Human back problem

[BigRed]

I have a back problem. I had an MRI in March which showed a prolapsed L5 disc. Although I was in pain, it did not actually hurt to ride my horse. I had an epidural jab which was great because then I had no pain at all. Now, either I have hurt something else, or the jab has worn off and now it REALLY hurts to ride. I am going to see the consultant again on wednesday - I am worried that he will say stop riding. Has anyone had a problem like this and what did you do to recover.

 

[BUBBLES855]

Hi, I'm really sorry to tell you this but I have a feeling you will be told not to ride for a while. I had a bad fall at Christmas to which I ended up in hospital with a very badly bruised spine but luckily nothing damaged. I couldnt sit or move for days. I was told not to ride for six weeks from the day of the accident and was signed off work for two weeks. I then took it slowly for a couple of weeks after as my back really ached badly after riding so only rode for a couple of times a week. I know its really hard as I hated not riding but I knew deep down it was for the best. I've been back riding now for two months and I ride six times a week and I've had no trouble at all. It might be best to rest up for a while as its your body's way of saying "slow down". Just think of it as a few weeks off and then you will be good for a long time after. You dont want to do any permanent damage and then not be able to ride properly again. Keep your chin up

x

 

[Flame_]

My back injury isn't discs so might not really be comparable, but I do have steroid injections. I find them great but when they wear off my back hurts much more than I remember it did before the jab. I think its just due to not being used to coping with the pain and also because you don't compensate to relieve the injury as well while the pain's not there, so you aggravate it without noticing. I don't know if this helps, or if its even right, its just my little thoughts.

 

[Hippona]

If your disc is prolapsing, that means it is bulging out from between the vertebrae and possibly pressing on a nerve and causing pain....

There are so many things it could be, its a good job your consultant appt. is on wednesday.....at least you will get a definitive reason for your pain.... it may mean surgery, with time off from riding, but at least the problem will be sorted then.

Hope its all good news, let us know how you get on

 

[LittleMadams]

Hi, just read your post with interest, whilst this is not exactly the same I feel there are some similarities. My partner suffered with back pain for 15 years which stopped him cycling (it was his passion), he had lots of therapies over the years, but after developing RSI in both wrists over 1 year ago he discovered a book by an American Doctor called Dr Sarno, his book 'Healing Back Pain' was a revelation, after reading this and the following book 'The Mind Body Connection' and applying the techniques he is now free of RSI and his back pain is history. Whilst this may seem too good to be true it is worth looking these up on Amazon or Googling TMS (Tension Myoneural Syndrome). My partner is has now taken up long distance cycling, so its a good job I have my horse.

Before you resort to any surgery or further steriod injections do some investigation.

Good Luck.

 

[Flight]

Hi, I had a bulging disc too about 2 years ago now. Had suffered back pain for years and doctors wouldn't do anything about it. I was going to chiropractor and got referred for mri scans etc. Eventually when pain was so bad I couldn't walk or drive never mind ride I decided to go for surgery privately because nhs wanted me to wait 6mths. I had a microdiscectomy and I can honestly say it was the best thing I have ever done. I was in and out of hospital in 24 hours. Had no pain at all after op and my back doesn't hurt at all anymore. Only trouble I have is a small amount of stiffness when sitting for long periods but I had that before anyway. Not everyone is that lucky but if op is recommended then I would go for it. Someone else on here was going for same op, don't know how they got on though. Good luck

 

[showjump2003]

Obviously it depends on the severity but have you been via a physio before the injection route? Doesn't always help but I treat alot of disk problems, alot of which can be helped with simple exercises and positioning advice.

 

[diggerbez]

i have a bulgeing disc and also calcification on my lower spine as a result of vertebrae rotating. was warned by physios that they could keep temporarily mending me but then eventually i'd have to have surgery. ended up going to see a chiropractor and they have really helped to relieve a lot of my pain. it can still ache but is much much better. she's also fixed my shoulder that i keep jarring when falling off

 

[Brandysnap]

Hi Tracey,

I'd definitely go for acupuncture (from a reputable person, obviously).

Acupuncture is most effective when used after a traditional Chinese diagnosis, which is different to the diagnosis you currently have from doctors.

Best way of explaining this is to relate this to Western v 'conventional' riding. Or even our 'conventional' riding v high school.

It's just looking at things in different ways. No-one is 'right' and no-one is 'wrong'. (But maybe using a 'little bit' from another method doesn't always work best.)

Acupuncture in its pure Chinese/other Eastern forms (3 year degree course), looks at every aspect of you, before forming a diagnosis, hence treatment will include acupuncture points often at a distance to the area of your problem. These points are addressing the root of your problem.

I do acupuncture (can you tell?! Yawn, i hear you say!)

But what i can say with confidence (and the media has recently picked up on it!) is that back pain is one of the things in which acupuncture has a great success rate.

(I worry about the limitations of current research, but that's a whole great, huge topic!)

Please feel free to contact me if you want to know more (about training/hygiene/HIV risks, etc). I can direct you to someone in your own area, wherever it is, who is a bona fide acupuncturist.

You shouldn't suffer, should be enjoying your riding, wishing you well, BS x

PS: Please feel free to show my post to your consultant

 

[Brandysnap]

Hi again Tracey01,

Just wondered how it went today?

And i forgot to say - British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) is main, well-respected body for fully degree-trained acupuncturists in UK. You can find your local acupuncturist (with BSc qualification in acupuncture) on their website www.acupuncture.org.uk, just put in your post code, or nearby towns, etc.

Or Yell.com

Just be very, very careful, my friend, that there are a lot of sharks out there, who prey on the desperate. From my own experience, acupuncture + osteopathy work best for your own condition, and you need to know that your own practitioner is good (as you would when choosing your GP, hopefully)

Regarding surgery, well, what i've seen from the desperate folk who come to me is that they come to me as a last resort, after it's failed.

No pressure?!

One example - Used to teach a lovely chap + his lovely wife, in riding centre i used to work at, about 10 years ago. Not met them for years, then they come into our local. He said 'can't ride any more, cos of back, having surgery, so i'll be fine soon'. Seen him over past year or so, looked worse. Came in pub tonight, + he can hardly walk. Folk at bar made way... Age? Early/mid 40s.

You may ask 'why didn't i help?' Simple reason is that he didn't ask. Everyone round here knows i do acupuncture, but they won't cough up the going rate (£35)

I have no criticism for anyone, please may i make that abundantly clear. But at the same time, maybe we should consider gentle, non-obtrusive alternatives, without side effects, such as acupuncture, which has a very strong positve effect. Main problem is that traditional Chinese acupuncture is not funded by NHS, nor by BUPA, because they apparently don't recognise our BSc as worthy?

Well, i see it as short-sighted, while i also realise that this current government has killed complementary medicine off, so our universities have seen the signs + pulled plug.

Oh God, do i feel better for saying all that!! Phew. Thanks for listening.

Just hope you + your back are ok, Tracey01. Love BS x