I can't find the old thread I started sometime ago about my numb hand so I'll update here. I was getting numbness mostly in my left hand when I rode. so bad to the point that i couldn't feel my hand on the bar when I was going downhill.
There's alot to this, but the end result after a visit to a neurologist was I had moderate CTS in my left hand. AFter a month of rehab with little results i opted for surgery. With the help of a PT friend I found a hand surgeon who works with professional athletes in Reston Va. Upon further exam he found not only was my median nerve effected but so was the ulnar nerve.
I just had surgery this past monday. all went pretty smooth. took 10minutes to do; and I'm in a partial soft cast until this coming monday when I get it and the sutures out. (maybe). I hope to be back on the bike in a another week or two for some easy rides.
I also had shoulder issues on the same side as the CTS. One thing we (my chiro whose also an applied kiniesiologist) was that my camel packs were def causing pain in my shoulder. potentially looking at an ERGON or no pack at all as a fix.
The other theory we are going on is my shoulder issues are potentially related to my CTS. He's had two other patients in the last 7 years with similiar symptoms. one had surgery and his shoulder pain went away. the other opted for a cortisone shot and his shoulder pains went away. Neither were cyclists, but it's still a theory we are working on.
While trying to diagnose my CTS I had gone for a cervical MRI and found i had 2 VERY mild buldge disc in C4-C5 and C6-C7. VERY minor though, neither were impinging on the nerves so this was ruled out as a cause. How did i get the buldge disc? best I can say is from a motorcycle accident 10 years ago. lady cut in front of me and I went over the bars doing roughly 25-30mph or so and hit the car head first. no real injury at the time other than getting knocked out.
so thats my update. hope this helps others with this issue. Monday I talk to my surgeon about cycling. hope to get some good input with him since he's worked with other cyclists.
more to follow next week when that happens.
There's alot to this, but the end result after a visit to a neurologist was I had moderate CTS in my left hand. AFter a month of rehab with little results i opted for surgery. With the help of a PT friend I found a hand surgeon who works with professional athletes in Reston Va. Upon further exam he found not only was my median nerve effected but so was the ulnar nerve.
I just had surgery this past monday. all went pretty smooth. took 10minutes to do; and I'm in a partial soft cast until this coming monday when I get it and the sutures out. (maybe). I hope to be back on the bike in a another week or two for some easy rides.
I also had shoulder issues on the same side as the CTS. One thing we (my chiro whose also an applied kiniesiologist) was that my camel packs were def causing pain in my shoulder. potentially looking at an ERGON or no pack at all as a fix.
The other theory we are going on is my shoulder issues are potentially related to my CTS. He's had two other patients in the last 7 years with similiar symptoms. one had surgery and his shoulder pain went away. the other opted for a cortisone shot and his shoulder pains went away. Neither were cyclists, but it's still a theory we are working on.
While trying to diagnose my CTS I had gone for a cervical MRI and found i had 2 VERY mild buldge disc in C4-C5 and C6-C7. VERY minor though, neither were impinging on the nerves so this was ruled out as a cause. How did i get the buldge disc? best I can say is from a motorcycle accident 10 years ago. lady cut in front of me and I went over the bars doing roughly 25-30mph or so and hit the car head first. no real injury at the time other than getting knocked out.
so thats my update. hope this helps others with this issue. Monday I talk to my surgeon about cycling. hope to get some good input with him since he's worked with other cyclists.
more to follow next week when that happens.
