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Broke my little finger 5/6 weeks back. Been back on the bike taking it easy for just over a week.
But, also seem to have developed a bit of CTS, suspected at my last physio appointment in connection with my finger/hand, and likely to be confirmed when I go back this week.
Any advice for stretches, pain relief etc?
And what about riding? It's definitely less painful on the gravel bike than the flat bars of the MTB. Any solutions? Do I need to give riding a rest until the CTS eases up?
I have it very badly now in my right hand and had it also very badly in my left. I had a procedure to remove Dupuytrens Contracture in my left hand (done privately) and whilst they were in there, they also fixed my CTS, which is a simple procedure involving removing the sheath that envelopes the nerve and relieves the pressure which causes the pain.
Riding will probably just make it worse (it certainly won’t help), but you may find that the problem never gets to the point where you need to have the procedure done to fix it. You can get manipulation on it to try and give you some respite, for example, I had an osteopath treat me a few times but in all honesty it didn’t do much. The procedure however is very effective.
You will notice it most in the night; lying down seems to aggravate the problem and I will routinely wake up with radiating pain up and down my arm and acute pins and needles in my hand. It’s not much fun but it’s something I can live with until I can be bothered trying to get the right hand fixed.
lots of physio exercises on the web, it all helps, and using splints at night (google it) I’ve managed to delay the op for about seven years now but my time is coming, it’s recommended to put it off as long as poss as its apparently a one time thing, I couldn’t work as a bike mechanic these days its that bad (dropping tools, no tactility etc etc)
try some bars with more sweep 12-16 degrees when you go back to riding the MTB
It's a one time because you are snipping the flexor retinaculum- once snipped it can't be unsnipped as far as I know. If it genuinely is CTS then you are likely to get immediate and lasting relief, so most people find it worth doing.
interesting, the consultant I saw recommended to delay (as I wasn’t working so it wasn’t impacting my ability to earn) as he thought it wasn’t a permanent fix but likely to come back with no recourse to doing the op again, I did the physio and wore the splints which improved things, or at least stabilised it but the last year or so it’s getting bad again
So, those of you who have CTS, how has it affected your riding... or how has your riding affected your CTS?
Sounds like it's a question of trying to manage it, with stretches, splints and pain relief etc, for as long as you can, before opting for the op?
I’ve ridden bikes for almost fifty years now, also twenty years working with on the tools, I think I’d started with it a few years after finishing work and I did a three month tour of NZ, came back from that with it bad enough to go see the doctor
I still ride five days out of seven and it does give me pain, especially when its cold, and the occasional long day really gives my jip, but not enough to stop me from riding
I saw the doctor a few weeks ago to start the process towards getting the op but obviously its well down the list (for obvious reasons) am hoping to get back to NZ later this year and will pay for private treatment if I need to
typing is a real pain in the ass as well 🙂
I've has issues with the Ulnar nerve. Things that have helped include not using a normal mouse but using a trackpad or upright mouse and using a splint when using the mouse.
Riding wise I went with more and more sweep to my bars and settled on the on one geoffs with ergon grips and they are great. I had no issues with riding my road bike.
I ride with it, although caught relatively early.
For me, nightsplints on and off (depending on how much the pins and needles are waking me)
I've also found that a lower bar makes it worse. more pressure through the hands. Have played around with both the bar set up and swapped grips. Some of the German companies - SQ labs and Ergon do grips that are a bit wider and spread the pressure points a little better. I've also got some Fabric Funguys which are mushroom style and take a bit of buzz out of the trail. Well...that is the theory.
Bar height and night splints made the biggest difference. And physio exercises / yoga.