I Have Bowlers Thumb...Options?
My recent foray into league play and practice have produced bowlers thumb. I have no pain with it or tenderness. Just numbing on the inside from the base to the lower parts of the pad. I think my fit is OK...I dont use tape. I have no burn marks or callouses on my thumb at all. I am compressing the nerve in the palmer surface of my thumb but I dont know why. It gets better as I rest but I bowled five games last night and three the day before. Its numb as hell right now.
So...am I gripping...do I need a bigger thumbhole...do I need an oval thumb hole? I did a search but came up with very little info here (at least with bowlers thumb in the title lol)
well... you would think bowler's thumb is common for bowlers lolOriginally Posted by Rdmonster
as you bowl the swelling in your thumb can vary, bowling tape is used to get the perfect fit.
personally i haven't used tape before but would like to try it
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I've never had my thumb go numb. I've always thought bowlers thumb was when the thumb got all blistered from thowing too many games in one day. Despite what you said I think its a not quite right fit. Either too long or bad pitch.
John
I've heard of bowler's thumb, but I have no idea what the actual symptoms of it are. I would say that if you're losing feeling, then it may be time for a trip to the doctor and then maybe a trip to the pro shop to talk to the pro or ball driller there. You definitely want to get this under control before it gets worse.
While most people should have a Oval thumb hole (most people don't have a perfectly round thumb). If your getting pressure on the nerve at the base of the thumb, you could try having the hole beveled more right there.
Span Too Short or Too Long
Hole Needs More Bevel
Hole Too Big
From Mo:
Numbness is caused by irritation to the sheath covering the nerve. If there is a break in the sheath, the nerve "short circuits" into the body causing loss of feeling. I am a fanatic about shaping the top 1/2" of the thumb hole to match the contour of the base of the thumb. If there are any "hot" spots where the thumb hole presses harshly against the thumb, the body will generate fatty tissue to protect that area of the thumb (the lump under the skin). This can interfere with the nerve and result in numbness. Shape the top of the thumb hole with a bevel knife to match the shape of the base of the thumb.
Last edited by bowl1820; 11-09-2012 at 03:18 PM.
Right handed Stroker, high track ,about 13 degree axis tilt. PAP is located 5 9/16” over 1 3/4” up.Speed ave. about 14 mph at the pins. Medium rev’s.High Game 300, High series 798
"Talent without training is nothing." Luke Skywalker
LOL...none of you guys have even heard of it!!!! These are the symptoms in varying degrees. Pain...tingling....numbness...increased sensitivity...If it gets severe the whole thumb can be numb and a painfull growth or nodule (scar tissue basically) can form at the base of the palmer surface of the thumb. The symptoms are almost always in the palmar (pad) aspect of the thumb. There are two nerves in this part of the thumb...one gets compressed by the action of bowling. Repeated action can make it worse to the point where surgical relocation of the affected nerve can be needed.
My plan is to utilize tape or a splint until I have time to get my ball looked at. I have a thick foam tape that I can use as a pad with some regular cloth tape to go around it...I think this might help...it might be I am cranking the ball to hard. It will probably be fine by my next outing anyway.
Right now my thumb is slightly numb in a one inch line from the middle of the thumb to the base of the pad...
The same thumb is jacked up on the back side from a motorcycle crash a few years back so it kinda looks messed up anyway...
You could always try a thumbless or a 2 handed release....
After the thumb issues I've been having, it's been tempting at times to try it and see for myself.
None? See my reply above.
Right handed Stroker, high track ,about 13 degree axis tilt. PAP is located 5 9/16” over 1 3/4” up.Speed ave. about 14 mph at the pins. Medium rev’s.High Game 300, High series 798
"Talent without training is nothing." Luke Skywalker
Not fair....you posted while I was typing....im gonna try some tape....when I had my new ball drilled I had the thumb increased in size (2 sizes I think)...if it's to big I may be gripping the ball and getting a poor release. Worth a try to start with...
So my thumb is a little better today...less numbness in the pad...no pain or tingling..still numb on the innr surface a bit. It might be all the way back by league night....I got several ideas....some wacky..about how to prevent this.. I totaled my (very nice limited edition Ducati) motorcycle a few years back and when it threw me off it sprained the hell out of my thumb.I've got a big lump on the back side around the knuckle at the base from a ruptured tendon and or nerve sheath. It never went away although the pain and everything else did. I have full range of motion but the top of my thumb is kinda jacked. This part doesnt go in the ball thankfully. I think if I pad the inside of my thumb with a few layers of tape and/or tape my thunbhole I might be good. If not....back to the pro shop.
I also broke the tip of my sternum off in the same wreck and the piece actually subluxated partially beneath the main part of the bone.. I can feel it moving when I bowl, workout or do other fairly physical activities.It kinda clicks....weird but totally painless.
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