riders with dodgy backs????

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DayleAshley

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Out of interest who else rides with dodgy backs and how do you cope with riding/ yard duties??

I landed on my back when I was thrown from an ex-point to pointer when I was 11, now 13 years later and many pointless trips to the doctors to be told its probably nothing (of course they've never even x-rayed me but hey there the professional right?) I've cut right down on the horsey activities. I only hack a couple of times a week with the odd canter thrown in and no jumping what so ever. Where I lose feeling in my legs and down one side my position often suffers and luckily I have a very well behaved pony who listens to voice commands! Does anyone have exercises/tips for helping with pain while riding and doing all the usual yard duties????? Thanks in advance!
 
you sound like youve got disc problems if you are losing sensation in ur legs. go back to ur GP and TELL him you wish to be sent to a neurologist. if he will not you could go private for the consultation which wouldnt be too expensive.
MRI is the only way to see whats going on properly with ur spine-dont be fobbed off!
 
Have you tried a chiropractor or physio? I'd further investigate if I was you. I have a tilted pelvis and i've never been to doctor regarding it just went straight to chiro and he say riding is good for strengthening your back.
 
Iv been to the doctors about my bad back this morning of which is response was well what do you want me to do, was given pain killers and told could i pick another sport like swimming! I did tell him i wont be selling my horses.
I was asked if I had any loss of feeling, sounds like you should go back and see someone else who might be more helpful.
 
I don't do mucking out unless I have to. I am full livery Mon to Fri and my friend does mornings for me at weekends.

When I do have to muck out I do it slowly and bend/lift correctly and alternate sides (when holding fork etc).

From a physio point of view you really need your back looking at by a professional if you are getting sensation problems. It is a big red flag (not to worry you but to encourage you to seek help!) :D
 
Worth further investigation, I think...

I was in pain for years, spent needless amounts of money on chiropractors who could 'fix' me temporarily but had no idea what the actual problem was :mad: Continued to ride anyway, as riding didn't seem to make it worse but was less than flexible.

Got referred by my GP to a rheumatologist for x-rays and MRI, turns out it was something called Ankylosing Spondylitis and with meds, I am completely pain free these days.
 
whatever is going on with your back you need to push your GP for an appointment with a consultant, legs going numb is not normal.

I have a back problem (scoliosis) and two horses, my specialist "tools" include

Rubber mats in the stable.
Long handles on forks, brooms etc
Plastic bodied wheelbarrows
A western saddle
Well trained/behaved horses
Ariat boots ... they are cushioned inside so I do not jar my back as much as I would in ordinary boots.

Not pushing to get a job done in one go, splitting it into sevral stages if needs be by doing something else which requires a different posture in between.

I could go on forever about back saving aids for horse people, if You'd like some more PM me.
 
Definitley get thee to the doctor and explain about the loss of sensation, etc. Don't mention the riding as that is academic considering the sensation issue and you don't want to cloud the issue.

I broke my back at L2 two years ago. Wore a brace for months. Got back riding six months later. Now the muscles are the only things that whinge, especially when it's cold. I find riding helps. I think it's the gentle motion, but as we don't gallop or jump as the horse is also wonky, we are pretty sedate most of the time :cool:

A year ago my right leg stopped working properly. I didn't lose sensation, but it felt 'wooden' compared to the other one, and I was draggin my toes a bit, espectially when tired. Told my doc who got me back to the spinal unit. They checked me over and booked in for an MRI. In the meantime I upped the exercise (walking) and lost a bit of weight (I'm still far too heavy) and my leg started behaving again, so I spoke to the unit and cancelled the MRI. It's been fine until now. I've been working silly hours, sat at a desk, and my leg is starting to go wooden again, so for me it's gentle exercise that keeps it mobile.

Fingers crossed there's nothing drastic and physio and/or Pilates can help :)
 
I fell and broke my back and have had problems ever since. I won't ride without a body protector plus point 2 jacket. Mucking out is normally ok but I slipped in the field and that put me in bed for 2 weeks. I dread the next time I fall hence body protector and airjacket
 
Thanks to everyone. I have seen an osteopath but it didn't really make much difference so stopped going. Been rushed to a n e before with loss of feeling but they still said it was nothing and was given just pain killers :(
 
if youve been to a+e and seen anyone other than a neurologist you will be ignored and fobbed off! this is exactly what happened to me and it took me collapsing and losing feeling in my leg FOREVER due to a seriously herniated disc, i had emergency surgery to save me from a wheelchair . please insist your GP refers you to a neurologist its very serious to be losing sensation!
 
You need a referral to an orthapaedic specialist and probably an MRI, don't leave it as the sooner you know what's what the better.
I suffered dodgy back for years, culminating in complete inability to stand up (could only lie down) after 2 months of gradually worsening pain and numbness down my leg.
Luckily I have private medical insurance through work, got to see physio 2 days after back went completely and surgeon after 5 days - MRI on the 8th day and diagnosis 10 days after that: cyst on the disk in my back and NOT a slipped disk as everybody thought. Fortunately for me, the cyst must have burst (though it could come back) as I'm much better now though still get quite bad days :(
I have had to change my car for an auto; my leg can;t cope with the clutch on bad days.
 
DayleAshley said:
Thanks to everyone. I have seen an osteopath but it didn't really make much difference so stopped going. Been rushed to a n e before with loss of feeling but they still said it was nothing and was given just pain killers :(
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Definitely insist on the referral to a specialist, doctors are on a money saving drive but that shouldn't compromise your long term health. Shame you don't have medical insurance they tend to be far more proactive
 
Please go to your Dr and jump up and down making a fuss. I had a bad fall in Jan whilst working in oz, was x rayed, called back and MRI'd as they though I had broken my neck. I have been for x rays recently, to be told I have a step in my neck, and a couple of herniated discs, and now await a CT scan. I am on shed loads of codeine, and naproxen, which seems to be helping short term. Mercifully my Dr is interested, and is pursuing this. A friend hasn't been so lucky, and it has taken her 4 years to get a DR to take her seriously, in spite of the fact she has a comprssion fracture in her spine! Don't mention the riding as such, and push like hell, from what you say you are mid 20's and no way should you be in this much pain.
On the other front, mine live out, and I don't muck out at work, or do any yard work.
I do lots of stretches, yoga type and try to keep my core muscles strong. I hope to get my body back up to doing triathlon/ iron man things next year!
 
I've got a dodgey lower back but for the most part riding seems to take the pain away (as long as i'm not having a sack of tatties day where I bounce around having clearly forgotten how to ride :rolleyes:), when it comes to mucking out I'm just really careful of how I move and tend to fork up less muck at a time. Sometimes I do forget but a wee twinge and I'm right back to being careful as the last time I ignored it and just got on with it I ended up hardly able to move for 2 weeks and spent about a month being pretty useless around the yard as I was unable to do any lifting :(
 
Hi, I've had a bad back and sciatica since my horse threw me about 12yrs ago and I slipped 3 discs. I've had lots of physio, swimming has helped me lots as it strengthens the back.
I loose the power in my legs still, I can't do a good sitting trot or canter. I had to buy a comfy synthetic GP saddle as my show saddle and dressage triggered off my back pain badly, I found changing my saddle really helped with how long I could stay in the saddle.
Go back to your doctors and ask to re refered to a physio or specialist.
 
After years of back pain, I finally went for x rays after rupturing 2 disks, and was diagnosed with scoliosis, and a whole lot of degeneration etc, a lot of which explained my difficulties in the saddle over the years. Basically I was told my back was very fragile and I should not ever ride again, only swimming as exercise and to make sure my core remained strong.

However, as I really wanted to ride again, I researched different therapies, and as chiro and physio didn't help my condition, I ended up at a Shiatsu therapist, and I must credit her with restoring a bit of flexibilty and reducing pain, and giving me back my mobility.

I had anyway all through the years used a Professional's Choice back support, so my advice is, develop the strongest core you can, use a back support if you feel it helps, really follow the guidelines like keeping your hips and spine aligned when doing tasks, and lifting bending your knees - you will be grateful when you are older!:)
 
I'll never complain about my occasionally stiff back again

My bro-in law is about to have an op for collapsed discs after years of milking cows & never getting himself checked properly.
 
Do not mention horses ever to a GP! Go when you are feeling awful and burst into tears as you describe your symptoms as luridly as you can. Tell him you feel your life is not worth living any more if it is going to be this bad. Ok, well perhaps not the last bit.

My point is that to get past the GP to the specialist you have to stand out from the crowd of all the others who come and whinge about their aches and pains. Been there, done it. After years of being fobbed off with pain killers which did not work, I suddenly had X-rays, MRI, chronic pain clinic, the works. Seriously if you have loss of feeling in your legs, make sure they hear all about it and do not put on a brave face, you need the doctor to believe you are not coping with this. They take into account your 'quality of life' as well as your symptoms when they decide whether to refer you.
 
Haven't read all responses but need to share my story...
I had a bad fall at the age of sixteen (now thirty) they did nothing, I spent a fortune on physios, chiros, osteos etc, even gave up riding for a year when 19, nothing worked, drs just gave me painkillers. Last year went to doctors said in so much pain had enough after this amount of time, she was great referred me for a mri where the found a lot of problems this started the ball rolling still in pain, but have had nhs physio which didn't help so sent back to specialist, then referred to pain clinic at hospital, had injections in may, they didn't work now having a discigram in oct but am in the system and they are now helping me!! Only taken 14 years!! My dr also doesn't stop me riding as she thinks the mental benefits help me cope with the pain!!
My advice see a gp tell them fed up of pain something needs to be done! If it doesn't work see another gp!
Realise how lucky I am with current gp but its taken 14 years and I hate to think what all the pills have done to my insides! Keep pushing gp!!!!
 
I've had terrible lower back pain for as long as I can remember.
Mine is different though as I was born with talipies(sp) and had the tendons and ligaments cut so one leg is slightly shorter than the other. Also my spine isn't normal shape as its not the nice s shape it should be but goes in a lot at the base of my spine. Oh and I've not long been diagnosed with coccygodynia!
I'm seriously considering getting a gel pad for my saddle to help when I'm riding.
 
No offence to anyone here who works in the NHS, but "the NHS system" is as useless as a f@rt in a gale TBH, all you happens is you get fobbed off with painkillers or a "physio" just gives you a list of exercises to do (with diagrams) and even if you do get a one-to-one session with a physio, its usually six to ten weeks later than the GP's appointment, which is damn-all useless! Unfortunately it is the case that if you want to get sorted you have no option but to go private.

You could try changing your GP as yours sounds about as useless as it gets; but the "system" will still be the problem. Back pain just isn't taken seriously by doctors even though it costs the country millions of pounds in lost working time/sick-leave.

Hope you get this sorted. You need a diagnosis. Back pain is awful/miserable. You have my sympathy.
 
Vikki89 said:
Iv been to the doctors about my bad back this morning of which is response was well what do you want me to do, was given pain killers and told could i pick another sport like swimming! I did tell him i wont be selling my horses.
I was asked if I had any loss of feeling, sounds like you should go back and see someone else who might be more helpful.
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I was told similar!
"Have some pain killers, give up horse, start swimming"

Um, no, I would like to know the problem! I don't want to just cover it up with pills :\

I went back and told him the painkillers weren't working, so he sent me to the physio, that was a godsend!
Although she couldn't tell me exactly what the problem was, the put me on the rack to get stretched and I feel great! I still get a twinge now and then and I will have to go back at some point, but for now, I've never been so pain free :)

Good luck with getting help! Bad backs are awful :(
 
OP, you HAVE to get an MRI done to find out the damage in there. I bet you have a disc problem and it's pressing on the nerves, hence the numbness. Do you get pins and needles? Hot/cold sensations (when mine was bad, when I was in a hot bath my affected leg felt as if it was in icewater). sciatica?
If it gets to the point where you end up incontinent (yes, really, I was warned about this, a friend suffered it) they will finally do something... but you don't to risk it getting to that stage, or being permanently debilitated.
Until it is clear exactly what damage you have done, it is impossible for anyone (incl a consultant) to advise on the correct treatment.
Go back to your Doc's, say how long you have suffered with this, and do NOT get fobbed off. Take someone with you (parent? partner?) if necessary to help you fight your cause. Your continued well-being is more important than their budget.

If you're not up to the fight, and have the money, pay for a private MRI instead. It is amazing how fast these can be done. (my record - 30 mins from seeing Consultant for 1st time, to being MRI'd at local hospital. NHS weeks/months wait? Huh.)

You absolutely deserve this diagnosis and then subsequent advice/treatment. If your back gets wrecked because you carry on and do more damage, then you could end up in permanent excruciating pain (as a friend did. He had all the money in the world but by the time he realised how serious it was, it was too late, the damage was done, nobody can pay for a new back!)

Back to the doctor and do NOT get fobbed off. Good Luck!
 
My sister broke her back a few years ago and had quite a lot of discomfort doing day to day things with our animals, you can get pads that stick onto your back that heat up which she found helped a lot. They're easy to use and not too expensive, and even if they don't work, yard work in winter is so much more bearable if you have a toasty back :)
 
I suffered a slipped disc from a fall at 13. Then more recently I was thrown backwards off the top of a lorry ramp by an over exhuberant mare and now have arthritis in my sacroilliac joint. I am never without my lower back support, either riding or mucking out. It makes a massive difference. I single handedly look after seven horses and run a livery yard. I would be crippled without the support. If ever I can't be bothered to put it on, I suffer for days afterwards.
 
Cuppatea said:
Go to a&e, tell them you have come off a horse (dont need to tell them you GOT off not fell off) and that you have lost feeling in your legs and that you demand an MRI. Now.
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This. Now, please. Don't wait, you could end up paralyzed if you don't treat the loss of feeling as an emergency.
 
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