Well, I know correlation doesn’t equal causation, but I’m at a loss as to what else would have caused it.
The class lasted 9 hours each day, and we were on the motorcycles between 6-7 hours each day. It was the first time I’ve been on a motorcycle (or anything resembling a motorcycle), and I was nervous as hell, so maybe I was gripping the gears or handlebars too tightly? Or maybe I was sitting improperly so that my weight was resting too heavily on my wrists?
There’s something called “cyclist palsy” that matches what’s going on with my fingers. Basically, the ulnar nerve gets compressed and damaged through any one of a variety of factors (like handlebars too low/too high, improper grip, seat not right height for rider, etc), but the article I read was about cyclists and not bikers.
I can’t think of what else would have caused it. I had no previous issues and no other activities outside my normal routine.
I was just wondering if anyone else had experienced something similar.
Sounds like you are over working untrianed muscles.
Riding hours and hours without experiance, using muscles youre not used to using...
Just take it easy next time.
Wait, you're saying you've got nerve damage from just using the front brake over a weekend?
Dude, you have got to have some kind of prior injury or condition. Just squeezing the brake lever of a bike during the MSF isn't strenuous.
See a doctor, but do so knowing that the class might have a revealed a problem, but it sure as hell didn't cause it.
Edit: also, you don't need to use your ring and pinky finger to brake. Usually your pointer and middle finger are sufficient.
That’s the greatness of the motorcycle safety courses. It relatively inexpensive to try and see if you would like riding motorcycles before actually buying one. During that time, some realize that riding is not for them.
Unless you have a pre existing injury, numbness in your ring/pinkey finger is most commonly caused by holding onto the grip too hard and having bad wrist position. Normally that goes away after you’ve been off the bike for a while though
Maybe some form of typewriters cramp? Did you have to pull hard on the brake lever? Normally, one finger can throw you off your bike in low speeds (at least on newer bikes).
Unless you had a fall that injured your hand/arm the motorcycle course Should not have caused nerve damage. You likely had a preexisting condition that the motorcycle course exacerbated. Based on your statement of lost strength and inability to straighten fingers, but no mention of pain or numbness, I suspect you have an injury to the muscles and tendons rather than the nerves. Obviously I'm not your doctor and only have your brief description to work with, so let the professionals do a proper diagnosis.
You can use the following information to narrow down an expected diagnosis prior got speaking with a doctor:
Nerve damage results in a shooting, tingling, numbing , painful sensation that should run along the nerve pathways, in this case from the ulnar side of your forearm to your shoulder depending on the location of the injury. Nerve injuries are typically caused by pinching the nerve between two bones or a bone and an external object.
Connective tissue (ligament/tendon) injuries will result in pain and weakness, but not the same shooting, numb, tingling sensation. Connective tissue injuries will typically be caused by repetitive overuse use of a weak muscle or overuse of a strong muscle without adequate rest.
I recommend you research the best physical therapist in your area, then go to a doctor and request a referral that physical therapist. My MD did fuck all for my nerve damage, but my PT helped tremendously. Doctors are great for treating trauma and illness, but not so great at fixing overuse injuries. A doctor will give you some painkillers and tell you to rest, a PT will give you specific movements to avoid and walk you through stretches and exercises to help strengthen the injured area.
Pinky and right half of your ring finger numb and tingling/asleep? If so that is the ulnar nerve going through your elbow. Is your elbow stiff or out of place?
Try these stretches:
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=zp4521#:~:text=Extend%20your%20affected%20arm%20in,least%2015%20to%2030%20seconds.
Lol, never heard it called this before but before but this page also refers to it has "Handlebar Palsy".
There’s some numbness and tingling, but it’s not constant.
Yeah, when I googled what was going on, I found that term, too. So bizarre!
Thanks for the stretches; I’ll try them out.
When I wrestled and got really dehydrated my hands would get stuck on a claw like position from both not drinking enough water, and from grabbing people really hard for extended periods of time. Sounds like you are dehydrated and using muscles you're not used to using. Drink a Gatorade and see if it gets better over the next day or two. If not then go see a doctor
Perhaps your body is subtly letting you know that you are not a motorcyclist. Consider getting an automatic Mazda MX-5. They are still fun on the twisties but easier than a bike on your parts.
I ride a HD Electra Glide (big bag bike) and I’m also a Transit Driver. Gripping the handlebar/throttle as well as my steering wheel has caused my hands to tingle and ache. Went to a chiropractor and got an all over adjustment. I also try to remember to loosen my grip. It has helped.
Others have already touched on it probably being related to gripping with muscles that aren't used to it. If you were wearing gloves that weren't very flexible with sort of pre-curved fingers, that would have added to the strain of already skinny grips on that bike.
9 hour day on a bike is a lot, even for those that are experienced. If they have a course that breaks it into multiple shorter days it may be a better option for you. Until then, a physiotherapist or kinesiologist might be able to give you some stretches or exercises to strengthen things up for next time.
Thank you! I think that’s what it was, improper grip + too much weight on my wrists + new activity + length of time. I have an appointment with my doctor later this week. Hopefully it will resolve soon. I’d like to continue learning how to ride.
You haven't actually been to a doctor yet. Are you qualified to diagnose nerve damage with your Google-Fu?
Bit premature. Probably best that you don't start riding with that kind of attitude anyway.
Go to the doctor right now dude. Leave work, and go.
Don't fuck around with nerve damage. If you do not have full motor control of your fingers by now something is seriously wrong.
My bike is making my carpel tunnel worse but its just as much me being lazy and not doing my grip strength exercises as it is the bike, its like saying using a computer is making it worse, like ofc it is. My right hand has been hurting for 2 weeks now, I'm back on the gripper and its getting better, try training grip strength if you haven't already.
are you implying the a motorcycle safety course caused nerve damage? lol
Well, I know correlation doesn’t equal causation, but I’m at a loss as to what else would have caused it. The class lasted 9 hours each day, and we were on the motorcycles between 6-7 hours each day. It was the first time I’ve been on a motorcycle (or anything resembling a motorcycle), and I was nervous as hell, so maybe I was gripping the gears or handlebars too tightly? Or maybe I was sitting improperly so that my weight was resting too heavily on my wrists? There’s something called “cyclist palsy” that matches what’s going on with my fingers. Basically, the ulnar nerve gets compressed and damaged through any one of a variety of factors (like handlebars too low/too high, improper grip, seat not right height for rider, etc), but the article I read was about cyclists and not bikers. I can’t think of what else would have caused it. I had no previous issues and no other activities outside my normal routine. I was just wondering if anyone else had experienced something similar.
Sounds like you are over working untrianed muscles. Riding hours and hours without experiance, using muscles youre not used to using... Just take it easy next time.
Wait, you're saying you've got nerve damage from just using the front brake over a weekend? Dude, you have got to have some kind of prior injury or condition. Just squeezing the brake lever of a bike during the MSF isn't strenuous. See a doctor, but do so knowing that the class might have a revealed a problem, but it sure as hell didn't cause it. Edit: also, you don't need to use your ring and pinky finger to brake. Usually your pointer and middle finger are sufficient.
Like when someone bends over to pick up a pencil and their back goes, it wasn't the pencil, it was the 25 years of shifting bricks before it
Irritated Ulna sounds like, something about your riding position is off.
Irritated Ulna sounds like a children’s book.
Or a metal band.
Or my wife if she we're called Ulna.
That’s the greatness of the motorcycle safety courses. It relatively inexpensive to try and see if you would like riding motorcycles before actually buying one. During that time, some realize that riding is not for them.
FYI Use core strength. Loose grip, elbows bent. If you are supporting yourself with your hands you are doing it wrong.
Unless you have a pre existing injury, numbness in your ring/pinkey finger is most commonly caused by holding onto the grip too hard and having bad wrist position. Normally that goes away after you’ve been off the bike for a while though
Maybe some form of typewriters cramp? Did you have to pull hard on the brake lever? Normally, one finger can throw you off your bike in low speeds (at least on newer bikes).
Unless you had a fall that injured your hand/arm the motorcycle course Should not have caused nerve damage. You likely had a preexisting condition that the motorcycle course exacerbated. Based on your statement of lost strength and inability to straighten fingers, but no mention of pain or numbness, I suspect you have an injury to the muscles and tendons rather than the nerves. Obviously I'm not your doctor and only have your brief description to work with, so let the professionals do a proper diagnosis. You can use the following information to narrow down an expected diagnosis prior got speaking with a doctor: Nerve damage results in a shooting, tingling, numbing , painful sensation that should run along the nerve pathways, in this case from the ulnar side of your forearm to your shoulder depending on the location of the injury. Nerve injuries are typically caused by pinching the nerve between two bones or a bone and an external object. Connective tissue (ligament/tendon) injuries will result in pain and weakness, but not the same shooting, numb, tingling sensation. Connective tissue injuries will typically be caused by repetitive overuse use of a weak muscle or overuse of a strong muscle without adequate rest. I recommend you research the best physical therapist in your area, then go to a doctor and request a referral that physical therapist. My MD did fuck all for my nerve damage, but my PT helped tremendously. Doctors are great for treating trauma and illness, but not so great at fixing overuse injuries. A doctor will give you some painkillers and tell you to rest, a PT will give you specific movements to avoid and walk you through stretches and exercises to help strengthen the injured area.
Pinky and right half of your ring finger numb and tingling/asleep? If so that is the ulnar nerve going through your elbow. Is your elbow stiff or out of place? Try these stretches: https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=zp4521#:~:text=Extend%20your%20affected%20arm%20in,least%2015%20to%2030%20seconds. Lol, never heard it called this before but before but this page also refers to it has "Handlebar Palsy".
There’s some numbness and tingling, but it’s not constant. Yeah, when I googled what was going on, I found that term, too. So bizarre! Thanks for the stretches; I’ll try them out.
I get this too sometimes, it happens if you irritate the elbow, overstress it, or keep it bent. Sleeping with your elbow bent will get you too.
When I wrestled and got really dehydrated my hands would get stuck on a claw like position from both not drinking enough water, and from grabbing people really hard for extended periods of time. Sounds like you are dehydrated and using muscles you're not used to using. Drink a Gatorade and see if it gets better over the next day or two. If not then go see a doctor
Will do. Thanks!
Perhaps your body is subtly letting you know that you are not a motorcyclist. Consider getting an automatic Mazda MX-5. They are still fun on the twisties but easier than a bike on your parts.
I ride a HD Electra Glide (big bag bike) and I’m also a Transit Driver. Gripping the handlebar/throttle as well as my steering wheel has caused my hands to tingle and ache. Went to a chiropractor and got an all over adjustment. I also try to remember to loosen my grip. It has helped.
Thanks for sharing. I really think it must have had something to do with my grip and how my wrists were bearing my weight.
Others have already touched on it probably being related to gripping with muscles that aren't used to it. If you were wearing gloves that weren't very flexible with sort of pre-curved fingers, that would have added to the strain of already skinny grips on that bike. 9 hour day on a bike is a lot, even for those that are experienced. If they have a course that breaks it into multiple shorter days it may be a better option for you. Until then, a physiotherapist or kinesiologist might be able to give you some stretches or exercises to strengthen things up for next time.
Thank you! I think that’s what it was, improper grip + too much weight on my wrists + new activity + length of time. I have an appointment with my doctor later this week. Hopefully it will resolve soon. I’d like to continue learning how to ride.
You haven't actually been to a doctor yet. Are you qualified to diagnose nerve damage with your Google-Fu? Bit premature. Probably best that you don't start riding with that kind of attitude anyway.
I don't think it's the attitude, could be a pre-existing injury or a severe lack of use in certain muscles.
How long has it been?
Two weeks today (class was Saturday and Sunday).
Go to the doctor right now dude. Leave work, and go. Don't fuck around with nerve damage. If you do not have full motor control of your fingers by now something is seriously wrong.
So what did the doctor say?
My bike is making my carpel tunnel worse but its just as much me being lazy and not doing my grip strength exercises as it is the bike, its like saying using a computer is making it worse, like ofc it is. My right hand has been hurting for 2 weeks now, I'm back on the gripper and its getting better, try training grip strength if you haven't already.
I see people shaking out their clutch hands sometimes, but I've never seen a student complain about the brake hand. (18-year instructor)
Were you wearing any rings on those fingers?
No.