Doctor recommendation

[OakLeaf]

I would second the notion of NOT going to a hand surgeon first off. It's my experience (not just personal experience, but what I've seen from working with people with disabilities) that doctors with narrow specialties are wonderful about doing the work they're trained to do, but not so great about identifying issues that may have arisen outside their area of focus (or deciding whether they're truly the appropriate specialist to be treating you at all). This is especially true of surgeons (not just my opinion, but what I've heard from other doctors and PTs too).

Nerves that feed the hands can be entrapped anywhere between the neck and the hand. Neck, shoulder (thoracic outlet), elbow, wrist.

What you need is someone who can identify exactly what it is posturally that's causing your issues. For myself, my sister urged me to see a general ortho who's trained and experienced in manual muscle testing. Some PTs can do this as well.

Some doctors like to do EMGs. I've heard various things about the value (and painfulness!) of these. They're popular in my area - I'd like to hear from people in other parts of the country/world whether EMGs are still used there too?

Hang in there and hope you get it sorted soon.

[Crankin]

I had an EMG when they were trying to figure out my issues in 2007. I had a very nice brand new neurologist who was amazed that I didn't mind the pain. I told him my suffering quotient was high from cycling! Seriously, it was not that bad.
I don't know anyone else who has had one.

[snapdragen]

I'll chime in and agree with those who say start with your regular doc. Your next step may be a neurologist or an ortho doc.

I've had a couple of EMGs, I didn't find the pain horrible - probably because the pain in my arms and hands was already hideous.

Good luck, I hope you find a solution soon.

[nscrbug]

Thank you all, for the great suggestions! Yes, I have had an EMG before (on my legs/lower spine)...it wasn't bad at all (like others said, must be my high pain threshold). The idea that this could be stemming from a neck problem has also occurred to me, so I will definitely explore that avenue. To answer some questions that were asked by a few...yes, I am riding on drop-style handlebars, my positioning on my bike is quite upright. I'd like to continue riding on drop-style bars, if at all possible. I just purchased a VERY expensive custom Ti road bike, and changing the bars would completely alter the look of the bike which is something I really don't want to do. I do spin classes as well, and my hands are not an issue during those classes (and I set-up my handlebars to be even with my saddle in spin class, so the bars are fairly low). I do, however, feel like sometimes my hands will bother me during weight lifting...feels like my grip is affected...like I can't squeeze my hands sufficiently around the bars/dumbells/attachments. And I have tried every combination of gloves out there...lots of padding, a little padding, no padding, gloveless...you name it!

I'm just hoping that there is some doctor out there that can help me. I will start with my regular family doc, and see what he thinks.

Linda

[emily_in_nc]

Good luck! It sounds awful. Have you considered a recumbent bike if you can't resolve the issue? That might as there should be no pressure upon your hands.