LHawes

Didn't know where to post this but I thought the older guys might have some insight. I have developed a severe tingling and numbness in my right arm and it seems that biking makes it worse. I have X-Rays and it's suspected it has something to do with C6 cervical vertebrae though x-rays are not that definitive. I am scheduled for some physical therapy today and should learn more but has anyone else here experienced such an ailment?

As I wrote above it seems that biking makes it worse, perhaps holding the head up for prolonged periods of time? Just bean mountain biking as well and thought that might exacerbate it as well.

Any thoughts or experiences out there much appreciated.

fietsbob

Is there a free Neurology forum? If I sleep on my arm wrong it feels numb , but feeling returns when I shift the position..

(69 )

Phil_gretz

to your question. A skilled neurologist will have several diagnostic techniques, including electrical stimulation of nerves/muscles, imaging (xray and resonance), as well as manipulation/response. Have a professional find out what's going on.


My limited experience with spinal injuries is that numbness is a bad sign that a nerve is being impinged. But, don't listen to us. Go to see your specialist. Good luck. Phil

LHawes

Thanks so much for the replies. I have been to my GP who recommended X-Rays and PT and to monitor its progress/regression with little doubt it is a pinched/impinged nerve. PT seems like the next step with further study if needed if the symptoms don't improve. The worst part is that biking makes it worse so I ride very little just so I remember how.

My GP blew a disc in her neck with the same symptoms and they had to remove the old and replace it with a new disc. Worse case scenario for sure.

LHawes

Same here but this doesn't go away when I shift positions.

fietsbob

You are going to see a Doctor, and get a referral to a specialist , Right?

Im just an Old Bike Mechanic who shade tree repaired some of my old cars..

LHawes

Yeah all the mechanisms are in place just wanted to know if anyone here had a similar experience so I might learn just a little more before specialists etc.

BKE

This, one who will then probably schedule you for an MRI.

dendawg

Cervical disc problems sound right. Rest and PT should help. I now use a mirror so I don't have to turn my head as much. The orthopedic surgeon wanted to fuse the discs, but I passed on that.

coominya

See a good manipulative chiropractor larry, you may have a joint pinching a nerve and that won't show up in any scans or x-rays. I get that arm numbness from time to time, often it's a bone out of place in my upper back pinching the nerve where it exits the spine on it's way to the arm. Nerves are like electrical cables, you pinch them and you get short circuits.

If you have experience you can remedy the issue yourself by laying on your back after a long hot ride and wriggling around, twisting your shoulders one way and with a knee drawn up, your leg the other. Sometimes I just get my son to use the palms of his hands to press down and click the joint back into place, but I have had years of experience fixing my own bones.

LHawes

Just got back from the PT and she was pretty confident the problem involves strengthening and stretching to shift the positions of the first rib and to correct bad posture. Not likely a disc problem nor a problem that can't be fixed with some effort and time.

Kinda funny when she said to stand and then said, "Are you sure you stand like that?" Knew there was a problem at about that moment.

richart

I had the same issue, consulted an orthopedist specializing in neck and spine. Spent weeks in physical therapy and it did some good, but did not completely resolve the problem. Finally consulted a chiropractor and after seeing him a couple of times a week for a month it completely resolved the problem. Went back to him a couple of times in the following year when I felt it coming on, but now have been trouble free for three years.

bikeme

I'd check the bike to see if the stem is angled slightly to one side or another or the hoods/brake levers (if a road bike) are at the correct position up or down on the bar. I'd have a couple people eyeball it--I was off, lol. I had hand numbness in my left hand and finally noticed while the bike was on a trainer that the bar was slightly angled clockwise thus causing me to reach/lean further. I didn't notice until riding the trainer--I guess the bike's stationary position revealed it.

LHawes

Thanks for the reply. I went to my first PT exercise session today and will combine with Chiro to see how it improves. I already feel better with just a little exercise. Hoping for the best.

drlogik 

Go see a neuro-spine doctor.

Do NOT want sympathy here just illustrating a point from personal experience...

I did something two years ago and my upper right torso started to "pull" when I coughed. It got worse very little by very little until I couldn't go to sleep without taking Advil. Roll the clock ahead two years and I crashed twice about two months ago. My torso now aches like hell when I lie down, get up from a chair, etc.

Had lots of imaging done out in Arizona in the beginning of the year before the crashes and they nothing. Went to see my main doc here in our new town and he did imaging to. Nothing. He suspected a disk/nerve issue. That's what I suspected all along but couldn't convince anyone of it. He told me to go see a neuro-spine doc. Went to him and he pretty much confirmed what I thought. I have a nerve that is doing weird things and the crash made it worse. MRI is next week.

This has put a real squeeze on biking and sleep. Last two months I've averaged about 3 hpours of sleep a night.

The upshot is don't wait. Go see a specialist now. Time is too short to jack around hurting and worrying. Don't know what my prognosis is but it can't be worse than by blown disk that I had fixed on 9/11.

Nerves in the back can map to a lot of places...including arms, legs, torso, chest, etc. Yeah WE AIN'T DOCTORS HERE!! Schedule an appointment today. Good luck!!

canklecat

C2 cervical fracture here, with permanent stiffness and pain, mostly along the right side. When I resumed cycling in 2015 I had to start with upright bars on a comfort hybrid. Over time I've gradually lowered the bars to about an inch above saddle height on the comfort hybrid and nearly at saddle height with the rigid fork mountain bike I got this summer.

When I try to ride with a handlebar any lower I get severe neck pain and some numbness and stinging tingling in both arms. It's possible that with time and conditioning I'll be able to handle drop bars slightly lower than my mountain bike bars, but I'm not rushing things.

And I can't turn my head quickly to look behind me, so I depend heavily on mirrors. Until recently I rode with Mirrycle handlebar end mirrors on both bikes. About a month ago I tried a Take-A-Look helmet mirror. Hated it for the first two weeks. Only way I could force myself to get accustomed to it was to remove the Mirrycle from one bike I ride most often. After about 3-4 weeks I became comfortable with it.

I can tip my head slightly to either side for a quick backup check after using the mirrors, but I doubt I'll ever be able to turn completely around like I used to. If I snap my head too quickly I get dizziness and severe pain radiating down my neck and both arms, so I don't do that.

At home I try to remind myself to use a soft cushioned neck brace while at the computer. Although I'm not using it at the moment, I would if I planned to sit here for more than a few minutes. It does help relieve the tension and annoying numbness/stingling along the arms and hands.

rydabent

One word-------------------recumbent!!!!

VegasTriker

Come on rydabent. Explain.

The reason those of us who ride recumbents always make this suggestion is that recumbent bikes and trikes with underseat steering eliminate the weight being put on your hands and arms. I switched from road and mtbs to a Linear long wheelbase recumbent in 2001 and was able to increase my riding from a few hundred miles a year to a few thousand. No numb hands and no elbow pain. Add to that a comfortable seat that wasn't like sitting on a tiny hard seat for hours. I'm older now and don't ride quite as much but it is still way more comfortable than the bikes I rode two decades ago.

LHawes

Thanks so much for your relies and experiences. I know these things come in very many shapes and sizes with many different causes. At this point I'm convinced it's a soft tissue issue as the symptoms are getting better by the day with just some simple neck exercises and adjustments. That does not mean I will ignore all the great advice and suggestions, just that I will monitor carefully for any improvement/worsening signs.

JohnDThompson 

I had a similar problem (pain/numbness in one arm) that was worked up with xrays (arthritis in my spine impinging on the nerve) and mitigated with physical therapy.

katzenfinch

I’ve been having the same experience lately. Using a computer mouse (or in my case a trackball) sets it off almost immediately.

bulldog1935

I'm with canklecat - I have two injured neck vertebrae from sitting at a light in my alfa 25 years ago and watching in my mirror when I was hit from behind.
When aggravated, I lose feeling in my right arm and can't write.
Luckily that hasn't happened in more than a dozen years (paving my walkway with flagstone).
But I'm very conscious of my cervical posture and keep my neck and shoulders relaxed.

If you're riding on your neck and shoulders, get off.
Always keep your wrists straight, always keep your elbows bent, and always support yourself with core muscles.