Back Pain

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Rockman

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So I've ignored it for a long time which is probably the worst thing I could have done! But the whole of my family have bad back problems to the point where my mum is completely disabled and unable to work or even get out of bed some mornings. She used to have her own horse who she backed as a 2 year old and unfortunately due to the back problems had to sell when he was 8 due to medical advice saying it was either that or be in a permanent wheel chair within a year. Before that she worked on a show jumping yard down south so seeing her missing riding so much while I'm loving it has made me think I need to get serious about this!

I have a lot of help from my dad who does the majority of my mucking out (I know I'm lucky!) My stable has an automatic water drinker so I don't have to lift heavy buckets and although my horse has his moments he is for the most part a very sensible and careful boy. I am going to buy myself a Prolite back support that I'll wear everyday.

Just wondered if anybody had any other ways I can try to look after my back, or any good back strengthening exercises that they could share? Also wondering on having a sports massage, I've never had one before but have heard they can work wonders?

Tea and Mars Bars for anyone who got this far!
 
I have a magnetic back belt which I use when my back is sore. It is brilliant gives support as well as eases pain. It has 5 vertical magnets about 6" high & the belt wraps around my middle, as high or as low as I need, & velcro fastens to itself. I also have a sport / deep tissue massage at least once a month & that is also brilliant. Look after yourself as well as your horse you'll both benefit.
 
Due to old injuries my back can sometimes flare up. I use a back support if I feel I need it and also use the heat pads which works great for me.

I did try a sports massage once but due to copious amounts of scar tissue the agony wasn't worth it! However, might be worth giving it a try as everyone is different.

If I was ever really struggling, I'd go to a chiropractor but I haven't had to use once since having spinal surgery nearly a decade ago.

I was also previously advised to regularly take painkillers to have in my system and keep active within reason.

Good luck and I'm sorry to hear about your Mum.
 
Mari said:
I have a magnetic back belt which I use when my back is sore. It is brilliant gives support as well as eases pain. It has 5 vertical magnets about 6" high & the belt wraps around my middle, as high or as low as I need, & velcro fastens to itself. I also have a sport / deep tissue massage at least once a month & that is also brilliant. Look after yourself as well as your horse you'll both benefit.
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Thankyou that sounds good, makes sense as well with all the magnetic things they are bringing out for the horses at the minute! can I ask the name/make of it please? Yeah you make a valid point, my new instructor wants me to make my horse more gymnastic and I think all the turns and movements etc are starting to take its toll, so hopefully if I can sort myself out I can start getting somewhere as he's loving it!

Illusion100 said:
Due to old injuries my back can sometimes flare up. I use a back support if I feel I need it and also use the heat pads which works great for me.

I did try a sports massage once but due to copious amounts of scar tissue the agony wasn't worth it! However, might be worth giving it a try as everyone is different.

If I was ever really struggling, I'd go to a chiropractor but I haven't had to use once since having spinal surgery nearly a decade ago.

I was also previously advised to regularly take painkillers to have in my system and keep active within reason.

Good luck and I'm sorry to hear about your Mum.
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Thankyou, I am thinking I may need to try the massage and just see how I take to it. I've always been a bit against tablets as I manage to convince myself if I do then one day they won't work anymore which is nonsense I know! May be worth putting myself on some sort of trial with it though and see if I can feel the benefit!

Thankyou for your thoughts about my mum, luckily its something I've grown up with and just feels like a way of life. Just wish she could come and get involved again sometimes more for her sake than mine!
 
How you deal with it to an extent depends on what problems you have. I have had a bulging disc and also seized SIJ, so try to keep the muscles active by Body Balance and lots of walks. There are some yoga moves that I avoid, as I struggle with back extension. I also have coccyx issues, which affects which saddle I can ride in. I've recently bought a Thorn pad deluxe and combined it with a Heather Moffat hip saver which gives me the most amazing, comfortable ride! One thing I've learned in yoga is to use my core when bending or lifting. Sounds obvious, but I didn't realise how much strain my back was taking until I started USING my abs!
 
I went to my physio the other day who cracked my back in two places. He said i've got the most tense/stiff back he's ever seen.

I often get back ache, not helped by my job.

But hey ho, I do regular exercises for it and see the physio.

Not much else you can do I guess :S
 
I managed to hurt my back at 19. It's all muscular issues (I had all the scans you could think of) and was eventually found to be caused by hyper mobility. Basically my ligaments are too stretchy. I did a rehab course at the time that taught me how to use my inner abdominal to support my back. It was a trial at the time but this was over 15 years ago now so no idea if it every caught on, but boy did it help me. Only really started having issues again when I was pregnant. I started seeing a chiropractor during my pregnancy and even after over 7 year I still have to go back every 6-8 weeks for him to straighten me out. I have a low level of constant pain but I have learnt to block it out. When I do feel the pain I am normally totally messed up. To my chiropractors surprise riding helps my back, he has only ever told me not to ride, but then again I could not turn my head at the time so I had to agree!

What can be done to help, and what will help depends on what is wrong and on how your body reacts to treatments. If you don't like a chiropractor try another they are all different, mine is the only one who can fix me, all others have failed. I know people who prefer osteopaths. Just try them out and see if it helps.
 
I would suggest maybe seeing an osteopath rather than a massage, they can treat but will also advise you on exercises you can do. Also, maybe worth looking into pilates, ive been recommended to try it (for a different reason) and it seems to be about core strengthening which might help support your back. I'd recommend a small class somewhere, tried one at the leisure centre with quite a large attendance and dont think there's enough attention for each individual to assist with specific problems.

hope it all works out for you
 
I suffered a prolapsed disc aged 13 and was unable to walk for 3 weeks. Since then I have had lower back problems. I also have sacroiliac dysfunction. The turning point for me was wearing my lower back support every day regardless of having back pain or not and my lower back is now very good in comparison to what it was. I would look into getting a really good back support. Mine is a Sportabac which has lasted me over 15 years. OP you need to protect your back, but also exercise it. Using a back support allows you to do this.
 
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Wagtail said:
I suffered a prolapsed disc aged 13 and was unable to walk for 3 weeks. Since then I have had lower back problems. I also have sacroiliac dysfunction. The turning point for me was wearing my lower back support every day regardless of having back pain or not and my lower back is now very good in comparison to what it was. I would look into getting a really good back support. Mine is a Sportabac which has lasted me over 15 years. I need a new one now but can't find one, so if anyone knows where I can get one, please tell me. I have tried others, but none have been anywhere near as good. OP you need to protect your back, but also exercise it. Using a back support allows you to do this.
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A back support will not always help, it depends on exactly what is wrong. I was advised not to use one and I build up the muscles and keep exercising, the right exercising as some made it worse. Best to get advise from experts who know all the details about your back.
 
Using a back support for normal day to day exercise will be detrimental, but when riding and when lifting heavy objects, wheeling heavy wheelbarrows etc, it is essential if you are to avoid further damage. But wearing it all the time, for everything will weaken the back.
 
You need to get a diagnosis as to what causes your back pain, and take it from there. If you use the 'wrong' exercises, you could make things worse.

I find using an inversion table helps greatly if my lower back goes into spasm. I had 4 prolapsed discs which were diagnosed by MRI seven years ago.
 
Tiddlypom said:
You need to get a diagnosis as to what causes your back pain, and take it from there. If you use the 'wrong' exercises, you could make things worse.
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Totally agree with this, even a back support in the wrong situation can cause further issue or complications. You need to see an expert before you decide to do/buy anything
 
"You need to get a diagnosis as to what causes your back pain, and take it from there. If you use the 'wrong' exercises, you could make things worse.
Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?687317-Back-Pain#EqHqFxOGE5w9PKkz.99"

*WAVES* ex-physio here.

This absolutely, you can completely knacker your back trying to fix it doing the wrong thing. I will use myself as an example, I have lower back pain, mainly to the right, lots of well intentioned people suggest 'mobilising it' to make it flexible. When actually my issue is that I am too flexible and I actually need postural strength and my pelvis is over tilted. If I did the flexibility exercises that others had suggested I could have caused some SERIOUS damage. As can massage, it can loosen muscles that are actually protecting you! To go totally over the top, if you have a bulging disc doing 'flexibility exercises could cause a rupture and paralysis.

Long story short, PLEASE go and see a well qualified professional, I would recommend a physiotherapist (but I am biased), or a chiropractor or osteopath who specialises in rehabilitation (not one that only goes for 'adjustments' i.e. quick fix).
 
Fransurrey said:
How you deal with it to an extent depends on what problems you have. I have had a bulging disc and also seized SIJ, so try to keep the muscles active by Body Balance and lots of walks. There are some yoga moves that I avoid, as I struggle with back extension. I also have coccyx issues, which affects which saddle I can ride in. I've recently bought a Thorn pad deluxe and combined it with a Heather Moffat hip saver which gives me the most amazing, comfortable ride! One thing I've learned in yoga is to use my core when bending or lifting. Sounds obvious, but I didn't realise how much strain my back was taking until I started USING my abs!
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What's body balance?

I have a bulging disc and if I'm not careful I can.be in a lot of pain and my left leg go numb.
I try not to lift heavy things, think about the way I move and get in and out the car.
Also be mindful of how I ride, don't slouch etc as it cam relive the pain but cause problems later on.
 
Sorry, back at work this week so as usual very unorganised and haven't had time to reply! Thankyou everyone for your advice! I am going to use my back support just for riding and yard jobs as this is when it hurts the most but I am going to book an appointment with a professional to find out the definite cause and go from there. Thankyou everyone for all your help as usual!
 
Have you seen a physiotherapist? I broke my back quite badly a few years ago, and before that I'd always had lower back pain. However, the physio gave me a lot of core strengthening exercises to get me back on my feet and since they I've discovered the only way I can control the pain is a lot of exercise (gym stuff - weights, yoga, etc). The interesting thing is that very little of the exercises they give to support the back are directly back muscles. It's mostly abs/core muscles and I was told most people are very weak in that area.

But it's going to depend a lot on if you have issues like bulging discs.
 
I second what all have said about getting to the root cause of your back problems. When it comes to riding I would suggest you look at using a treeless saddle. I have found using one a great help with my back because you move more in time with the horse and that really make a difference. I use a Solution Freestyle - I know they are expensive but you can have them on trial so that you will know if it suits you and your horse before you buy.
 
I have a bad back at the moment which the doctor says is from twisting and lifting my daughter putting her into her car seat. Obviously I ignored it for ages until it got to the point where I couldn't muck out unless I was kneeling on the floor and using rubber gloves!!

Doctor says pilates or yoga would help, a course of ibuprofen, heat pads on when it hurts, deep massage/sports massage and exercise. Funnily enough it doesn't hurt when I ride but its all to do with my hip muscles being very tight because of riding short for long periods of time i.e hunting. The chiropractor didn't make much difference nor did the massage but the exercises I was given have done. Sitting at a desk 4 days a week doesn't help much either so have to make sure I am sitting tall.
 
you really need to have it diagnosed as to what is the problem - i ignored my back pain, even to the point that i could feel the vertebrae opening and closing on the nerve and i had sciatica down both legs (i know that is not intelligent) i went to an osteopath who watched me walk in and not really sit down and she wouldn't touch me!! i ended up in A&E and having MRI scans, turns out i had a "ginormous" disc buldge which i was very lucky hadnt caused any permanent damage. Physio, Pilates and supports can only do so much, if you know what it is then you can start to deal with it correctly! also a prolite back support is great but dont rely on it as this will weaken the muscles - they will get a break when its on but that can also not be a good thing! Might be better with something which keeps it warm - i'm looking for a back on track one (but a little cheaper if possible - i have horses after all so not many spare pennies for me)
another thing i have noticed is that my back is much more comfortable with my BALANCE saddle as i am not being put into a position by a more restrictive saddle so i can be where i want to be!
 
I am currently in diagnosis stage for my back pain too....it has been over a year now that I have been back and forth to doctors...first Physio said it was a tilted pelvis (SI pain) put it back in to place but the ligaments have stretched so had to go back a few times whilst working on my core to keep it all in place...once that course of physio finished I seemed to improve a bit...few months later back at doctors/physio and starting it all again...this time my core is stronger, I am not unlevel this time, so there is something else...she tried treating as a bulging disc, traction machine(stretching rack more like!) and spine extension exercises..that hasn't improved it so booked in for an X-Ray on Friday...everything just takes so long with the doctors! :( I seem to live on Naproxen (which aren't that good long term but only thing that helps) I have continued at the gym though as I think if i don't do anything at all then the vertebrae tend to seize up and that makes my whole lower back sticky.
Sorry that wasn't probably much help...but I would start with the doctors and get referred, I did pay for a physio session a couple of times whilst waiting but to be honest he gave me a nice massage rather then getting to the source of the issue.
I am waiting to start up Pilates again as couple of people have suggested this will always help with having a strong core and supporting my back that way.
 
I'm in bed at the moment as I can't move with back pain, its been on/off now for years but can't get to the bottom of it. The docs referred me to physio who has referred me to some specialists but its such a long drive each time I go it makes me in pain. I live on tramadol and just get through each day but I keep thinking one day! But that good day never comes :(
 
Totally agree you need to know what is causing the pain. I've had recurrent back pain for years and can't sit for more than an hour without getting sciatica, what has helped me hugely is regular pilates with initially a physio who was able to help me work out which exercises helped to strengthen my core and which exercises I should avoid. since starting pilates my back has been better than it's been for years When I do get some pain, usually from driving, i take high strength ibuprofen, rub with deep heat (horse thinks I'm a mobile polo) and do some specific exercises that have been recommended. I've also found that ensuring my horse is using his back correctly so his (quite big) paces are less jarring, also helps enormously.
 
I didn't realise how many people out there are suffering with their backs! I realise now how silly I have been to keep ignoring it and how much harm I could have been doing! I'm going to book an appointment at the doctors tomorrow and see when they can fit me in and in between them have a look for a decent physio around the area! Definitely need to get on top of this, don't want it to get to the point where I can't ride! Thankyou all so, so much!
 
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