Mitts for sore hands

ned_wills

Hi Folks
I need some advise about the best cycling mitts to protect my median nerves. I suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. I had an operation on my right wrist four years ago, which worked fine. Now my left wrist is playing up and I am waiting for a surgery date later in the year. The left wrist is very uncomfortable, alternating between numb and throbbing pain after just a few miles. The right wrist seems to be coming out in simpathy or maybe I am putting more weight on it, as it hurts too. I have Fizik gel under my bar tape on my two most used bikes and wear Specialized Body Geometry mitts.
Can anyone recommend anything better.

cheers

Ned

Anonymous

These have big gel pads, Very comfy, I came off at 44 mph and the pads saved my right hand too!


http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Pearl_Izumi_Elite_Gel_Event_Glove/5360041846/

One other thing to look at though is saddle to bar drop, you may be putting a little too much weight through your hands.

buddha

+1 for the BG gel gloves.
Though the usual things like not gripping too tightly, getting a proper bike fit and increasing your core strength helped me significantly. With these measures, after about 4 months I had no problems at all.

edit: IIRC one thing that helped straight away was to let out around 5-10 psi from the front tyre.

ned_wills

I don't think the bike is the problem. I have used my present set up for several years and completed Lands End to John O' Groats and other multi day events with no hand problems. At the moment, using tools, writing (I'm left handed) and even peeling potatoes brings on the symptoms. If everything works out as well as when I had the right wrist operated on, I should be OK again later in the year.
I will try dropping the front tyre pressure a bit and although I have been a big fan of Specialized BG mitts, I have placed an order with Wiggle for a pair of Pearl Izumi Elite Gel Event Gloves as NapoleonD suggests.
I am riding the first day of the Tour of Wessex on Saturday, which should be a good test, if the gloves arrive by then.
Please send further advise if anything comes to mind as I will have to put up with this problem for another three months at least.

cheers

Ned

k-dog

I just got new BG gel gloves to replace my old ones (free replacement from Specialized customer service as the stitching came apart) and they are great.

I actually wasn't impressed with the last pair I had (I think I've had 4 over the years) - the padding wasn't too thick and seemed to compress quickly and wasn't quite in the right position.

The new ones are great - thinner but much comfier padding and more of it in the right places. By far the best gloves I've ever had.

Garry H

I thought carpal tunnel was caused by pressure on the top of the wrist, ie flexing it too much and compressing the median nerve? I never understood how having padding on the palm can alleviate this...

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

I have some spesh BG comp gloves, reasonably cheap and very comfortable and a lot of padding.

ned_wills

My carpel tunnel problem is due to the median nerve and blood vessels being squeezed by the bones and tendons surrounding them. The discomfort is worse at night, when it wakes me on a regular basis. Using tools and road vibration through the bars can bring on numbness and pain so more padding, less road buzz.
I tried the new Pearl Izumi Elite Gel Event Gloves from Wiggle with encouraging results. I just hope it won't be too bad on the tour of Wessex tomorrow.

cheers

Ned