Little disclaimer, I have no clue if this is even what wrong with me and I am no physician. If you experience any of these symptoms I describe see your family doctor.
Ok 2 weeks have passed and my hand problems are not going away. I have tried riding a different bike and still didn’t help. It may have even got worse. First of all I would like to thank @trihardist for bringing this issue to my attention to begin with.
Rewind back to around the year 2000. I got my first computer and immediately got hooked, playing all the latest games and learning to build websites as well as surfing up to 6 hours a day. (guesstimate) I soon used to get what I figured to be fatigue in my shoulder from being on the computer too long. I am not exactly sure how long I have been having this problem but it has been a significant amount of time being this is 2012.
My fear is that I have set in motion over a decade ago a serious problem that may plague me today. I never had any hand problems prior to cycling but the shoulder the elbow and the hand provide the tunnel for the nerve. I have read where sometimes simply stopping what causes the pain can reverse the damage over 3 months or so. I get a numbness even in the skin that surrounds the affected area in my shoulder. Ever since getting back from BAK i have weakness in my hand and numbness in ring and 5th finger. I can hardly write with pen or pencil and have a hell of a time shifting gears on my bike and can not hold chop sticks.
I am going to make a dr’s appt first thing tomorrow and have this checked out. I am extremely nervous because I am afraid of the obvious, I will likely be told to stop cycling? Now I will have to undergo some tests probably and hopefully I can avoid surgery at all costs. I will keep this post alive with my results and experiences in hopes of helping out anyone’s curiosity if they are experiencing the same. I can feel the depression setting in already lol.
google the terms to read more if you are having any of the symptoms I described earlier.
handlebar palsy
ulnar nerve entrapment
ulnar neuropathy
cubital tunnel syndrome
Whoa! this is not good..who is going to keep me motivated on those bike trips? I know people who have had this, and surgery has corrected it, but your right, if it is that, they will tell you no more riding, at least till it heals.And it might not ever take care of the problem. It’s like a bad back or anything else that has to do with your spine and nerves, that can get pretty serious and you have to spend your life taking care of it….Good luck bro. keep us posted..