adductor muscle strain..discouraged...any advice?

[mojo7777]

Argh. I can't believe this is happening. A few weeks ago when it was hot, and horse was lazy, and I was trying out a borrowed dressage saddle (normally ride in a CC) with stirrups lengthened and unaccustomed muscles being used...I pulled a groin muscle. Afraid that at my extremely advanced age (57) it could become chronic if I wasn't careful, I rested, wrapped and iced it for a week, then slowly started riding again. Today, after a few gentle, successful trail riding days, I started to school again at the trot and canter and owww, it hurts as badly as it did when I first injured it!

Here's the pity party... It's my first summer with my fab new horse. I'm a teacher, so these are the days I can devote real time to training before school starts again in Aug. We are (were) making exciting progress on several fronts... I know, sob, sob, sob! But it is frustrating and a real lesson in patience!

Has this type of strain (groin pull, adductor muscle strain) happened to any one else from riding? Any advice or words of encouragement? I wish I could turn back the clock to the day I did it and use the time to teach my horse "forward" properly, instead of driving too hard with seat and legs, which is what I did!

TIA for any help!!

[KateKat]

not advice but lots of sympathy! Thats an important muscle to use when riding so I can only imagine what a pain that is! Hopefully medical mike will chime in...if not, you might want to try PM-ing him.

[MidlifeCrisis]

Yep, I did that and it hurt. Alot. After trying to treat it myself, I gave up and went to PT to get treated. Treatment involved small exercises to activate, strengthen, and balance all the muscles of the hip joint.

[JLMet]

What perfect timing you should bring this up. I am currently in therapy with that as one of the many problems I have. Having said that, you should not feel discouraged, you will recover and my biggest suggestion is to find a massage therapist who doesn't give relaxing (soft tissue) massages but does deep tissue work and knows what they are doing. The guy I use (who is incredible) isn't going to give you a relaxing massage unless you beg for it, he's going to get in there and get those muscles to release. Granted you do need to work on soft tissue first but since I was already in therapy for soft tissue with another therapist he was able to do deep tissue (which is really what I needed). Don't feel like you'll never get better, you will, it will just take time, and you have to find the right person. Maybe ask a physical therapist or a trusted doctor to recommend a massage therapist for it. And make sure you follow instructions, I'm really bad at that one. All the best to you!

[kdow]

Has this type of strain (groin pull, adductor muscle strain) happened to any one else from riding? Any advice or words of encouragement? I wish I could turn back the clock to the day I did it and use the time to teach my horse "forward" properly, instead of driving too hard with seat and legs, which is what I did!

TIA for any help!!

Haven't done it to myself, but a doctor once told me that strains and sprains can be worse to heal than broken bones, so I'd probably tend to take things conservatively and not push it too much, so you don't prolong the period where you can't ride comfortably.

Have you actually seen a doctor about it? It seems like maybe some PT would be a good thing.

[Bluey]

Welcome to the club of the silly injuries, although I am older than you are.
Way back in February, I was getting on my horse and pulled something loose in my right bicep and shoulder.
It first got better, then I think got worse and finally, since that makes it hard to get dressed, drive, fix a broken wire in the fence, that was what made me go get checked, I went to the Dr, x rays were inconclusive and am having an MRI tomorrow.:(

You did get a proper diagnosis, didn't you?;)
Hard to work on something on a guess only.:no:

Someone once told me after 40 it is patch, patch, patch.:p

At least my injury doesn't keep me from riding, once on the horse.:)

[mojo7777]

I'm headed out the door to the state university hospital to take this thing in hand. I appreciate all the input and will check back in. Maybe my experience will help another aged rider... (The sympathy really helps!)

[Equine Adhesive]

I had a light strain of my adductor from riding my springy and dull-to-the-leg TB (I was too lazy to wear tall boots & spurs). It hurt a lot to ride and then to walk around, but it did not last long-- I stopped riding for a couple of weeks and that seemed enough in my case.

[sillyb]

Let me just say, I feel your pain and frustration. I initially angered my adductors on a green horse. Then followed it up with a life lesson on clamping while riding - horse stumbled and I've been down for the count. Now at 5 weeks and counting.

I must agree with the deep tissue massage and targeted isometric exercises as therapy. All that has helped on the ground and I can now walk without pain. I've tried riding, and am still only comfortable with a leisurely walk. From all my research and interviews with other riders, this injury takes a long time to recover. So after 5 weeks, I've decided to try some accupunture and ultrasound, in addition to the above. Can't wait to see how they help, or what additional therapies they throw your way. Take care of yourself!

[whicker]

A P.T. may be able to put your pelvis back in place, release the pressure on the adductors and relieve the pain. The P.T. may also be able to show you how- to- relieve- the- pain techniques. Then the P.T. should give you some appropriate to your situation exercises to strengthen the area and your core.

If you have continuing problems with connective tissue and joints, please look at www.treatingpain.com for regeneration prolotherapy and PRP. Dr. Mayo Fiedlis is one of the gurus in the field. He is also a horseman, so he understands how important it is for us to ride.

I hyper-extended all of the pelvic ligaments and broke my back. (Got hit by a deer while I was conditioning galloping a big DWB) Freidlis has done a super job of regenerating the ligaments and stabilizing my back.

Pm me if you want more info. also he is great at making recommendations of drs around the world.

Keep us posted!

[medical mike]

It should come up by searching my moniker.

It looks like it applies.

REgards,
medical Mike
equestrian medical researcher
www.equicision.com

[mojo7777]

Just got back from the dr. appointment and am headed to PT tomorrow. My biggest fear was that I had already gotten to the point of a chronic problem, but that doesn't seem to be the case. It is either tendonitis or muscle strain, not too far advanced. The solution to either one is rest and PT, and what I'm already doing--ice and ace bandage. At first she said no riding for 2 - 3 months. But when I blanched and protested we began to negotiate, and ended up with any riding is OK if it doesn't hurt--i.e. leisurely walking only. If anyone is interested, I can let you know what happens in PT...

silly b, you and I are in exactly the same boat. I had already aggravated the muscles when my horse spooked and I gripped suddenly with my right thigh. After that it became a PROBLEM. The leisurely walking program is saving me from the awful frustration of not being able to ride at all--I need goals and working on a relaxed trail-saavy horse is good--but I can't help being a little worried that I'll grip suddenly again if my horse spooks unexpectedly...

medical mike, I'll look that up

Thanks all for the advice!

[Einstein]

I've been struggling with a groin pull, for the last year. I'm wondering if it's ever going to heal?:cry:
I've tried resting it, riding lightly and just ignoring the nagging ongoing pain...nothing seems to help.
I know riding keeps aggravating the injury, but I just can't spend months out of the saddle. :no:

[Hazelnut]

Yoga is great to keep us elastic. After getting checked by a doc and perhaps PT/recovery - maybe you could do gentle yoga.

[mojo7777]

I've been struggling with a groin pull, for the last year. I'm wondering if it's ever going to heal?:cry:
I've tried resting it, riding lightly and just ignoring the nagging ongoing pain...nothing seems to help.
I know riding keeps aggravating the injury, but I just can't spend months out of the saddle. :no:

Whatever the leg activity is, if it hurts don't do it. The small tears in the muscle and/or tendon need rest in order to fill back in and inflammation needs to go down. What you don't want is for the problem to become permanent.

But I simply cannot spend months out of the saddle either... I'm clinging to the hope that the PT scheduled for tomorrow will bring some good news. I'm not happy with the thought of poking around at a walk and paying someone to school my horse :no:

It seems several of us have this problem. I'll be sure to share whatever I find out at PT.

[janedoe726]

Mojo, I have no words of wisdom that apply to your injury, but I can definitely relate to you. I too am a teacher, and just before school was out, I broke my foot in several places. During my first week of summer, I got a walking cast. I get it off the first day of school. So much for my summer! I hope you heal quickly and thoroughly!!