.

[Cataboo]

Thanks everyone. It actually feels a little better today. If it's not back to normal by Monday I'll go to the doc. I'm going to get some special gloves too! I actually don't have any tape/gel on my handlebars. I am riding a really old MTB I pulled out of our garage. It just has rubbery grips which I'm sure is not helping the problem. Time to fix that!

(Mr Silver - no I'm in Mobile Co., pretty far from Foley, but thanks anyway!)

maybe you can put ergon grips on your huffy.

http://www.ergon-bike.com/us/en/home

[GulfCoastAmy]

maybe you can put ergon grips on your huffy.

Those are really cool! Putting them on my wish list for sure...