Hand tingling, various aches

Anonymous

Not sure this is bike related or not, but here goes.

Got a new bike last weekend and at around the same time I somehow damaged the inside of my right hand index finger. Might have been from lifting something awkwardly, possibly the bike when I got it. Anyway, a day later it came up with a bruise and that died away again.

Since then it's been a little sore sometimes, but nothing of concern.

Went out on the bike just briefly at the weekend and all seemed fine.

Aside from that I've been getting odd little aches in the left arm. Twinges really. Over maybe the last week or so. Possibly started before I got the new bike, but not sure.

Next I went out Wednesday evening, doing a fair bit of singletrack for a few hours. No problems at the time. Then I wake up Thursday morning a 5am with the old "pins & needles" in my right hand. Just assume I'd slept on it, but it wouldn't go away. Hand was getting a little numb and cold. Ended up not getting back to sleep and the hand was still like that all day.

In the evening I started getting hot/cold flushes, feeling weak, the hand feeling cold again, but more of a slight burning sensation than the pins&needles. Hands were sweaty too.

Took some paracetamol, went to bed and today it's been a lot better. But now I have general aches in the arms and shoulders. The hand has no tingling/burning, but is tender to touch on the palm.

What do you reckon? Posture on the bike, or have I just come down with some bug?

I'm thinking maybe it's a posture issue combined with the finger injury. Maybe caused further damage, inflamed something or whatever. ???

Should note that I haven't touched the handlebar/brake set up since I got the bike. Only adjustment I've made so far is in the seat really just to fix the height. When I ride, it seems comfortable to me.

TimesLikeThese

I'm no doc but thursdays events sound like you need to go to one as it seems a bit excessive - and its probably a good thing to get an all round checkup anyway if you are just getting on the bike for the first time in a while (you said its a new bike....)

The aching shoulders and arms are more indicative of having just had a good ride and using muscles that you never normally use. Do some pressups to build up some upper body strength quicker.

In general theres slight numbness, pins and needles and aches when riding but these fade. These can be alleviated by experimenting with gel padded gloves (with or without) bar ends, higher handlebars for a more upright posture and constantly changing hand position on a ride.

Anonymous

TimesLikeThese wrote:

and its probably a good thing to get an all round checkup anyway if you are just getting on the bike for the first time in a while (you said its a new bike....)

It's a new bike, but I've been on my old bike on and off each weekend for the past year or so. Very different bikes though.

I have a feeling it's a physical injury and/or reaction to the new bike which has in turn triggered an anxiety/panic thing that causes the wider hold/cold stuff and sweaty hands, cold hands, etc. I had something similar a year ago triggered by either stress or excessive caffine causing tight chest pains. Ended up in such a panic I was in A&E and effectively told there was nothing wrong with me. Got checked out by the doc, had a 24 hour blood pressure monitor and all was fine they said. They put it down to the caffine, but I wasn't so sure. They gave me some beta blockers though to deal with panic. Very common apparently.

Things are better at the moment, but as soon as I think about it, I get some of the symptoms again, which suggests it's just a anxiety/panic thing.

tjwood

The root cause of hand pain is probably bike setup related. I had some hand pain/numbness when I started MTBing due to the fact that while I thought my bike had a comfortable setup I was in fact sitting too far back therefore putting too much weight through my arms and in addition was holding my wrists bent back, all of which puts pressure on the nerves in the hand.

You might want to see your GP if it persists though s/he probably won't be a bike expert.

While you need to sort the root cause, in the short term ibuprofen is probably better than paracetamol as ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory as well as a painkiller.

Anonymous

As an update. Went through a week of almost hell with a horrible sick stomach. Saw the doc and got some stuff to sort that out (reduces excess acid, which is typical in anxiety attacks apparently). Felt great after that so thought that's fixed it.

Out on the bike yesterday, having eaten and drunk enough fluids before, plus a sports drink during, all went fine.

Later in the evening I just felt incredibly tired which is unusual for the kind of ride I do (aprox 10 miles usually), and start getting tense aching arms which is usual of these anxiety symptoms I get.

Seems I'm getting ill effects after exercise. Perhaps just anxiety

Did find this on the issue: http://www.anxietyguru.net/exercise-induced-anxiety/

It's a pain as I enjoy the rides, but I worry now about the after effects. Anyone who's suffered anxiety will know of course that the worry leads to a vicious circle of worry, anxiety symptoms, leading to more worry, etc.


*Anyway*.

As for the bike set up and posture. I got some ergonomic grips and padded mits and they seem to work great. I'm not aggravating my finger injury it seems.

Curious thing though is my arms have a muscle ache when flexing/tensing. Seems like I've got cramp in the arms.

Perhaps I haven't got the arm position right maybe. My wrists are the right angle, arms a little bent and not too straight. Think it's okay. Maybe too much weight on the arms?

Oh, and I also woke up in the morning with cramp in the leg. That usually indicates a level of unfitness doesn't it?

Are there medical specialists that deal with sports fitness? Not the fitness people at gyms, but I'm thinking more someone medically qualified. I'm prepared to go private if need be. I don't get much out of my GP other than dismissing it all as anxiety and encouraging me to continue exercising. Whilst good, I'm fearing the after effects now which isn't good.