I'm another newbie - to shecycles, and to posting messages... 

I've currently got (a rather heavy) mountainbike which I mainly ride on tracks. Last summer I developed repetitive strain injury (RSI) in my wrist, which caused median and ulnar nerve damage. It has been treated with physio, but I still have pain on extension, and tenderness in the back of the joint, and don't feel happy about getting back on the bike.

My question is - would swapping to a road bike be better? I'm thinking of the smoother ride (on roads) jarring the joint less, the reduced weight, and the variety of hand positions. Does anyone else have experience of switching to a road bike in this situation? Does it help to reduce discomfort whilst riding, and would a hand position where the palms point inwards (without pronation?) instead of downwards reduce the risk of irritating the RSI further?

Any thoughts greatfully received

S 

Thanks for your suggestions!

I have already got bars that are fairly elevated, but I wonder if mine, which have an upward slope running through to the ends puts my hand into a twisted position. I might look at alternative bars that flatten out at the ends.

I already have the BG gloves, but I checked out the grips, and I found the 2008 specialized comfort grip lock, which is quite moulded to help with this situation. So, they look like they might be an option too.

Would still be great to hear from any fellow RSI sufferers!

Thanks

S 

I have something smiilar in my left wrist which was initially caused when I used to ride a motorbike years ago, had physio etc as it seized into one position and l lost most of the movement.  I find after a decent off road ride I still get pain around my thumb joint and in the palm of my hand, even though my bars are set quite high and I have thicker gloves.  It's always worse over the winter when it's cold and damp whether I ride or not so I guess it's something I'll always have to some degree. 

I find spin bikes don't help as I can never find a position that is comfortable for both my bum and my wrist!!! 

just stumbled on this, I've just been told I have 'tennis elbow' and I don't know if it is RSI or similar or what but having trouble on the bike too so was searching for threads. Chiro is treating (GP was okay but not terribly helpful). Joint gets quite sore after about 20 minutes of riding on the mountain bike on the road (just commuting in London). Not a lot but enough to be irritating and ends up being the worst days for the joint then.

I was told to wear a neoprene support (strap below the elbow) when working and wonder if I should be wearing it while riding too? Don't really need an answer, will give it a try either way. It helps considerably when working at least.

I also need to figure out how to move where my brake levers are (how far they are to reach rather than the height) because that finger stretch really hurts the elbow. And my work is suffering at the moment because I'm worried about doing a coast ride - usually I'd do 35-40 miles of coast and don't think I can handle that now. Haven't tried but don't want to get stranded half way between points either.

So I sympathise at least!

 I too have a problem with my hands, currently being investigated via X rays and blood tests. Main complaint is that my hands go numb, especially over night.

 I ride both a road bike and a mounain bike and actually find the problem worse when I'm out on the road bike, I think because there's no suspension to soak up the bumps.  Those roads are far from smooth!! I also find that I move hand positions more (pulling on the bars more, braking more, etc) when I'm riding off road.

Main problem is that when you tell a doctor that it hurts when you do something, they tell you not to do it. And when he asked me how far I cycled I said  about 40 miles. He assumed I meant in a week and was quite shocked when I told him that was in one evening!! (Didn't dare tell him that I'm the unfit one of our biking group!)

How do you get help when the doctor thinks you're some kind of freak?