Discussion: Med question

This doesn't happen very often, maybe 4-5 times a year, and it always goes away so I'm more curious than concerned. Sometimes after a long workout my hands go numb. It generally sets in 15-30 minutes after I've stopped and lasts for another 15-30. What's that all about?

Don't squeeze the handlebars so tightly.
:-)

Not quite the same symptom but after long hot trail runs ( say 3 hours +) my hand will get very puffy.
I always attributed it to a hydration related issue.

how numb? tingly? or "not-there"? and do your finger-tips go waxy-white? was repetitive jiggling or vibration while gripping hard involved in the workout?
(On another tack, my hands go tingly-towards-numb after snorkelling, not after swimming as in a pool, but only after snorkelling - I can only imagine it might have something to do with my shortie wet-suit constricting my arm circulation just a touch...)

Sort of the tingly/puffy form of numb. Haven't noticed any loss of coloration. BTW, this never happens to me on the bike, so it's not related to gripping things.

I think Bernard is on the right track. Circulation in the extremities is subject to sometimes odd and sometimes subvertible regulation patterns (ie the basic "stop-sending-blood-out-there-cuz-it's-too-stinkin'-cold-out" and related reg loops can sometimes make mistakes when we subject them to crazy combinations of demands/extremes such as exercising alot in hi temps w/ slightly lower body water to start, a particularly nice combination just as an example; also aging helps to get things more wonky.) Also, release of fluids from blood vessels into tissues and associated take-up of those fluids into lymphatic system can get "disoriented" esp. by over-heating. So, most likely, you occasionally push your blood system such that the shut-down of circulation to your hands (or temporary imbalance of fluids in/out of tissues - this would be more hot, reddish skin, swollen) is temporaily triggered for whatever magical incremental reason. (Which is what you observed but stated differently, haha)
I was intrigued by possible early workplace/recreation-derived Raynaud's, as I do not know your work-history altho I have impression of computers which is somewhat compatible w/ Raynaud's if lotsa keyboarding. But I don't think so, see above.
Keep an eye on it; if more frequent, or whitened NUMB fingertips visit doctor. If diabetes in family, visit more promptly as that adds to potential complexity of circulation in extremities. (I am NOT a doctor, this is just for your entertainment)

My hands sometimes get like that too. More actually during my run though they get all tingly. My track coach said it was from my body not sending oxygen there but to my legs instead which makes sense.

Also my fingertips pretty regularly, maybe once a week, get really cold and white. I haven't noticed though if it is related to a workout, it just does it. Any one have any ideas on to why? is it anything I should worry about?

In my long events, it's pretty standard for the hands and feet to swell. With the swelling leading to some numbness. These are the multi-day AR events. It is related to hydration issues in my case.

with respect to fingertips cold and white, Acampbell, probably best to check this with your Dr. next time you go in - mention "Raynaud's" - also see if you can identify what causes the fingertips to go white since Dr will ask you...

ok thank you for the advise.

no problem! IF it were Raynauds making yer fingers be funny, its best to know about it and do the stuff you need to keep everything under control and healthy - apparently it is generally not a big deal, just kind of a nuisance, always keeping hands warm, etc, ;-) good luck! (but I LIKE warm hands)