Hand tingling / numb - what am I missing please?

[ayceejay]

Numb hands or pins and needles on waking could be (note "could be") a B12 deficiency. Are you vegetarian/vegan, do you eat a balanced diet? You don't need much B12 but too little can cause this prob.

 

[midliferider]

I'll leave you to google ulnar nerve stretching ie: "don't listen" and "sunglasses"

Meaning?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I'll leave you to google ulnar nerve stretching ie: "don't listen" and "sunglasses"

Meaning?

What do you think it means?

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I'm still having issues with this (although less-so since shortening my stem from 130mm to 100mm). I struggled through a fifty mile ride yesterday and now my ribs are hurting where I damaged them earlier in the year.

I have a 60mm stem to try but have reservations about loosing some stability.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

As well as tweaking bike fit:
Work on your core strength to support more of your bodyweight with your torso than resting it all on your arms on the drops - its good that it doesn't occur with bike types where gravity works much more to push you down through your backside.

One sided implies your spine isn't correctly aligned I'd have it looked at and treated (physio, chiro, osteo - all have their fans and detractors - who you believe in and trust is one for you to work out for yourself) and you've got more pressure on one set of nerves coming out of your spine; when your head is at the rather unusual angle that road biking imposes on us; than the other, It will probably be affecting other things in your body too but not as in your face as the pins and needles.

Or there is some minor damage along those nerve fibres manifesting itself as they get busy or tired & you need something to delay or relieve the fatigue as above.

 

[Bobby Mhor]

I am too skint and tight to get a "proper" bike fit - especially when my local stores are charging £200 +

When I first got into road about 30 months ago my first real problem was lower back paid which I quickly eradicated with some saddle adjustmet.

Unfortunately I now have a "numb / pins and needles" hand but it's only my left.

I have just got a shorter stem from 110 - 90 which is better but even so, ofter 10 miles or so I keep getting this hand issue.

Anyone have any ideas I would be very grateful - not sure where to look now.

Thanks in advance

I've had this for years it may be better to try your doctor first.
I suffer from hand/finger problems in very cold weather plus I get the same as you after the same amount of miles.
Like I said ...Doctors.

 

[Globalti]

Most GPs won't have a clue; they will make a couple of suggestions and possibly recommend to a specialist in the almost certain knowledge that the 95% of problems resolve themselves. A physio would give you better sense.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Been going to chiro for years and have now seen a cycling physio a bunch a of times; my core strength is pretty good.

 

[wajc]

Are the pins and needles you get across the whole hand or limited to certain fingers?

Tingling in the fingers can be due to damage to the Ulnar Nerve - mostly ring and little fingers. Some good advice/info here specifically related to cycling

http://highperformancesports.blogspot.co.uk/2006/03/cyclists-palsy-cyclists-palsy-or.html

or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/Pages/Whatisit.aspx

I'm sure there are other causes as well

Personally I've only had this happen to me after much longer distances. However once the damage is done I believe you are more prone to it reoccurring as soon as you put pressure on the hand again.

I'd be surprised if your bike set up was that bad to cause problems after 10 miles so wonder if the cycling is just bringing an underlying problem out.