Carpal tunnel syndrome

chatlow

Been cycling for about 4 years and for the first time, over the past week, I've had the above issue. It's either down to new chair at work or new bike.

Decided to go for a smaller frame (53 Cube instead of 54 Specialized) with longer steam and it feels great to ride. First time in a while I have had no lower back pain. Stem has been slammed so there's more pressure on my hands and perhaps as a result, my neck has been a little sore (like a nerve is pinching) since I started riding it and thumb and index finger affected too.

Any recommendations to avoid CTS but keep the stem low?

Also, at 5'9 but 32" inside leg, I can get away with riding both the 53 with > 100 stem or 54 with < 100 stem. I've previously had 54 frames, but may well go for 52/53 in future.

Off for a sports massage later and have physio on my knee next week so will it up them too.

Sutton_Rider

I have the same problem with thumb and index finger after about 1.5 hours, I've had the stem (100mm) pointing up and pointing down, but it makes no difference. Its the same on all 3 of my bikes. I'll be interested to know what your physio has to say.

sloppyschleckonds

Moon comet

chatlow

Yeah, I'll post what they recommend and....

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Moon comet

...

..

what

kayakerchris

You do not give us your age and it is difficult to tell if this is carpal tunnel cervical spine problems or something else. Thumb/index alone would perhaps suggest neck but is sometimes seen in CTS.

chatlow

kayakerchris wrote:

You do not give us your age and it is difficult to tell if this is carpal tunnel cervical spine problems or something else. Thumb/index alone would perhaps suggest neck but is sometimes seen in CTS.

33 and this is actually happening off the bike more than on the bike. I am sat at work and both thumb and index finger are tingling. Neck isn't too sore but if i twist it a certain way,I feel my fingers get slightly worse, so yeah, I think likely to be that.

mamil314

You might want to work on core strength and hamstring flexibility to reduce weight on your hands. Replace computer mouse with a trackball.

cyclenutnz

chatlow wrote:

33 and this is actually happening off the bike more than on the bike. I am sat at work and both thumb and index finger are tingling. Neck isn't too sore but if i twist it a certain way,I feel my fingers get slightly worse, so yeah, I think likely to be that.

If you're getting it off the bike and spend a lot of time at the computer it could be worth getting massage across your pecs and shoulders. Sitting with your arms forward all day (and then doing it for your hobby/exercise) can cause sufficient tightness to have a negative effect on blood flow.

From the bike fit perspective. Neck and hand pain usually comes from sitting too far forward for your body proportions and current level of core strength. Moving bars up and down makes little/no difference when you're having to rest too much weight on your hands.

chatlow

thanks for the advice. Just changed the height of the bars and feels more comfortable but yeah, could be reach.

moyesie

I had severe CTS like symptoms, they manifested themselves after helping to move the house and also a long spell doing desk work.

After discounting wrist trauma, nerve damage, having had X-Rays, MRI scans over an approx 18 month period with no resolution what made the difference for me was concentrating on upper body posture specifically in relation to the T4 (I think) nerve, this caused the CTS like symptom.

Was a pretty shit 18 months, especially as the Dr/physio was close to running out of ideas.

Interestingly, I had next to zero discomfort on the bike.