hello and spinal injury question

[shinyfluff]

Hello! I am a hobby rider and horse lover living in slovakia, am recovering from a bad fall which ended up with a compression fracture at t12 and l1. I have been out of circulation for about 7 weeks and am wondering about other people's experience with healing times (i.e. how long til I'm back on my horse : )

 

[Mince Pie]

After having surgery for a ruptured disc I was back on board after 6 weeks. However, I really think that this set back my recovery and in hindsight I should have stayed out of the saddle for a lot longer. I've recently ridden a couple of times for the first time in a year and feel so much better for having the extended time off. Not what you want to hear I know, but I really would be thinking of turning your horse away for the winter and thinking about getting back on board next summer. Another bonus was that after giving my lad a decent holiday he came back keener than ever when I started working him again.

 

[shinyfluff]

ugh! 1 year!! damn, that is serious. do you think it was because you rushed getting back on in the first place type of thing? Its really annoying because i am constantly seeing and reading about sport riders who are grievously injured and it seems like the next week they are merrilly competing again.

 

[hobo]

Hi I fell off and compression fractered L2 in April I left it 12 weeks and I was fine though time means I am only getting a couple of short rides a week. I probably would have started earlier but had a road trip holiday at 9 weeks so thought I best not start till I got back.
Listen to your body but I would think you are nearly there. I would think that surgery is a lot more invasive than a straight forward fracture. I was out of action for a lot longer when I had a protruding disc 20 years ago it was a lot longer persistant pain.
My back feels better than in a long time now I just need the achillies heel pain to go!!

 

[Leo Walker]

It depends how bad it is. I burst L1 and was in a brace for 4 months. I did start riding again at the 5 month point and it was fine at the time. I've deteriorated pretty badly now though, so whatever you do dont rush it, and take care of yourself.

 

[shinyfluff]

Hi I fell off and compression fractered L2 in April I left it 12 weeks and I was fine though time means I am only getting a couple of short rides a week. I probably would have started earlier but had a road trip holiday at 9 weeks so thought I best not start till I got back.
Listen to your body but I would think you are nearly there. I would think that surgery is a lot more invasive than a straight forward fracture. I was out of action for a lot longer when I had a protruding disc 20 years ago it was a lot longer persistant pain.
My back feels better than in a long time now I just need the achillies heel pain to go!!

thanks so much! this is heartening news. its been about 8 weeks so far but since sitting is still pretty uncomfortable I am going to wait a bit longer. I am not yet cleared for physical therapy and get new xrays tomorrow so I should be able to better plan. good advice on listening to the body. I will say that I have found tons of horse sites online in my boredom lol.

 

[shinyfluff]

It depends how bad it is. I burst L1 and was in a brace for 4 months. I did start riding again at the 5 month point and it was fine at the time. I've deteriorated pretty badly now though, so whatever you do dont rush it, and take care of yourself.

yikes. so what do you think is causing the deterioration? do you feel like you rushed back into the saddle? or that is unrelated?

 

[Leo Walker]

A few things, I dont think riding was one of them though. But just be aware that there can be problems a little way down the line and if there is go back and make a fuss. I was fobbed off and now struggle to walk a couple of hundred yards. I might always have ended up like this way, but I doubt it.

 

[shinyfluff]

A few things, I dont think riding was one of them though. But just be aware that there can be problems a little way down the line and if there is go back and make a fuss. I was fobbed off and now struggle to walk a couple of hundred yards. I might always have ended up like this way, but I doubt it.

omg that is horrible! I am very sorry to hear about it and am wishing you the best for a total recovery

 

[Leo Walker]

Thank you I'm having physio at the minute while I wait for referrals for a standing MRI and then probable surgery, so hopefully its fixable, and I am an extreme case. Lots and lots of people recover just fine

 

[case895]

I fractured L1-4 and the physio had me back riding after 10 weeks to mobilise my spine.

 

[Mince Pie]

ugh! 1 year!! damn, that is serious. do you think it was because you rushed getting back on in the first place type of thing? Its really annoying because i am constantly seeing and reading about sport riders who are grievously injured and it seems like the next week they are merrilly competing again.

Yes, I did have to wait 2 years between blowing the disc and having the surgery which may have had an impact on my recovery. I guess it's also thinking about the musculature in your back - are you still moving around or are you immobile? If your muscles have a chance to seize up then it's slow, gentle movement before moving up a level - running before you can walk kind of thing I had complete muscle spasms in my back so definitely was too hasty in getting back on board, also I was schooling and riding 6 x weekly so maybe overdid things on that front too.
I've never actually broken anything so not sure how different it is between soft tissue injury and broken bones, although I have been told that soft tissue damage is generally worse.