Riding With Carpal Tunel

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tyeeman

New member
Hi Everybody,

My wife has carpal tunel (I think) in her right hand, so after a very few miles her throttle thumb basically looses all strength and if she goes long enough her whole right arm will start to numb up all the way to the shoulder.
She drives a Polaris Classic 500 Touring, and the throttle pull is really easy, almost as easy as some of the new EFI sleds. I've tried moving the throttle up and down a bit just to reposition it a bit and see if that helps but it doesn't.
Does any body else have this problem or know of somebody that has this problem? How do you/they deal with it? Is there any good products to where on the hand or install on the sled that people have used with good results? I've seen a couple products out there but before I go and buy all of these just to find out they either don't work or marginally work I thought I'd ask here first.

Thanks in advance for any information I/she really appreciate it.
 
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megan600

New member
Had a similar issue and the only thing that solved it was to have the carpal tunnel surgery. Probably not the answer you are looking for, but since my surgery I've had no issues when riding.
 
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Running Bear

New member
tyeeman and your wife....my wife had the same issue..very hard to ride with the braces bought many different ones....neoprene wrap around one was the best for riding with no metal.....but sleeping in a good one with the metal in it after riding my wife would recommend...ended up turning the throttle up so she could use her fingers to work it.....can be dangerous when hitting bumps and you go to grab on, took a bit for her to get used to, she can really ride so I knew she'd make it work and let me say its not for everyone....she rode 1 year like that.... then surgery.....many years later.....no problem.....good luck we feel both your pain
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
Simular post by megan a while back. Thumb Things & other supports but probably only surgery will solve problem. If you wife gets to the point on the trail where she can't ride any further that is a huge problem. She has to ask herself surgery or stop riding or buck thru it? Always pain pills too nothing wrong with that a lot of us pop 1 mid day when needed.
 
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peppermill

New member
Have to vote for the surgery. I had it done 20 years ago in both hands and to this day no problem. I ride snowmobile and ATVs. Would do it again in a heartbeat.
 
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tyeeman

New member
My mistake... she has TRIGGER FINGER and has had surgury on all the affected fingers/thumbs. Running Bear, what metal braces are you refering too, the ones issued by the doctor? Also what neoprene wrap around are you referring too? Please feel free to PM me or email us at b.backer@mchsi.com
We are really grasping here, , , she likes riding but hates to think of totally giving up driving a sled.

Any more info will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks to all for any input so far!
 
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Deleted member 10829

Guest
How about a left handed throttle like they use on sleds in the mountains? I'm afraid I might be getting the initial signs of this problem too, but I hope not!
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
Mark: Try old style Thumb Thing RU Outside Sports has metal supports about $25. Old style thinner & will fit under gloves. I now ride with 2 1ea. for each thumb & works for me. Once you start getting that twinge on trigger thumb it will get worse. Thumb Things helped me a lot.
 
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billandsandie

New member
I need to take my hand off the throttle from time to time because my hand goes numb. The left hand throttle works well enough to shake the numbness out of my right hand for about the next 10 min then I have to do it again. It is better than stopping IMO.
 
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tyeeman

New member
Thanks a bunch everybody! yeah we might have to look into the left handed throttle, and maybe some good braces.
Speaking of left handed throttles, anybody have any info on where to get them? I would assume they are universal and would fit about any machine right?
 
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indybru

Member
My wife has a similar problem her right hand goes numb. This developed on a 1200 mile Ontario snowmobile trip. It comes and goes.

We tried the Throttle gizmo and it didn't work on the rev. Her old Polaris had e-z throttle but thats long gone. So we looking for new sleds and the throttle is her first concern.

If worse comes to worse we get a etec 2 up.
 
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tyeeman

New member
Yeah something that is in the back of my mind too is selling both my, , I mean mine and hers and getting the the big two up couch on a track where I can remove a seat and reconfigure to a one up touring machine.
Quite frankly I don't see her driving too much. Currently she doesn't drive much and I end up taking her sled out just to run some gas through it.
I think I'll try the Throttle Gizmo first but I don't have high hopes.
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
Forget the the 2up it gets old real quick unless you are just riding for an hour or 2 per ride. It gets cold back there & when you let the wife drive it will make you nuts back there a helpless feeling to say the least .lol. Same for her. I finally sold the the wife's 2up just did not get used. Buy the sled that lights your fire sounds like the wife not into it or fading just like mine. Now ride by myself or with the guys no wify riding anymore.:(
 
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tyeeman

New member
The wife likes to drive and I know she would like it even more with more time spent on the sled. It's the d...thumb that's a real deterant and kinda bumms her out.
That said, she would almost rather ride, she likes to sit and watch the scenery go by rather than be concerned about on coming traffic and keeping up with the rest of the group, or going too slow for the riders behind her.
 
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