View Full Version : Forearm/wrist tendonitis
Anyone ever suffered with this? For the past 2 months I have used the bike everyday and have spent most of my spare time on my mountain bike.
About 2 weeks ago I woke up with an ache in my upper forarm on my clutching hand but thought nothing of it. I cut down the motorbike to commuting only and haven't touched the mountain bike since.
It has slowly got worse to the point I went to the minor injury clinic and they told me I had tendonitis and told me to rest it (which i kind of do but i still need to work or i'll be homeless).
Today I have woken up in agony and I can't even hold a cup of tea in my left hand. Obviously the anti Inflamitories aren't working.
The good old tinter web and the injury clinic nurse said i have to ice it every 20 minutes for the rest of my life and take at least 3 weeks rest. Both of these options are not possible.
Any thing you can recommend?
I had the same problem as you not too long ago after I had a mental IT project to finish. Does your work involve a lot of typing? The pain in my wrists pretty much went away after I got one of those ergonomic keyboards and mice......and stopped typing on a laptop keyboard.
minimorecambe
09-08-12, 08:11 AM
I have been diagnosed with tendonitis in both wrists.
I do need to go back to the doctors as I suspect I have carpal tunnel in my left wrist.
I should wear wrist straps when I ride the bike (I was advised to stop riding)
You get used to it after a while. If it gets worse try can operate but I think that's a last resort.
I'm a firefighter so zero typing or desk work.
Last shift we didn't get one shout but the shift before we had two car crashes and I was operating heavy cutting equipment for a long time which hurt like hell.
if you have the cash try going to a sports injury clinic. one of the mates is a professional mesure (sp) and when i burgerd my tendons and he sorted them right out, was bloody painful to have done but worked a treat. the problem was still there but about 1/4 of what it was.
Spank86
09-08-12, 08:43 AM
Try not to grip so hard ont he bars.
My cousin suffered from a similar thing for half hsi motorcross career, first he tried to beat it by strengthening the wrist muscles but that just made it worse, the only thing that eased it was learning not to grip so hard or for as long while riding.
I think it's using the clutch as I barely have any weight on my arms when riding. The mountain biking is worse (as I can't hold on with my legs). I was supposed to be out on an observed ride today, the sun is shining for the first time in months and I'm off work all day. Life is ****
Fallout
09-08-12, 09:56 AM
There will be as solution mate. Keep hunting. Is it possible to reduce tension on a clutch lever? Where is the spring? I wonder if it would be possible (and save) to modify it so that the clutch is much easier to pull in.
Also mate, get a Cramp Buster for your throttle side. I know that's not a problem at the moment, but it's a cheap bit of plastic and it may prevent issues starting there too.
Spank86
09-08-12, 10:39 AM
I think it's using the clutch as I barely have any weight on my arms when riding. The mountain biking is worse (as I can't hold on with my legs). I was supposed to be out on an observed ride today, the sun is shining for the first time in months and I'm off work all day. Life is ****
from what I can gather it's not so much weight ont he arms as grip levels.
That being the case a lot of clutch work will exacerbate it, perhaps you could look at longer levers or can it be lightened some other way?
Do you find that you grip the bars quite hard when not changing gear?
BoltonSte
09-08-12, 11:11 AM
May not just be grip though, check your lever positions as well, they may need rotating (down I'm guessing) I had something similar ith the triple when I bought it, had a look when using the levers and sussed that to use them I had to rotate my fingers up and over the lever (by rotating my hand towards me) Rotated the levers down a bit and now don't need to move my wrist to use them, you want to be able to use them whilst keeping your hand/wrist/forarm in line.
I was in no way as much pain as you, but after a day they would ache. It may be something small like this that has built up over time.
Or just learn clutchless shifting ;)
I don't think I grip too hard and never really noticed myself gripping hard. But then you wouldn't notice it if it's the norm I suppose. I really only feel it (on the bike )when initiating a left turn as my weight goes onto that inside bar and when using the clutch as mentioned before. It really REALLY hurts about 5 minutes after I get off the bike. It must be the rest that's doing it! More riding required!
Mini I have a compression bandage now so hopefully that will help. I'm just going to rest as much as possible and eat lots of diclofenac tablets. Apparently if you rest up properly it might be a one off, if you ignore it it will become a chronic condition that may never go.
The stunt riders use super light one finger operation clutches for popping wheelies so I might get one if it doesn't go away.
Bibio, you weren't joking with the "if you have the money" comment! Dear God they are expensive. If the initial R.I.C.E and anti Inflamitories doesn't make any progress in the next few days then I'll just splash out. Nothing more important than your health.
Paul the 6th
09-08-12, 11:20 AM
My experience of tendonitis, went out on mtb on the red at cannock, I had cable disc brakes which used to work well but needed new cables and probably pads, so I was having to yank like feck on the back brake to scrub and speed off..
Over 2-3 days after riding it got a lot worse, rang docs and the soonest they could get me in was 4 days later when I would be working away, so went to A&E.
They advised rest it, apply ice to it as you have said and also gave me this splint:
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/s720x720/181398_10151711721530366_341113636_n.jpg
The nurse who dealt with me did say that as I've had tendonitis once it could become a recurring problem which comes back again and again. But after resting it for a few weeks and being careful with it, AND fitting hydraulic brakes to my MTB I've been fine ever since..
Cheers Paul, hopefully a few weeks rest will sort it. I'm off to Coed y Brenin for 2 days MTB on the 24th so not sure what I'm going to do about that. Plus only have use of a motorbike at the minute so will have to use peasant public transport of something to get to work. Nice Mondeo by the way.
Shawthing
09-08-12, 11:27 AM
I'm a firefighter so zero typing or desk work.
Last shift we didn't get one shout but the shift before we had two car crashes and I was operating heavy cutting equipment for a long time which hurt like hell.
You should consider informing your employer, particularly if it is affecting your ability to perform your duties.
They may well help with releiving you of the jobs that may well make it worse. They need a fit you , not an underperforming or longterm sick you.
You should consider informing your employer, particularly if it is affecting your ability to perform your duties.
They may well help with releiving you of the jobs that may well make it worse. They need a fit you , not an underperforming or longterm sick you.
This is something I have been avoiding because I don't want to let my watch down by leaving them one man short. But the pain I'm in now I couldn't honestly say I would be 100% on a working job, that's a danger to the crew and the public. Looks like I'll be on light duties AGAIN.
These 2 wheeled things are bad for your health, engine or no engine!
minimorecambe
09-08-12, 12:23 PM
The problem I found with those braces is my tendinitis runs into my thumb and they don't cover that area.
If I put my hand out flat with fingers out straight and my thumb resting against my index finger I feel no pain. If I then move my thumb away from my index finger (so thumb and index finger make an L shape) I get pain up the radial side of my arm and over the top of my forearm a little further back than where the face of a watch would be.
Is that similar to yours?
Fallout
09-08-12, 12:53 PM
Mark, don't fall for Paul's nonsense. That's his pleasure glove in the photo. It has leather on it, for Christ's sake!
dizzyblonde
09-08-12, 01:20 PM
Play with some balls and give you tendons some exercise.
And no ya filthy lot, by balls, I mean Chinese stress balls, spin then round in the palm of your hand gives the guiders etc individual movement. Or alternatively a pair of golf ballks, but they nay be too light and small. The idea is not to let them clack together in the palm of your hand whilst spinning. Promotes strength in wrist and forearm.
minimorecambe
09-08-12, 02:10 PM
My pain is usually in the ball of my hand and round in between my thumb and index finger.
My index finger has now started twitching randomly on its own.
This is why I suspect it is carpal tunnels it is getting worse.
I was diagnosed with tendinitis about 2 years ago.
Paul the 6th
09-08-12, 02:57 PM
Play with some balls and give you tendons some exercise.
And no ya filthy lot, by balls, I mean Chinese stress balls, spin then round in the palm of your hand gives the guiders etc individual movement. Or alternatively a pair of golf ballks, but they nay be too light and small. The idea is not to let them clack together in the palm of your hand whilst spinning. Promotes strength in wrist and forearm.
I did tell the nurse in A&E that I wasn't sure whether to keep it moving to stop it from stiffening up, or to rest it so it could heal and he said that stiffening up sensation was my body's way of telling me to rest it, and if I continue to stretch & move it, it will just aggravate it. The chinese ball things could be good for prevention once the tendon's aren't inflamed anymore maybe?
The nurse guy explained the tendons as being wrapped in a sheath, a bit like electric cable having pvc sheath on the outside, and that when the tendon (wire in the middle) gets inflamed, it becomes difficult for said tendon to slide smoothly up & down inside the sheath (the pvc covering) and the friction registers as pain/stiffness, hence by resting it the inflamation can clear up and normal pain free service will be resumed..... or words to that effect :)
Oh and definitely worth asking to have it noted at work if you're in the fire service.
dizzyblonde
09-08-12, 04:19 PM
Well aye, your nit going to like doing it when your in masses of pain. However those plastic cables do need to be kept in trim as a preventative, trick is to use your fingers not wrists. It's worth a mention with the gp though, to see if it suits, I'm no doc. ;)
I've been suffering from this clutch arm thing since i started riding... gripping ze tank, not doing excessive rides and ice packing and ibuprofen gel has the best effect
Went to this guy recently: http://www.fleetosteopathicclinic.co.uk/ and we discovered the tendon right before the base of my elbow is quite stingy and painful when pressure is applied...and he thought it was linked to the pain in my wrist and thumb - taken his advice of light exercise, ice packs 4 times a day and ibuprofen gel everyday and the pain is almost gone after a week, I'd recommend him.
Fallout
09-08-12, 06:06 PM
In my experience, docs don't have a clue what they're babbling about. They read something in a book and take it as gospel. Well, it aint gospel. Some of the rubbish advice I've had over the years.
My suggestion is ignore everything the doctor says after the diagnosis (which half the time you can work out yourself anyway). Let them diagnose, get the drugs you can't buy over the counter, and then go onto the internet and research the treatment yourself. Obviously this applies to this sort of minor rest/exercise type ailments. I wouldn't advice ignoring the doctors advice for things like broken spines and decapitation.
Dave-the-rave
09-08-12, 06:27 PM
I did tell the nurse in A&E that I wasn't sure whether to keep it moving to stop it from stiffening up, or to rest it so it could heal and he said that stiffening up sensation was my body's way of telling me to rest it, and if I continue to stretch & move it, it will just aggravate it. The chinese ball things could be good for prevention once the tendon's aren't inflamed anymore maybe?
The nurse guy explained the tendons as being wrapped in a sheath, a bit like electric cable having pvc sheath on the outside, and that when the tendon (wire in the middle) gets inflamed, it becomes difficult for said tendon to slide smoothly up & down inside the sheath (the pvc covering) and the friction registers as pain/stiffness, hence by resting it the inflamation can clear up and normal pain free service will be resumed..... or words to that effect :)
Oh and definitely worth asking to have it noted at work if you're in the fire service.
Am I the only one to find all that quite sexual??? How did the nurse respond???
Paul the 6th
09-08-12, 07:13 PM
The nurse was a guy... Pay more attention to the first line of my post Dave! lol
Well i saw this guy several months after seeing my crap GP and he was surprisingly good. Otherwise the internet is normally a much better source for treatment if you filter out the crapola :P
If I put my hand out flat with fingers out straight and my thumb resting against my index finger I feel no pain. If I then move my thumb away from my index finger (so thumb and index finger make an L shape) I get pain up the radial side of my arm and over the top of my forearm a little further back than where the face of a watch would be.
Is that similar to yours?
sounds like you have De Quarvian (sp?) syndrome. But judging by what you have said it seems its this, as the test to diagnose it is extremely similar to the movements you have described if my memory serves me correct.
Maybe go see your doctor for some steroid jabs.
(i'm only a third year medical student so dont believe everything i say ;))
Like 99% of people my first port of call was google. From that I discovered I had either, tendonitis that will go away in a few weeks or de Quarvian/Intersection syndrome that will ruin my life leaving me incapable of enjoying any of my hobbies without constant pain. I would also most likely get medically discharged from my job.
So I'm hoping it's just the tendonitis.
I went to minor injuries clinic and got a pleasure glove like Paul's and have now been to the GP and been prescribed diclofenac to sort the inflammation.
Ice packs 3 times a day for 20 mins at a time is also helping the swelling.
I'm also going to go and see someone in a local sports injury clinic that was recommended to me as they can do some nasty manipulation to help things along.
No motorcycle or MTB for at least 2 weeks though.
And it's all your fault Jammy, that ride back from yours was the final straw, when I got home I could barely get my jacket off my arm was that fecked.
Had tendonitis a couple of years ago, woke one morning and it had just suddenly come on, in agony and my arm had turned bright red and felt really hot. Went to a&e and was given a pleasure glove like Pauls, and told to rest it for two weeks. I was signed off work but when I told work they moaned and gave me a bit of a guilt trip so I went in one day after resting it for a couple and it aggrevated it even more. I went back to a&e and they ended up putting it in plaster for another week or two (can't remember how long now) and touch wood haven't had a problem with it since.
My brother gets it more frequently though, and he places a spoon in his palm with the handle down the inside of his wrist and then wraps bandages around it to make an improv splint.
Plaster! Let's hope it doesn't come to that. The R.I.C.E plus diclofenac doesn't seem to be doing much but it's still early days. While I'm sat at home with my ice pack on looking at the bike out the window I got on fleabay and bought one of those 'easy pull' clutch devices that the stunt guys use so hopefully that will keep this as a one off.
One month on and pain is almost all gone.
For anyone suffering similar I have some info on the subject worth a read. It also has a self treatment plan which really helps.
Fitted a comfort kit and a "righteous stunt" easy pull clutch lever yesterday and going for my first ride with the new bits later this afternoon. Took it around the block to check everything works yesterday and it feels like a new bike just over that short distance. Fingers crossed its just as good on a long ride.
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