Saturday was one of the happiest days of my adult life, while simultaneously being one of the most disappointing. For 20 years i have been racing and riding dirt bikes and dealing with numb hands, before the half way point of an off road race both of my hands were completely numb and I was left trying to survive. It was always the first 2 fingers on both hands, the ones i covered the brake and clutch with. They would get to the point where I literally could not even feel the levers, I was forced to slow down and shake my hands out to get another 5-10 minutes of control. Riding with this condition has lead to some sketchy situations over the years. Well, exactly 4 weeks ago I had carpal tunnel decompression done on my left hand, and i rode my dirt bike for the first time on Saturday. I probably couldve been back on the bike sooner but honestly i was afraid of being let down. Low and behold, after a solid 33 minute moto on a brutal sand track with tight single track mixed in (the ultimate test on a 450), my left hand did not go numb at all, not even a tingle! The right hand, like clock work, was numb by the half way point in the moto. To think ive wasted so much time makes me sick. If you deal with numbness while on the bike, find a good doctor, get diagnosed, and GET IT DONE. Youll be happy you did!
I concur.
Got mine done about five years ago and was a game changer. I really didn’t know how bad they had become until I was relieved of the pain.
I developed my own pinky and ring finger lever technique after years. I just had the left hand done 3 weeks ago. Still pretty tender. Im going to delay the right hand till after the season. Going to try just cortisone injection and the wrist braces to make it through one more summer. I did a little ice riding and it wasnt a great situation, glad I didnt eat it.
Every year is your last good year after 40 so I dont want to lose the first quarter of the season to a right hand recovering. I originally wanted this done last fall but it took forever to get an EMG test done for verification
What I thought was just bad arm pump was a combination of arm pump and carpal tunnel. My hands would go numb within the first 5 min of spirited riding. After seeing a ortho specialist last year, I got these over night wrist braces to wear and it became clear, I actually got a bit of relief from them, but then I could see the difference between arm pump and carpal tunnel. Id Always have carpal tunnel, but I wouldnt always have arm pump.
i was supposed to have mine done back to back ( 2 weeks apart ), but i decided to wait until after the left one was 100%. I really didnt have to have to do daily things with 2 inoperative hands
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i was waking up every night with numb hands, the wrist braces were a game changer allowing a full night sleep.
Got mine done over 15 years ago, no issues since.
I got an injection and it all went away for about 3 years. It flares up occasionally now but its not constant.
I am having Major back surgery in 16 days and thinking about getting another shot or CT surgery after this.
That's awesome to hear!
Be advised not all recoveries will be as fast as some here.
I might have waited too long.
I have a thumb muscle on my left palm rhat has atrophied and was tood might not come back.
I still have a lot of tingling on my left hand that the doctor says may continue to improve for 18 months or so.
I had it done mid december and it has continued to improve, especially grip strength.
Had right hand done 3 weeks ago and it has hurt a good deal more. I woke up last saturday at 3 am and thought a horse was standing on it. Hurt like hell and had swelled considerably. Had to take pain meds for a couple days and kept it iced. Feeling much better now.
I would be specific with your dr on expectations, and listen to what they say, especially relating to being careful and letting the incision heal.
The PA knew i would be going back to work and was very specific about what would happen if i tore it open.
Just had mine done last week in my right hand. Had it done on a Tuesday and went back to work as a mailman using that hand all day on Monday, less than a week later. Still some pain, but hasn’t been numb since. Stitches out tomorrow and can’t wait for a couple more weeks to ride and give it the true test. Most pain I have right now is from the incision.
Can confirm. Got mine done at around 33-34 and was so pissed i didn't do it sooner. Can moto without numb hands. Lol
Fly down to lakeland florida and have dr jubala do it. He has a nom invasive technique that is superior to other methods. Takes like 10 min, just a local. No stitches back on the bike in 2 weeks
I have had numb hands for ever, just driving a car they go numb, and every doctor I have talked to said my are fine, so I don't know.
Also dealt with the numb hands after about 5 minutes on the track for years. Where do you start with something like this? Orthopedic specialist?
Gotta get mine done, both arms.
You’ll have to figure out if you need a referral or not to see a orthopedic specialist for your insurance. I have an in network orthopedic provider and was able to make an appointment directly with a hand specialist.
Pay attention to the specifics of your numbness. Carpal tunnel is a pretty specific set of fingers that go numb. Doc will run you through a barrage of tests to figure out your diagnosis.
No kidding! I've never really heard from other guys as young as me when I had the surgery. I was only 30 and it was severe. I'm 47 now and the past couple years I've started to get arm pump in my throttle hand only pretty bad. I know carpal tunnel can comeback but I don't feel like that's the case. Im obviously familiar with how that feels. It's not numbness, it bad arm pump. I grip the bike with my knees, all that stuff. It's only my right hand. How do they test if you're a candidate for arm pump surgery?
My Dad just had both his arms done... says his pain and aches are worse now than before the surgery... It sucks, he's having to stop working because of it, I don't think hes ever been so depressed
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There is a test they do using electricity and pins they push into your skin. Im not a doctor but ive never heard of arm pump being cause by carpal tunnel compression. Definitely give your doctor a call and see what they think
I had mine done two weeks apart, just decided that it wasn't worth waiting. Glad I did because you can ride again pretty quickly, the part of the hand they cut doesn't touch the handlebars so I never had discomfort riding. It's also a great workout to rebuild grip strength!
My doctor told me the longer I waited, the less successful the recovery would be. Every time it goes numb you're damaging the nerve and as the fibers die that part of the muscle it's connected to won't ever come back. If you're getting numb hands get it done ASAP.
Go to a hand specialist, my primary care doctor told me to stop doing whatever was causing them to go numb, I replied "living?" They would go numb driving, working, sleeping, sitting at the table...
I was 38, should have done it in my 20's.
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