Back in the saddle after slipped disc!

[katelarge]

Hi all - blimey, it's been forever since I've been on here...

Anyway, as per the post title, I've just got the all-clear from my physio to ride again! I've had back pain for years and ignored it, but had a crunching fall back in April and then more back problems in August. Long story short, I was signed off in late August and have not been able to ride since - until I got my green light today!

Anyway, there are two purposes to this post - first, if you have back pain, DO NOT IGNORE IT - it will only get worse. Have it looked into, and if your doctor doesn't help, keep seeing other ones, see a physio too, and try to get a specialist appointment too.

The other purpose is to ask if there's anyone else out there riding after having had back problems - any advice for me? I am very lucky that my physio rides, and my yard manager/trainer is quite up on rider fitness, so I am not all alone. I've decided I will start with supervised half-hour lessons, so she can watch me for straightness etc, then I will build up the amount of time, hack, and then add jumping later. Does this sound about right?

I will be riding again on Monday morning - I am as excited as when I was a little girl having riding school lessons!

 

[Divasmum]

Well done. That is such good news. Build up gradually though!

 

[Loika]

I had mine removed (trimmed!) but vetebrae not fused, took a six month break before riding again. Was told riding could be benificial to my recovery, aparently in japan they use wooden horses to simulate the movement as part of the recovery! I wear a back support everytime i ride, started with a thickish neoprene one which gave lots of support but down to a lighter one now. Fine in winter but too much in the summer!! Got it from ebay.

I was told to walk and trot to start with on a very well school horse! However, my horse is well schooled but she was also stir crazy by the time I was able to ride again so my first ride was a little interesting jogging past the XC fences at my yard!! Now 4 years on I can jump again and do pretty much evertyhing I did before but i definatly wouldn't recomend doing too much jumping if you have had a discetomy as that still really hurts! Just remember to bend your knees when you bend down, it looks odd sometimes but is much less pain free!! Good Luck with your recovery, make sure you do as you are told!! However hard that is!!

 

[Lill]

See my friend has a bad back, and she fell awkwardly back in March this year.

Since then she has been to Dr's and physio and reckons its something to do with her vertebrae?

But she has only once been down to the yard since March.... so i actually am thinking now, she just doesn't really want to ride anymore

and the back problems are a good reason to not ride, if you can get your problems sorted in the same period of time why hasn't she?

 

[margou]

get a treeless saddle , mine has made so much difference to me, i was laways in agony after riding but now i can manage a lot better x

 

[josephine]

I had a prolapsed disk in April 2007 BECAUSE I wasn't riding cos horse was injured and on box rest. I was so cross and frustrated I dug the whole of the (big) vegetable garden in three days ignoring my protesting back. I have never had so much pain in all my life and it took me about a year to get back to normal, but I am riding again and everything is fine.

With me, riding keeps my back in good order, not riding makes it go crazy.

PS I had to have an MRI and the nurse said my back showed signeds of considerable wear and tear. I told her I had had few crashing falls, one on a road on my back!

 

[Chestnuttymare]

I had a discectomy in july and hope to be back in the saddle in another month or so. because of the damage done to the nerves, i am numb from the hips to the knees, we don't know if that will ever improve. I can still walk tho' thank goodness. I am going to get some lessons when i get back on as i know i will be nervous of what might happen.

Lill, perhaps your friend is frightened of what might happen if the horse spooks or if she falls off. Back pain is terrible and i am still on tramadil every 4 hours. This might be holding her back.

However, i am back at the yard now doing all my mucking out and doing some ground work and lunging with mine. My friends at the yard have been wonderful helping me with everything and did all my work when i was laid up and in hospital etc. They are still moving my shavings and water as i am not allowed to lift anything heavy. They are going to be with me when i get to ride again with a lead rein at the ready.

Good luck for monday Caismum, please report back how it went, i will be so excited too when it is my turn. If you have any tips or exercises to share then i would be really interested to hear.

I also agree, that if you have back pain, please do not ignore it.

 

[jeanettethree]

I had a disctectomy in 2005, and I can no longer ride..., the pain after is unbearable, so I just enjoy horses through my daughter, I am the general groom and dogsbody, but I must admit I would love to get back on a horse but I dare not risk it !

 

[lizzieuk1]

being an osteopath the best advice i can give is build up v slowly so the muscles can learn and strengthen to support you, also pilates would be useful if you;re not doing that already as it will strengthen the muscles around your back. keep the rest of your back and body nice and mobile to help compensate for the lack of movement you will now have at the injured vertebra. most importantly listen to your body, if you feel pain you;ve done too much and need to back off a bit.
good luck!

 

[eliza]

Hi All. I'm new to this forum and am glad I found it and in particular this thread. I'm another rider who has had a discectomy, and looking to get back in the saddle ASAP!

I only had my operation a month ago, so am still gradually building up my fitness again. I have talked it over with my surgeon who has said that the 'jolting' action of riding is not going to be good for my back (and keep in mind, all our backs are different - for some people, riding is good for their backs, but unfortunately it's not for mine.) The surgeon didn't tell me that I should stop riding, but to be mindful that it isn't helpful for my back.

So... I plan to return to riding, knowing the risks, and trying to make it as safe as I can, and taking any measures I can to make it easier for me to keep riding for as long as I can. I have heard that pilates is helpful for building core strength, so that is one thing I am planning to do. Also apparently swimming is good to do along side riding as it is an exercise.

Any other advice from those of you who have resumed riding after spinal surgery would be most beneficial.