best back brace/support for ME?

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Prince33Sp4rkle

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i am struggling with my back big time(arthritis related), suspect its partially to do with driving to shows (when parents drove big lorry at least i could get up and move around the living, now im sat behind the wheel im static for an hour minimum and its killing me), but its becomming increasingly niggly generally.

i do see a chiropractor regularly, and take tramadol when needed (i joked today i might start popping one on show days to pre-empt the pain, but not sure driving a lorry off my head on tramadol is the best plan......)

i need some kind of brace/support that i can wear to drive and maybe even ride in, that will support my lower back, would prefer it to be magnetic/some kind of therapy device too......so reccomendations please :)

like the look of the back on track one (have heard great things) and as i really rate the armadillo rugs for the boys, maybe their back brace is a good one to look at? albeit that doesnt look as wide/supportive as the back on track one?????
 
Have you looked at the Pro Choice ones? I haven't had need of one myself - knock wood - but a couple friends in Canada use those. They aren't magnetic but do provide warmth.

For driving, what about one of those seat cushions that plug into the power point/lighter and provide support, heat and massage?
 
Had a prologue one which was good BUT if put on tight enough to give proper support you lose suppleness through your back which makes it hard to sit to a big bouncy trot!

This will be a problem no matter which support you use though as if giving you support to the lower back they will restrict that movement. My back has been relatively well behaved though so haven't used it in a few years (says she who currently can't ride due to bad back and due at chiro first thing thurs!!)
 
My OH also uses the prolite one and loves it (though he's only riding at novice level ;-)). He has a triangle shaped vertebrae in his lower back and as a result doesn't have much of an inward curve (i.e. The lower part of the "S") so flexing his back in sitting trot and canter is painful and he tips forward to protect it. In the back support, his position is noticeably better and he is much less sore.
 
I used a prolite one when i slipped a disc and it really helped me. The heat cushions that TarrSteps suggested are meant to be really good aswell.

On the subject of Tramadol, im on that for my ankle but I only have to look at one pill and im fast asleep, the stuff knocks me clean out!! I can only take it on a Friday or Saturday night as if i take it in the week or during the day i just fall asleep!
 
not quite a direct answer as i have never found a brace that helped my back the only thing that did it was pilates and making sure i had the right musculature to support my back properly
 
Tempi-ive been on it for so long im not *that* badly affected- i can ride, drive to and from work (5mins) and do a full days work on 2/3 a day, but im not sure id want to drive a lorry a long distance THAT doped up!!!! you do build up resistance to the fuzzy head eventually!

lots to google, thanks everyone :)

appreciate that i need good posture and muscles, but day to day im mostly fine, i need something specifically for higher pressure days in terms of time spent sitting.
 
I have one from equimagnets which is great and not to expense. it really hellps my back. you can get them off hteir ebay shop for cheaper
 
the prolite one is excellent. it held me together on a lot of bad days while my disc was (unbeknownst to me) crumbling away. you could always fit magnets under it i guess?
re: painkilling, i'm pretty sure it's okay to 'layer' paracetamol and ibuprofen, that's what i do on bad days. (take doses 4 hours apart as recommended, but overlay the other drug every 2 hours, with 4 hour gaps for that one too, iyswim) then one is always kept topped-up...
broke_but_happy, you could get a prolite one a size larger than you need, then it'd probably sit lower.
 
thank you for reccomendations :)

and thank you worried :( i never even thought of that, so careful with the horses and im so thick not to have checked (albeit havent actually competed on it).
bah, i love my tramadol too.huff.
 
just realised my post says prolouge instead of Prolite :rolleyes: stupid autocorrect spelling ;)

B_B_H its my pelvis that is the problem in that it rotates and twists out of position through the sacroiliat (sorry can't spell) joints. Friend who is an osteo on one inspection said it was in a very 'special' position one time she saw me :p Basically when 'out' my right leg is a good inch longer than my left and I also twist very noticably in the saddle to the left.

I found the prolite really did help me with the above problems even though not essentially over the full pelvis area but it did (just) cover the sacroiliat joints.

Might have to dig mine out dependant on chiros orders tomorrow!
 
co-codamol then?

B_B_H i cant remember for life of me the size I have sorry would imagine its a small though! They are quite flexible though due to the double straps (you have main strap/brace you do up at front then another elasticated strap each side to adjust support)
 
You'd need guts of steel to take Voltarol/Ibuprofen regularly!!!

Going slightly off topic (sorry PS!), what would happen if you HAD to take a banned drug (as per FEI website).....just musing really, what would BE/BD say???!
 
Would also reccomend heat & a lumbar roll (rolled up towel) in back will help support when driving :)

take painkillers regularly will more effective than only taking them when sore :)
 
am def going to use cushion/towel to help back when driving.

i guess, if you HAD to take tramadol to function, you would have to apply to BD directly and see if there is any kind of medical dispensation???????
 
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