Help.......Back injury.............

[3dayeventing]

I just herniated the L4/L5 disc in my back. The Dr says no surgery is required, however Physical Therapy is in order for 6 weeks at 3 x per week. Any suggestions, thoughts from anyone who has had a back injury and how long it took to heal? What was it like riding again when given the go ahead to do so. Any and all input would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:sadsmile:

[AKB]

A lot of us have herniated discs in our backs and necks. Most people do well with them, and continue their normal activities after a few weeks of taking it easy, and maybe some physical therapy or chiropractic or massage therapy. Don't panic yet, as it probably won't be a big deal.

[medical mike]

It is not unusual to return to full activity, in the majority of cases, within 1-2 months.

The caveat, once you have the disc injury it becomes a situation where you are only managing the condition through its stages. Learn proper torso activation and stabilization techniques and plan on staying with an exercise program the rest of your days.

Here's to a quick return to your horses.

REgards,
Medical Mike
equestrian medical researcher
www.fitfocusedforward.us

[Jaegermonster]

I have several herniated discs in my lower back from a bad crash at a jump when I was 18. Im 40 now and the last few years have been hell. did PT and all that over the years, still do the exercises. I actually was almost crippled, and they kept telling me i needed to have my spine fused but I wouldn't let them.
I finally was damn near crippled a few months ago, could barely walk after I got off a horse, was in excruciating pain after 10 minutes on, and I found an amazing chiropractor.
Went 3x a week for about a month, now I go about every 2 weeks or so. It's amazing. I thought I would have to live with pain the rest of my life, and now I feel great. I didn't realize how much pain I was in until it was gone. I used to eat aleve like candy, before getting out of bed even, and now I can't tell you the last time I took anything.
I still have days where it gets a little sore, like if I unload hay or do lots of lifting or bending, so I try to manage it carefully and take care of it.

I did find that getting flexible stirrups and a Thinline pad made a world of difference during and after all the chiro. I would never have believed it if I hadn't experienced it myself.

ps I ride daily, and hunt 4 days a week (I whip in at two hunts) so I'm not just some weekend warrior :)

[Mudroom]

get some Surpass from your vet. I am not kidding, it will help get the inflamation down. Is sure helped with my disk problems. It is approved for humans in the US now but not yet on the market. It is on the market for humans in Australia and other places.

[Ray]

I never had the MRI so I dont know exactly what I did, nothing showed on Xray/CAT scan but it was NOT fun. Injured 11/9/07, took 2 months off of riding, about 3 months to feel really OK, but I still know its there, even now. Had a great PT person, and the thing that turned the corner was Pilates. I had a great "pilates for dummies" class, actually taught by a PTist, well not for dummies, but for people with back problems.

Be good to yourself and CAREFUL. I got ahead of myself with too much sitting all day at work, and riding hard on weekends, I strained by back picking up the f'ing newspaper and missed my first show in June last year. I was so mortified and mad at myself that I did not tell my trainer, until we were at the show and I could not bend over to pull my boots on. a classic, "you know you are in trouble when..."

[lecoeurtriste]

I ruptured two disks almost 18 months ago--tried rest, steroids, and PT, but the pain was excrutiating. When I began to lose feeling in my leg and saw signs of muscle wasting from nerve injury, I decided it was time to do something a bit more drastic. An MRI confirmed that L4/L5 disk was sequestrated (the nucleus was loose and beginning to migrate) and the L5/S1 disk was badly herniated. I had a relatively new surgical technique done where they removed half of one disk and 1/4 of the other--before they closed, they intentionally scored the associated vertebrae to encourage a giant blood clot to form in the empty spaces.

I was on 8 weeks of bed rest to allow the blood clot to form scar tissue and "replace" the missing pieces of disk (for lack of a better description)--I was then allowed another 4 weeks of walking my horse from the ground--then a gradual return to regular riding. (Of course my doctor prefers I don't ride, but he was willing to work with me for the best possible recovery). It's been 14 months since I had the surgery, and I feel pretty darn good! I have permanent nerve damage that refers to my right leg (I can't feel anything on the outside from the knee down)--but the other pain slowly receded to a very tolerable level. Sitting trot is still not may favorite gait and half halting with my core is pretty pathetic, but at least I'm on a horse! :-)

While I refused to have the fusion, I have been VERY happy with the diskectomy. Good luck with your recovery!!

[BigRuss1996]

Why does it say on the tube to wear goves so it doesn't absorb into your hands? What will happen if it does?? If it's for people shouldn't it not matter if it absorbs in your hands or wherever...I have thought of trying it before hence why I ask..

get some Surpass from your vet. I am not kidding, it will help get the inflamation down. Is sure helped with my disk problems. It is approved for humans in the US now but not yet on the market. It is on the market for humans in Australia and other places.

[tuppysmom]

Because somebody didn't want us humans to find out how well it works.

I have used it on myself for well over a year and I love what it does for my asthma. I found that out by accident while using Surpass on my wrist.

[redpony]

Try Voltarin, it's a script from your gp, at least 1/3 the cost of Surpass (your insurance will cover it) and is identical in chemical composition. My my mare and I both use it.

[thatmoody]

Surpass is topical Diclofenac (Voltaren XR is the brand name) and I do take the Diclofenac XR, which is a 24 hr dosage. The generic is cheap, and it works well, but make sure that you take it with Prilosec to protect your stomach! The reason for using Surpass is that it bypasses some of the ulcer problems associated with the oral delivery.

I have severe foot and ankle arthritis (stupid horse fell on me 12 years ago and my foot was crushed). I would use Surpass but since I'm already on the same stuff orally, I can't. Getting older sucks - I went on a 3 hour trail ride yesterday and I'm dying today. I used to ride 8-10 hours a day on two horses (working cows) with no problem.

[BigRuss1996]

Thanks : ) I have a big tube out in the barn and my shoulder has been acting up...I will give it a try. I have used that Capsacin stuff in the past...it works great but it does get very warm but then the area goes numb for 30 min or so.


Because somebody didn't want us humans to find out how well it works.

I have used it on myself for well over a year and I love what it does for my asthma. I found that out by accident while using Surpass on my wrist.

[yellowbritches]

Though I haven't had an back injuries myself (well, none diagnosed), the boss has had some major issues, and finally ended up with back surgery a year ago October. DO YOUR PT and do what they tell you. Follow orders, and allow yourself to heal and feel better. The boss lost a lot of strength and power when his back went from "it hurts" to "its bad". He probably should have really rested and taken care of himself, but he is way, way too active. :rolleyes: So, just follow orders, and also, make sure PT knows what you do so they can tailor PT to your needs.

[cyberbay]

I had the same injury. I rested for a month -- as in, did not ride, and minimized driving, sitting. Used heat and ice a lot during that time. Was and am vigilant about the physical therapy -- pick their brains -- and I use a chiro often, who also provided excellent strengthening exercises.

Was back to riding in about 5 weeks. My posture and my core strength are better than ever, and way better than prior to the injury.

But, today, I am hypervigilant about my posture (maintain those 3 natural curves and keep your head over, not behind or in front of, your shoulders); do my exercises often as well as stretch.

I also take magnesium, which is a muscle relaxant. Just get some at the drug or health food store. That helps a ton in keeping your muscles relaxed and supple. A lot of back pain comes from tight muscles around the injury site.

Slouching on the sofa, slouching in the car, lifting things any ole ways are by-gone... Good body mechanics all the time.

You'll be back in the saddle before you know it.

[MattMan]

Look for a rehab that does Spinal Decompression... my brother had about 3 herniated disc and was having to chew 12 -15 Vicadin a day just to move around and they wanted to do some surgery and he wouldn't let them. A friend suggested a doctor that had a spinal decompression table and after 2 weeks of therapy he has been healed. They strap you to a table that can seperate and pull your bottom half away from your top half which takes all the pressure off the disc.

I have another friend that rides that is dealing with a bulging disc that is pressing on the sciatic nerve. He has had several expensive shots into the area, chiro, acupuncture and nothing has really gotten him back on a horse yet. His whole leg goes numb and hurts. Haven't been able to get him to go for the spinal decompression yet, I guess he is just stubborn, but we put him on a table that turns upside down and all the pain instantly went away. Taking the pressure off your disc might help you.

[bambam]

learn to love sit-ups :lol: Core strength (whether you get it doing sit ups or something else) will likely be one of the main factors in helping you maintain a pain free back after your initial PT.
I herniated L4/L5 but because the disc herniated basically onto my sciatic nerve and I could not function, I opted for surgery.
I was very slow in getting back to riding- I think it was about 4 months post surgery (and I went back with doctor approval). The follow up PT was key and my neurosurgeon told me that I had to do sit ups or some other ab strength work every day for the rest of my life. I do do the sit-ups. I also did pilates for a while and I row which takes a lot of ab strength. I had to figure out through trial and error what worked for me in terms of exercise after the initial PT was over. For example, some pilates was helpful but as I progressed to more advanced stuff my back started bothering me and my ortho told me this was not uncommon. I also found out that running bothered my back a lot. I thought rowing would bother it but it has actually helped. You will figure it out
good luck

[Benson]

I have the same injury! It happened when my horse and I collided our rumps together on a massively overjumped coop a couple of years ago. The compression was very painful. After a couple of years of on and off again pain, it started to really bother me this spring when I would have bouts of "tweaking" my back each month. Basically, it was very weak and unstable. My ortho is the team ortho for a professional basketball team and is very much into active people healing properly. His main words were: CORE STRENGTH! Pilates, yoga, stretching, riding with no stirrups and proper posture. I forget who else said that being too aggressive with pilates actually aggravated the back, but I have the same problem. My ortho said any more than 15 min of pilates on a daily basis is too much.

Running has begun to hurt so I checked out the chiropractor in the area whose wife is a Training level eventer. He said for those of us who ride, it's not if we herniate discs, it's WHEN. What he discovered is that I have one hip considerably higher than the other, contributing to the back pain. One 32 second adjustment and I am pain free. His words were "it's a wholistic approach (meaning WHOLE body approach) and there is no one magic bullet with back pain". Oh and ICE daily. DAILY whether it hurts or not. Ice gets the blood flowing, healing any minor issues, prior to them becoming major issues.

Here are some interesting things I've learned about the herniated discs:
I can't jump rope anymore.
Riding with no stirrups helps a TON with core strength.
Ice daily.
Now, I've also noticed that I have more pain and will injure it in a heartbeat the week before my menstrual cycle. 7 years ago I tore my ACL and my ortho told me that 80% of ligament injuries in females occur around the time of their menstrual cycle. The chiro concurred. SO, take it easy the week before your menstrual cycle.

[caradino]

just posted a reply to your post on the 'core exercises' thread

sending some good vibes your way :)

[caradino]

oh also.. fellow herniated disker here.. just thought of a question..

i wanted to get back into running for reasons of fitness, etc, but was wondering if the concussion would be too much for my spine? anyone else here run after herniating a disk? is biking a better option for a way to get in some cardio?

[bambam]

I forgot one of the things that helped me a LOT when my back was acting up frequently- those body heat activated heating pads that have adhesive and you can stick on unobstrusively under your clothes. Heat does not help everybody but there were many a day when the only reason I could walk was those litttle heating pads (better than a normal heating pad because you can move around and they are still on the target spot for an extended period of time).

caradino- I am not a runner per se but doing light running on the treadmill after my surgery caused a lot of pain- but I suspect it is very individual.

[VCT]

You will ultimately have to find what works for you personally, but everyone has good input.

Do your PT, really.

Take your anti-inflammatory meds.

Strengthen your core, but seriously, be very very careful about sit ups and those sorts of exercises. You can re-ding your back real easy doing stuff like that. I saw one of those exercise tools on tv that actually looks pretty good called the Ab-rocker. I don't believe that it will be so much better than regular crunches, but it looks like it would give you support so you could do crunches with less risk of hurting yourself.

Some people have had excellent luck with Chiropractors, I never have. I meet with a PT who is certified in Massage Therapy once a week. Have to just to keep going. Hopefully yours will be a injury-recovery-gobacktonormal scenario. My injuries have messed me up for life.

Oh.. bend at the knees to pick things up... don't fold over at the hips/waist - that can really really aggravate lower back discs. Even if you are only picking up something light.

Best of luck to you.

[glfprncs]

I just read this in my latest copy of the bi-weekly magazine, "Bottom Line Personal" (the Jan. 15, 2009 edition, p. 12) in an article titled, "What Doctors Don't Want You to Know: A Top Physician Reveals Why Many Popular Treatments Aren't Working" by David H. Newman, MD, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital)

It is a fact that herniated discs rarely cause back pain.

"MRI is the test of choice to evaluate back pain. But there's a secret about MRIs and back pain. The most common problems physicians see on MRIs and attribute to back pain--herniated, ruptured, and bulging discs--are seen almost as commonly on MRIs of healthy people without back pain. They are a normal finding, suggesting that discs rupture with some frequency and our bodies repair them uneventfully.

Surgery to fix or remove a disc usually is performed in the hope that a herniated disc is compressing a nerve and causing the pain, but it carries a poor overall success rate. Even after the nerve is decompressed or freed by removing the disc surgically, half of the time the patient's low back pain is not relieved.

Self Defense--Studies show that most people with back pain will improve within six months with standard medical care, such as physical therapy and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Surgery should be considered mainly for patients with a herniated disc that CLEARLY is causing a neurological deficit, such as as a foot weakness or a loss of bowel or bladder control, IN ADDITION to pain."

I just thought that the information was interesting regarding the NATURAL findings of bulging discs in individuals with no pain.

My husband has a weak lower back, and has suffered intense pain associated with a bulging disc. When it goes, he can't stand, can't get his feet to the floor when in bed, and it takes days of ice and good drugs to get him on his feet. As soon as we can manage it, we get him to the chiropractor, who can get him walking without pain in a week, and swinging a golf club again in 2 1/2-3 weeks.

[topaz731]

I have just experienced the same exact problem. I fell incredibly hard on the back of the left side of my pelvis about a month or so ago and literally just laid there, afraid that I had cracked it. Being in my mid 20s and crying on the floor in pain was not one of my proudest or happiest moments afterwards. I went to the hospital to get a CT scan and found out about my slipped disc- as my right side was the one that was painful and numb. The ER just prescribed pain pills, but the second Dr I went to prescribed pain pills as well as incredibly strong steriods for the inflammation in addition to the Ibuprofen I was downing like tic-tacs. Those steroids did NOTHING!!! They are very strong medications and I felt like I was given them too liberally by someone who could not even tell me how bad my injury was (as it takes a bit of time to get in with a specialist ). They made me feel awful, made my pain medications not work and looking at my back now you can still see where the right side is puffed out. And I have iced and heated, iced and heated. I work two jobs, one incredibly physical at a farm, and one where I stand up 95% of the time. I bought one of those black back braces that girdle you up the middle and can say that has helped barn work and riding (after 2 weeks off riding) tremendously. Having been to a chiropractor before I can't even imagine or want to quite yet getting in some of those positions or having someone press down on me- but until I am able to get to the ortho. surgeon- that brace is great, I just can't wear it for extended periods of time- but I can do my trot sets and do stalls better than I can other things. As many previous have said already- follow what your (orthopedic!!!) Doctor says! I'm a little burned by the previous doctor, and have kind of had to find a mixture of things to help me for the time being myself, so I'm counting my days to the specialist!

[blackwly]

I just read this in my latest copy of the bi-weekly magazine, "Bottom Line Personal" (the Jan. 15, 2009 edition, p. 12) in an article titled, "What Doctors Don't Want You to Know: A Top Physician Reveals Why Many Popular Treatments Aren't Working" by David H. Newman, MD, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital)

It is a fact that herniated discs rarely cause back pain.

"MRI is the test of choice to evaluate back pain. But there's a secret about MRIs and back pain. The most common problems physicians see on MRIs and attribute to back pain--herniated, ruptured, and bulging discs--are seen almost as commonly on MRIs of healthy people without back pain. They are a normal finding, suggesting that discs rupture with some frequency and our bodies repair them uneventfully.

Surgery to fix or remove a disc usually is performed in the hope that a herniated disc is compressing a nerve and causing the pain, but it carries a poor overall success rate. Even after the nerve is decompressed or freed by removing the disc surgically, half of the time the patient's low back pain is not relieved.

Self Defense--Studies show that most people with back pain will improve within six months with standard medical care, such as physical therapy and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Surgery should be considered mainly for patients with a herniated disc that CLEARLY is causing a neurological deficit, such as as a foot weakness or a loss of bowel or bladder control, IN ADDITION to pain."



As a neurosurgeon that deals with lots of back pain and preforms spine surgery, I have to say this is dead on. If you scanned 100 eventers over 30, over 80% would have disc "bulges" or herniations in the lumbar spine...including those with no back pain. The vast majority of symptomatic disc hernations cause radiating LEG pain, and occasionally leg weakness.

If I had sudden back pain and was noted to have a herniated disc on MRI, but had no leg pain, I would spend the next 6 months resting, doing PT, and taking NSAIDS. If I had a herniated disc and HAD neuropathic leg pain in the appropriate area for the level of herniation, I would absolutely have a discectomy if my symptoms did not improve after 2-3 months. It is a great operation (low risk, quick, easy to perform with great results) if you select your patients appropriately. It is not a great operation if you run a spine mill and operate on every patient you see with back pain, as most of them will not improve from your procedure.

[AngelainTexas]

I ruptured a disc at L4/L5 about 6 years ago. The Dr. called it herniation with fragmentation. You could see bits of the disc all along the spinal column on the MRI. I was in extreme pain. Could not stand or sit for any length of time. Did physical therapy for about 3 weeks until I could not stand it anymore and I have always been very stoic about pain. Had pain radiating down my left leg and numbness in the lower leg. When I woke up from surgery the pain was GONE! Fast forward 6 years and I am now considering a fusion due to resulting pain. MRI shows no space between L4/L5. Anyone ever dealt with this? I really don't want to have the fusion done as I believe it will only lead to more problems down the road. But I can't keep going like I have been for the last year or so. I take 4 Advil 2-3 times a day, OK'ed by my Dr of course, but it doesn't help much. Considered chiro but am a little leary of that route. I'd really like to ride again with no pain!

[bambam]

Angelain Texas- your experience sounds somewhat similar to mine minus the fragmentation. Sudden severe onset of pain (classic down the leg as well as the back itself). I did not even do PT before my surgery. I literally could not walk or sit and when the steroid shots only made it enough better that I could sit for 5-10 minutes without excruciating pain, after consulting several doctors, I had a laminectomy. Instant relief after the surgery. About 5 or 6 years after the surgery, I started very commonly having pain. Nowhere near as bad as before the surgery but not fun and I was having it on more days than not. I sucked it up for about a year before I went to the ortho (I know what was I thinking waiting so long). With some very small lifestyle changes (no running, no advanced pilates, etc) I went back to feeling pretty good. This was 2 or 3 years ago and I still have back pain but it is only occasional (every few months I have a couple of uncomfortable days and I can usually figure out what I did to set it off). Have you explored PT or other possible ways to lessen the pain with your ortho? Are you seeing a sports ortho?
Everbody is different so no idea what is going on with you, but I thought I would share my somewhat similar timeline and experience.

[cyberbay]

yeah, avoid any exercises that round the lower back -- like sit ups. You can do core strengthening 'sit-ups,' 'tho, by standing a foot or so from the wall, placing your hands on the wall and then leaning into the wall and then push yourself away. Keep the core muscles tightened, but back should be in neutral position. Gives much the same benefit.

I was told by my PT that 70% of Americans have herniated discs. Just not everyone knows about it. And saying that riding herniates the back for sure, for every rider? That's kind of an unfair statement, and once again puts riding in a bad light ... what about runners, or cyclists who hunch all the time over their bikes?? Or people slingin' a big belly??

My most consistent symptom is feeling a little nerve-y in my legs, depending on what sort of chair I'm seating on. It's pseudo sciatica, the chiros have told me. Usually some muscle(s) have spasmed in my legs and are pinching something, or so I think.

[AngelainTexas]

Bambam, I have not seen a PT. I have been ignoring it and hoping it will go away! I know, not gonna help. I have started walking on my treadmill and trying to lose a few pounds, which I think will help. I'm going for another MRI shortly and another opinion. Mine pain is not all day, all the time, but enough that it is becoming a huge problem I can't ignore.

What kind of PT do you find helpful? Certain exercises, etc?

[Jaegermonster]

There is one exercise that I found to be the most effective.
You lie on the floor on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Pick up one foot and put the ankle on the opposite knee.
Pick up the other other foot that is still flat on the ground and bring the knee with the foot on it towards your chest slowly. Hold it for a little bit, like 10 seconds or so and release.
Repeat it a few times and then switch sides.
This gives me a nice stretch and really seems to help.

[Calvincrowe]

Don't do any exercises that are not part of your PTs plan for you--you could make it worse. "Sit Ups" in the old school style will probably make it worse. I herniated L5, with L4 involvement nearly 4 years ago. Severe pain, sitting was awful--had sciatic radiating pain down the left leg to the foot, with numbness and tingling. I did all the PT required for nearly 8 months, massage was a god send :), I highly recommend it. I had caudal epidural shots (up the tail bone..whee!), steroids directly into the area (double whee!), more PT, more MRIs--no relief. Finally, my neurosurgeon and I opted for the diskectomy/laminotomy (I think that's what it's called). Oh, blessed relief! Came out of the hospital (it is a same day procedure, total time at the hospital wa 6 hours) completely pain free. (Well, I had secondary issues of arthritis and muscle spasm to deal with later, but the nerve issues/pain were gone!).

You'll find a solution that works for you, not all things go well for all people. I am riding 3-4 days a week, doing all the sports I did before, and am very happy with my outcome. I'm very aware of my posture now, and careful with lifting, as well. Good luck! Vicodin may become your best friend for a while, along with robaxin--just don't drink with those on board;)

[LT]

i had my spine fused at t11 and t12 right at the bra strap area and herniated discs in lumbar region.. hot tub ,biofreeze[a must have!] PT..it is boring and no fun..but go! i fell and was dragged and had compression fractures that did not heal properly causing agonizing pain for 2 years..then surgery/which even with the pain of sx i felt so mush better the day after.. i do ride but am very selective what i ride..no more greenies, i still show etc but am pretty wrecked the day after..sometimes tramadol helps and robaxin..but i try to stay away from drugs. oh one other thing that helped with pain is a TENS unit /electric stimulation..like you just touched an electrc fence but with pulsing that numbs the area..i liked it a lot!good luck with recovery /we horse people are nuts..i was telling my personal trainer my injuries when we first started and he asked me if i was a rugby player..i thought that was funny,lets see
plate in collarbone/smashed into a wall/riding
both knees dislocated/popping off green ponies
broken back/fell and dragged/riding
sounds bad..who else has a laundry list of horse related injuries?

[avezan]

I ruptured L4/L5 and herniated L5/S1 about 11 years ago. I did have surgery, and I think it was necessary. I had bad leg pain and foot drop and leg weakness that was getting worse. The first surgery was a disaster. I didn't pick the surgeon carefully enough. Be careful of surgeons wanting to rush into things! I had a complication which he refused to acknowledge. The second surgeon I had wanted to wait a bit. We did eventually do a second surgery. Weakness and foot drop is gone. Pain comes and goes, but as far as back pain goes, it could be much worse! Riding actually feels good, it is after riding that can hurt. Advil is my friend. So are sit ups (I use the "ab-lounger". I was too nervous about doing sit ups incorrectly on the floor. The ab-lounger is great!) and a supportive mattress. As others have said, now you have to pay more attention to your back, posture, how you lift, etc.

To the person who still has numbness after 14 months....you may still get feeling back! I had numbness for well over a year post-second surgery. It gradually went away (as detected by shaving my legs!) Sometimes is it back, sometimes I get tingling in my leg like it is coming and going.

To the OP, Good luck. Take it easy. But I think you will be back to full riding abilities. Just don't push too hard or fast.

[Ray]

yeah, avoid any exercises that round the lower back -- like sit ups. You can do core strengthening 'sit-ups,' 'tho, by standing a foot or so from the wall, placing your hands on the wall and then leaning into the wall and then push yourself away. Keep the core muscles tightened, but back should be in neutral position. Gives much the same benefit.

Pilates! you will learn to strengthen core w/o straining or rounding the lower back

[medical mike]

Have to be careful about Pilates.......

Many instructors teach posterior tilt and work off that.

Posterior tilt is not recommended per se as the working position for a disc.


REgards,
Medical Mike
Equestrian medical researcher
www.fitfocusedforward.us

[pony grandma]

... we horse people are nuts..i was telling my personal trainer my injuries when we first started and he asked me if i was a rugby player..i thought that was funny, lets see ...

plate in collarbone/smashed into a wall/riding
both knees dislocated/popping off green ponies
broken back/fell and dragged/riding
sounds bad..who else has a laundry list of horse related injuries?

God Bless All of You! I'm feeling the fellowship here! I read every story intently. Broken toes, broken tailbone, twice (once a horse fall, the other on black ice), the knees I have to admit were from overzealous downhill ski trips, a carrot blow to the forehead that exposed the bone (yes, my horse hit me with the carrot protruding from his mouth - threw up his head and ran off, knocked me to the ground, I had to bandage my head with a leg wrap and drive myself to the ER), multiple back injuries, not even to speak of the well landed kicks and the painful bites that we all experience at some pts. Just recently had an MRI that discovered a fractured vertebrae from my falling out of the back of the horse trailer last summer. The intense pain never went away after 6 months. Riding was impossible. So I had to go find out the answer. Now I know that my aging and osteoporosis is probably a factor. I had to quit my job, in this recession, and begin to look for softer work. Medical bills and horses can really add up fast. But I have to hang on - it's my lifestyle and my chosen drug of choice.

Thanks for all the stories and support, just knowing that I am not alone with these feelings - not questioning if it is worth it :D

[LT]

pony grandma..thought of you as i got out of the hot tub tonight..no riding just mucking, sled riding with my kids and waiting tables in the morning{not such a hot idea} it all works out and if i can't ride i'll just watch..i'm starting the learner judging process ..i'm 40 with a five year old pony crazy girl soo..i'm thinking this might be my last year to show..pony mom and judge sound just fine!! i just like the smell of horse poo

[Robby Johnson]

Have to be careful about Pilates.......

Many instructors teach posterior tilt and work off that.

Posterior tilt is not recommended per se as the working position for a disc.


REgards,
Medical Mike
Equestrian medical researcher
www.fitfocusedforward.us

Posterior tilt, or as we call it "Imprint," is only taught when the spine cannot be stabilized in neutral to do the work - usually when there's an open kinetic chain of energy (legs off mat/floor). Most people need to imprint as working "open" in neutral requires significant abdominal strength. Most people, again, are quite weak here - even if they appear to be fit (another reason why I am opposed to "rider fitness" observations at a superficial level) - particularly through the obliques.

Herniation is very common but it wouldn't/doesn't stop me from putting a client in imprint. You have to modify and limit the range of motion to avoid pulling on the spine and compromising the affected area, but the idea of the work is to strengthen the anatomy to support the spine and that does begin in imprint.

Of course, I find this more of an issue when working supine, which is why I really like challenging neutral in kneeling or standing positions.

[Speedy]

The things that really, really help me: pilates and swimming.

Get a good pilates instructor, if you go that route, however, because, as with anything, there are people who know what they are doing, and people who don't! And, the reformer has been the key for me - I didn't find the mat classes nearly as productive, there is a big difference in what you can do with the reformer.

Swimming isn't for everyone, but honestly, I can feel my back stretch out, and my spine just pull gently away from itself, from the first lap. Heaven.

Also, do whatever PT your doctor tells you to. I originally blew PT off, but the truth is there are exercises that a physical therapist will give you to do that will make a difference in how you feel, eventually. Start with that and stick to it.

Beware the advice to do surgery - get a second opinion before you do it, if you haven't already.

[LT]

ahh i for got to add swimming! it did wonders for m too