Author Topic: Recovering from CFS- was ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms  (Read 66650 times)

Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #25 on: 01 December, 2012, 12:47:12 am »
Quick update on Woolly's condition: we rode for about 120 km with the new butterfly bars and the pain and numbness is no better. Worse, in fact. So, we've decided the only sensible thing to do is to bail out (again ) and hire a car. Bugger. We can't risk him doing permanent damage, so for the month we have left in nz we'll make the best of it and come back to UK earlier than planned.

Thanks all for advice etc. Plod on.

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
    • Stuff mostly about weather
Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #26 on: 01 December, 2012, 01:08:09 am »
That's sad.

Shall I get some Jarlsberg in?  :-*
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #27 on: 01 December, 2012, 02:51:51 am »
Thanks wow. We'll see. anyone know anyone with a car going spare in nz for next month? It's peak season and rental prices are unbelievably high. And we've spent the contingency fund already (on the asthma nightmare). :(

Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #28 on: 01 December, 2012, 07:36:25 am »
Dunno if this helps, but I've just run a search using Carhire3000.com (used several times) and found cars for about £300 for 2 weeks, £600 for a month. Good luck, and best wishes to Woolly, v sorry to hear.

Blodwyn Pig

  • what a nice chap
Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #29 on: 01 December, 2012, 08:19:30 am »
can't he ship the bike back home, and get hold of a recumbent,

Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #30 on: 01 December, 2012, 08:34:25 am »
That's such a shame Peli. My sister lives in Auckland but unfortunately doesn't have a car or I'd suggest you got in touch. Public transport there is a little lacking, too.
I hope long term he can sort something out, even if you can't rescue your NZ riding.

woollypigs

  • Mr Peli
    • woollypigs
Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #31 on: 01 December, 2012, 09:07:18 am »
Thanks all

Yes we have played with the idea of a sofa cycle for me, but before we get that sorted, research+shipping, our time in NZ is over.

So it is back to the UK and rethink it all.
Current mood: AARRRGGGGHHHHH !!! #bollockstobrexit

Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #32 on: 01 December, 2012, 05:44:11 pm »
 :( :(

Sorry to hear about your problems Woolly. It sounds like rest if the only option though.
Are you planning to do any walking while you have the car? The Tongariro crossing was good, especially starting early to avoid the crowds. The Routeburn track was busy! We only did a day on the Able Tasman coast track, but it was beautiful and pretty quiet compared to the other tracks.

Emma
California Dreaming

Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #33 on: 01 December, 2012, 08:58:07 pm »
I suspect that the sweep of your handlebars may be the key issue. Fitting Ergons may have actually made matters worse, because they're designed to work with relatively straight bars. If you're sure you want to continue with flat bars, I'd suggest something straight and relatively wide, with a thick padded grip - possibly even pipe lagging taped to the bar. The goal is to distribute weight away from the injured area, onto other parts of the palm. Ideally you would add aerobars or Spinaci, to give yourself a position that puts little or no pressure on your palm.
I'd recommend changing to bars that have the brake levers mounted on a section of the bars that are at 90deg to a straight/flat bar. That would be either drop bars or north road style bars such as those I suggested earlier. With these, your weight is largely taken by the thumb & base of the thumb, with the outer part of the hand where the ulnar nerve is taking no weight at all. The wrist is in a more relaxed position too.

You inevitably spend most of the time with your hands where you can cover the brake levers, which is why bar ends or butterfly bars don't necessarily help - you don't use the alternative positions long enough.

Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #34 on: 01 December, 2012, 10:28:37 pm »
You inevitably spend most of the time with your hands where you can cover the brake levers, which is why bar ends or butterfly bars don't necessarily help - you don't use the alternative positions long enough.

This is a very good point.  While I find butterfly bars are fine for general road riding, I suffer more if it's technical off-road or I'm riding in a group, for exactly that reason.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #35 on: 04 December, 2012, 06:40:08 am »
Peli, you naughty girl!  You've worn out Woolly!
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

jogler

  • mojo operandi
Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #36 on: 07 December, 2012, 09:46:53 pm »
Thanks all

Yes we have played with the idea of a sofa cycle for me, but before we get that sorted, research+shipping, our time in NZ is over.

So it is back to the UK and rethink it all.

I've been watching this thread with increasing concern for your well being.
Whilst it's dissappointing to abort your current cycle plans the proirity has to be a solution to your hands/numbness so your sense & courage to make this decision is to be applauded.
Once you are upforit again you can resuurect your campaign to conquer the world :thumbsup:
By way of a bit o' banter;have you considered a unicycle ;)

If you are seriously considering a 'bent be aware that Marj's Trice is currently for sale.

I hope we get an opportunity to see you both when you get back.

Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #37 on: 08 December, 2012, 07:12:14 am »
Thanks everyone for the comments and advice. We managed to get hold of an old banger which accommodates my bike (expensive to rent, but not as dear as some we've seen) and have been exploring the Abel Tasman National Park and Golden Bay. Woolly's an excellent support car when I'm cycling, and provides regular encouragement, biscuits and pick-ups in pissing-down conditions. I have it made! We're also doing some walking together, which is nice for a change.

As for his hands and arms, they're a little better now he's resting, but still causing him pain at night.

We've reluctantly booked flights back to the UK (LHR) in mid February. That's going to be a shock to the system! I think some woollypelipootles will be in order to keep away the SAD! It will be great to see forumites again. :)

jogler - very tempting re the 'bent. Would it fit the woolly one?  Perhaps we can drop in to see you both once we're back.  :D

jogler

  • mojo operandi
Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #38 on: 08 December, 2012, 06:39:40 pm »


jogler - very tempting re the 'bent. Would it fit the woolly one?  Perhaps we can drop in to see you both once we're back.  :D

I'm sure there is sufficient length on the boom for the 'bent to fit Woolly however the 'bent is sold subject to me holding the folding.
Nevertheless you can come here anytime you like for any reason;or indeed no reason :-*

woollypigs

  • Mr Peli
    • woollypigs
Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #39 on: 19 December, 2012, 01:10:35 am »
Update: arms and hands are still suffering when I sleep, I tend to sleep on my side and have my arms over or under my head.

The vibration from the gear shifter inn the rental car and even the vibration from a shopping trolley lingers for a long while, longer than I can remember.
Current mood: AARRRGGGGHHHHH !!! #bollockstobrexit

Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #40 on: 19 December, 2012, 01:44:49 am »
What a shame it is affecting your tour :(

The decision to stop riding is probably a good one though, anything involving nerve damage seems to take ages and ages to recover.

Personal anecdata: I didn't get the feeling back in my left big toe for a full 11 months after PBP! In fact, I can still get an odd tingling sensation in the ball of my right foot when I am driving for long periods of time due to vibrations. I am sure this is related to the cycling nerve damage as I never had this before that.
When I damaged my ulnar nerve on an audax where I had to do all the braking with one hand it took about 6 weeks of mostly rest to fully resolve. I suspect if I had damaged it for a longer period of time when it first happened it would have taken even longer. The good news is it did get better in the end, and with some hand position alterations and extra padding under my hoods I was able to do much longer rides without setting it off again.

Good luck with the rest of your trip, and keep the reports coming!

woollypigs

  • Mr Peli
    • woollypigs
Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #41 on: 02 February, 2013, 04:22:22 am »
Roughly two months of the bike now. I still wake up with sore hands/arms and struggle to make a fist for the next half hour or so, especially if we have done a long walk and I'm tired.

The vibrations from pushing a shopping trolley or resting my hands on a gear stick I can still feel for a while after. The shoulder with the broken collarbone, 10 years ago, is causing me pain nearly every morning.

I often get very sore feet in the morning the first few steps out of the tent are very tender though I don't think it is linked. Probably because I don't have proper walking shoes. Or could it be because I have some nerve damage/infection.

Well we will be back in the UK in a fortnight and will bug our local doctor and find a physio and even start yoga.
Current mood: AARRRGGGGHHHHH !!! #bollockstobrexit

Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #42 on: 02 February, 2013, 09:59:03 am »
I am running Thorn Comfort Bars on my LHT (which is a 60cm if you are ever back close enough to drop round and try it!) which are riser bars with a bit of extra rise and sweep.  They are very comfy for me but I haven't done any long tours on it yet, and apparently they don't work for everybody.  Only one real position though so probably not the thing for long road tours - they excel where a bit more control is needed, off road or when carting toddlers around.  :)  if I ever get the chance to ride round the world I'd probably default back to flat bars and bar ends.

You could try moving your saddle back a little and down a gnat's nadger to take some weight off you wrists, and go for a slightly more angled stem to bring the bars up and back a tad.  Effectively rotate your position back using the BB as an axis so you end up sitting a little more upright but keeping your reach to the bars and leg extension the same.  Changing the relative positions of saddle and BB might bring other issues into play though. 

woollypigs

  • Mr Peli
    • woollypigs
Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #43 on: 25 February, 2013, 08:31:15 pm »
Today I visited the doctor and got an appointment with a orthopaedic surgeon in eight weeks time. And told that I could go to a Spinal Drop-in clinic to check over my neck and back, to see if they are linked to my dead arms.

I still feel it when pushing a shopping trolley and can feel it when I lean on my hands. Along with when I end up being tired and sleep on my arms. The broken shoulder isn't any better either, old injury that only has caused problems since this started.  Also I need to make sure that I don't lean on the lower part of my arms too long also too be careful when using a mouse, hand leaning on table.

While in Melbourne I talked to a remedial massage therapist who said that it could be cured with massage, 5-8 sessions, and I should avoid the knife/surgery.

So I will go to the drop in clinic this week to see what they find and then look for a sport physio to see if they can mend me.
Current mood: AARRRGGGGHHHHH !!! #bollockstobrexit

Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #44 on: 25 February, 2013, 08:32:42 pm »
Sounds like progress. Good to hear.

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #45 on: 25 February, 2013, 08:39:23 pm »
Hope that the non-invasive solution works.
Getting there...

Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #46 on: 26 February, 2013, 09:57:46 am »
Gimme a shout if you need a recommendation for a good sport physio, a posture/gait specialist that also knows cycling (Hampstead based).

Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #47 on: 26 February, 2013, 02:47:12 pm »
Good luck with the physio Woolly!

woollypigs

  • Mr Peli
    • woollypigs
Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #48 on: 28 February, 2013, 11:26:03 pm »
Well that visit was a bit of a waste of time, the visit to the Drop-in Clinic.

They only do lower back pain, but they signed me up for a future visit, when that would be I don't know. They said that they would get back to me and ask what time I would like to come in (eh?) and they also said that the waiting list isn't long either. But I'm sure that we are talking a few weeks into the future.

So I'll call one of the other drop-in clinics tomorrow to find one that do upper back and neck.

Thinking back about it, when the doctor prodded my back earlier this week, something did happen. I can/could feel that there is something going on in my back and also I could feel it in my hands.

I went shopping today and ended up dragging the trolley with one finger, as I didn't like the feeling in my hands. It is not pain or discomfort but it is something I don't like the feeling off, like it is not right. Very hard to explain because it is not just one thing.

I don't know if it is linked at all but I also have very sore ball of my feet in the morning which is going away after awhile but it is getting worse in the am.

I think it is time to book another trip to the doc. Sorry for rambling along but yacf it a good place to keep track and some brain picking.
Current mood: AARRRGGGGHHHHH !!! #bollockstobrexit

barakta

  • Bastard lovechild of Yomiko Readman and Johnny 5
Re: ouch! cycle tourer suffering numb, painful hands, arms, shoulders
« Reply #49 on: 01 March, 2013, 04:46:14 am »
Sounds very unpleasant and annoyingly neuro and vague.  I hope you find someone to help you narrow down the issue soonest.  I do wonder if it's going to be weeks whether you have any cash to find a private physio to have a look at you, they may be able to narrow down the issue quicker ofr you too.

Neuro neck and shoulder and arm stuff sucks.  And yes contemporaneous notes and talking it through online is a useful thing I find for me too.  I realised from dredging my Livejournal that I've been complaining of the same visual issues for over a decade now and only just got full-circle diagnosis of not-visual actually vestibular and neurological >:(