Painful Thumbs

[Crazy88]

Hi Guys,

 

I started riding about 2 months ago and my thumb joints/bones have steadily become more painful after the ride and are now permanently painful with movement.

 

I've read that this is common but if anyone has any tips on something I could be doing wrong or need to do to alleviate this, I'd appreciate it?

 

p.s. am riding a MTB.

 

 

Thanks

[V12man]

Hi Guys,

 

I started riding about 2 months ago and my thumb joints/bones have steadily become more painful after the ride and are now permanently painful with movement.

 

I've read that this is common but if anyone has any tips on something I could be doing wrong or need to do to alleviate this, I'd appreciate it?

 

p.s. am riding a MTB.

 

 

Thanks

Go for a good bike fit first - then see how it progresses.

[Titanium Rocket]

You sure it isn't arthritis? I've got what sounds like the same thing. Had cortisone jabs into the joints, fixed it for about a month. The doc warned that it was unlikely to be a permanent solution. Pain killers and anti-inflammatories just treat the symptoms, so I don't take those. Apparently no cure...but it's not pleasant. I'm considering converting to grip shift and ditching the trigger shift.   

[V12man]

You sure it isn't arthritis? I've got what sounds like the same thing. Had cortisone jabs into the joints, fixed it for about a month. The doc warned that it was unlikely to be a permanent solution. Pain killers and anti-inflammatories just treat the symptoms, so I don't take those. Apparently no cure...but it's not pleasant. I'm considering converting to grip shift and ditching the trigger shift.   

Does it show on x-ray? please don't tell me they didn't take some images....

 

If you do have arthritis in the joint, then converting to grip shift will help somewhat - although if you run Shimano derailleurs, this could cost you a fair bit more than just the shifters because of the pull ration difference between manufacturers that might exist, depending on exactly what you run.

[Pulse]

Di2

????

[bikebloke]

Rule #5

[Serious Panda]

1. Try some athro-gaurd type stuff available from pharmacies.

2. Get one of these and strengthen your hands, it can be bought at Cape Union Mart, Duesouth, Sportsmans Warehouse: https://powerballs.com/products/powerball/

[Serious Panda]

Don`t get gripshifts

[Titanium Rocket]

Does it show on x-ray? please don't tell me they didn't take some images....

 

If you do have arthritis in the joint, then converting to grip shift will help somewhat - although if you run Shimano derailleurs, this could cost you a fair bit more than just the shifters because of the pull ration difference between manufacturers that might exist, depending on exactly what you run.

Thanks V12:

1.  My son has a SRAM twist shift setup on his bike, almost zero thumb pain compared with my Shimano trigger shift. I do understand there is a cost implication in converting, but it will be worth it...

2.  Your comment on the Powerball please. I do a lot of gym and surfskiing; would I stand to benefit from this?

[Skott5]

Don`t get gripshifts

 

Why not ? 

[Crazy88]

Go for a good bike fit first - then see how it progresses.

Thanks, I've been for a fitting though; maybe I need to go back..

[Crazy88]

1. Try some athro-gaurd type stuff available from pharmacies.

2. Get one of these and strengthen your hands, it can be bought at Cape Union Mart, Duesouth, Sportsmans Warehouse: https://powerballs.com/products/powerball/

Thanks, will give the above a try; a colleague who pole dances (as sport!) uses a Powerball to strengthen her grip (on the pole!)

[Crazy88]

Di2

 

I wish!

[Serious Panda]

Thanks, will give the above a try; a colleague who pole dances (as sport!) uses a Powerball to strengthen her grip (on the pole!)

   

[Neverfit]

Hi Guys,

 

I started riding about 2 months ago and my thumb joints/bones have steadily become more painful after the ride and are now permanently painful with movement.

 

I've read that this is common but if anyone has any tips on something I could be doing wrong or need to do to alleviate this, I'd appreciate it?

 

p.s. am riding a MTB.

 

 

Thanks

Good day Crazy,

 

I have had this problem and I know how irritating and painful this can be.

 

To pinpoint the exact cause is not easy, and it turns out even the specialists battle to diagnose the exact origin of the pain.

I had De Quervain tenosynovitis ( http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/de-quervains-tenosynovitis/basics/definition/con-20027238) which meant it hurt like hell every time you tried to grip something, not just during the ride. 

there is a simple and effective test to determine if this is in fact what is bugging you.

Have a look at the Finkelstein test (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/de-quervains-tenosynovitis/multimedia/finkelstein-test/img-20005987) , as this is the specialist will do. If it does NOT hurt like hell when you do this, odds are its not De Quaervain's.

 

Hope you get it resolved quickly without having to go to gripshifts...

[BDF]

I felt this same pain thing when I started mountain biking. The first few months my thumbs were sore but then the pain vanished. Only thing I did was keep riding. Seems they were just un-exercised in the sense of repeatedly pushing the triggershift. Maybe that's all it is for you?