Numbness in fingers?

Question

I went for a 22-mile bike ride on my schwinn ranger yesturday, and after about 4 miles, by fingers kept going numb, especially my thumb. The bottom of my palm, under my thumb hurt awfully bad, and it was difficult to continue on only because it hurt so bad. Why? Normal? My seat is adjusted to the perfect height.(My inseam multiplied by 0.883) I changed hand positions regularly, from the handle bars to the end bars that point up and forward. How can I prevent this on my next long ride? Or is it just another pain that accompanies bicycling?

Answer 1

It's a pretty popular problem, but it will get better over time as your body gets used to riding.  You can still try to improve the situation with minor adjustments.  I had the problem, tried a bunch of things and I can't tell you exactly what made the difference, but it went away.  I'm sure it was a combination of things.

I don't recall which nerve is in your hand. It maybe part of the sciatic nerve system.  Regardless, the nerve in your hand is getting pinched or receiving excessive pressure.  That's what causes the numbness.  

I would first try a better pair of riding gloves.  Some people like a lot of padding, others don't.  In the early day so of riding I liked lots of padding, but today almost none.  

Second, you can play around with your riding position.  Making minor adjustments to the seat, stem height or angle of handle bars can make a big difference.  i.e. rotate your handle bars slighly up.  These seem minor, but have an impact over distances.

You can also buy little gel packs which you can put under your handle bar tape.  Nashbar or Performance sells them online.  They work pretty well, adding more padding and a bigger surface area for your hand (bigger surface area means the pressure point with your hand is more spread out).  They're quite comfortable.  (This might be how I get away with very little padding in my gloves these days).

If you do a lot of riding you could change the handle bars.  Some of the carbon fiber handle bars are more ergonomic in design, with a flatter surface where you hands rest.  They actually are more comfortable, regardless of numbness issues.   But pricey.

I bet over time if you make a couple adjustments and give it time that the numbness will go away.  If it persists, maybe the frame design of your bike doesn't fit your body well.  Two bikes of the same frame size are usually quite different.  More than you might think, but you'll notice it over long distances.  i.e. I like bikes where the frame has a shorter distance (all relative) between the handle bars and seat.  If it's too far, then I feel like I am putting too much weight on my handle bars.  I like to be a little more upright, with more of my weight on my butt.

Numb hands is the first thing you will experience.  Wait until you get hot spots in your butt and then feet.  Eventually you'll dial in your bike and your body with adjust.

Answer 2

You are pinching or putting pressure on the nerves that run through the palms of your hands.  I have the same problem.  Good gloves will correct this.  The type I use are designed for just that reason, numbness in the hands.  They are "Iron Man" gloves and they were designed by a doctor to take the pressure off those nerves.

Answer 3

its a trapped nerve somewhere in your hand, arm or shoulder.

Answer 4

maybe low blood flow i would go to a doctor

Answer 5

4 miles is a very short distance to be getting pain in your hands especially if your seat is adjusted okay. Do you wear cycling gloves-they might make a difference. I use aerobars on my bike as they give me extra positions I can use to alleviate strain in my arms and wrists etc. but having said that I accept that some amount of arm pain is inevitable if I'm doing a long distance.

Answer 6

Yes mate, i get that, and i think it may be linked to what industry calls 'vibration white finger'. Its the vibrations through the handlebars. Good cycling gloves help a bit but its normal on a 22 mile ride.

Answer 7

Maybe you have carpal tunnel.

Answer 8

Some times the seat height isn't enough.  You can have something funky going on with your stem length.  I had the same problem (to the point where my whole hand would fall to sleep).  Ask if your local bike shop does bike fits..... I got a fit and everything is fine.

Good luck!

Answer 9

Finger numbness during an activity is almost always due to closing off a blood vessel supplying the numb digits. Try just loosening your grip or adjusting it every minute or so.

Answer 10

i don know if this helps but when i started riding especially downhilling at whistler my hands would get really sore  but it got better after a couple rides but my mom has carpel tunnel in both wrists and she has the same problem but it hasn't gotten any better for her.