******!! ******!! ******!! Dont know what to do now!!

benson21

benson21

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As you may of guessed, I am absolutely loving carriage driving...but.... we went to an outdoor clinic on Sunday, had a brill time, Monday I was a little bit stiff and sore, tuesday I was sent home from work because I couldnt sit, couldnt stand, could hardly walk through the pain, high on morphine to try and make it better!
Now obviously I cant take a day off work every time we do some outdoor driving,(unfortunately!!) I seem fine with driving in the school and out on the road, maybe its just where the fields were quite bumpy. I just dont want to give any of it up! Will it get easier do you think once those muscles get used to working again??
 
Did you trap a nerve maybe?

Or all over muscle pain.

Are you physically fit?

Try yoga and general conditioning exercises to get yourself stronger and get your body more tolerant to different exercise.
 
Maybe with it being the first time you were more tense than usual and that has contributed to the stiffness.
Has your vehicle go decent suspension, if not maybe you could look into getting something that has.
Otherwise I suppose you'll just need to be careful to stay within your limits and not do so much yet. There's nothing that says you need to stay for the full clinic, or perhaps take someone else with you who could take over and give you a break.
Good luck.
 
What is your carriage seat like???, my friend teaches carriage driving and her carriage has a VERY padded comfy seat. I must admint on the rare occasions I have been out with her it was very bumpy (I didn't have the comfy seat)
 
Sorry, should of explained, I broke my back 3 years ago! So its pain and pulled muscles from that!!
 
It might be worth finding a physio who has experience with equestrian sports. (If you are Surrey based I can offer some reccommendations.) There is no reason why you shouldn not enjoy your sport and still be reasonably pain free.

Carriage driving is a definite possibility for me once my daughter's show jumpers are off my hands - having broken my back in a horse fall some years ago whch makes riding too painful. Curiously - like you I can ride in the school or on a flat and level surface; but I can't hack or hunt without pain because of the unpredictable shifts in balance this requires.
 
Big cushion as a seat (my bum is normally enough!!) and can you get better suspension on the carriage?
Not sure what tyres are on your carriage but perhaps wider with less air?

I hope you find a solution as you've just found something you love :)
 
Ahh - just seen your last post which arrived when I was typing mine.

I ride and do a lot of yard work in a brace - it makes a huge difference. It might be worth looking into whether something like that could help. A good physio or sports therapist will be able to advise.

PM me if you want to swap broken back stories!
 
Ahh sorry Benson.

Well physio could help? And if safe too with your back yoga is fantastic for strengthening muscles.

Extra suspension on your carriage?

Or a shock absorbing cushion?
 
Do you think a single seat will help? I am driving in a double seat at the moment, but if a single will help, then I will get one. i also wear a body protecter which I feel helps me sit up alot straighter.
 
******, what a shame!

Do you have a really good physio? Mine has helped loads with injuries.

It might also be an idea to speak with the RDA and see if they have any special adaptations to carts to help their drivers who are in pain, you never know they may have come across this problem before.
 
My back has been broken twice , and yes after a driving trial my back arms and legs are very very sore.
You will find you will get more driving fit it the muscles , but it's hard work to drive well off road and your body tells you about it.
Things that help magnetic waistcoat , really goog , I wore it loads until the dog ate it.
Pain relief get some than works and take it over a heavy driving weekend.
Massage helps a lot I have found a local lady who does it at her home so it's not too expensive .
Hot bath when you get home .
Always drive property sitting very upright brace your legs work hard on your posture even on nice easy surfaces .
There are better carriages aviable but when I researched it you where looking at the thick end of 20k so that killed that idea
Go to a physio and get a set of exercises and stretches .
I drove over the farm land yesterday for the first time yesterday and I am very sore today ,I will take pills keep moving and kick on .
Check your seat position can't be optimised and that your footplate can't be tweaked
Never get cold on the carriage I will wear a down waistcoat in summer.
Driving off road is jarring no getting away from it , you will get fitter in time but I will be crippled the day after my first HDT, I make it worse on myself because I dont drive in winter so I have to go through it every year.
Oh and sort the single seat pronto.
 
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Spit That Out said:
Big cushion as a seat (my bum is normally enough!!) and can you get better suspension on the carriage?
Not sure what tyres are on your carriage but perhaps wider with less air?

I hope you find a solution as you've just found something you love :)
Click to expand...

One of the reasons it's jarring is the narrow hard ( no air in them ) wheels you have to use for competition .
I think Op said she had bought a Bennington they are one of the best carriages you can get.
 
I know that Bennington is one of the RDA's preferred suppliers, so it may be worth talking directly to the manufacturer to see if they've got any suggestions, too?
 
benson21 said:
As you may of guessed, I am absolutely loving carriage driving...but.... we went to an outdoor clinic on Sunday, had a brill time, Monday I was a little bit stiff and sore, tuesday I was sent home from work because I couldnt sit, couldnt stand, could hardly walk through the pain, high on morphine to try and make it better!
Now obviously I cant take a day off work every time we do some outdoor driving,(unfortunately!!) I seem fine with driving in the school and out on the road, maybe its just where the fields were quite bumpy. I just dont want to give any of it up! Will it get easier do you think once those muscles get used to working again??
Click to expand...

The thing is Benson, I suspect you've gone from virtually no exercise, to a pretty punishing day of carriage driving (which would make anyone who hasn't done it before stiff and sore). Given your health problems you're going to need to find a way to exercise, and fitten up those muscles. Obviously the more you do, the easier it will become eventually.
 
Thats what I am hoping Amymay! To be fair, I have had no excercise for the last 8 weeks as don has been away, so no mucking out!! I knew it was gonna hurt, and I am hoping that, in time, it will be less uncomfortable!
Do you you think a body protecter is better than a back supporter? Which would hold me more secure?
 
benson21 said:
Thats what I am hoping Amymay! To be fair, I have had no excercise for the last 8 weeks as don has been away, so no mucking out!! I knew it was gonna hurt, and I am hoping that, in time, it will be less uncomfortable!
Do you you think a body protecter is better than a back supporter? Which would hold me more secure?
Click to expand...

I found it impossible to drive In a body protector but these things are personal .
The single seat will help the most I think, it does get easier .
Do you feel any better ?
 
Oh i am much better today thank you! I think some of the problem on tuesday was I had taken extra morphine, which made my head feel like scrambled eggs!! Not a nice feeling!!!
 
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