Handlebar Palsy - any experiences?

Surveyor11

Searched this forum and saw I'm not the only one suffering from this. I have only started cycling recently after a long break (10 years plus). My commute is only 8 miles round trip on well surfaced roads / paths i.e. very little vibration. Take the bike out at the weekends, Royal Canal tow paths and Phoenix park. Nothing too extreme.

Have seen a physiotherapist and received good treatment - getting strength back in hand and conditions seems to be slowly improving with exercise, but recommends ditching bike until no symptoms left.:( Just wondering of anyone that has been cycling for years can share any war stories i.e. recovery time and experiences - not looking for medical advice, just how I can expect this to typically play out.

To prevent aggravation I have Specialized Deflect Gloves with Ulnar pad - doesn't seemed to have helped though. Anyone recommendations on padded grips - physio has mentioned these? I have also altered my position on the bike, so I am not bearing as much weight on the handlebars (it is a Giant Talon MTB, btw). Physio has recommended getting bike properly set up, for example making sure saddle is not throwing me forward and I have enough room for stretching my arms.

BTW, good information on the condition here, my situation is almost verbatim of this http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/cycling-injuries.html

Lumen

Have you got some ergo bars ends, like this?

Surveyor11

Thanks for that Lulmn, will certainly give something like this s try. Also looking for more ergonomic handlebar grips. Saw some of the Specialized hybrids come kitted out with these.

niceonetom

I don't know if specialized sell their ergo grips separately, but they seem to be copied from ergon anyway. They're what I'd get if I were MTBing..



You can reduce the load on your hands/wrists by moving your saddle further back behind the cranks too btw, though this will impact on pedalling efficiency (not an issue for a leisure cyclist) and you should watch for any knee twinges that might arise from changing position too.

Surveyor11

Thanks Tom, they look a bit like it ok. Will pick up a set and throw these on the Giant.

Morgan

I have a set of the Ergon grips above and find them great for countering numbness and vibration.

You could also consider a handlebar with a geater back-sweep which may put your hands in a more comfortable position e.g.

http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_On-One.html

quietobserver

niceonetom wrote: »

as niceonetom shows these are good. ive put some of my clients on these grips with great improvements.

Saddle to handlebar height surveyor how is it? what does it measure?

Caroline_ie

I have a similar problem, although it doesn't only affect me when I cycle, it goes up as far my elbows when i am sitting at my desk at work on my left hand. I know I am going to have to see a specialist soon as it has gotten worse over the past few months. When i cycle, I use ergo handlebars and gel padding under the bar tape, i am usually fine though as I tend to move my hands position around the handlebars a lot to avoid numbness and pain to start.

Surveyor11

quietobserver wrote: »

Saddle to handlebar height surveyor how is it? what does it measure?

QO, do you mean the height difference between the handle bars and the saddle when measured from the ground? I will have to measure this later - I would say the saddle is a slight bit higher than the handlebars, with my enough room to get my legs on the grund and be almost straight when pedaling. I have ditched the bike until this gets better. I will measure later an post back.

I am just a shade under 6'2" on a large Giant Talon, so don't think the bike is too small.

Thanks for all the help people - plenty of good suggestions.

quietobserver

Surveyor11 wrote: »

QO, do you mean the height difference between the handle bars and the saddle when measured from the ground? I will have to measure this later - I would say the saddle is a slight bit higher than the handlebars, with my enough room to get my legs on the grund and be almost straight when pedaling. I have ditched the bike until this gets better. I will measure later an post back.

I am just a shade under 6'2" on a large Giant Talon, so don't think the bike is too small.

Thanks for all the help people - plenty of good suggestions.

a

cdaly_

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I have a similar problem, although it doesn't only affect me when I cycle, it goes up as far my elbows when i am sitting at my desk at work on my left hand.

I have an issue with wrists when typing and on the handlebars (which is why I ride my aerobars almost constantly). On the advice of a fellow geek, I recently bought myself a powerball gyroscope. I've only had it a week so I can't say anything about its effect yet.

Maybe I'll bring it along on Saturday and give you a go...

Caroline_ie

cdaly_ wrote: »

I recently bought myself a powerball gyroscope.

I bought one after breaking my wrist last year for getting the strength back. They're really good

cdaly_

Do you use it regularly? Is it not helping the (sounds like) carpal tunnel or tennis elbow stuff?

Caroline_ie

cdaly_ wrote: »

Do you use it regularly? Is it not helping the (sounds like) carpal tunnel or tennis elbow stuff?

I havent in a while. Carpal tunnel runs in the family. My mother was operated on both hands. She golfs and wasn't able to when she was recovering. 1 operation a year... only 2 hands thankfully. I am thinking about going to France to see my mum's doc if I have to get anything done, but for now ... I just have to get my backside over to see a doc here.

cdaly_

I'm pretty impressed with my experience of the French healthcare system. I was on hols near Provins last year a couple of weeks after I ripped up my arm coming off the bike. Wound was troubling me so I popped over to the doc. Cleaned, bandaged and anti-tetanus shot all for €22. Another €35 for further bandaging materials was the whole thing. Imagine what you would have paid for that in Ireland!

Tombones

I find myself with handlebar palsy aswell. Can wearing a wrist support help while cycling?

SurferDude41

Ok lads I do hate to be the bearer of bad news, but all of your solutions for the dreaded handlebar palsy are ill-advised and doomed to failure.

1. Handlebar palsy becomes apparent when a rider is putting too much weight on their palms.

2. The physios will milk you all like cash cows! Sure they will treat the symptoms Without addressing the root cause of the problem.:D Would you kill a chicken that lays €60 eggs?

3. I have seen a lot of you lesiure cyclist dudes on the road, most of you sit bolt-upright on your bikes.

4. When you use a too short handlebar stem/ top tube, your lumbar or erector spinae muscles get off scott free. This unfortunate sitting position forces the poorly conditioned rider to carry too much weight on their arms, and ultimately their hands bear the brunt of the load:(

5.The cure is simple, install a longer handlebar stem...make your lower-back muscles do their fair share...The more stretched out position will feel uncomfortable for your lower back at first, but eventually your body will become accustomed to the pro-rider-esque position:)

6. If your saddle is too high, this will cause you to roll your pelvis forward putting too much weight on your hands....

7. Try sliding your saddle rearwards on its rails, this can be helpful especially if you have long femurs....

On your next bike ride bring a set of allenkeys, don't be afraid to experiment with your riding position a little...If you get it wrong your body will let you know soon enough....

Please send all donations to :The SurferDude Assos bib short fund;)

Happy Cycling:)


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