Horse related injuries - do you just "get on with it"?

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itsmyparty

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I'm lucky never to have had anything really serious (permanently swollen knee with numb skin on top, mis-shaped thumb nail where he mistook it for a carrot, permanently swollen left elbow joint where he trod on me after I fell off...). None of these injuries have made me feel I should have seen a doctor.

Most of the horsey people I know feel the same with injuries which would have had non-horsey types off to the docs (obviously serious breaks etc excluded!). Before I had horses I would probably have done the same.

What are your horse-related injuries and are you the same? Are we all like the "stuff and nonsense" women from French and Saunders??!!
 
i have broken 2 fingers, a toe, 2 ribs, been double barrelled in the stomach, kicked in the knee and many other injuries i can't remember without going to the doctor.

i did go to hospital for a broken collarbone and also for a cracked sternum as i couldn't breath (horse threw me off, reared up and landed front feet on my chest).
 
Not that it was horse-induced, but I straightened out my own broken toe, to the horror of most of my non-horsey mates and the complete indifference of most of my horsey ones
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I don't care, I still feel well 'ard
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it depends how bad it is! i try not to bother a doctor usually (i go about once every few years on average) but when i KNOW i've broken or dislocated something i get myself straight to A&E, that's what they're there for, and they are utterly brilliant at what they do and have quite literally seen it all before. So, if they can get me back in 1 piece fast, i'm all for it!
 
my 3 yr old kicked out and caught my knee breaking it in several places. Had it screwd and plated. I am banned from riding for 1 year until the metal is removed.
It's driving me crazy!! I got on once and it was just a little stiff. I had to re assue myself that I could still do it. I cant wait until April when my pins/plates are removed so I can get her backed and start riding again.
I find the hardest part is explaining horse-related accidents to work... I always feel guilty - like im responsible in some way??!
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my tb bolted when I was bringing in and the lead rope got wrapped round my last 2 fingers on the right hand...they rotated until they snapped....and where in splinters from tip to knuckle and they were at 45 degrees (sideways) to my palm.

I straightened them up and pushed the bones back together before driving myself one handed to a&e.

but bloody 'ell it hurt like crazy.
 
Broke bone in left foot (where it joins the ankle - don't ask me what it's called!) - found out 5 years later when having x-ray for something else. Chipped bone in right heel - went to doc's 6 months later when I realised it wasn't getting any better. Detached muscle in left thigh - diagnosed 7 years later when having physio for haematoma in same leg. Same injury also caused a twisted pelvis and spine - diagnosed 5 years later when being treated for generic back pain. Broke right wrist - had this treated at the time, but I was only 9 lol. Dislocated right shoulder - saw doc 2 days later when I finally found someone to give me a lift there (it was dislocated and put back in all in 1 movement - very painful!). Several bouts of concussion (and post-concussive syndrome), most of which I've been to the doc's about straight away.

Fortunately, no serious injuries, and I think I'm probably more sensible now than I was 10 years ago. Also husband refuses to give me any sympathy unless I've been to the doc
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I think most people just get one with it - I had a slight issue Monday when a friends horse spooked and knocked me over then danced about on me a bit, OH went nuts wanted to take me to A&E, but I decided marching said horse down to the yard was a better idea while his mum took my boy - bruises are impressive and Im still digging thorns out - but A&E are for people who are injured, not had a bump?? Mind you if it was one of my children who'd had a bump or something had happened i'd be there like a shot with them - different when its you isn't it! tough nuts!
 
I've had the usual collection of impressive mahoosive bruises from being booted/caught with hooves......broken ribs from falling over carrying a bucket of water, broken toe....bruised lip/nose (horse headbutted me)....but yep...same as you lot- no time to go to Gp and as I'm a nurse practitioner myself I know what to do.....I get called upon frequently at the yard to look at damaged bits...if I think something is broken then I pack em off to A+E for an xray, otherwise most horsey people are pretty much lets get on with it....stables to muck out, horses to do.....we don't have time to be ill/injured, its far too inconvenientlol!
 
I will go to A&E if I think that neglecting an injury will lead to long term debilitating consequences, otherwise I don't bother. However I don't have that much faith in the NHS. So far they have managed to miss a broken collar bone, a broken hip and a whiplash serious enough to displace 2 discs leading eventually to a complete loss of feeling and weakness in one arm - so I do wonder why I bother going at all
 
I hurt my back when I was a teenager and called the doctor after 4 days when I could get out of bed. Sent me off for X-ray and I had fractured a vertebrae. Other than that only been when I was kicked (big hole, needed stitches) and when I buggered my knee, but knew I had done something megga. Ribs, toes lumps and bumps tend to get ignored. OH does karate so he is as bad as me. He waited 6 months before going to the doctors about his knee and then only because he couldn't train. Now awaiting major surgery to fix it - he is still training though.
 
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I will go to A&E if I think that neglecting an injury will lead to long term debilitating consequences, otherwise I don't bother. However I don't have that much faith in the NHS. So far they have managed to miss a broken collar bone, a broken hip and a whiplash serious enough to displace 2 discs leading eventually to a complete loss of feeling and weakness in one arm - so I do wonder why I bother going at all

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God...thats really bad...even a blind man should be able to spot a broken collar by physical examination......I identified one in out yard tea-room under 2 jumpers......and if your mechanism of injury was bad enough to displace discs I would be wondering why they never thought to xray you? Unless they did and still didnt spot it
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Did you complain? I would have.....
 
Only attended A&E for head / torso injuries and mainly just so I could get some strong pain killers to carry on riding. My OH is a doctor so he's usually pretty good at assessing if things look serious.
My mare once jumped on my foot once after touching the electric fence. I only had trainers on (silly cow, my fault) and my foot hurt like the bejezus after and swelled to about twice its size. Had to have that x-rayed at OH's insistence but nothing broken. I put a tubi-grip on and two days later drove from Liverpool to St Ives, had a lovely holiday on the beach and drove back.
 
i went for xrays for when i was kicked in the leg (twice at different times - i really should learn to get out of the way quicker!) both were hairline fractures though so didn't need plastering up...

other than that i didn't bother with broken ribs or fingers/toes etc... and i go to my back lady over my doc with trapped nerves etc...

only time i go to docs asap is with a chest infection - i'm prone to pneumonia and pluracy after a v nasty bout a few years ago - if i get to docs quick enough now i can usually nip it in the butt
 
I'm with Kerilli- if it's obviously damaged, I'll head on down, but broken fingers etc not a chance.

I am curently sporting massive bandages following crush damage to hand resulting in plastic surgery and bone chips galore....though I will admit I took one look at it and thought 'Right, I'll just finishing turning out then it's probably an A and E jobby!'
 
According to the old saying I must be a good rider by now... the amount of falls I have had over the years lol!!!!

Had some rare falls and injuries but usually get on with it! When I was 14 Sammi fell on top of me on the road and cracked my elbow! Tried to tough it out but eventually went to hospital the next day to find out I had cracked my elbow! The day after I was off to Bali for 2 weeks lol!
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This year I have had two big falls.... technically I didn't fall off! One was at the yard when Sammi did his superman impression and stood off 7 yards out from a jump ... funnily enough he didn't make it, somersaulted over on top of me and used my face as a boogey board across the paddock! Mouth full of mud and blood! mmmmm nice! Teeth nearly went straight through my bottom lip and I had concussion. Didn't go to the hospital as didn't want stitches (wuss) 3 liveries are nurses and were up at the yard at the time to check me over!

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Then, you may have read previous posts, I had a youngster rear over ontop of me in July. Sat up and my foot was facing the wrong way!!! Needless to say, that one was a blue flashy light ride to hospital! xx
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I broke my arm and collar bone quite badly as a teenager in a fall while jumping at the RS. I tried to get back on but couldn't lift my arm high enough, still I worked the rest of the day on the yard, went home and my mum told me to go and have a bath and it would feel better in the morning.

When it wasn't she eventually agreed to take me to the GP because I was struggling to get dressed.

A hot bath is her cure for everything!!!

To be honest I wouldn't go to the hospital unless I really thought I'd done some damage. Twice since I've been an adult, suspected broken ankle, just a sprain but I nearly fainted when I tried to walk the morning after, and a suspected broken pelvis, again the next day when I couldn't walk, that was just soft tissue but I still needed a walking stick for a couple of weeks!
 
Bloomin heck, some of the injuries you lot have had! If anything ever was poking the wrong way I think I'd die of a heart attack!

Luckily I rarely fall off, but I once went to the doctors with neck pain (it was quite bad and made me feel sick). He sent me to A&E and they x-rayed. Turned out nothing wrong with me then, but my right shoulder (collar bone I guess) is sligtly lower then my left and there is scar tissue from a break - can only imagine it's from PC Camp many moons ago when my horse ran out at a XC jump and my shoulder was left on a tree!

I also have a weird sort of dent in my ribs on the left - can see it when I wear a bikini. Never had it looked at properly but GP friend who also rides said it is more than likely from broken ribs.... can't remember doing that!

I have concussed myself a few times - once heaving up a soaked hay net in the freezing cold only fro the string to snap which sent me flying backwards - I hit my head on the concrete and was there a little while before I could sort myself out!

Knocked myself out once when sweeping the yard too - stood up and cracked back of my head on top stable door!

Lastest injury I had was being dumped in a dressage warm-up. I landed smack on my bum and was soo embarassed I just got up, mounted and carried on! Felt fine! But next day felt like I had whiplash and couldn't move and since then, if I sit too upright on somthing hard, my cocyx (sp) really aches!

Hope no Insurance companies are reading this lol!
 
Not myself personally but an old boss of mine caught her hand in the horse walker mechanism and tore it quite badly. But she was meant to be grooming at a show that day so she just sat down in the tackroom and sewed it up with plaiting thread! Grusome! She also dislocated her shoulder once but worked a full day at the stud before we managed to persuade her to go to hospital! She was the hardest female I have ever known!!
 
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Not myself personally but an old boss of mine caught her hand in the horse walker mechanism and tore it quite badly. But she was meant to be grooming at a show that day so she just sat down in the tackroom and sewed it up with plaiting thread! Grusome! She also dislocated her shoulder once but worked a full day at the stud before we managed to persuade her to go to hospital! She was the hardest female I have ever known!!

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Flippin eck.

I am not well 'ard after all
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, I draw the line at doing my own stitches
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Bloomin heck, some of the injuries you lot have had! If anything ever was poking the wrong way I think I'd die of a heart attack!


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LOL!
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I have to agree!

Thankfully nothing serious, although sometimes I feel like I'm due something soon as I nothing's happened for a while (touch wood!)

Been kicked in the knee and thigh (not at the same time) which came up in an almighty bruise, but didn't go to the doc's about those. Got kicked by my friend's horse whilst we were both out riding (she was aiming for my horse, Saffron), got me in the ankle which bleeding hurt, but luckily I could still stand on it so not broken. Had to ride back to the field and drive 20 mins home - it was my left ankle and my car had a very heavy clutch!

Another one was years ago, I was about 13 and we were using Misty and Penny to do pony rides at my local school fair. Some muppet kicked a football, went into the ponies enclosure. Misty, who I was leading at the time freaked out as it went under he feet, pulled my off the ground and dragged me along the grass. I got away lightly considering I wasn't wearing a hat. Ended up with a 'scooped out' hole the size of a 10p on the inside of my ankle. That stung a bit and Mum took me to A&E. You know what waiting times are like and we gave up in the end.

Last one (promise!) Was riding Saffron along a bridleway on a golf course. We were cantering up the hill with my sister riding behind. For reasons I still don't understand, Saf fell over onto her side and I came down with her, landing on my head. I was out for about 5 seconds, got back up didn't feel quite right but decided to ride home. That time I did go to A&E and annoyingly got kept in overnight with concussion - that's was my best (worst) one.

Gotta love horsey people - we're a rare breed I think!
 
I have 2 knackered ankes (torn ligaments in both) Once with Buddie (secA) about 4 1/2 yrs ago, riding him bare back, he swerved, I landed on my left ankle
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3 yrs ago out on a hack on Bear, he leapt in the air passing a feed bag in a narrow lane, I went up and landed back on him, with all my weight in my right ankle
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That hurt!

Then a couple yrs ago, Bear leapt the 2nd part of XC jump, I went out the side door putting my hand out behind me on landing
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Smashed my right wrist to smitherines
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My backs buggered. And I have bones of a 70yr ols
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Im only 23 :9
But Id still get on anything lol!
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I will go to A&E if I think that neglecting an injury will lead to long term debilitating consequences, otherwise I don't bother. However I don't have that much faith in the NHS. So far they have managed to miss a broken collar bone, a broken hip and a whiplash serious enough to displace 2 discs leading eventually to a complete loss of feeling and weakness in one arm - so I do wonder why I bother going at all

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God...thats really bad...even a blind man should be able to spot a broken collar by physical examination......I identified one in out yard tea-room under 2 jumpers......and if your mechanism of injury was bad enough to displace discs I would be wondering why they never thought to xray you? Unless they did and still didnt spot it
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Did you complain? I would have.....

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That one was actually a car accident - closing speed of over 100mph head on
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- they were more worried about my sternum which hurt much more than anywhere else, Xrayed and sent me home - that was the same incident where my collar bone was broken by the seat belt.

No I didn't bother complaining - what is the point?
 
Unless I an actually unconscious you have pretty much no chance of getting me to hospital!!!!! But having said that I went to the physio because my back was giving me grief, he took 1 look, sent me straight 2 hospital (i was given no choice on the matter!), had xrays, and MRI scan and I had broken a vertebrae in my back (cant remember which 1, where your bra strap goes!) which had kinda healed itself, but had damaged my spinal cord, and left a hole in it!!!!! We think I had been walking and riding for atleast 4 years with it!!!!! I was even more shocked to be told that I am the only person who has this hole in their spinal cord that isn't paraplegic (sp). So I am now considered a medical marvel. I was told that I must have the highest pain threshold ever! Due to this they did a full body xray and scan (mainly due to be being some medical marvel) and found I had broken my right foot, broken both my hands, broken my left leg, and both wrists. Well I can think of times i have hurt all these places, but never knew they were broken, and never went to hospital. The only time I had ever been to hospital before was for head injuries, when I was unconscious. But hey I still ride and event (altho generally on alot of painkillers), I cant completly straighten my back, and sometimes loose feeling in my right leg (due to the spinal cord damage). Not bad for a 22 year old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I have got on with it twice - both times it proved to be rather foolish - but hey ho (ended up with a broken ankle, and then a broken pelvis and squished knee)

Currently struggling with a very badly twisted ankle - but bandaged up i can still ride - but not dropping as much weight into the left stirrup at the min - probably see how it is after Crimbo and if it is still causing me an issue will have to go and do something about it.
 
Got kicked in the hand by my friend's mare last year ... mucked out and put Dylan to bed (friend said she was dragging me to hospital if I couldn't hang up a haynet), drove myself home; then asked my aunt to take me to hospital. Nurse did x-rays and told me my hand was fine, so carried on riding etc, got called back a fortnight later only for them to tell me a consultant had looked at the x-ray and my hand was broken
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I have rheumatoid arthritis so unfortunately I am used to being in pain. But it does mean that sometimes I push too far. Had a couple of broken toes, fingers and ribs each time I carried on riding.

I once hung onto a bolting horse too long and ended up with the most impressive cuts and bruises. We flew to Florida 2 days later. Boy did my OH get some dirty looks from people who thought he was beating me (hilarious!)

Only time I went to A&E was Jan when I landed on my feet then bum and when I looked left ankle was facing the wrong way OOPS I was good and didn't bother trying to get up lol
Had it plated and pinned. However it is now causing serious trouble both my RA specialist and my chiro say it is unstable and need sorting NOW. Of course I just put my splint on and get on and life as normal including ride most days. It hurts like hell, swells like a ballon and you could boil a kettle on it most days but hey like you said we just get on with it

I am awaiting appointment with ortho and I will go and see what he has to say but no promises
 
I managed to get kicked in the head a few weeks ago whilst clipping. I could tell straight after that I wasn't seriously injured although there was an awful lot of blood so I carried on and finished clipping (whilst looking like the grim reaper!) before going to hospital to get it cleaned up and glued together.

Had I been at home instead of at uni I wouldn't have gone to hospital because it's a large urban one and it would have taken hours. When I'm here in glos you just wander straight in to a cubicle.

My black eye has only just gone down but it looks like I'll have a scar to remember the horse by
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