From: whalen@starch.enet.dec.com (Rich Whalen)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides,rec.bicycles.misc
Subject: Re: Minor injury on a DC-Baltimore-DC trip
Date: 27 Jan 93 19:43:31 GMT
Article-I.D.: nntpd.1993Jan27.194331.2468
Reply-To: whalen@starch.enet.dec.com (Rich Whalen)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation, Shrewsbury, MA


In article <1993Jan27.130844.1@gallua>, CADS_COLE@GALLUA.BITNET (Kevin Cole;
Washington DC) writes:
|>Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides,rec.bicycles.misc
|>From: CADS_COLE@GALLUA.BITNET (Kevin Cole; Washington DC)
|>Subject: Minor injury on a DC-Baltimore-DC trip
|>Organization: Gallaudet Research Institute
|>Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 18:08:44 GMT
|>
|>Well, I finally did it:  I decided it was time to get serious about training
|>|>for this coast-to-coast ride I've been talking about.  And, rather than 
|>increase my distance gradually, as common sense and the advice of others 
|>dictated, I decided to go whole hog all at once.
|>
   :
   :
|>
|>So, now I'm seeking more advice to ignore.  ;-)  At least you'll have the 
|>satisfaction of saying "I told you so".  In spite of my lack of training, I
|>did 
|>not wake up in agony.  However, I'm suffering one relatively minor (I hope)
|>ill 
|>effect:  Two fingers on my right hand have been kind of numb since Saturday
|>|>night.  I assume some nerves either in my wrist or hand took a beating. 
|>I'm 
|>riding a Miyata Quick-Cross hybrid, with straight handlebars.  (When I
|>actually 
|>set out for the West Coast, I hope to add some sort of extenders or AeroBars
|>to 
|>the handlebars.  I still want to avoid drop bars if possible.) 

I experienced this problem about 4 1/2 years ago after two days of long rides
on a mountain bike with only one place to put my hands.  The cause is the
hands spending all that time in a single position, with the pressure in a
single place.  Feeling should return gradually over the next couple of
months,
if it doesn't then contact your doctor.

In the mean time, try to avoid doing things that reduces circulation to the
affected parts.  Take your watch off if you wear one on that arm.  Buy those
aero bars or bar ends so that you'll have more hand positions in the future.

|>
|>Anyway, I assume the injury I have is fairly common, and I want to know what
|>|>other folks out there do to nurse themselves back to health.  I realize
|>that 
|>taking medical advice from the net isn't necessarily a bright idea, and so
|>I
|>intend to get it checked out by a doctor, but, it seems that my HMO doesn't
|>have too many doctors who are into sports medicine.  Based on previous
|>experince with folks there, I'll probably be told not to ride for a few
|>weeks, 
|>take lots of pills and put the arm in a sling or something.  There's gotta
|>be a 
|>better way.  Maybe accupuncture?  ;-) If I have to stop riding for every
|>little
|>injury, I just feel like I'll never make it across the country. 
|>
|>Suggestions?
|>-- 
|>
|> ========== U.S. Mail =============================== E-Mail
|>=================
|> Kevin Cole      <Flatline>           |  Bitnet: CADS_COLE@GALLUA.BITNET
|> Gallaudet Research Institute  (GRI)  |  Internet:
|>KJCOLE@GALLUX.GALLAUDET.EDU
|> Washington, D.C.  20002-3625         |  UUCP:
|>...!psuvax!gallua.bitnet!kjcole
|> (202) 651-5575  x4592                |  The WELL:   kjcole
|>

------------------------------------------------------
Rich Whalen

You don't know where these bits have been!
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides