Back Ache Riding

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silverstar

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I fell off a horse last weekend and my back really ached for two days afterwards. I got on a horse today and it really hurts to canter, like a shockwave going up my back. Ive never had back problems before.

Has anyone else had back problems and what have you tried to relieve it that works. Or am I just going to have to take painkillers before I get on?
 
I tweaked my back last Sunday (vacuuming :rolleyes:) and when I got back in the saddle on Thursday cantering was hellish. I found anti inflammatories and taking it easy - not too much cantering, defnitely NO sitting trot and doing slow rising trot gradually eased things off again. Hope it feels better soon.
 
Have you had it checked?
I fell off a horse, thought I'd be fine but for 2 years I had back pain (and it got progressively worse)
I went to an osteo, that really helped me :D (Although I could do with going back as this cold weather makes it hurt.
 
ever since i had a bad fall on the road beggining of last summer i have had trouble!! cantering even months after had exactly that "shock-wave" feeling so severe at one point i threw my self off as makes me feel like im going to be sick, now i can ride but the days after i am in pain and cant walk right have kept going using anti inflammatories but maybe get it looked at as i think they can sometimes mask pain that needs sorting...
 
Pain is your bodys way of telling you something is wrong,painkillers mask the pain so you couls end up doing worse to your body by pushing it when its trying to tell you to stop. Sounds like you have a trapped or pinched nerve, posssibly put your pelvis out slightly. Go see a chiropractor and get a prolite back support, use deep heat or similar before and after riding to warm your muscles up to stop it getting any worse. Good luck with it, backs are the worst to hurt, it affects everything you do. Ive given up hope of ever getting mine 'fixed', just keep it from getting any worse!!
 
I landed on my head on the road about a year ago, thought the mare was the only one with a back problem, until I collapsed at work,several months later, with what was diagnosed as a trapped nerve.My GP recommended physio but said that the NHS waiting list was at least 10 weeks -so I saw a private physio, who put right all sorts of problems, which I think had built up over years and got worse in the latest fall.
While my mare was off work I had some lessons at a local RS, which did not go well. I've realised since that my back problems meant that I could not sit properly to either trot or canter.
I would certainly recommend that you get checked out.
 
Thanks for your advice. I may have to go to a chiropractor and get it checked out. It only happened last weekend and I thought Id be fine cantering today but I was wrong and I was trying to relax in canter but I couldnt because of the pain.
 
RubysGold said:
Have you had it checked?
I fell off a horse, thought I'd be fine but for 2 years I had back pain (and it got progressively worse)
I went to an osteo, that really helped me :D (Although I could do with going back as this cold weather makes it hurt.
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Ditto the above, i have had 3 riding accidents over the last 10yrs and didnt have it checked, the last 2wks i have been in agony so visited an Osteopath this morning, i feel better already. I have a second appointment next week :)
 
Ditto advice re. Chiro/Osteo. Its not worth messing with your back; if something's wrong, then the pain is your body's way of telling you, plus the fact that if YOU have something wrong with your back, ten chances to one you'll affect your horse as well.

My chiro does my horse as well as me (handy!), so I know just how much my posture in the saddle affects his way of going.

The other thing is that we riders often just hop up and start to ride without doing what a lot of other sports disciplines do, and that is do a "warm up" first. We just don't do it do we? But we should. Just a few minutes warming up (note: don't stretch a cold muscle! warm it up first THEN stretch it!) before mounting up would do us all a lot of good, and then have a good stretch afterwards.
 
not to be a scare monger, I am a physio so I am speaking from knowledge not scary anecdote land, backs are WEIRD. I had a case where someone came to me with simlar symptoms and had fractured a vertebrae, I also get those symptoms and it is wear and tear, slipped disc, bit of swelling, the list goes on.

It is ALWAYS worth getting neck, head and back injuries checked by a professional, even if it is a+e and wastes some time, better that than possible paralysis.

:D

On a brighter note it is most likely some inflammation but I would get it checked out.
 
Def get checked. I have got three bulging discs and when i'm bad cantering is not comfy. Take anti-inflammatories, put ice on it, 20 mins at a time. See chiro - rest!
 
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