Lumbar Disc Prolapse, but trying to stay eventing!

silvershadow81

silvershadow81

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I just wanted to see if anyone struggles with this too?

A few years ago I slipped a disc on my left side, it now regularly prolapses (the last time being mid dressage test!!!)

I have had this for years, but haven't really looked to ride properly, just jumping where I could hover out the saddle, so its never been an issue. I also know I twist in canter to try and avoid any impact to that area, I don't know im doing it as its become so natural to me, its just when I see a video of a test I can see myself doing it!

So now I have a young horse, I am TRYING to event, which of course involves Dressage. I am desperate to get it all right. I watch videos of myself flat riding and cringe, I am my worse critic! Although saying that the judge at Shelford this weekend did an amazing job of giving us the most negative comments and score ever (which hasn't helped things!)

Soooo, I'm deflated, broken and looking for some advice please!

I used to have lessons, but we have luckily just bought a house, with no arena, so money is being spent saving for an arena and hiring an arena 1/2x a week to just exercise (no hacking!)

I want to have in my mind things to do, be aware of, I've seen the DressageTraining TV intro videos and wondered if anyone has tried those to make you more aware of posture etc.?

I'm also waiting to hear back to see if an EquiPilates person could be an option?

Franklin balls- but maybe just using a cheaper tennis ball- but I have no idea what to do with them?!

Back brace?


Electric cattle prod...?! (joke!)

Sorry for the brain gush! Any comments most welcome
 
soloequestrian said:
Um, go and get it fixed?? The NHS are very good (speaking from experience of the same thing).
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Thanks, there is no 'fix' its just something I have been told to manage, hence my post one how best to manage. If I ask anyone non- horsey, the advice is to not do it.... most horsey people know here that's not an option!
 
Well I would be digging further into why there is 'no fix'. I had a prolapsed disc and the bulging bit was removed by surgery which was very successful.
 
I don't have direct experience of this but my husband had a badly prolapsed disc a few years ago and was in hospital for a while.

He decided to try other options before going for surgery and went to specialist Pilates classes, which worked very well. He was told at the time that it's important to have a Pilates teacher who is familiar with rehab for prolapsed discs as an 'ordinary' Pilates class wouldn't be suitable. Basically, he built up enough core strength to provide enough support. I know it doesn't work for everyone but it's worth a try. He went on to enjoy several seasons out hunting and although he wears a Prolite back support for riding he hasn't had a problem.

There is a book called 'The Back Sufferers' Bible' by a woman called Sarah Key which he found very useful - if you look up Sarah Key on YouTube there are a number of exercise videos. There's an exercise she has devised which you do last thing at night - it involves putting a yoga block underneath the back and moving the legs; only takes a few minutes but it seemed to work wonders.
 
soloequestrian said:
Well I would be digging further into why there is 'no fix'. I had a prolapsed disc and the bulging bit was removed by surgery which was very successful.
Click to expand...

Ok, thank you, I wasn't aware of that. I was given anti inflammatory tablets and told to mix with paracetamol and keep moving.... it comes and goes, but is defiantly made worse by sitting down to ride!
 
Thanks NancyKitt, I will defiantly look into that. That was what I was hoping for, SOMETHING I can do to try and make the aches I get go away. I think if I can strengthen that area, it may help, I guess i've avoided using it because of the pain I get, which is not only a physical, but now a mental block!
 
Find a really good Physio who can help you treat the problem conservatively if surgery isn't an option.Sadly it won't come cheap and unfortunately what may be offered on the NHS just won't cut it.

Once you start to manage the pain via Physio you can start to strengthen through the core and stabilise the spine, thus straightening you up on the horse. Pilates is good but I have found working with a rehab personal trainer to have been the most effective thing to manage my very problematic L7. Quite often they will work in conjunction with the Physio so you can make sure that you are working in a "safe" environment - you don't want to risk making it worse by using an inexperienced trainer!

It's a long road but definitely worth it!
 
Forgive me asking but did you actually have a scan or x-ray to diagnose it? I ask because I have a huge number of patients who suffer a back problem, get told it is a slipped disc when it's not and live thinking it is popping in and out - which they don't do.
If you haven't had a scan then ask for one, because treatment for back pain varies considerably depending on what is the actual cause. If you can't get it scanned or x-rayed then try and find a good manual therapist - osteopath, physio, chiropractor - preferably by personal recommendation and get their opinion, though be careful with manipulations as they are not always appropriate or helpful.
If it was diagnosed with a scan then still find a good manual therapist as they should be able to support your body to cope with the weakness and help with posture. Pilates is usually helpful but needs to be regular and prolonged - once a week won't help nearly as much as doing some at home every other day as well.
 
Biggest help for me was once I was pain free enough to do it, to stretch my hip flexors. Tight hip flexors create an anterior tilt in your pelvis which compresses the discs in your lumbar spine. If you are prone to dodgy discs this is no good. So reducing the overactivity of the hip flexors and strengthening the abdominals will allow the pelvis to move to a more neutral position and reduce the pressure in the lumbar spine. Once I was finally able to start stretching them it made a massive difference to me. (Osteopath lately has done wonders for my posture too as it has started to deteriorate again)
 
Dollyanna's advice is good. I fractured L3 and 4 in a fall many years ago and the vertebrae are now pinned. This places significant strain on the discs above and below the immobile point. They are not prolapsed or slipped yet - but are damaged and disintegrating slowly. Eventually I suspect I'll have to have them surgically corrected and the pinned line of vertebrae extending - but the trick is to delay that as long as possible.

A good manual therapist who understands that you ride and can work with you in a realistic way to support that is essential. What got be back riding was an excellent sports Physio. Where everyone else had told me not to ride again she set about getting me in a fit state to ride. Even now -a good 15 years later - I see a manual therapist every couple of weeks and do exercises every day. It isn't cheap (but neither are horses). I noted in your original post that you twist in canter. You really need to be able to correct that so that you are not guarding one area and that places additional strain elsewhere. A good therapist can help with that but it will start with physical therapy and move on to exercise personalized to you to strengthen weaker areas.

A back brace can help when you are doing physical things like mucking out. But I was cautioned not to ride in one (other than my surgical brace for the few years I needed that) as you "slump" inside it and rely on it for strength rather than building your own musculature. But your therapist will be able to provide tailored advice.
 
Have you been referred to a specialist about it? I’m pretty sure there is something they can do if it’s causing you that much pain, even if it’s just steroid injections into the area to calm the associated inflammation?

I had an MRI scan in January because of coccyx problems and was found to have 3 bulging discs sitting on the nerves and the ligaments damaged. I’ve always had lower back pain but every few days it gets really intense for 24 hours or so and then calms down a bit. It’s stiff and painful to ride, particularly if I’m not doing much in the saddle. Ten minutes walking is exceptionally uncomfortable, but trotting and cantering and basically moving about in the saddle a bit more seems to be much better for me. I have found I am tilting my pelvis though to stop my coccyx dislocating. It was diagnosed as unstable and dislocating when I sit. I’m waiting to have injections into it.
 
I can totally empathise with what you're going through as i'm not able to ride because of problems with my back. I have several bad discs but none are pressing on nerves and I also have multiple cysts crowding my S2 nerve. All that I can have is the nerve blocks but only allowed one per year which lasted about 5 weeks tops. Surgery isn't an option for me and neither is physio or any manipulations due to the cysts and add to that I am also hypermobile. I feel totally lost at it all just now. In the last 12mths I have lost my mobility, my ability to ride and my career. I can only hope that you can find some sort of solution that works for you and if anyone has any suggestions for me i'd be greatful for them.
 
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