My throttle hand is cramping up more and more these days.
I can actually feel the pain just by typing this e-mail. I think it is a combination of my work in front of computer and Motorcycling.
I have looked into proper postures and I have been mindful of not over gripping the throttle. Basically being very relaxed when riding but the issue is getting worse and worse.
The Pain starts from my lower forearm to about the middle of my Palm. I think my mouse is aggravating the situation.
Any advise other than go see a Doctor ;D
Ibuprofen?
Seriously, that sounds like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, but that's a WAG.
Carpel Tunnel was my first guess as well. If it is, it's no joke. This book has a good section on treatment. I can remember it, I will bring it in to work and post the suggestions. But if it is, don't let it get too bad because then (worse case) you need surgery to fix...
http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Sweat-2nd-Gear-Motorcyclists/dp/1884313639
Maybe its the very early stages of Carpal tunnel syndrome but I read the wiki page on it and the symptoms do not seem to correspond to mine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpal_tunnel_syndrome
Quote from: ROBsS4R on June 19, 2008, 02:57:42 PM
Maybe its the very early stages of Carpal tunnel syndrome but I read the wiki page on it and the symptoms do not seem to correspond to mine.
That's good news! Would bar risers help?
When my right hand gets tired and ache-y , I try to lower my upper body so the back of my wrist is flat to my forearm to maximize blood flow and get more oxygen into my hands.
Perhaps tendonitis, there's lots of tendons going through that area, as shown in the Wiki picture.
How long does it take for the pain to set in? If it happens when you're on constant throttle, think about getting a throttle lock. There's also a kind of grip that has a big chunk of rubber that sticks out that you can rest the heel of your hand on so you don't have to grip the throttle as much as just lean with your palm.
Alright, checked with the book and there are 3 possibilities:
1) Carpel tunnel: take ibuprofen and rest; if it gets bad, then surgery may be needed. losen gloves.
2) Thoracic outlet syndrom: stand with back to wall. Raise hands so elbow is parallel w/ shoulder with hands vertical (like "hold'em up pose). Open and close palm for 3 minutes slowly. If iti is painful you have TOS. Solution, get a better/taller dinf screen
3) Vibration white fingers: if cold and heavy vibration it could be painful. Bar riser helps
Quote from: CDawg on June 19, 2008, 03:07:36 PM
When my right hand gets tired and ache-y , I try to lower my upper body so the back of my wrist is flat to my forearm to maximize blood flow and get more oxygen into my hands.
I think you should adjust your controls so this is allways the case, much more relaxed. If you read Total Control by Lee Parks, this is also shown...
You know the pain really varies depending on the time of the day it seems.
Worse in the morning and better at night when I ride.
Not that I ride intoxicated but it seems if I have a beer or two and then ride later that night my hand is mostly fine.
My commute home tonight which was 70 miles had little to no pain.
Maybe I need a rest from my bike but its my only mode of transportation right now. I need a rest from my PC as well :-\
In the image below I placed a black oval where the pain is.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3184/2595104108_cebfd0ef39_o.jpg)
I find that while cruising on the highway, I can just keep the throttle open with my hand positioned as if I was making a "zero" with my index finger + thumb, which seems to help relax the hand a bit...
Also, if you're wearing leather gloves, you can sometimes keep the throttle open by unclenching your hand all together and just letting the leather hold it where it needs to be..
Do you have the same pain with different types of gloves?
I've had episodes of hand and arm pain and numbness from working with computers. Two things made a huge difference for me.
1. I got rid of my mouse and started using a graphics tablet. Once you get used to it you'll never want to use a mouse again.
2. I started doing yoga regularly. I found a lot of my pain actually stemmed from tension in my neck and shoulders rather than the forearms, but yoga helps with all of that.
Quote1. I got rid of my mouse and started using a graphics tablet. Once you get used to it you'll never want to use a mouse again.
Any tablets you recommend ?
It sounds like I might have
Flexor tendinitis - inflammation of the tendons in the palm side of the wrist and hand.
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/tendon_disorders.html
I switch my mouse to left hand use and that helps a lot.
Quote from: ROBsS4R on June 20, 2008, 02:49:18 PM
Any tablets you recommend ?
Wacom. If you'll use it a lot, spend the extra money on an Intuos. The cheaper lines are designed for occasional use; the pen is much less precise and they're not built as well. Unless you do a lot of drawing, the small sizes work great. I have the smallest size even though I make my living doing graphics. With the large sizes you'll use big arm motions as opposed to small hand motions, so you'd have to consider which is more comfortable to you.
I have the same thing going on (for a long time). I am convinced that I first need larger O.D. grips to start.
Quote from: ROBsS4R on June 20, 2008, 02:54:23 PM
It sounds like I might have
Flexor tendinitis - inflammation of the tendons in the palm side of the wrist and hand.
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/tendon_disorders.html
ICE...,then go to a chiro for spinal manipulation,it will help release the restricted joints in your neck that might be causing the nerves to get pinched.Just MHO..good luck.
It's also worth trying one of these:
(http://www.desmotimes.com/Images/product/crampbuster.jpg)
I've got them on both the Monster & the ST2 and they are a HUGE help -- when properly positioned, you can really relax your right hand & even stretch/wiggle your fingers while maintaining speed.
I got both from Desmo Times at www.desmotimes.com -- they're in the "Modification" section. From LT's write up on the Desmo Times site:
"Crampbuster Wrist Rest - $10.50
This little gizmo has saved me from developing Carpel Tunnel syndrome. After 20 years of riding with one, I swear by the product. I've used a similar product called a "throttle rocker", but that company was forced to change their design due to copyrighting infringements with the Crampbuster. The rocker slips over the grip and the angle can be controlled on the fly. It allows riders to rest their wrist on the tang of the Crampbuster. This allows a rider to open and close their hand and stretch their fingers, all the while keeping pressure on the throttle. Ingenius. I've got a herd of Ducks, and every one has a wrist rest on it. The Crampbuster is removable and reusable."
Few things:
1 - How often do you ride? I got my bike a few months ago and am just now starting to get to the point where I don't cramp a lot on longer rides, and this is all after a couple of 1000+ mile months. It may be a simple case of muscular building.
2 - I've ridden road bicycles for years and you can get the biggest ergonomic results out of the tiniest little modifications (we're talking millimeters here). The angles on the stock Monster handlebars aren't the greatest, and some may even say they're downright abysmal, but there are tons of uber adjustable clip on solutions out there that may be worth investigating as opposed to dropping a few grand on surgery, not to mention raising/lowering your seat and changing grip size. I personally will pick any moderately self healing option over medicine. The body can do some amazing things if you just let it, you just have to know when enough is enough and head to the doc.
http://www.guzzino.com/toadcl.html
These seem to be pretty popular, and I couldn't find the link, but I saw one set that you could drop to pretty low levels than crank them ridiculously high with naught but a couple of wrenches. I think most of the problem is in the angle positioning though. Ever wonder why they make gun stocks at the angle that they do??
3 - Don't be such a hypochondriac ;D Kidding. In regards to the mouse issue, I've been a computer tech for years and found that (again) the angle of my arm in relation to the surface of the desk/table makes a world of difference, as does the mouse you're using. I used a high end Microsoft for years and finally switched over to a Logitech, and it's a total change. I agree with ro-monster as well, the tablets are great and WELL worth the investment if you're going to be using them on a regular basis, especially for graphics. You may even look into a table pc or something of that nature.
So let me 'splain. No, let me sum up - I'd spend less time playing doctor for yourself and more time experimenting in little increments to see what helps and what doesn't, though I would advise getting a professional opinion instead of looking to all us know-it-alls ;)
Use your iddle up lever on the left bar as cruise control while you give your hand a break briefly on the highway. Then, come home and get the wife to rub it and tell you how manly you are for riding such a Monster. Then convince her that a cold beverage really makes it feel better, but it hurts to open the fridge, so you need her assistance to retrieve said beverage ;D
One other fix is to go to oversize grips -- it really makes a big difference in preventing hand cramping. I've adapted HD grips for customers onto Ducati's using aluminum sleeves and also machined aluminum grips with rubber inserts.
There are various hand stretches you could do that may help you as well.
Wow! there are many good advice on this thread.
I learn something new, thanks guys [thumbsup]
Quote from: SP3 on June 22, 2008, 03:25:29 PM
I have the same thing going on (for a long time). I am convinced that I first need larger O.D. grips to start.
Quote from: MotoCreations on June 24, 2008, 10:48:34 PM
One other fix is to go to oversize grips -- it really makes a big difference in preventing hand cramping. I've adapted HD grips for customers onto Ducati's using aluminum sleeves and also machined aluminum grips with rubber inserts.
I have been thinking the same thing. I feel like my grips are to narrow. I will give that a try [thumbsup]
Quote from: Jarvicious on June 23, 2008, 04:48:08 PM
Few things:
1 - How often do you ride? I got my bike a few months ago and am just now starting to get to the point where I don't cramp a lot on longer rides, and this is all after a couple of 1000+ mile months. It may be a simple case of muscular building.
Pretty much everyday. If anything I need a break rather than build up muscle ;D
I picked up a crampbuster yesterday and rode about 70 miles with it.
It will take time getting use to it but I think it will help.
it gets in the way off the freeway on the streets but u can swival it down or easily remove it.
Hope the Crampbuster helps! I've found that fiddling with it some will quickly find a sweet-spot that works really well & doesn't get in the way at all during normal riding.
Not to be a dick... but depending on your age, it could be the onset of arthritis. If it continues to be a problem, you might want to get it checked out just to be safe.