Muscle strains

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iggyoggy

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I am in my 50’s and have fallen off twice in the last month, I pulled muscles in my one leg and hip, when I was younger I would just ride through it and it would heal in time, I have tried this route and have had to stop riding as it is just not working, I haven’t ridden in a week and the pain is slowly subsiding, do any other older riders find they have to take time off riding to heal aching/ torn muscles or do you ride through the pain??
 
Yes! At 72 (coming up 73 soon) I have found that hitting the ground is not a good plan. I had a fall in August when the pony stumbled and fell and literally somersaulted me out the side door. I got up and didn't remount as much for the pony's sake as mine. Went in and had a hot bath, dressed and went to a lunch party. A bit sore but not too bad, but by the end of the lunch I could hardly walk. By the time I got home my shoulder had gone into spasm and I felt totally cronked! My lovely Bowen therapist gave me a couple of sessions (I do recommend this) and I took pain killers at night. I certainly could not ride for a week and then it hurt my back but it gradually wore off. The time before that was about 6 years ago and that didn't bother me at all pain wise. (luckily). Every fall is different and even a youngster can break a bone coming off, listen to your body and rest if required.
 
I had a fall nearly 2 weeks ago and although I got back on afterwards, I haven't ridden since. I have had to turn my horses out 24/7 as I was struggling to muck out never mind ride. I am getting better slowly but this is the first time I have had to take time off in a long time. my
 
Not only does it take longer to recover, it takes more 'professional intervention' (physio, massage, ultrasound etc etc) to recover and even then the recovery is, sadly no longer 100% guaranteed. I am constantly aware of an increasing limited range of motion and general stiffness in various joints, no matter how much I spend on supplements/physio/yoga etc.

Think it's sadly called old age. :( If anyone has a solution, do let me know!
 
I sympathise. Rose gave me a flying lesson earlier in the year and I had a lot of deep bruising to my lower back. I could not lift my right leg for several days but I did manage to get on and could walk and trot OK but not canter. It is a PITA getting old but better than the alternative, I find an ibuprofen gel is good for strained muscles. My younger daughter, the doc, always says take max painkillers and keep moving, she's not great on sympathy but her advice is usually sound!
 
Yep and its sooooo annoying!! Having just about found the confidence to get going again with my 5 yr old after 5 mths off due to her injury, yesterday I long reined her in the field, we have no facilities and shes supposed to be doing something daily for her rehab! Ive done this many times but long story cut short, she bronked and tanked off with me in tow, I ended up skiing on my back as I darent let go for fear of her re injuring the leg galloping round a large field! Eventually let go as she wasnt stopping but OMG Im suffering today, my ribs hurt and the rest of me is getting creakier. Had to laugh today though as I was more concerned about my poor horses mouth hauling me across the field, never mind the fact Im seizing up by the minute. The joys of getting old!!!
 
As an over 50 rider, I have tried everything humanly possible to not fall off but this hasn’t stopped a broken collarbone, bad bruised pelvis and whiplash/concussion. My mare is 16:1hh so a dizzy height to come crashing down from. Apart from the collarbone, I rode straight after the many falls. I think the biggest blocker to getting back on must be pain in knee and hip joints (for us older folk) and nerves.
 
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