May 27, 2011

The Pinky Problem

As I suspected, my rogue pinky finger seems to be the result of some minor nerve damage, most likely from poor form and fit on my bike. I first noticed it a little over a week ago when I was swimming, but figured it might just go away on it's own. Well, it obviously didn't, and it actually got worse after each bike ride. It doesn't hurt and I haven't lost any sensation, but when my hand is flat and my fingers are straightened, my pinky drifts off to the left and I can't make it move toward the other fingers. It's surprisingly frustrating to be telling my body to do something with my mind and for it not to listen physically. I've also noticed that my grip in my left hand has weakened a bit. Since it wasn't getting any better, I consulted my coach/boss Pat who first suggested it was nerve related.

The next day I went to see a local sports somatic practitioner - known for his quick, to-the-point, and often extremely painful treatments (I also saw him a while back for some hip issues). His diagnosis was a compressed nerve (ulnar nerve I think?), probably from an improper bike fit. He had some fancy term for it, but all that stood out to me was the word "palsy". He went to work on my forearm, literally making me swear out loud several times, and then we were done. My pinky was a little closer, but still drifting a bit. Later that day I discovered that my arm was bruised where he worked on it, and my pinky was once again off on it's own.
it looks like a weird Star Trek sign!
 
I did some Googling (of course), and actually found a lot of stuff on nerve-related hand problems for cyclists, but they all seemed to involve numbness and loss of sensation, not lack of motor control. The common term I found was "handlebar palsy", caused by a compressed ulnar nerve. This sounded similar but not quite right... 

I decided to make an appointment with my sports chiro (who I'd been seeing for my hips during AR 50 training). So this morning I went in and got a similar but slightly different diagnosis: crushed nerves in my left arm/hand, probably from both improper bike fit and my hand placement while riding. I usually have my hands on the hoods with my thumb on one side and my fingers on the other side. Apparently this is compressing/crushing some nerves which is causing me to lose functionality in my poor little pinky : / He worked on my hand, forearm, and upper arm, gave me instructions on how to tweak my grip on the bike, and told me to come back in next week. Apparently nerves take longer than muscles and tendons to heal, so he told me to be patient. After all this though, as of tonight it's honestly no better than it was last week. My entire arm, on the other hand, feels like I got punched and is slightly bruised : ( While I'm glad it's not a debilitating injury or even a painful one, I'm slightly discouraged and don't really know what to do next. Certain things, like tying shoes at work, washing my face, and swimming are a bit harder. And while it's minor now, I don't want it to turn into something serious.

I'm definitely planning on getting refit for my bike by a professional, possibly getting some new handlebars (mine may be too wide for me), and there's also a good chance I'll be adding some clip on aero bars soon, too. This is all just unfamiliar territory for me, so thankfully Pat and some of my coworkers have been helping me out. My next bike ride is tomorrow and I plan to try switching up my grip a bit to see if it helps (or at least doesn't make things worse). Cross your fingers (ha!) for my little one!

18 comments:

  1. That is pretty scary! Back when I actually rode my bike, padded gloves helped with some numbness that came with all of the vibrations. I hope your pinky feels better soon!! Also, I read your ET report -- I am leaning very heavily towards doing it this year. Loved your report!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I hope your finger is back to normal soon. It's definitely hard to figure out what is going on (or causing a problem) when you're new to a sport and don't know a whole lot about it. I've had some knee pain while on my bike (on and off) and I'm sure there is some relatively easy form or fit adjustment that I could make (if I knew what I was doing)!

    ReplyDelete
  3. that is a weird injury. hope things get straightened out soon!

    ReplyDelete
  4. So while googling a bit about my own injury, I've run across your blog and glad to see someone post about this other than the normal numbness and tingling in the hands symptoms that I've been reading. My pinky does the exact same thing and normal things like typing, washing my hair or face or even my hands is tricky...

    I plan to go to the dr soon and in the meantime change up my grip a bit. it's only in my left hand and not my right so maybe I'm gripping more with the left. I dunno.

    Thanks for the post btw.

    Matt

    ReplyDelete
  5. Same thing happened to me, but I was just shoveling mountains of sticky sugar popcorn at work and moping/sweeping a lot of floors.. next thing I knew I woke up to my left pinky sticking out.
    I can also pull my pinky further away without my ring finger following. It's concerning, but also a pretty neat party trick ^^

    ReplyDelete
  6. I too came across your blog while I was googling my own problem. I'm slightly relieved to hear it's not the start of some sort of debilitating brain damage. Although, I completely agree with the frustration involved in trying to make your pinky move and it won't. I have the same situation, but I'm not a cyclist. I work out pretty regularly, so maybe I pinched it doing that. I've been doing sort of a home remedy, physical therapy-type thing. What I've found helps most is taping the last two fingers together for a couple hours. That seems to make it want to stray away from the ring finger less. I've also been using a spring hand strengthener, I'll come back and let you know how this is progressing.

    Thanks for blogging about this, I was getting worried,

    Chris

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just noticed my left hand is doing the same thing while I was at work. I have sciatica so I believe I got it from puting pressure on my left hand on tables and what not to relieve weight on my back. Glad to see its not something serious as I was considering a doctor's visit. Going to try the tape method. Thanks

      Delete
    2. This CAN be something serious...if you have this AND sciatica/back pain, I’d look into EDS just to be sure. A normal, healthy hand shouldn’t suddenly get like that, just from leaning on it. If you see that you have EDS symptoms, also look into MCAS and POTS, as EDSers frequently have at least one of these co-morbids.

      I’d look into RA if you don’t see yourself in the EDS symptoms (use the old Brighton criteria, the 2017 ones are pure nonsense, weren’t peer-reviewed, and are bad science that tbh are quite dangerous, and have made many people lose a dx for a GENETIC condition). The Brighton is far more accurate.

      But again...just leaning on a hand shouldn’t cause that, even after a long period. I myself used to think that I had sciatica, but it was actually an EDS issue...I was having subluxations (partial dislocations) in my hip, and didn’t even know it!! That was actually the first area to go for me.

      Good luck!! But please look into this. If you see yourself in the symptoms, a geneticist or rheumatologist that understands CTDs would be the type of doctor to give a proper dx.

      Delete
    3. You can also look up “EDS and pinky drift,” and see examples of this. “EDS bird hand” can also show other types of hand mobility often seen with EDS, though try to avoid hyperextending fingers like that on purpose, if that’s something your hand does.

      My pinky drift started mild, I never noticed it until I looked back in pictures. But it did get more pronounced once my EDS started up (if was basically dormant from being problematic until my 30s). So I can see where people might think it’s a random injury, etc.

      Delete
  7. I too have the same problem. I also came across this blog after I was googling my own symptoms. I only noticed my issue because I play guitar. One week I was recording with no problem, the next I couldn't readily form a chord in my left hand. When trying to treat my hand and looking for solutions, I noticed that my pinky in my left hand could not touch or come close to my ring finger when completely straight!! The right hand is no problem. Also, I have little strength when pushing my thumb on the tips of every finger. I could barely reach to touch my thumb and little finger, let alone have any strength. The question is why??? Some say ulnar nerve prob, others suggest this may be a pinch nerve in the neck area. The problem is I have no pain in either. That being said I have been having lower back issues which I believe also affected my knee going out for no real reason!! It has a pinch nerve when almost straightened!!! I guess I'm just falling apart, lol. Oh well!! Glad to hear I'm not the only one.

    Funny how all that commented with the same problems with the hand stated there was no real pain or discomfort, other than lack of strength in the hand and it all seems to be the left hand!

    In the past, I too have a problem with my hands when I bike. They seem to go numb and cold, as it the circulation is being cut off. So bad that I want to ride with no hands just to give them a break. However, I haven't been biking at all prior to this pinky thing happening.

    Let me know how things are now with you all and tell me if you found a source or if it persisted and got worst or better.

    Thanks for the form/blog.

    Yukon Ian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I too have this problem but it is with both hands. I also have pain. Sometimes my hands fall asleep, sometimes there is tingling and numbness and sometimes severe pain comes our of my palms and sometimes there is no pain. Every minute of every day is different. I do not know what it is from. I do have nerve compression. Was diagnosed in my early 20's with CTS and now that I am 51 I have more diagnosis of Ankylosing spondylitis, Osteoarthritis, Disk deterioration disease, Fibromyalgia and osteophytes growing all over my bones. I have notice some loss of motor skills at times in my hands such as ability to button up a shirt, or scoop something small off the table etc... I am pretty sure this is due to nerve compression or damage. No matter what I do it never gets better and it's been years like this.

      Delete
  8. I just noticed the right pinky sticking out to the side. In both hands but the right is worse. When I make a fist, it follows along just as it should. I had chemotherapy that caused peripheral neuropathy and it seems to be getting worse by the day with increasing inability and pain that feels like I burned the skin on a cookie sheet. It IS nerve damage so have it looked at sooner rather than later.
    Mine is

    ReplyDelete
  9. To anyone reading this, look up EDS (the old Brighton and Beighton criteria combo). My pinkies are like this, and got worse over the years. I didn’t have EDS issues/dx until well into my 30s. Pain and compression of nerves can be due to a subluxation, EDSers are prone to bad bruising as well. Look at pictures of “EDS bird hand” and think of if it’s something you’ve ever been able to do (tho don’t keep trying it, if you have EDS, it’s not good for you! EDS is often mistaken for fibromyalgia, as it can cause extreme pain and fatigue, and other issues (especially ones caused by the highly comorbid MCAS).

    If it’s not EDS, look into RA. Also, go see an OT for hand issues. They can help with bracing, etc. a chiro can be VERY dangerous for an EDSer, especially if the chiro doesn’t know you have it, and isn’t a super-specialist in EDS!!

    Side note, tried to enter this multiple times to try to help people that might have pinky drift and EDS...and it seemed to never show on the page! If it came up multiple times somehow, my apologies!!

    And also - if you have pinky drift, be careful how you hold your phone, and make sure you’re not accidentally using your pinky as a phone stand!! It will make your hand ache and will be sure to give you arthritis down the line. I have to correct how I’m holding mine all the time!

    ReplyDelete
  10. my hand looks exactly like this picture shown. except i can only remember my hand looking like this early middle school era

    ReplyDelete
  11. so how r u now? is ur finger back to nrmal? im having the exact same issue like in the pic...

    ReplyDelete
  12. i also found this page because of my own hand but my reasons for having it are slightly different my pinky is the same as shown and it acts the same however when i was 12 i was in an accident involving a Circular Saw that sliced down the under side of my wrist and sliced to the bone my nerves and tendons were finished but a skilled surgeon managed to put it back together my recovery took years im 16 now and my hand is about 85% normal the most common problems being my pinky finger and lack of feeling in my hand and obviously other nerve damage symptoms

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too I’m getting concerned I’m a guitar player and I noticed for a specific song my pinky wouldn’t bend with my other fingers and ever since it’s been bothering me I’ve been doing so so much research on how to fix it but nothing I really wanna fix this because this condition is limiting my guitar playing skills:/

      Delete
  13. I'm so glad I came across this page last night because it happened to me yesterday. I was scraping the old caulking in the bathtub to replace it with new caulking and I must've been leaning on my left hand for a while as I was scraping the caulking in the tub with a tool in my right hand. The pinky finger on my left hand just drifted off to the left and I can't straighten it out with my other fingers when I hold my left hand in the open palm position. It doesn't hurt but I lost some feeling in both my pinky and ring finger, and its tingling.

    I hurt my thumb and index finger, on my left hand, at work last year when it got jammed in a door and bent in an awkward position. I never went to the doctor to get it checked but should've because it still hurts me a bit, from time to time, til this day. I'm wondering if this is a contributing factor to my recent left pinky finger drift and tingling sensation I suffered yesterday. It's definitely not helping it lol. In addition, I feel some numbness in my left forearm but that's probably because I hurt myself yesterday so it traveled up my arm.

    It's very difficult to grip much now although I am able to hold a decent amount of weight with my left hand. I can curl all fingers into my palm but I can't straighten out my pinky or get it to line up with the rest of the fingers on my left hand when I open my palm. And when I try to, I noticed my thumb bends at the knuckle. It's bizarre but I really hope I can correct this soon with some extra care, however, if I don't notice any improvement, I'll visit the doctor this week to look into it. Another thing I noticed is that it's a bit plump/swollen on the inside if my palm between my ring and pinky fingers. Possible nerve damage? Maybe. Hoping it's not and if so, hoping there's a solution for fixing this.

    ReplyDelete