Anyone ride with an instrumental fusion? Help please.

henmother

henmother

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Hello, finally got to ride after my accident, hurray! I can't put into words how happy I felt, and still feel, it's like I've got to the top of the mountain!!
I found sitting correctly really very difficult and was tilting my pelvis resulting in sore front bottom!! I've got an instrumental fusion l1-l5 and the metal work is restricting my ability to sit back onto my bones. Does anyone have any suggestions? I also have heels high in the sky and feet out like taxi doors to contend with but I thought I'd try and tackle one problem at a time.
thank you.
 
I had surgery on my spine a few years ago, just a discectomy so nothing like as serious as yours. However, even with that it took quite a while for me to get back to where I was riding wise. My balance was awful, I couldnt move my lower back to the horses movement and my legs were all over. All I can really say is take it slow, dont push yourself and try not to get frustrated. After a while things just started to get easier. Good luck.
 
Congratulations on making it back into the saddle, and in such windy weather too!

I have helped a few people back after accidents, and would echo to take it slow. Just enjoy the walking for a few minutes, and I am sure things will start to ease up. As for the sore front, I would get a seat saver!

Good luck, enjoy. x
 
Fantastic your back in the saddle!!Riding position is so different so I bet your muscles won't stretch to allow you to sit right yet. As others have said take it slow and relax
Echo the seat saver. Think the gel one beginning with 'a' is the best (sorry can't remember the name

Ps I hope to be back riding after my latest ankle surgery in a wk or so
 
Thanks everyone. It was very windy but nothing was keeping me out of the saddle, thankfully horse is as saintly as they come, phew. I had a big fluffy sheepskin saver on, I think I'll keep away from the sitting trot, ow, for now. As for not getting frustrated, I know I'm going to have to stop grrr'ing at myself and remember that things will be different, hopefully in time , my muscles will build up. Good news, fun times that the balance and movement come back after a bit. I'm hoping so for the sake of my downstairs, and the horses back. Good luck soulfull, easy does it. Thankyou all for your kind words.
 
henmother said:
Hello, finally got to ride after my accident, hurray! I can't put into words how happy I felt, and still feel, it's like I've got to the top of the mountain!!
I found sitting correctly really very difficult and was tilting my pelvis resulting in sore front bottom!! I've got an instrumental fusion l1-l5 and the metal work is restricting my ability to sit back onto my bones. Does anyone have any suggestions? I also have heels high in the sky and feet out like taxi doors to contend with but I thought I'd try and tackle one problem at a time.
thank you.
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Definately try a seat saver, gel would be a good place to go, might also be worth talking to a saddler about having a saddle adapted if it's a long term problem.
Toe cages are a way forward for safety until you get your balance and position back :-)
Also try shortening your stirrups a hole or two as that may help both your balance and your feet. Don't worry about toes sticking out as that will improve as your seat improves and that will all come with time
 
Hello mynutmeg. I'm fancying a memory foam, if the sheepskin isn't going to cut it, they look like they'd have more padding for the intimate area ;) my friend has toe cages, will ask for a go of hers, was thinking of going stirrupless in school to see if that might help get legs stretched out and in a better position? Probably won't work with paraplegic legs but worth a try, after I've sorted my seat out.
Going to ride again tomorrow , unless it is persisting down. I'm not fair weather but struggle to maintain body temperature,especially if I get rained on, ahh the many joys of a spinal cord injury. Thank you for help.
 
Hi Henmother,

I ride with an L4/5 S1 fusion which was done a year and a half ago now, , but it takes an age to heal properly. I got back on after about 8 months and found that all balance, movement, posture and flow had gone out of the window. I have been back to school and literally had to re-learn and still now am learning all the time. That is the trick, time. I am only just starting to be able to move in certain ways that I could in the past and I hope that as time goes on it will get better. Just be patient, you are doing great, it is hugely frustrating but it will get better and easier, just be kind to yourself. Best of luck. xx
 
Just thought of something else that helped me greatly henmother and thats a decent dressage saddle with really big knee blocks. I use it all the time unless I am jumping. I know some people dont like them, saying they fix you in position, but when you have muscular or skeletal weakness thats no bad thing in my book! I find it very supportive and being able to use the knee blocks takes the strain off my spine. Gosh, good luck, I cant imagine how awful the last year or so must have been for you.
 
Thelwellesque said:
Hi Henmother,

I ride with an L4/5 S1 fusion which was done a year and a half ago now, , but it takes an age to heal properly. I got back on after about 8 months and found that all balance, movement, posture and flow had gone out of the window. I have been back to school and literally had to re-learn and still now am learning all the time. That is the trick, time. I am only just starting to be able to move in certain ways that I could in the past and I hope that as time goes on it will get better. Just be patient, you are doing great, it is hugely frustrating but it will get better and easier, just be kind to yourself. Best of luck. xx
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Thankyou, that gives me hope. The thought of not being able to sit properly makes me a little bit deflated. I'm just 8 month post surgery too, being back in the saddle felt fantastic but I reflected, probably too harshly, and made a list of what I need to put right, find a way around and forget about. How far along are you now, since you first got back on? What did you concentrate on in the early doors? If I can get position right , do some lateral work in walk that will keep me busy for the next few month. Thank you , time is the key.
 
Thanks fun times, I was thinking that maybe a different saddle might help. I wouldn't mind at all buying horse a new dressage saddle if if helps, I would like, eventually to do a few little dressage tests so it'd be a worthwhile well used purchase. Accident was last June, it's been the worst time of my life , but now I can be back around horses and horsey people things can only get better.
 
You are terrifically brave. I looked at the thread which you posted after the accident and it sounds horrible. I lost all confidence around my horse after surgery, I felt like I was made of glass and would break instantly. And I wasnt even injured in a riding accident!
 
I'm lucky to have found a horse that is the sweetest thing, I trust her owner, and my friends have recommended them both to me. I am wary, couldn't cope with any more hospital time, lost last summer to the hospital, then a further 5 weeks in October. I think when you're in a more vulnerable state it makes you more aware of the potential for further damage. To consider a life without horses is unthinkable.
 
henmother said:
Thankyou, that gives me hope. The thought of not being able to sit properly makes me a little bit deflated. I'm just 8 month post surgery too, being back in the saddle felt fantastic but I reflected, probably too harshly, and made a list of what I need to put right, find a way around and forget about. How far along are you now, since you first got back on? What did you concentrate on in the early doors? If I can get position right , do some lateral work in walk that will keep me busy for the next few month. Thank you , time is the key.
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Hi Henmother,

Don't worry about your posture, balance or in fact anything at this early stage. I was distraught because I couldn't even sit in a balanced position at first. I over did it at 8 months and suffered greatly for it. Spend time with your horse, walk before you try to run or trot as it were! and take it slow... If you rush it you will do damage. If you want to pm me please do and I will try to explain the problems I encountered, including the sore front bits!! But trust me give it a year or so and things will improve no end with your movement, just give your body chance to heal it takes longer than you think. xx
 
If you can it might be worth riding without stirrups for a while (if you're only walking) - that way you can let your body adjust to the horse's movement again slowly.

I do no stirrups with a couple of my RDA riders who for whatever reason can't sit correctly but still manage to do a fair bit in walk.
 
Hello, I don't know your story, but wanted to post how wonderful it is that you are back riding. Can I suggest you take it slow, and don't expect too much though.
I was trampled by a loose horse nearly 7 years ago (also June) and broke my leg in 4 places. I now have one big pin down the inside of the Tibia, and several screws. I still go lame occasionally, and it is about half the strength of my good leg.
I thought I was ok, that my loss of confidence on the ground with strange horses was to be expected, and I started riding again after 7 months. Within 4 months I was jumping and doing dressage, getting my little mare going again, and retraining my ex-racehorse. But I never felt as safe and it is now that I am trying to do more I realise the extent of it.
Please take it slow, and do not push yourself, do not get cross if you can't do something you always could, be kind to yourself and you will get there in the end. Good luck x
 
henmother said:
Hello mynutmeg. I'm fancying a memory foam, if the sheepskin isn't going to cut it, they look like they'd have more padding for the intimate area ;) my friend has toe cages, will ask for a go of hers, was thinking of going stirrupless in school to see if that might help get legs stretched out and in a better position? Probably won't work with paraplegic legs but worth a try, after I've sorted my seat out.
Going to ride again tomorrow , unless it is persisting down. I'm not fair weather but struggle to maintain body temperature,especially if I get rained on, ahh the many joys of a spinal cord injury. Thank you for help.
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Hiya :D

Memory foam sounds good - that and gel will just give more supportive padding than wool.

You may well find stirrupless better - if you watch some of the paradressage a lot of the paraplegic riders don't use stirrups so may well be easier as then you have the weight of your legs to help out.

Body temp wise try ski trousers, lovely and warm for when not on horse or else padded full chaps
 
I was reading a confidence book last night and one phrase really got me, something about setting your own goals and time frames. What's a year or two of not riding in the grand scheme of things? Take your time, do this for yourself, not for anyone else. Do comfort zone steps until you're ready to go further. Don't push too hard with an injury like yours and don't worry too much about your position!
 
Thankyou everyone for being so supportive. It's difficult trying to explain my need to be around horses, even after what happened, to non horsey folk. A friend of mine has offered to make me a memory foam saver, made to measure and with specific areas of padding added.
I think stirrupless is the way forward, slow and steady, walking, bending, trying to get used to horses movement and my lack of. My goals and aims need to be toned down. When I couldn't ride, I dreamt of riding and imagined it would be the same as pre accident, which it never will be. I'll get there though, it may just take a while longer, but it's not a race, and fun is the name of the game. One things for sure, I do not want to end up back in hospital again!
 
Congratulations on getting back in the saddle, I think your incredibly brave and inspiring.

Have you considered taking up a new form of riding, western or side saddle or something? That way you wont have the frustration of your head knowing what to do and your body unable to.
 
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