numb thumbs!!!!! help me out here people.

[Medusa Padlock]

Ok so I'm new to the world of riding and here's the deal

I took a motorcycle safety course a few weeks ago and was made to ride for 7 hours on the second day of class. Since then i have a numbness in my left thumb..a constant numbness. Ive been riding my buddy off and on for two weeks but not for long periods at a time due to the cold weather...However, I started noticing the numbness move to my index and middle finger. Last night I was sitting on the couch and realized the same thing was happening on my right hand.

I'm a bit freaked out here...bilateral hand numbness is not something to take lightly!

Do you guys have this problem at all? When I'm up and about and at work I don't notice it as much as when I'm sitting down or relaxing.

I plan on seeing a Doctor today if I can get an appointment.
I know this can happen with people who ride motorcycles but i'm unsure if they have numbness and tingling constantly or just while riding..

Let me know what you think. It would be greatly appreciated.

[scootermom]

Definitely see a doctor. I had bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome with the associated surgeries a few years ago (it was successful, btw). You can do permanent damage to the nerves that supply your hand/finger function with a number of activities.

I can't remember without looking it up which nerve supplies the thumb, but I would recommend going straight to an orthopedist who specializes in hand/arm function. It's possible that you damaged yourself with your riding position, pressing on the nerve as it goes through your wrist and into your hand.

If you are a new rider, like me, you might be seriously white-knuckling the handlebars (I have been, and am really being mindful of that) and subsequently pressing on that nerve.

Just some thoughts.

[TVB]

Take this diagnosis for what it's worth (i.e. free amateur advice from the internet) but it sounds a bit like a pinched nerve. There's a nerve that runs from your spine down to your thumb and index finger that can get pinched in any of a number of places along the way. I have it on my left side, and get numbness, pain, and/or twitchiness in those fingers. For better or worse, mine has nothing to do with riding (it's from an injury before I got my scooter, and hasn't gone away since I put him away for the winter), but you definitely want to get it treated before any permanent nerve damage is done.

[sunshinen]

I had numbness in my pinky and ring finger, so severe that I had a hard time typing, that would come on around halfway through the workday. I also had a ton of other joint pain/aching issues. Spent thousands on ergonomic keyboards, chairs, carpal tunnel braces, etc. Turned out to be celiac disease. Went on a gluten-free diet, and about every medical complaint I'd had for 10 years just vanished.

I only mention this because 97 percent of people who have celiac disease, don't know they have it because doctors are very miseducated about the symptoms (there are more than 200 possible symptoms and everyone is different) and how common it is. I had been misdiagnosed for a decade. Testing is a simple blood test.

[bdarling]

+1 on seeing a doctor. On longer rides, I used to get numbness in my outer fingers and little in my thumbs, then I read through Master Yoda's Riding Position (http://midliferider.com/blog/2008/02/17 ... ster-yoda/) and everything changed. I realized that I was leaning on my bars with almost all of my upper body weight and, in turn, I was putting a huge amount of strain on my wrists. Now I try to simply rest my hands on the bars and let my hips and legs do the work.

-B

[ericalm]

On longer rides, I used to get numbness in my outer fingers and little in my thumbs, then I read through Master Yoda's Riding Position (http://midliferider.com/blog/2008/02/17 ... ster-yoda/) and everything changed.

Great link! I'd love to see something like this that's more scooter-specific, but I think the general principles apply. Do we have any orthopedists, physical therapists or ergonomics experts in the house?

I'll just second the recommendations that you not lean on the handlebars or white-knuckle the grips. It's actually better for both your body and for controlling the scooter to stay loose and relaxed. It's something you have to teach yourself over time and that comes with confidence and experience.

One question, though: What kind of gloves have you been wearing? It's possible that pressure or squeezing combined with your gloves is just cutting off circulation and causing the numbness.

[Rippinyarn]

I have these foam grips on all three of my scoots (and heated on my commuter Kymco). They are inexpensive and very comfortable. Ever since I put them on, I've avoided numbness and tingling in my hands. Start with relaxing your grip and then consider getting something like these to help.



http://www.jcwhitney.com/FOAM_GRIPS?ID= ... 017113;0;0

If you have an air compressor (or can borrow one), place the small nozzle under the inside edge of your current grips, blast some air in and watch it balloon up, separating it from the handlebars. Gently remove them by sliding them off (sometimes a tool like a flat-blade screwdriver or long, flat piece of rigid plastic helps) and clean the area. I skip a little RTV silicone over the handlebars and accelerator and quickly slide the (warm helps) new grips over.

[charlie55]

I started developing pains in my right shoulder blade/shoulder and elbow, along with intermittent tingling in the thumb and first 2 fingers of my right hand in October. Finally got in to see a doc in December. After exams and an MRI, they determined it to be a herniated disc in my C6 or C7 vertebra, and this was pinching a nerve. Too many years of poor posture and hunching over in front of a monitor I guess.

I've been on an anti-inflammatory and doing physical therapy for a week now, and it's actually starting to improve quite a bit.

Bottom line, go see a doc for your own peace of mind and to prevent something simple from becoming something serious.

PS: The therapist assured me that this condition would in no way affect my ability to ride.

[Medusa Padlock]

Thanks for all the advice, you guys are great! I have an appointment on Monday so I hope to find a bit out.

What sucks is now Im scared to ride...


I will keep you posted on my numb thumbs

P.S. I wear Fox Dirtpaw gloves. no padding really...