Numb fingers & thumb - ideas anyone?

cafemaestro

cafemaestro

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I often find after 20 mins of 30-50mph riding my throttle hand starts to tingle. (riding a mix of town & country on my daily commute) It gradually gets worse until I cannot operate the right indicator and start to lose throttle control as feeling disappears. It is usually only my index finger, middle finger and thumb that go numb. I guess it is caused by vibes from the engine at certain revs and possibly also by how the nerves run through the hand.

I therefore have 2 questions :

1. Has anyone had similar problems or is it just me and funny hands?

2. Does anyone know of something that might help ? - I already use a throttle rocker and cruise control won't work as I need to change speeds

Ta
 
1) Yes.

2) You need to play around, IMHO, with your riding position until there is less pressure on your wrists and hands, or at least a different angle of pressure. Adding bar risers made a big difference for me as it pulled the bars back towards me slightly and I was able to rotate the bars too. They angle inwards which was never comfortable for me.

Still had elbow pains though!:rolleyes:
 
I had more or less the same problem which was diagnosed as carpel tunnel syndrome. It took a while, but I finally got an op in '07 and haven't looked back. It was worse on my VFR's which actually led me to buying the 12GS to get some relief.

One thing to try is getting a set of bar risers (I had a set of migSels on the GS until the op) which might help a little. But go see your Doc, tell him how it affects your control of the bike and he'll start the ball rolling to check you out.
 
Adding bar risers made a big difference for me as it pulled the bars back towards me slightly and I was able to rotate the bars too. They angle inwards which was never comfortable for me.
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Sorry - should have mentioned that I have already fitted risers - it just stopped the aches in the shoulders :rob

Thanks
 
Yep. On every bike I've ever owned.

Grip Puppies on the GS made a big difference for me.

Some swear by an auto throttle/ mechanical cruise control thing.
 
It does sound like carpal tunnel syndrome, try taking anti imflamatrys, or using ibuleave gel on your wrist, if you dont suffer as ausual then problem identified.
 
sounds daft but bigger gloves cured it 4 me, better circulation, how many buy gloves before they test em on handlbars
 
I would also say carpal tunnel - had (still got) a similar problem, though in my left hand -- numbness, almost like pins n needles, but not quite.
Doctor got me me a brace thing for the wrist, which may have helped, 'cos it's not so bad now.
Have a word with yer quack?

Phil
 
Took the identical problem to an NHS consultant who said it was the onset of CTS. Fitted a throttle friction device to my 1200RT. Now can just lightly rest the flat of my hand on both grips/levers on quiet or straight stretches of road - tingling hands and fingers are no an issue:)
 
I got exactly the same when I had my first R1200GS and it was so bad I couldn't hol the bars after a while. I took it in a few times for mapping updates (there were a few when it was first released in 04) but they only helped. The problem only disapeared when I sold it, and I'm not being funny about it. It used to drive me nuts. I was going to try different wiehted bar ends but never got round to it. Never had the problem on any other bike, even my present HP2 which is a very similar engine minus a balancer shaft so in theory it should be worse.

Do a search as it has been discussed on here before.


AndyT
 
I had more or less the same problem which was diagnosed as carpel tunnel syndrome. It took a while, but I finally got an op in '07 and haven't looked back. It was worse on my VFR's which actually led me to buying the 12GS to get some relief.
Click to expand...

Same here, had the op for carpal tunnel in 2007 as well. Put up with it for years...changed bike...changed gloves etc etc all to no avail, until it got so bad I went looking for medical help....and the rest is history, no problems since op.
 
No I think all the talk of CTS is overstated

Here are my thoughts on the anatomical reasons for the problem and a suggested solution from 2005 :thumb2
 
Guys! See a doctor once in a while!

This post has nothing whatever to do with numbness or pins and needles that may or may not be caused by the bike, your posture, or CTS. The fact is that guys have a terrible reputation for not seeking medical opinion. I am sorry for hijacking this thread, but having lost a couple of friends recently who - having felt off-colour for months - found they had left it too late by the time they went to the doctor. OK, carpal tunnel syndrome isn't fatal, so I may be being a bit dramatic. Even so, I know you all lead busy lives, and booking an appointment can be a pain in itself, but don't let a potential medical problem become untreatable before you seek an opinion. :thumb2
 
but don't let a potential medical problem become untreatable before you seek an opinion
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Crikey - How long have I got?:eek:

DAHOUM:
If you allow the flow to return via just one of the arteries the tingling goes. You can do this (stangely) by gripping a bit tighter with your thumb, index finger and middle finger and lifting the heel and side of the palm off the bar. Therefore you do not have to lift your whole hand off the grips which may not be desirable at the time.
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Will give this a try - the fact that the numbness goes if I flex my hand several times suggests this may be a possibility

May try the overgrips also

Thanks for all the ideas - if it is CTS then I'll only be told to change my grip - I doubt that they would want to slice and dice me as the problem only shows during one activity - riding.
 
Thanks for all the ideas - if it is CTS then I'll only be told to change my grip - I doubt that they would want to slice and dice me as the problem only shows during one activity - riding.
Click to expand...

That will be fine at first when it just relates to riding the bike......that's the way CTS starts to be noticed at first.........if it is CTS it will get worse & worse over the years and you will suffer from a numb hand and severe pain up your arm especially at night.

It really is worth getting it checked out, the test for CTS is very straightforward. I came up with all sort of excuses to explain my sore and numb arm like using chainsaws and petrol grass strimmers and the vibration from them. Eventually my daughter made an appointment for me and made me go. Then I was like :blast why didn't I get this seen to before now after putting up with all that pain & discomfort for years an of course my daughter says :blagblah " see, what did I keep telling ya Dad"

What causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the tunnel in your wrist thru which your nerve system passes thru becomes restricted and presses on the nerves causing numb fingers at first. A motorbike is the perfect machine to make you first notice this. As the tunnel becomes more restricted over time it gets much worse & more painful.

Funny thing is, it seems one of the biggest causes of CTS is using a computer keyboard for long periods of time (like job wise)

Anyways, just my two cents worth..............JD
 
guys got the cts checked out in january and they said I would get word from a specialists.Because i did not get any word i went today to the clinic to find out why ? the nurse checked it and told me there is a 2 year waiting list for nerve conduction tests.I rescheduled an appointment for wed with the doc to try and rush this on a bit.I had heard from a lad that works in the shipbuilders that 80 guys from his section went to get it checked out as the goverment was given out a £120 a month pension for life if you had cts.I am just wondering if this has increased the amount of people on the waiting list, just a thought

jinky
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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