Not the day I planned… but I got an ambulance ride!

[rabatsa]

Do you need wide tread stirrups for your foot?

There are other makes https://www.hmsaddles.com/products/hm-stirrup-irons

 

[Red-1]

Congratulations!

I found some outsize long, zipped boots better, I used a size 9.5 or 10 when I was a 7, and then could pad and vetwrap inside and outside (as the zip wouldn't do up). With my foot immobile, riding was not half as painful.

I found 90 degree stirrups were better as I couldn't move my ankle to get my stirrups, and I had to buy man size ones for the extra width boot.

 

[Bradsmum]

I added some orthopaedic heel raisers in my trainers to start with as the back of the trainers were too tight. They also gave a little bit more cushioning which made a huge difference to comfort. I think I've bought more gel inserts since rehabbing than I have my entire life!

 

[scats]

I added some orthopaedic heel raisers in my trainers to start with as the back of the trainers were too tight. They also gave a little bit more cushioning which made a huge difference to comfort. I think I've bought more gel inserts since rehabbing than I have my entire life!

Im having the exact same issue with the back of trainers being too tight. I hadn’t realised how swollen the back of my foot actually is. I’ll go on a heel raiser hunt today.

 

[Bradsmum]

Can recommend these .....



Think they are widely available, got mine in Boots or Supasavers.

 

[scats]

Can recommend these .....

View attachment 107586

Think they are widely available, got mine in Boots or Supasavers.

Thank you!
Had a quick look in Sainsbury’s before but they only had whole insoles or call of the foot gels. Will check out Boots.

 

[scats]

I can confirm that returning to normal life is exhausting!
I’m still not grooming my full amount of dogs a day, but I’m back doing morning horse duties aswell as evening.
I am absolutely shattered beyond belief. I get into bed at night and can barely keep my eyes open. Getting up at 6.30am is a real struggle too, and I’m hitting the snooze button far too many times!

I try to finish my last dog by 2.30pm so I can have an hour with my foot up to get some or the swelling down before I go back to the yard, but today I got my foot up and promptly fell asleep on the sofa
I wasn’t expecting to feel so worn out, I’ve not had an ounce of energy to ride the last 2 days, but I’m trying to cut myself a bit of slack and accept that it might take a while before I feel like my normal self.

 

[rabatsa]

Healing bones take a lot of energy, yours will be healing for a while yet so allow yourself to be tired and build in down time.

 

[Fjord]

Glad you are getting back to normal! It's hardly surprising you are finding it knackering, listen to your body and rest when need be.

 

[Trouper]

As I have said many times before, we have forgotten the art (and genuine need) for our bodies to convalesce. Basic healing is only the start - the more you stress your body to "get back to normal" in the shortest possible time, the longer it will take!! Before we had all these "wonder drugs" the human race just had to sit and let nature help us through illness so we could feel the gradualness of healing and of strength returning and could better judge when we were truly fit again. Just listen to your body and do what it needs.

Granny lecture ends.!!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Do you really need to get up at 6.30? Why? If you make your 1st dog appointment later, could you do the horses a bit later and take some time to rest after you've done them?
It really takes a long time to fully recover. I am older than you, so it could be expected to take me longer but it was 11 months before I held a dog lead when I was walking. I started building up my step numbers as soon as the boot came off, 8 weeks after the rings were removed but I had been warned to be very careful in order not to risk it breaking again before it was completely healed

 

[scats]

Do you really need to get up at 6.30? Why? If you make your 1st dog appointment later, could you do the horses a bit later and take some time to rest after you've done them?
It really takes a long time to fully recover. I am older than you, so it could be expected to take me longer but it was 11 months before I held a dog lead when I was walking. I started building up my step numbers as soon as the boot came off, 8 weeks after the rings were removed but I had been warned to be very careful in order not to risk it breaking again before it was completely healed

The horses need feeding and turning out unfortunately and I’m also feeding my friends horses to try and give them a break after everything they did for me. I don’t get to the farm til 7.30 but I do have to sort my own dogs out first and have a coffee (the most important part!)
I start my first dog at 9.30am so not too bad. I’m definitely not going back to filling my doggy diary fully for quite some time. I was hoping I’d be back to full capacity by March by think I might have to accept that it’s going to take a few months before I’m ready for that. I’ve also postponed all big dogs for the time being, and I may not ever return to doing them. It’s bad enough kneeling crawling on the floor with fully working legs, but I’m not sure I can actually do that now.

I’m off today so I’m getting my hair done. Gives me a good excuse to sit for a couple of hours.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Could the horses wait for another 30 minutes? I remember when I was recovering from my first break, I had June/July/August off work and went back at the start of September. I really struggled to get up early enough to deal with the animals, including horses living out at home but needing breakfast. By October half term I had needed antibiotics for an infection in the stitch site and the week before the holiday off to recover. That taught me to listen to my body and not try to rush to get back to normal.

 

[scats]

Could the horses wait for another 30 minutes? I remember when I was recovering from my first break, I had June/July/August off work and went back at the start of September. I really struggled to get up early enough to deal with the animals, including horses living out at home but needing breakfast. By October half term I had needed antibiotics for an infection in the stitch site and the week before the holiday off to recover. That taught me to listen to my body and not try to rush to get back to normal.

Id have to push my first dog back to 10am to be done in time as I’m quite slow doing jobs and need to get mucked out and everything ready for the evening.
I’ve got 4 weeks booked up in the diary, so I’ll see how I get on and maybe reassess. Money is a big problem if I’m honest. I’d much prefer to have gone back 3 days or something but I’m financially in a mess because of all this so I had to go straight in at 6 days a week. I’ve managed to go back to 5 days of this week, so at least that’s something.

 

[scats]

Returning to riding is going to be a much slower process that I envisaged. It hurts, really hurts. I’m doing 15 minute hacks and about 5 minutes of that with my foot in the stirrup. I have sprenger bow balance irons but wondering if something with a wider tread might be better.
Getting off after riding is also an art form. I sort of have to slither down Millie’s neck, which she accepts with good grace, trying to get the good foot to meet the ground first. It’s not graceful.
I can’t ride 2 days in a row because the day after riding I’m in a lot of discomfort, so the aim is for 2 days a week at the moment and anymore is a bonus. I want to keep doing a little bit a week, but my plan of being back on board 5 days a week was probably a little over ambitious! I’m trying to remind myself that Im so far ahead of where they told me I would be, so even to be at this stage is amazing. But in true Scats style, I always want to be doing more.

I’ve had to have a word with myself that this could be a long journey. The thought of being able to trot, canter or even ride for longer than 15 minutes just seems so far away. I can’t even contemplate riding anything that requires any sort of rider fitness either, so Polly will be having a far longer holiday that I hoped. I suppose I could well be looking 12 months before I’m anywhere near normal, and I do doubt now that I’ll ever get back fully to where I was.

As with everything about this journey, it’s a real test mentally, as much as physically.

 

[rabatsa]

You will get there but slowly, slowly.

 

[scats]

You will get there but slowly, slowly.

Decided to treat myself like a horse returning to work… but then realised I wouldn’t return a lame horse to work, yet Im expecting myself to do just that. I’m not even field sound

I’ve become a bit of a wuss over weird things though. Just back from walking the dogs and I got really worried about a whippet flying around and coming very close to taking me right out. I suddenly felt very vulnerable!

 

[Kunoichi73]

Are you still having any physio? If not, it might be worth seeing someone occasionally to keep track of your progress and make sure you don't start developing muscle imbalances that could cause long term issues.

 

[Fjord]

Decided to treat myself like a horse returning to work… but then realised I wouldn’t return a lame horse to work, yet Im expecting myself to do just that. I’m not even field sound

I’ve become a bit of a wuss over weird things though. Just back from walking the dogs and I got really worried about a whippet flying around and coming very close to taking me right out. I suddenly felt very vulnerable!

Good analogy! Now you just need to keep reminding yourself of it and go carefully.

I'm not surprised you are wary, you are very aware of what might go wrong.

 

[Supertrooper]

I can confirm that returning to normal life is exhausting!
I’m still not grooming my full amount of dogs a day, but I’m back doing morning horse duties aswell as evening.
I am absolutely shattered beyond belief. I get into bed at night and can barely keep my eyes open. Getting up at 6.30am is a real struggle too, and I’m hitting the snooze button far too many times!

I try to finish my last dog by 2.30pm so I can have an hour with my foot up to get some or the swelling down before I go back to the yard, but today I got my foot up and promptly fell asleep on the sofa
I wasn’t expecting to feel so worn out, I’ve not had an ounce of energy to ride the last 2 days, but I’m trying to cut myself a bit of slack and accept that it might take a while before I feel like my normal self.

I was absolutely exhausted when I went back to work in November after partial knee replacement. Even starting with two hours a day I was so so tired

Just be kind to yourself and your body

 

[scats]

Are you still having any physio? If not, it might be worth seeing someone occasionally to keep track of your progress and make sure you don't start developing muscle imbalances that could cause long term issues.

I have another NHS physio next week, but now I’ve got a bit of money coming back in, I’m going to book some private physio sessions in too.

 

[Cragrat]

As above - your body needs time to regain /recharge.

Re: the whippet and feeling vulnerable - how about some balance exercises to build your confidence? E.g. standing on one leg whilst cleaning your teeth, then slowly waving the lifted leg around? Ministry of funny walks around the yard? Multifidous rock?

 

[scats]

As above - your body needs time to regain /recharge.

Re: the whippet and feeling vulnerable - how about some balance exercises to build your confidence? E.g. standing on one leg whilst cleaning your teeth, then slowly waving the lifted leg around? Ministry of funny walks around the yard? Multifidous rock?

I had to look up Multifidous Rock, it sounds like a music movement from the 80s

I contacted a physio last night who specialises in rider rehab and injuries so hopefully I can get in to see her soon.

 

[scats]

This week will be 4 months since my accident and I planned to bookend this thread with my final physio appointment at the hospital, which was meant to be today, but unfortunately I missed my appointment because there was chaos in the car park and I couldn’t get a space, despite being there early
In all fairness, I didn’t really need it, but I was curious to see the improvement in my flexion angles.

Im doing far better than I ever thought possible. I have a slight limp, more evident in certain footwear and certain times of the day, but really not bad at all. I have to come down stairs with two feet on each step, but I reckon it won’t be long til I’m doing them normally.

The massive fatigue is lessening, thankfully. I’m back riding and now I’ve dropped my stirrups again, it’s relatively pain free. I have even cantered!
I haven’t ridden Polly yet. I need to be fitter for her and I need to get a bit more strength back in my ankle and whole body, whereas I can afford to chill and slop along a bit on Millie! I certainly haven’t been afraid to get back on, but I am aware that I don’t want to fall off at the moment. Quite simply because I know that if I land on my foot awkwardly, it’s still sore enough when I tweak it that it would likely hurt a lot
It’s still swollen, but pain is minimal. I still have odd pins and needles when I touch certain areas of it, but I weirdly like this and will be quite gutted when it goes back to normal I sometimes wake in the night and it feels a bit sore and stiff, but once I move it, it settles again.

I have the skill of my surgeon to thank for the outcome of this. He spent double the time expected in theatre fixing me, and he managed to get that joint lined back up absolutely perfectly. Top bloke!

So there we are! It’s been quite the adventure!






Scars



Back where I belong

 

[Esmae]

Well done you. Onwards and upwards. You have made the most remarkable recovery. Hoping that you continue to progress well. Keep safe now.

 

[Annagain]

I haven’t ridden Polly yet.

I thought you were going to retire her?

 

[Fjord]

Great update!

 

[scats]

I thought you were going to retire her?

I haven’t fully decided what to do with her yet to be honest. There might (hopefully will, if all goes to plan) be some changes happening this year for us, but I don’t have any control over when, so realistically she will need to recommence some sort of light work while she’s here, as I’m more paranoid about the thought of the summer grass coming through and her doing nothing. She had laminitis two years ago and the fear never leaves, particularly as we are on rye and it’s the work of the devil with good doers.
We won’t be hacking anymore though, she’s far too unpredictable for that But she’s good having a pootle in the manage in walk and trot.

 

[scats]

I thought I’d do a 7 month update of the cankle!
All is good, it’s still bigger than the other one and feels different, which I think it always will, but nothing that concerns me or stops me doing anything. Still get the odd day of crunching, grinding and twanging and a bit of stiffness and aching but absolutely nothing to write home about.
It doesn’t bother me in the saddle at all aside from swelling up more than normal when it has a ‘heavy’ day.
I’m fairy sure my syndo screw has snapped as I seem to have got my plantar flexion pretty much fully back and I’d be surprised if I could do what with the screw still through the joint. Not heard it snap though, or that I know of anyway!
General appearance now-


My vet Chiro came to see Millie last month and couldn’t believe I could actually run to trot her up, with no limp!

So anyone reading this thread who might have recently broken an ankle in spectacular style, you can recover!

 

[AmyMay]

You’ve really made a brilliant recovery x