Wrist pain...

[Jammy]

I know this may be a bit of a familiar topic area as Winder posted a similiar thread a while back, however, none of the solutions in that thread helped me so im open to ideas?

Took my CBT late last summer and started riding a 125 about. Fairly quickly moved onto an SV650 and have regularily attended rideouts through the end of last year and into this year.

Throughout most of this time ive struggled with intense aching pain in my left wrist, sometimes extending up my arm and into my fingers. I rarely feel it when im riding but notice it afterwards. Sometimes it is accompanied by a general numb sensation in the thumb joint area. I have never had issues with my right (throttle) hand. And before the jokes comes rolling in, i am ambidextrous in that area. ;)

At first i tried painkillers and the old advice that 'it will go away soon, your muscles need to build up strength' after several months i gave up on this idea and tryed icepacking 3 times a day, putting it in a removable cast -http://www.physioroom.com/images/products/38938_image.jpg like this and various other methods. To no avail. When i went to the doctor about it the prognosis was 'stop riding motorbikes' which was very helpful :rolleyes: (albiet true) Ive also seen an osteopath which helped in the short term but didn't solve the problem.
As far as the bike goes ive tried many different clutch settings which dont seem to make the blindest bit of difference.
The only time that the pain has disappeared was over the Xmas/New years period when i hardly ever rode the bike.

If you ask anyone whos been on a rideout with me they know i sit on the bike very oddly. Maybe Posture is the issue?

Any help? guidance? similar experiences?

[Jayneflakes]

If you have tried all of the medical things being done to you, have you considered adjusting your bike?

Different handlebars, different grips or even a different clutch lever. Make sure that your cable is running smoothly.

I have a shoulder injury that has kept me off my bike since last summer and I am doing physio and am being checked for Carpel Tunnel problems. A chat with a better GP may help you in a similar way, but then my GP rides a Ducatti and understands the need to ride.

If you can try a go on another bike that has a different position too. Good luck.

[Bordtea]

Stop being such a gayer

[BanannaMan]

Haven't seen you ride but posture could well have something to do with it.

Avoid leaning on your arms. You don't want too much weight on your wrists.
Also don't you want too tight of a grip on the bars.
You should be able to control the bike with your fingertips and a loose grip.

Proper riding position on the bike is more than just about comfort. It's also a major factor in the handling and control of your bike.
That is defintely something you should work on improving whether it's affecting your wrists or not.

Reguardless of the cause, the answer for nearly all with wrist/hand problems is higher bars.
Invest in a set of higher bars or risers. Could well be the best money you've ever spent.

[Specialone]

I've had very similar problems when I owned a SV, things I've known to help...

Make sure your gloves and sleeves of your jacket are loose, if they are tight, they restrict blood flow.

Keep your arms bent, forearms must be parallel to the road or as close as you can (you may get lower back pain)

When braking or cornering, grip the tank hard with your knees.

You've tried the adjusting of the levers etc.

Ultimately, i had to change the bike as mine developed into severe shoulder pain which I still get when I'm tense on the bike.

[Fallout]

I think you need to sort your posture out first Jammy. After that you can try other things. I can't remember which way you lean/twist when sitting on the bike, but it's probably putting some stress on your left wrist.

I also reckon it's psychological with you. It's possible to massively amplify problems like this psychologically, in the same way stress can make you physically ill. Ya know, I'm a bit nuts but you are actually a proper loon. :D

1. Get your posture sorted first by making a concious effort to sit up straight.
2. Take all the weight off your wrists.
3. Sort out handle bar ergonomics (lever positions etc)

[dizzyblonde]

Levers.

Make sure when you sit on your bike to adjust them, your limbs are all lined up. Your wrist shouldnt be bent up or down. Place fingers on levers, , they should rest flat on the lever, palm resting flat on bar, your wrist should be in line with your fingers, and so should your elbow. If the lever is up or down from that everything kinks out of place which causes pain.

[Biker Biggles]

If you have tried all the adjustments and riding style bits you could try a tankbag.It acts as something to lean on stopping you putting too much pressure on the wrists.Worked for me on longer trips.

[dizzyblonde]

If you have tried all the adjustments and riding style bits you could try a tankbag.It acts as something to lean on stopping you putting too much pressure on the wrists.Worked for me on longer trips.

+1


Makes for a good boob rest! I always have a tank bag. Dodgy shoulders feel a lot looser with that there. They Can't cope with the position on long trips even if my wrists are fine.

[Spank86]

I think we need to get gav to go pillion with him and force him to sit straight.

[Geodude]

I think we need to get gav to go pillion with him and force him to sit straight.
Wouldn't the extra 'wriggling' make the bike less manouverable ;)

[ClunkintheUK]

I used to get the same in my right thumb/wrist until I moved the brake lever round. Previously it was very difficult to pull my fingers up and over the lever. I was riding with my wrist bent, which was, I think, straining the tendons in my wrist and pulling my thumb out of joint a bit, and forcing my to put my weight on the joint.

Now I can ride with my wrist straight and the weight it taken by the heel of my hand not my thumb joint.

[Fallout]

I think his levers are well adjusted. He has horrible blinging chinese ones one, so think he lined them up at that time. Not tried the Gav option though. If nothing else it'll take his mind off it.

[Spank86]

Wouldn't the extra 'wriggling' make the bike less manouverable ;)

Possibly but I've heard tell that one pain distracts you from another.

[Wideboy]

Why? Why ruin a perfectly reasonable thread?

You should be ashamed

[Brettus]

I experienced the usual wrist ache when I first got my SV too, I think it was cured by several factors:
Adjusting the levers, play with a few angles, it isn't always obvious what is "right" for you
Riding more relaxed, I found when I was tense it got worse as I was gripping the bars (I still notice it in cold weather now as I've got heated grips so I grip them for heat and feel my wrist ache again)
Acclimatisation, you get used to that being the normal position, it just takes a little getting used to.

HTH

[Geodude]

Why? Why ruin a perfectly reasonable thread?

You should be ashamed
It may well be your fault for being so desirable :p ;)

aaaanyway i know a bike instructor that tells everyone who rides that gets wrist/arm pain to every now and then flap their arms like a chicken and this relaxes (but makes you look like a mammary) the muscles etc and leaves less chance of pain. Might be worth a try and at least it entertains the rest of the lads if it doesn't work. HTH

[Fallout]

It may well be your fault for being so desirable :p ;)

Gav is only desirable if you desire chronic herpes.

aaaanyway i know a bike instructor that tells everyone who rides that gets wrist/arm pain to every now and then flap their arms like a chicken and this relaxes (but makes you look like a mammary) the muscles etc and leaves less chance of pain. Might be worth a try and at least it entertains the rest of the lads if it doesn't work. HTH

To be honest, that technique would suit Jammy very well. Nobody would bat an eyelid. :D

[Geodude]

Proper lol'ed at that fallout :) poor jammy.

[Dicky Ticker]

Tap the ends of your fingers on the tank every now and then on longer rides,this improves the circulation which might be your problem.Looks a lot less ungainly than flapping your arms like a demented chicken.:D

[Littlepeahead]

Tap the ends of your fingers on the tank every now and then on longer rides,this improves the circulation which might be your problem.Looks a lot less ungainly than flapping your arms like a demented chicken.:D

I do the chicken flapping thing to stop me getting shoulder and wrist pain - it's much less of a problem on my GS than my SV as it is more upright. It works but you may look a bit daft. Not so good is when you have two way radio on and the person you are riding with hears you singing 'One Day I'll Fly Away....' whilst doing it. I think that and me squeaking along to Prince's Kiss was why we had to dump the Autocom.

[carelesschucca]

For all of the slagging about the flappy chicken arms it works, if you can't move your arms freely while your riding the bike your holding on too tight, which causes stress on the body.

For any type of road riding you should be able to ride with open fingers and only grip with the hook of your thumb, it did lots of good things for my riding, certainly made me quicker and smoother.

I find that riding the bike using the palms of your hands also means that you have to think about counterstearing properly as you can't use your fingers to pull on the bars, and I found that the feedback you get from the tyre is improved meaning you can once again ride quicker and more confidently...

[Jammy]

I experienced the usual wrist ache when I first got my SV too, I think it was cured by several factors:
Adjusting the levers, play with a few angles, it isn't always obvious what is "right" for you
Riding more relaxed, I found when I was tense it got worse as I was gripping the bars (I still notice it in cold weather now as I've got heated grips so I grip them for heat and feel my wrist ache again)
Acclimatisation, you get used to that being the normal position, it just takes a little getting used to.

HTH

When i first started i did have a death-grip on the bars. This has now largely gone and i consciously try and loosen my grip when i ride


I used to get the same in my right thumb/wrist until I moved the brake lever round. Previously it was very difficult to pull my fingers up and over the lever. I was riding with my wrist bent, which was, I think, straining the tendons in my wrist and pulling my thumb out of joint a bit, and forcing my to put my weight on the joint.

Now I can ride with my wrist straight and the weight it taken by the heel of my hand not my thumb joint.


Might have another look at my levers today.

It may well be your fault for being so desirable :p ;)

aaaanyway i know a bike instructor that tells everyone who rides that gets wrist/arm pain to every now and then flap their arms like a chicken and this relaxes (but makes you look like a mammary) the muscles etc and leaves less chance of pain. Might be worth a try and at least it entertains the rest of the lads if it doesn't work. HTH

I do tend to stretch out and wiggle a bit from time to time :P. But i will give this a try.

I've had very similar problems when I owned a SV, things I've known to help...

Make sure your gloves and sleeves of your jacket are loose, if they are tight, they restrict blood flow.

Keep your arms bent, forearms must be parallel to the road or as close as you can (you may get lower back pain)

When braking or cornering, grip the tank hard with your knees.

You've tried the adjusting of the levers etc.

Ultimately, i had to change the bike as mine developed into severe shoulder pain which I still get when I'm tense on the bike.

Will have a look at the tight gloves/sleeves thing, havent thought of that.

I think we need to get gav to go pillion with him and force him to sit straight.

LOL

For all of the slagging about the flappy chicken arms it works, if you can't move your arms freely while your riding the bike your holding on too tight, which causes stress on the body.

For any type of road riding you should be able to ride with open fingers and only grip with the hook of your thumb, it did lots of good things for my riding, certainly made me quicker and smoother.

I find that riding the bike using the palms of your hands also means that you have to think about counterstearing properly as you can't use your fingers to pull on the bars, and I found that the feedback you get from the tyre is improved meaning you can once again ride quicker and more confidently...

Cheers, will try and put this into practise



Thanks for all the help guys! shame that while i type this my thumb and wrist feel tight and painful :/ :(

[maviczap]

If all the above fails, then get some LSL or Gilles Variobars, as I found that raising the bars higher and having them at less of a steep angle improved my hand and wrist comfort 100%

Gilles are expensive, but better than the LSL bars, as I could adjust them to almost how I wanted them set up. The LSL's are fixed in their position

[Jammy]

Do they effect the feel of the bike? like cornering/stability wise?

[maviczap]

Do they effect the feel of the bike? like cornering/stability wise?

No, in fact because my hands & wrists weren't killing me any more, my bike control was improved.

I just remembered these are another option

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=145616

[SIII]

Tank grip pads like Techspec Snakeskin helped me. When braking I could grip the tank with my knees and take a lot of strain off of my wrists. This helped me a lot, as a newbie, cos I hung onto the bike for all my worth.

Was out last week and hands / wrists were aching and realised i was hanging onto the bike, like a newbie, had to make a conscious effort to relax grip.

[Teejayexc]

Thanks for all the help guys! shame that while i type this my thumb and wrist feel tight and painful :/

Stop winking whilst you type then !

[Jammy]

Has Anyone else switched from a sporty bike to an sit up and beg bike and found it made a difference?

[dizzyblonde]

Yup.....but its kinda obvious riding sitting in a more upright position helps. Doesn't go completely though

[Fordward]

dont lean on your wrists

grip the tank with your knees, lean forwards with a straight back, and use your stomach muscles to hold your leant forward upper body weight

you arms should be relaxed and hands fall to the bars loosely, not supporting any weight

[Littlepeahead]

I have both. I bought the BMW GS because of an Achilles problem but the upright position is easier on the wrists too. I've kept my SV and hope to ride both this summer.

[timwilky]

Spend 30 years on 10 pints a day.

Your personal fuel tank resting on the bike fuel tank will unload your arms.

[Littlepeahead]

Or have breast implants. A couple of mammaries force you to deposition your upper body. Seriously though, Mr LPH had the Dakar version of my bike and it gave him awful shoulder pain so just shows all bikes can cause problems.

[Shawthing]

I just remembered these are another option



Or similarly these that made significant positive difference for me.

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=176399

[Winder]

Has Anyone else switched from a sporty bike to an sit up and beg bike and found it made a difference?

Transfered most of my gear from my blue SV to the black one, just some little jobs to try and get done if i ever get five minutes away from doing stupid diy in the stupid house and it will be ready to ride.
You can come have a look at my set up if you want mate, it's so much better than standard.

Things i found that helped me out

*Lever positioning
*New clutch cable
*Stomp grips
*Toes on pegs to put the knees into the groves on the tank which really locks your legs onto the bike, you barely have any weight at all on the bars
*Chicken elbows after every bend or series of bends helps circulation and acts as a reminder to relax your arms

All that WILL help but it still might not be enough. I ended up buying a stunt clutch which makes the clutch pull really light ( it's easy to mod a standard clutch lever too) and then put the flat bar kit on. Flat bar kit transformed the bike, can't recommend it enough.

Come have a look sometime mate, it's ace.

[Geodude]

Spend 30 years on 10 pints a day.

Your personal fuel tank resting on the bike fuel tank will unload your arms.
+1 :D

Or have breast implants. A couple of mammaries force you to deposition your upper body.
If i did that i would be too busy playing with them to find the time to ride my bike :D;)