SV650.org - SV650 & Gladius 650 Forum



Idle Banter For non SV and non bike related chat (and the odd bit of humour - but if any post isn't suitable it'll get deleted real quick).
There's also a "U" rating so please respect this. Newbies can also say "hello" here too.

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 18-03-17, 04:37 PM   #1
bathwiggle
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Biking and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Hello all,

I haven't been here in ages, but was wondering if anyone has been diagnosed with RA, and still managing to bike.

I've spent a year with doctors trying to work out whats causing me pain, and their best suggestion is this. Theyve started me on medication and it seems to be helping, but i'm impatient and having not ridden in best part of a year im fed up.

I managed to ride about 60miles last august and was in agony (on my SV), does anyone have suggestions, i was wondering if a new bike might be lighter on my hands, but dont really want to go get one and find out that its not helping.

Any suggestions?
  Reply With Quote
Old 18-03-17, 06:06 PM   #2
Red Herring
Member
Mega Poster
 
Red Herring's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,708
Default Re: Biking and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sorry to hear of your grief mate, where is the RA getting you (sounds like your wrists?)

Personally I've been managing a back issue for years now and it's generally only aggravated by me sitting around in one position for to long. This means I avoid long motorway stretches if I can and use it as an excuse for climbing all over the bike when riding on the B roads...... The type of bike can make a difference, certainly adventure style bikes put less strain on wrists but you still need to have accurate movement for the controls. Speaking of controls how have you got your brake and clutch levers set up? A lot of people complain of wrist pain only to discover they can relieve it by angling them down slightly so that you're not lifting your fingers so high to get onto them.

If you do think a change of bike will help most dealers will jump at the chance of letting you out on something different for a test ride?
Red Herring is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-03-17, 06:17 PM   #3
maviczap
Member
Mega Poster
 
maviczap's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,096
Default Re: Biking and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Might just be a case of installing higher bars on your curvy, even without your issues, the OEM position doesn't help. Get one of Matt Yokes top yoke conversion kits, and use higher bars.

Lower the foot pegs too?
__________________
We're riding out tonight to case the promised land
Make everyday count
RIP Reeder - Jolly Green Giant and comedy genius
maviczap is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-03-17, 07:22 PM   #4
bathwiggle
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Biking and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Herring View Post
Sorry to hear of your grief mate, where is the RA getting you (sounds like your wrist)

If you do think a change of bike will help most dealers will jump at the chance of letting you out on something different for a test ride?
It's mainly finger joints and thumbs with occasional pain in wrists and toes, so it's pulling the levers that causes the issues. Motorways are fine but anything fun causes pain. I was wondering if heated grips might help reduce the pain but couldn't decide. I'll try angling the levers as a starting point.

I do love my sv but a new bike might require less pressure to pull the levers. did try to go bike shopping a few years ago but places didn't want me to go for a test ride as they seemed to think I was too small for the bike.
  Reply With Quote
Old 18-03-17, 07:27 PM   #5
maviczap
Member
Mega Poster
 
maviczap's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,096
Default Re: Biking and Rheumatoid Arthritis

maybe get some Pazzo's or Chinese copies, as then the reach might not be as long

New clutch cable & worm drive might make that much lighter to operate. Even mine makes my wrists & hands cramp up if I do too much town riding.
__________________
We're riding out tonight to case the promised land
Make everyday count
RIP Reeder - Jolly Green Giant and comedy genius
maviczap is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-03-17, 08:01 PM   #6
bathwiggle
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Biking and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Quote:
Originally Posted by maviczap View Post
maybe get some Pazzo's or Chinese copies, as then the reach might not be as long

New clutch cable & worm drive might make that much lighter to operate. Even mine makes my wrists & hands cramp up if I do too much town riding.
I'll get some and try, thank you. And have a look at getting the clutch cable and worm drive done once I've convinced it to start again!
  Reply With Quote
Old 18-03-17, 08:02 PM   #7
SV650rules
Member
Mega Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Shropshire UK
Posts: 1,357
Default Re: Biking and Rheumatoid Arthritis

www.arthritis.org

have tips on dealing with RA and also changes to diet, the so called anti-inflammatory diet can really help. Certain foods can also aggravate the symptoms, check out site, worth trying.

Strangely Omega 3 can help symptoms but Omega 6 can make things worse, also avoid barbecued / grilled meat products as the high temp can cause changes that are not good.
__________________
2016 SV650 AL7

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear - Mark Twain
SV650rules is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-03-17, 08:09 PM   #8
bathwiggle
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Biking and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Quote:
Originally Posted by SV650rules View Post
www.arthritis.org

have tips on dealing with RA and also changes to diet, the so called anti-inflammatory diet can really help. Certain foods can also aggravate the symptoms, check out site, worth trying.

Strangely Omega 3 can help symptoms but Omega 6 can make things worse, also avoid barbecued / grilled meat products as the high temp can cause changes that are not good.
Thank-you. I'm taking omega 3 supplements, and folic acid to combat the methotrexate side effects, trying to stick to the diet but finding it really really hard, although I'm very nearly vegetarian anyway. I just cant envisage not being able to ride again, and struggling to cycle at 29.
  Reply With Quote
Old 18-03-17, 10:38 PM   #9
garynortheast
Member
Mega Poster
 
garynortheast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Mid Wales
Posts: 2,475
Default Re: Biking and Rheumatoid Arthritis

I'm on a low dose of methotrexate for my psoriatic arthritis. Been on it for about 8 years. It took a while to really start working so bear with it. Over the last four years my arthritis has completely gone (along with most of the psoriasis). Made an unbelievable difference to me. Make sure you keep moving/exercising the affected parts, it definitely helps to lessen the pain.
garynortheast is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 19-03-17, 12:08 AM   #10
Heorot
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: South Norfolk
Posts: 341
Default Re: Biking and Rheumatoid Arthritis

You might tray a test ride on the new naked SV650. I test rode one and found it a delight and the upright position might reduce the pressure on your hands.
__________________
Some say the cup is half empty, while others say it is half full. However, both are wrong; the real problem is the cup is too big.

Honda 125 CG blown engine Gone to the great mechanic in the sky
Naked SV650 K3 in Silver
Heorot is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
New to Biking Nugget1975 Bikes - Talk & Issues 17 18-09-12 07:26 PM
Secondary Arthritis dizzyblonde Idle Banter 23 30-04-08 06:08 PM
New to biking!! krhall SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking 18 14-11-06 08:03 PM
My Biking Day. Peter Henry Bikes - Talk & Issues 8 11-09-06 09:45 AM
Am I going off biking? Mervin Bikes - Talk & Issues 33 10-02-06 01:49 PM


All times are GMT. The time now is 02:57 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® - Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.