How to muck out with one arm....

Nightmare before Christmas

Nightmare before Christmas

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So I got nibbled by a horsefly while jogging, its got infected into my deep tissues, tendons and ligaments. Pain into my shoulder and elbow has now spread to my wrist along with the redness heat and swelling. My arm must be bandaged so I have no use of my wrist as not to spread it further and my arm strapped up to my shoulder, along with many antibiotics, steroids and bandage creams.....only me and this is for a few weeks!

Any advice on one handed yard work ;)

Still going show tomorrow though, short lorry trip and will unsling for the inhand class before strapping up again,ironic really ;) I have lots of helpers so shall get away with it :P
 
Speaking from experience of previou shoulder op and being out of action for some time turn out 24/7 and harrow poo rather than poo pick or muck out. Hard to push wheelbarrow one handed!
 
Now that's dedication to showing! Just don't over-do it!
My advice? Turn horse away for a month and poo pick sporadically with one hand+marigold glove+bucket just to keep on top of it. Or even don't poo pick at all if your horse is fairly tidy and has a "toilet", then do a blitz of the field when you're better. If you've got tapped water supply to the paddock or a refilling trough then you're laughing really!
 
Be careful.
It could require IV antibiotics if it's that deep. Make sure they're keeping a proper eye on you and get someone else to muck out in the mean time!
 
Have just re-read the OP, managed to skip the bit about it being strapped up so movement doesn't spread the infection further. If you're determined to show tomorrow and your horse is well behaved, leave it strapped up!
You need to be careful, as cheeryplatapus says, it could go t*ts up very quickly. You really don't want sepsis or for the infection to get into your bloodstream - worst case scenario, you could die. Or lose your arm! So do as you're told by the Dr's! They are a pain (when I fractured my spine I was told at 6 week follow up fracture clinic that I must not ride for 3 months - Me "ooops, too late, I went out hacking last week" Lol) but they tend to know what they're on about! x
 
Either gloves one handed, & a fork to loosely throw clean out of the way & then if its straw use a shavings fork to pick up the wet one handed, then do a job in exchange for someone emptying the barrow. Or swop the entire job with someone.
 
Thanks for the advise, been to doctors and it is going into the wrist but doesnt require IV yet. Fever is going down so thats a good sign. Now have a large bandage on to keep the joint from moving. All a bit dramatic to a bit if you ask me :P

Anyway going to the show as got helpers will just remove the sling to go in the ring, its a small local show and my pony is 11hh and golden behaved.

As for horses, two are out 24/7 but my big lad seems sensitive to the grass (came in with a slight pulse, only one leg, but consistent with turn out. Only one in isnt too bad but have some people willing to help out!

I think I will live to see another day ;) its a long way from my heart!

Is anyone else finding there are alot of horse flies around this year?
 
badgermyers said:
Thanks for the advise, been to doctors and it is going into the wrist but doesnt require IV yet. Fever is going down so thats a good sign. Now have a large bandage on to keep the joint from moving. All a bit dramatic to a bit if you ask me :P

I think I will live to see another day ;) its a long way from my heart!
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OP please don't be too flippant about this. I sympathise with you totally because I'm of the same ilk in that it takes a lot for me to admit I need to slow down, but a friend of mine (a vet at that) had the same problem as you, thought everything was ok, didn't really take it seriously and ended up in intensive care on life support for three weeks. Her experience was the worst case scenario and I'm not for one moment suggesting that will happen to you, but just don't underestimate the seriousness of a deep soft tissue infection.

Lecture over :D
 
Surreydeb said:
Speaking from experience of previou shoulder op and being out of action for some time turn out 24/7 and harrow poo rather than poo pick or muck out. Hard to push wheelbarrow one handed!
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Agree with this - let them live out, if not rubber gloves and a tub/skip works - you can carry it on your hip one handed..

MrsMozart said:
Sorry to hear of your trouble.

If its that bad, then you're foolish to take the bandage off. The showing world will always be there; surely you'd like your arm to be there as well.
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I think you're quite mad for one show. Get one of your helpers to take the pony in the class for you and be a proud owner.. I "carried on" with a dodgy shoulder for years and am now suffering with arthiritis etc as a conequence. You may get away with it now but pay for it later..
 
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