Bad back - suggestions

Clodagh

Clodagh

Playing chess with pigeons
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17 August 2005
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I have had sciatica for years but it got a lot worse over the last 12 months. I have now given up my job at the livery yard and only work in a supermarket now, although that is hard work it is nothing like pushing wheelbarrows up a slippery ramp all day.

It is riding that does me in now. I went for a nice hack two days ago, plenty of canter, and yesterday and today I am in so much pain. if I bend over I go down like a stricken oak! That isn't new but it is very boring.

Suggestions? I do wear a neoprene back support thing. The pain is in my lower back, so nothing to do with the formerly broken neck I assume.
 
Oh how I know how you feel!! I find one or two bowen treatments work very well. It might be that your pelvis is tilted/rotated.
Hope you can get it sorted very soon.
 
Have you been to your gp? Worth getting your back checked firstly, maybe a scan to check nothing else is going on. Then i'd say take it easy on the cantering front at least until it feels better. Have you tried cantering standing in your stirrups rather than sitting so you take more impact through your legs? Also take up pilates - it's great for core strength and if your back muscles are stronger they will support your problems more. Also try to do things around the yard carefuilly ie correctly lifting not just bending over. Pick feet out while kneeling etc. These are all things that help me but i have a different problem to you so not sure if it will help. :)
 
Bowen sounds good, I remember having it done on a horse years ago - was a bit suspicious of the pointing sticks at her though...it might make me get the giggles!

Our GP is very hard to get hold of and the reason I want to leave them to a last resort is I don't want my back excluded on my insurance!! I'm sure I have some disc damage or something and see an op one day and I would like to save up private for it.

I sit to the canter as he is lovely if I sit and very strong if I use a 'hunting' seat - maybe my fault on balance. Will work on it.

Pilates - I live in fear of lycra...if I can do it in an old track suit may give it a go.
 
The class i attend the average age is probably near 70 and no one wears lycra!! It's during the day in a village hall so nothing glamorous but it really really makes my back feel better. It’s run by a physio though so she does an assessment first to know what your problems are and then gives different levels of difficulty.
 
I have a niggly back due to pregnancy, bad posture, general weakness and currently, breastfeeding. I attended my first Pilates class this morning and was interested to find I was the youngest there, (at 30), with a 50/50 lycra split(!) and I could really feel how the exercises are going to help my stomach/back muscles get strong - and it helped release some of the pain I had.

My biggest problem is around the sacroiliac area - if I lie flat on my back on a flat surface I sometimes can't get back up again with the pain - midwife appointments and scans were a nightmare as I was like a dying fly trying to scrabble my way up again in pain and sometimes the nurses wouldn't try and help you. I had sciatica with my first pregnancy too and I think it was due to the muscles getting too short rather than being nice and long. so fingers crossed. I'm already looking forward to my next class!
 
MRI or an MRI, failing that an MRI! This was the only way my prolapsed discs and spinal compression in 2 vertebrate were diagnosed. Major sciatica was the main symptom.
 
I would say exercise and lots of stretching and core strengthening. I suffer from sciatica (not as bad as you I doubt at all) and building my core strength and back and oblique muscles is really helping.
 
jrp204 said:
MRI or an MRI, failing that an MRI! This was the only way my prolapsed discs and spinal compression in 2 vertebrate were diagnosed. Major sciatica was the main symptom.
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If my horses back was this bad he would be in Rossdales like yesterday! I may have a quiet chat to one of the GPs when I see her shopping - I bet they love off duty consults.
Have signed up to Pilates starting next week in the village hall. Average age 50 so I may look quite spring chicken!
 
Agree with MRI - I had severe sciatica that was caused by a prolapsed disc. Had surgery to remove the prolapse, and now very much better. The surgery was mentally scary but physically amazingly easy. It has taken about three years to get back to near normal, just because of all the coping mechanisms and scar tissue I had developed. Pilates etc are great, but you need to know the cause.
 
Something that may help immediately is a bag of frozen peas! When I get sciatic pain one of the things that help is to sit with a bag of peas under my lower back. A lot of sciatic problems seem to be caused by inflammation and the cold helps take this down. I do get a good result from this for the immediate pain.
 
Dreckly said:
Something that may help immediately is a bag of frozen peas! When I get sciatic pain one of the things that help is to sit with a bag of peas under my lower back. A lot of sciatic problems seem to be caused by inflammation and the cold helps take this down. I do get a good result from this for the immediate pain.
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OK...will try that tomorrow, I am riding both and driving a lot so will be a crpple! Will buy peas.
 
Sciatica is horrible and you need to know what is causing it. mine is just general wear and tear, pilates has transformed me but you do need to work at it, it's not a quick fix! Also, when I do have some niggling pain, I lie on my back, knees to chest and roll from side to side + take a pain killer. It usually settles it. 'also, I never sit for more than an hour at a time (chance would be a fine thing) but driving long distance is a killer!
 
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