Hands falling asleep - fingers tingling ? ? ?

[Vegas 250 F]

I am a fairly new rider and at practice last night my fingers were getting real tingly ("pins & needles") after about 2 laps. Makes it impossible to ride. I am on a stock YZF 250 with stock bars and grips. Does anyone have any ideas about how to solve this. I kept trying to relax my grip, but it was not like arm pump so I am not sure if I was really gripping to tight.

 

[dirt bike dave]

I don't mean to sound alarmist, but you probably should have a Dr. examine you for carpal tunnel syndrome. I have a mild case in my left wrist and when it flares up the symptoms are exactly as you describe.

Reducing vibration w/Pro Taper bars may help some, as may wearing a wrist brace at night (and when you ride if you can stand to).

FWIW, my Dr. told me that many people who break their wrist are turning up w/ carpal tunnel 10-15 years later. Broke my wrist in '88, CT in '00.

 

[RM_guy]

You need to loosen your grip on the bars. I have the same problem and I concentrate on squeezing the tank and loosening my grip while in the air. If you have large muscular forearms it can compound the problem because as the muscle contracts, it blocks the blood flow to your hands. It’s not the same as arm pump but the same exercise to reduce arm pump will help to keep your hands from falling asleep.

Good luck.

 

[Brian]

I find that happening ALOT. It heps some if you raise all of your fingers off of the bars a little bit and let them get some air blown on them, but don't do that on any tough trails, or you might find yourself in a one-on0one meeting with the ground:scream:

 

[sixstring4137785]

Loosen your grip dude ! Worked good for me.
I read an article in Motocross Action or Dirtrider that related to what RM GUY was saying. Except some have even gone far enough as to have surgery to their forearms to eliminate the arm pump, hand tingle feelings experienced while racing. Mostly Pro racers. I'm not sure how to track down the article but I found it interesting and greusome at the same time. Just imagine slitting your forearms open and removing tissue to help blood flow.....
good luck

 

[High Lord Gomer]

Originally posted by YT_guy
If you have large muscular forearms it can compound the problem

AND how would you know?!? :p

(Looks like I better NOT go to the Nor'east SF!) :scream:

 

[bud]

Happens to me early on in a ride too. Usually I stop till the pain goes away, 5 mins or so, and it doesn't come back after that.

 

[JMD]

All the above suggestions are good: loosen your grip, reduce vibration, wear wrist braces at night, and see a doctor. Until you do, you can take Ibuprofin--it works wonders. Ask your doctor to prescribe DayPro; they last 24 hours, and work great.

Also, do stretching exercises for your hands during the week, just before you ride, and during breaks. PM me for the specific exercises; they have been very effective for me.

I've had CTS more than 10 years now, from playing guitar before I learned correct technique, from typing a lot, and, yes, from riding motorcycles. I'm working hard to avoid having the operation; from what I understand, about 30 percent of the time it does no good at all, and about 10 percent of the time it makes the problem much worse. Not good odds. Better to protect your nerves and avoid the necessity. You're going to want to use those hands for a long time, most likely.

 

[smb_racing]

try some softer grips or some grips with a larger diameter. You could also fill your stock bars in with some expandable foam or silicoln caulking to deaden the vibrations.

 

[Jaybird]

Make sure your gloves aren't too tight. If they fit good, they are too tight.
You need them to be real loose, and maybe try loosening the velcro. You don't need them buckled, except for lookin good. :)

 

[RM_guy]

Originally posted by High Lord Gomer
AND how would you know?!? :p

(Looks like I better NOT go to the Nor'east SF!) :scream:

After seeing the pictures of the pink tutu I would think it best for you not to come too:p Although it did look kinda cute…OK, you can come;)

BTW, 4 or 5 cans of spinach a day will give you nice large forearms but you’ll stain the toilet green and start attracting tall skinny women named Olive, not to mention talking funny.

 

[JMD]

I've had a couple pm's asking for the exercises I mentioned, so I thought I'd just post them here. They have helped me; maybe they'll help you.

1. Bend each finger as far back as you can without breaking anything. Hold it there a bit, then release.

2. Close both hands in fists as tight as you can. Then open them as wide as you can. Do this 10 times.

3. Grasp each finger with the opposite thumb and foreginger; shake each finger gently, and feel it loosen up, especially at the base knuckle. This sounds like it's too simple, but don't skip this one. It's very effective for me.

4. Hold the right hand with thumb facing away from you, palm facing to the right. Grasp the right thumb with the fingers of the left hand, and place the left thumb between the 2d and 3rd knuckles at the base of the fingers of the right hand. (It sounds complicated, but once you do it, you'll see what I mean.) Push with the left thumb while pulling with the left fingers, to rotate the right palm even farther to the right. Hold the stretch while you extend the arm fully, so that the right thumb points straight down. Do the opposite with the left hand.

5. Shake out both hands and arms, feeling them loosen up and relax.

I do these several times a day, when my hands feel stiff or numb; also before riding, and once or twice during the riding day.

Also, every day I pay attention to the hand positions that cause tingling, and I try to avoid those positions. I use a split keyboard--big difference. And I use a speaker-phone, to avoid holding the phone to my ear. I want to use my hands for important things, like playing guitar and riding motorcycles.