I’ve just scratched from the French Divide on Monday after 1300km due to left foot problem and worries about my hands.
Foot: BOA cord snapped at approx 400km and only solution was to close shoe as best as possible with paracord. Foot was slopping about on hike-a-bike sections and is still swollen. Does not hurt and I think it will self-heal.
Hands: I thought I had numbness problems dialed in on practice trips with no numbness after multi-day rides. Didn’t work out this way in the end. Two smallest fingers on both hands are still numb and on the left they are curled - can on straighten them by applying force to them. Fingers are also weak.
Any advice?
I am still in France at the moment and will return to UK next week. Do I need to see a doctor or should this resolve itself?
Thanks in advance.
Do I need to see a doctor or should this resolve itself?
Why are you even asking?
Cherchez le medicin!
Dupuytren's contracture?
On a bike fit I learned that being hunched up at the shoulders, due to a badly set up bike, can cause numbness and other hand and wrist problems as the 'hunching' can trap nerves that start or end in the hand area....perhaps something to consider ?
@timba Thanks, very helpful. This is exactly what it looks like. Given the circumstances and family history it is unlikely to be this but Google has thrown up some more likely things. Will get a GP appointment.
On a bike fit I learned that being hunched up at the shoulders, due to a badly set up bike, can cause numbness and other hand and wrist problems as the ‘hunching’ can trap nerves that start or end in the hand area….perhaps something to consider ?
Bike setup is good and I was not experiencing pain or discomfort up to this point. Agree it could be a reason but not in this case. Thanks.
It wont be dupuytrens It come on gradually and you get characteristic thickening of tendons. Far more likely to be nerves imo
It should settle in time but go to your doc when you return
Sounds more like you've given your ulnar nerve at the Guyon's canal a hammering, and will most likely resolve itself in natural course. However, numbness and loss of muscle function in your hands can also be a symptom of much less likely but also more serious condition (cervical myelopathy) so, not being able to assess you face to face to raise or lower my index of suspicion, I would feel that any advice given over the internet needs to include 'go and see a doctor'. But it is most likely a bruised ulnar nerve
It will probably sort itself out but take some time. I did something similar recently and had numb fingers for a month
As TJ says, Dupuytren’s so slow moving and you wouldn't be able to straighten the fingers, even when using your other hand
I used to get numb fingers after 24hr races. Give it a few days, the feeling will come back.
If you can't open or close a finger without locking/pain that's another matter. Welcome to the fun world of 'trigger finger', which seems to be chronic 😉
Did you hurt your hands pulling the paracord tight?
@bugjohn
No, didn’t hurt them pulling paracord.
Thanks all. Some good advice here. I am setting a GP appointment for my return to UK.
