My right wrist is killing me!!

[lankydoug]

This is a complex question so bear with me.

I rode for 4 hours in the MO Ozarks land "O" roots and rock and for the last two days I can even hold a coffee cup. The last time I did this both of my wrists were killing me so I bought a BRP under-mount with a Scotts steering dampener and it did help a lot but not enough. I have had a few right wrist injuries and a lot of wear and tear from coaching and playing tennis but what I'm really thinking now is how to prevent more of this in the future. My thoughts are to get my forks redone professionally and maybe buy a set of flex bars. I serviced my forks and made a few adjustments and they are working better that they were out of the crate but still the pain. The steering dampener did solve the left wrist pain but the right one, with it's long and rowdy past, is barking loudly. So if anyone has a suggestion for a suspension guru close to central MO that can work magic on 50mm Zokes or want to endorse flex bars or some other solution I'd like to hear it.
Thanks
Doug

PS: if you put your hand on my wrist while I make a motion like cutting with scissors it feels like two styrofoam cups are rubbing together inside my forearm wrist area.

 

[Clete]

Lankydoug,

Kelly/Motosportz had mentioned House of Horsepower the other day. They are in Oklahoma. Said the guy was great with the Zoke forks.It's funny my forks have their decals on them, wasn't sure they were actually done, so I had local guy mess with them. Ahh, may have been a mistake. I may send mine to H of H to have them re-done.

Have you tried wrist braces? I broke a small bone on the back of my hand, from boxing. Thought it was just a sprain at first. Missed one week of boxing. Went to orthopedic dr. and sure enough it was broke. I was given the option of cast for two weeks, or try some soft casts. Totally removeable, basically like carpool tunnel (know I didn't spell that right) braces. They had all kinds of different ones to choose from. The day I got my brace I was hitting the weights, and boxing a week later (with brace of course). Probably will continue to wear it, just don't want it reocurring.

 

[ray_ray]

Some bones in my right wrist got broke several yrs back while in the service and today, without glucosamine (sulfate), I doubt I could ride at all today. With it, I can ride ~6hrs or so before the starts getting too much to bear ... Even on street rides, just twisting the throttle can be very painful at times ...

Glucosamine is a compound found naturally in the body, made from glucose and the amino acid glutamine. Glucosamine is needed to produce glycosaminoglycan, a molecule used in the formation and repair of cartilage and other body tissues. Production of glucosamine slows with age.​

While not a cure, this stuff sure helps, along with aspirin .... I wear a brace also ... Injuries like these are what stop many from riding later in life as all injuries and physical limitations add up over the course of a life time ... It is my pain ...I either ride with it or I don't ride at all ... So, as you are trying with the suspension work, adjustments must be made ...​

Ps -- You probably need to see a DOC to find out specifically what is causing the pain ...

 

[HUSKYnXJnWI]

Sorry to hear your issues

Doesn't sound as bad as your wrists , but I just had carpal and cubital surgery on my left wrist 3 days ago- need it on my right as well. Symptoms started about 6 months ago, during off season. My arm and hands would go numb at times and there'd be pain like I hit my funny bone but it was constant. Apparently, the nerves were "entraped" due to wrist use/inflamation/injury- nerves are weird in how the symptoms go. You may have some of the same issues with your wrist injuries as the cause. The tests are pretty simple. Hopefully, this solves it for me- and I'll get my right done next winter-

Getting your suspension worked out may be beneficial- I have also heard good things about Flexx handlebars for injured wrists- my buddy is getting them to help with his shoulder, he said Shane Watts has terrible wrists and is using them- something to research anyway ( I personally can't afford them/ or justify it yet). You may be able mail your suspension for work too- surprising what they do with just the parts and your info- enduroengineering, LtRacing, WER...

Good luck Lankydoug

 

[Norman Foley]

Flexx Bars without a doubt....

 

[MOTORHEAD]

I'll second that. And add get the forks done. WER would be the place I'd go for your conditions. Very good with the roots and rocks for old tired bones.

 

[hillbilly]

+1 on the glucosamine it is a joint lube. my dad has had great success with it in performance Quarter horses when he was on the show circuit also the guy that shoes his horses swears by it ! Takes it himself says its the only reason he is still shoeing horses today. I also have a wrist injury had a 1 1/2 " hyd. cylinder go clear through my right arm just above my wrist ! have had 7 sugerys on it . THANK GOD and good doctors i can still use it and ride motorcycles today ! as for the suspension here in MO look up TBT SUSPENSION. Terry Brumley. They say he is the woods guro here in mo specialize in kayaba .

 

[Clete]

Lankydoug,

Kelly/Motosportz had mentioned House of Horsepower the other day. They are in Oklahoma. Said the guy was great with the Zoke forks.

Correction!!!

Just found out Richard Wilson the main guy from H of H, has relocated to Coburg, OR. Thought something was weird, the other day I was on their page, and it said Oklahoma. Today I was going to call, and their page said Coburg, OR. Apparently Richard has relocated to out here, and is working with an online cycle parts company "Cycle Buy". Thought I was losing it there for a while.

 

[lankydoug]

Correction!!!

Just found out Richard Wilson the main guy from H of H, has relocated to Coburg, OR. Thought something was weird, the other day I was on their page, and it said Oklahoma. Today I was going to call, and their page said Coburg, OR. Apparently Richard has relocated to out here, and is working with an online cycle parts company "Cycle Buy". Thought I was losing it there for a while.

Yep, I emailed them right away and got that replay. I'm not sure if that means no suspension work for a while or what.

 

[WHITEROCKET5.9]

have ya called halls? not in your state but closer than oregon

 

[lankydoug]

have ya called halls? not in your state but closer than oregon

I'm hunting some 4.2 springs for my 50mm Zokes (they came stock in the CR and WR 125s) to get my sag set correctly and see how they work before I send them off. I have talked to Halls in the past and I'm considering them as well. I figure the closer I can get them and the more info I can give the better they can do their job.

 

[WHITEROCKET5.9]

kinda off subject but one good thing about the ozarks is if you get hot theres usually a nice cool clear stream around somewhere to cool off in!

 

[Xcuvator]

IMO no matter how good the forks work after redoing them, FlexBars will still help.
I have them on three bikes.

 

[lankydoug]

IMO no matter how good the forks work after redoing them, FlexBars will still help.
I have them on three bikes.

They are on my want list.

 

[fletchman45]

I have a pair of stock springs out of a twin chamber (.42) Zoke 50, for cheap if you need them. I would have to find out if they were shortened or anything as my newer Huskys are always lowered 1 inch. Iv'e had pretty good luck with having Halls do my suspension and would use them again without hesitation. For me I have found (although Jay does not seem to do this most of the time) I ALWAYS run 0 weight oil in my forks. He says 5 wt. But from my experience with zokes the 0 wt, seems to make the fork feel a little plusher in the nasty stuff (rocks and roots) whoops I mean the awesome stuff!! Also make sure you have your rear static sag set correctly, if you do not, this could also be adding to the jolt your wrists are taking. I have heard good stuff about flex bars. Good luck and let a doc check it out. I have used those little stretchys over my slightly injured wrists along with a muscle rub, with good results (to race) However all that does is mask the pain.

 

[lankydoug]

I have a pair of stock springs out of a twin chamber (.42) Zoke 50, for cheap if you need them. I would have to find out if they were shortened or anything as my newer Huskys are always lowered 1 inch. Iv'e had pretty good luck with having Halls do my suspension and would use them again without hesitation. For me I have found (although Jay does not seem to do this most of the time) I ALWAYS run 0 weight oil in my forks. He says 5 wt. But from my experience with zokes the 0 wt, seems to make the fork feel a little plusher in the nasty stuff (rocks and roots) whoops I mean the awesome stuff!! Also make sure you have your rear static sag set correctly, if you do not, this could also be adding to the jolt your wrists are taking. I have heard good stuff about flex bars. Good luck and let a doc check it out. I have used those little stretchys over my slightly injured wrists along with a muscle rub, with good results (to race) However all that does is mask the pain.

Let me know what you find out and I will try to find out if the closed and open chamber springs are the same, if so that would be great. The rear sag is set almost perfect but I'm sure it will change a small amount when I get the front right.(probably nothing a little preload adjustment wouldn't fix) I was going to put in a lighter oil when I change the springs but had not thought of 0 weight. I was going to look for the lightest synthetic 5 weight.

Bottom line is it sucks getting old but I'm willing to do what ever it takes to keep riding.

 

[ray_ray]

Bottom line is it sucks getting old but I'm willing to do what ever it takes to keep riding.

Yep on the bottom line ... my injury has gotten progressively worse through the yrs ... I've just learned how to deal with it to keep it under control ... I can have my wrist fused as a last resort fix but I'm just not gonna let anyone cut on me today ... Degree or no degree ... That cartridge grower has kept me going ... Its a real fix of the problem I have ... Suspension work can help ease the ride pain but if you have a real physical injury, its a band-aid on the underlying problem...

 

[lankydoug]

I had a hand specialist look at a MRI of my hand and wrist a few years ago, he said there was no fixing my injury and I should stop doing what ever made it hurt. Well that's pretty much everything so instead I've started doing more of what seems to help like stretching and strength building. I'm going to keep tweaking my bike until it is as user friendly as possible. It should be about perfect when it's time for a new one.

 

[ray_ray]

I had a hand specialist look at a MRI of my hand and wrist a few years ago, he said there was no fixing my injury and I should stop doing what ever made it hurt. Well that's pretty much everything so instead I've started doing more of what seems to help like stretching and strength building. I'm going to keep tweaking my bike until it is as user friendly as possible. It should be about perfect when it's time for a new one.

Little vague on the prognosis but if is bone on bone rubbing, lack of cartridge, the glucosamine might help ... I'm surprised the DOC would not have recommended it but maybe you have some other this issue that is causing the pain ...

Stretching and any weights will only create pain in my wrist .... My wrist will barely move ...

I'll move on to street riding when this pain gets too bad to bear anymore and then on to riding a boat around these islands ... Thats my plan for the pain relief ...

Good luck with your bike .... Lots of good suspensions out there today ....

 

[lankydoug]

Little vague on the prognosis but if is bone on bone rubbing, lack of cartridge, the glucosamine might help ... I'm surprised the DOC would not have recommended it but maybe you have some other this issue that is causing the pain ...

Stretching and any weights will only create pain in my wrist .... My wrist will barely move ...

I'll move on to street riding when this pain gets too bad to bear anymore and then on to riding a boat around these islands ... Thats my plan for the pain relief ...

Good luck with your bike .... Lots of good suspensions out there today ....

No bone on bone, mine is a tendon problem in my hand that prevents full rang of motion of the wrist. The tendon doesn't flex like it should possibly due to repeated sprains. I'm not sure that this is 100% of the cause and it is most likely a complex problem. I don't have a lot of confidence in doctors as they seem to practice a lot of trial and error at our expense. My grandpa once said 80% of people die in the hospital so stay the hell out of the hospital.