[amdfarm]

Add me to the list, as well. I have them between L3-4 and L4-5 and also SI issues on the right side which stemmed from sciatica and me trying to be he-woman. I tried moving a 300+lb display cabinet made of solid wood and filled w/ a 4" layer of sand by myself. Not my brightest moment.

I did pills, PT and all that and it eventually got better over time. It still acts up every now and then and I don't ride regularly anymore.

[Personal Champ]

The thing that really bites for me is that I can't take any painkillers - Ultram, Vicodin, Percoset - they all make me terribly sick to the point where I can't even keep water down. That's how I ended up doing the injections so soon and young - my doctor agreed that something needed to be done, and we couldn't do rest/pills.

[LD1129]

I do! I have discs herniated down by my hip. Its from a few bad falls when jumping The second time I fell on the same spot I jammed the discs back in (and not the right way!)

I have gotten very used to back pain and its a everyday thing for me. I also have scoliosis and cyfosis (sp?) it is extremely hard to get my shoulders back most of the time which sucks for dressage. On the worst days I turn on my heating pad at about 3am so I am able to get out of bed by 6am. It sucks but I deal, ibuprofen or Tylenol arthritis for the pain

[Private Diamonds]

The thing that really bites for me is that I can't take any painkillers - Ultram, Vicodin, Percoset - they all make me terribly sick to the point where I can't even keep water down. That's how I ended up doing the injections so soon and young - my doctor agreed that something needed to be done, and we couldn't do rest/pills.

I am in your boat as well. For the first time in 17 years I tried to take a percoset, this time with Protonix, which was supposed to coat my stomach. Nope, didn't work, I spent the rest of the day throwing up, which only made the back feel worse

[sixpoundfarm]

I do the Tylenol arthritis too, they work well.
I am also on neurontin and mobic. I was given tramadol for pain as needed.
I am trying to take less and less, hoping to get off the stuff completely.

[xponygirl92x]

Hey Dawn, this is Tori! My sister had a herniated disc, and she could barely walk it was so bad, but she started going to the chiropractor in Berryville about three times a week, and now she is fine to ride again Sorry to hear about your accident though!!

[Holsteiner jumper]

L5 S1, and I'm only 21! next MRI in May, then hopefully some surgery. I find lots of core strength exercises, treading water in the pool and Advil liqui-gels help to stabilize.

[JustABay]

L4-5 and S1 for me. I was advised not to do a lot of jumping anymore as it is higher risk, so I have dutifully stuck to flatwork, ice, 3x weekly chiro, acupuncture and all the little other things that have been recommended to me. There has been minor improvement, but I do have reduced strength in my right side due to nerve pinch, and do take a lot of painkillers. I do recommend for chiro, use someone who does the activator method, and ask about ART and ultrasound-worked wonders for me!

[hopefulhunter]

I ruptured two disks in my neck about 3 years ago after a fall. It took about 6 weeks but the pain settled down and somehow the ruptures healed and I am pretty much pain free. My left arm regained its strength. I would definitley rest as the doctor said. I used the Egoscue method which includes very subtle strength training and balancing excercises and credit this with keeping me from having surgery. I have since fallen and landed in almost in the same place with no problems!!! If I feel a twinge of pain I do some excercises (mainly lying flat on my back with my knees up) and this really helps.

[florida foxhunter]

I'm in the club too! I now ride with a Professional Choice Neoprene back brace that has helped a LOT! I also take lots of anti inflamitories (RX) for my arthritus which probablyhelps too.
I refuse to give up riding, hunting or my horses in general. I try not to get on anything stupid, although I'm now starting a 3 1/2 year old........(he had 90 days with a trainer first)......but he's very sensible!! Life's too short...........have fun!!!

[immigene]

About 1 year ago I had this terrible pain and twitching in my left arm/shoulder. I have always had some pain in that arm assumed it muscle issues. Had MRI. I had totally ruptured C5-6 and 6-7 was severely herniated. Surgeon was suprised I didnt have leg numbness and bladder control issues. THAT freaked me out. I was riding/jumping 3-4 days a week. 3 weeks later I had surgery. Discectomy with fusion, titanium plate and six screws. Pain was gone almost immediately. Dr said I could ride in 4 months but not jump for 1 year. Apparently It takes a year for the spine to totally fuse.

Its now January and I get to start jumping in March!! I'm riding, but being much more carefull what I do. I try not to lift any thing more that 20#'s. Lifting is your enemy if you have neck issues. I still take the occasional Naproxen and muscle relaxers if I've had a hard day. The poster who said you can rupture discs above and below the surgery site is absolutely correct. That is the one big fear I have.


Good luck

Pam

[Personal Champ]

I am in your boat as well. For the first time in 17 years I tried to take a percoset, this time with Protonix, which was supposed to coat my stomach. Nope, didn't work, I spent the rest of the day throwing up, which only made the back feel worse

I totally feel your pain, no pun intended. You should seriously look into the injections. Pre injection I was seeing a wonderful chiro who helped tons, but the effects never seemed to last. Post inject, I went from seeing the chiro 3x a week to when I screwed myself up.

Like this weekend, sitting in hard plastic chairs at an auction for 12 hours and a 6 hour ride home, well, I'll be calling the chiro soon, I am sure.

[Private Diamonds]

Thanks to all who have offered their support and advice, it has helped more than you know.

I am currently scheduled 02/02 for my first steroid injection. Does anyone have any experience with this? How did it work for you?

Waiting 8-12 weeks is going to be tough, I want back in the saddle SO BADLY! My trainer has been a huge support and won't let me back on until I am 100%, I broke the rules and went on a trail ride this past Sunday, she wasn't happy

[squeezix]

I herniated a disc several years ago, and now, probably 2 or 3 times per year, I do something stupid (like pick up something off the floor) and my lower back goes into dreadful spasm. I did have an MRI that showed my bottom two discs to be a bit compressed for my age. What I have found is that the intense pain tends to go away in 10 days or so. After that time, riding seems to actually help the back spasm. I wake up in the morning very much in pain, pain going down my leg, hard to stand up straight. But, I'll take a couple ibuprofen liquid gels and force myself to ride (picking hooves is worse than actually riding) and things loosen up. After I'm done riding, i generally feel better. Of course, it does stiffen back up over time, but riding with disc issues is not impossible.

[MissMaryMack]

I am fortunate to have a doctor who has horses himself but that also means I get thorough instructions on what not to do....NO sitting trot or fences over 3 feet...and the latest...no horses under 5 years old. I have to say though that I trust him completely and he really looks out for my best interest and has never suggested that I quit riding...he knows that isn't a possibility!

I have an MRI scheduled for next week...please pray that he doesn't recommend surgery! I've managed to escape it for the last 11 years but I'm not sure how much longer that will be possible. I'm only 23 now and really want to avoid the knife as long as I can!!

Wishing all other back pain sufferers the best of luck!

[iluvdrummers]

I had spinal fusion to repair a ruptured disc that was pressing on my spinal cord.
Over a year later i still have really bad pain. I was told by my surgeon that i could return to work and riding two weeks after my surgery. I think this was a big mistake. If you are advised to rest and not ride do it. The 12 weeks of rest now could mean no pain or problems forever.
I had injections a few months ago. The injections hurt like hell. i also had extremely tight muscles.It hurt for a few days then felt better for about a week. Ice and rest are the ony things that work for me.
I have been riding more and more but i also only ride animals that i know. I have not fallen since my surgery and honestly that terrifies me. I do not want to deal with this all over again.
Please rest and listen to common sense. Its not the riding that is bad. (it actually makes my muscles feel better) It is the risk of falling. You could end up with permanent damage.

[Hopeful Hunter]

Just wondering if anyone has tried spinal decompression??

In Nov 1998 a guy pulled out of a Pizza Hut parking lot and changed my life. He broadsided my car - which somehow didn't deploy the airbag - and I thought I'd fractured my ankle.

Several weeks after the accident, and a few xrays of the ankle, I got a diagnoses. L4-5 & L5-S1 looked like a Salvador Dali melting watch painting. At the time, the surgery recommended didn't have a definition of success that was sufficient for me (especially since I have serious phobias over surgery due to PTSD), so I tried epidurals (helped but only briefly), accupuncture (too intense for my injury) and other therapies. By February it was so bad I was losing the use of my right leg and was on 7 prescription drugs that left me with a drugged out stare but severe pain still.

It got so bad that I debated taking all the pills at once. Somehow, my family saw an article on a surgery calledl percutaneous laser disk decompression pioneered by a Dr. Daniel Choy in NYC (www.pldd.com). At the time the surgery was awaiting an insurance code and was not covered (it has one now), but since this was an auto accident and my life, I went to see him. In the space of 45 minutes he gave me my life back.

I still have some nerve damage in my right foot, but given that even Dr. Choy wasn't sure that I'd regain full use of it at all, I'm good with that.

Back injuries are very personal, and can be very serious. I didn't ride for almost a year - heck, I didn't sit down for months, nor sleep, nor barely walk or drive a car. I did find a PT for rehab who was a rider, and that made a HUGE difference. To this day I do my exercises, and since I started working out for the first time ever almost two years ago, I've learned tha t being stronger helps a LOT.

DO rest. Do listen to the docs, but try to find a sports doc who understands the biomechanics of riding. Riding will be there IF you let yourself heal; if you don't give yourself time, your recovery could be compromised. Think of yourself as the horse here - you wouldn't rush your horse back to work after a serious injury, so why do it to yourself?!

[BellaLuna]

This thread has been the first time that I realize that I AM NOT ALONE!!! I have suffered for 18 years. Done Chiro, PT, epidural, drugs, even part of a medical study for treatment of chronic low back pain. Putting off surgery as I too don't know how that would fit in with my kids, horses, farm, job life. Thank you to all who shared their misery and coping skills.

[gray17htb]

I don't remember riding WITHOUT herniated and buldging discs...I have no life

[ButterflyIris]

I have scoliosis and an extra cervical rib, which makes my neck and back funky.
Has anyone given yoga a serious try to help their backs?
I worked at a yoga center for 5 years and had the luxury of free yoga classes thrown in.
I heard so many amazing stories from people who had terrible chronic back pain and yoga was the only thing that helped. It saved a lot of them from surgery.
I also have heard many horror stories about back surgeries. Most of the time, they don't seem to help :-(
If you do try to yoga route, you can get a private yoga lesson to focus on what your specific needs are and to also address the type of movements that you shouldn't do.
I sit a lot at my job and feel my back get jammed up, so I recently bought an inversion table, it has been amazing for stretching out and decompressing.
Also, I see a neuromuscular therapist twice a month who focuses on those areas that are locked up.
Also, soaking in epsom salts, very helpful...
Y'all take care of yourselves!