Riding after an operation (discectomy)

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soloequestrian

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I had a discetomy yesterday which seems so far to have gone swimmingly. I've had a year of light hacking only so am fairly keen to get back in the saddle and start some proper work. I think I'm still looking at another three months or so of rehab (not allowed to lift a saddle!) but lying here bored I wondered if anyone else has had this operation or similar and how they got back to full riding fitness?
Thanks!
 
I had a microdisectomy in 2000. I had to spend 6 weeks prone after it was done. Then I was allowed up and to start walking. at 12 weeks post op I did a 12 mile pleasure ride. With a fair few gallops and a few jumps. I ached like hell afterwards, but only because I had not ridden for about 4 months prior to the op. I saw my Neuro Surgeon the day after my 12 mile ride and he was astounded as some people had not really been up to doing much walking. I am now 100% - my operation site is perfect and I never get pain in that area ( elsewhere yes - but then my back is really a mess) I ride, I compete, I event. i look after 16 horses, I shift bales, I muck out and I am as strong as an ox. It may not feel like it at the moment but it is a brilliant operation and you will recover. I had quite a bit of massage afterwards and some bowen therapy and that really helped. So good luck and enjoy a pain free time.
 
I can't comment about riding after surgery, but a short while ago I had terrible back pain due to a bulging disc. I was told by a physio and orthopeadic doctor (I do appretiate that it may be a neurologist you are under) that riding is very good for the back as the correct riding posture puts the spine in correct alinement. (providing you've got a good position while riding)

Not sure if that helps?
 
Hi, 3 July this year I had a disc removed and L5/S1 vertebra fused, ie bolted together and a cage wrapped around the vertebra and a donated bone graft.

My consultant originally said I would be back to normal after a month. Whilst in hospital the physio poo poo'd this and said I could not ride for 3 months.

I had to lie down on my back or walk for the next 2 weeks. Then I was allowed to sit up in a chair for as long as I could bear (it hurt a lot to begin with). At 4 weeks I knew I was not back to "normal". But weeks 5 and 6 suddenly got a lot better.

Back to office job at 6 weeks. feeding and leading my horses, but no bending/brushing or lifting anything.

Physio started at 8 weeks, I was allowed to start swimming again. Physio 2 and Consultant said I could carefully start riding my sensible horse for short periods.

My muscles felt tight and a bit sore but I only rode gently and for a short while for the first 2 weeks.

At 3 months I can ride pretty much OK, it is a bit sore to start with, but actually walking on a horse makes things stretch slowly. I still get a bit of aggro bending, and I know I am not fully recovered. I don't lift anything significant.

It is a long haul and I still need physio etc.

Does that help ? Delighted to answer any questions you may have, although I didn't have exactly the same op.
 
I had a microdiscectomy 2 years ago and i was up and about less than 24 hours after op. Gentle walking etc, I was also told no riding for 3 months which i almost managed.... I haven't had any further problems with that part of my back and i do everything i used to do before. My riding has improved too. I hope you continue getting better. Just don't rush it as in a few weeks you will prob feel like nothing wrong and its hard not to get carried away but its not worth risk. I had an army of friends and hubby shouting at me every time they saw me eying up horse. It was a great excuse not to do any house work though. Hoovering, ironing and washing up are particularly bad :-)
 
Flight that sounds great! I'm not the best at housework normally so at least I will have an excellent excuse for a while! I'm allowed to walk about now (I was walking last night, just a few hours after the op, which amazed me!). It does sound from all your anwers that 12 weeks or so will be about right - I might get back on around Xmas, thankfully have one very sensible horse to start on. Did any of you lunge during rehab?
Thanks for the answers so far!
 
I had a discektomy at L5/S1 in Aug 2002. I was back riding after 4 months on my sensible just rebacked 4yr old RID mare. I carried on riding regularly (all flatwork) until Dec 2006 when my back pain increased. I subsequently had a stabilisation procedure using an implant (a slightly flexible fusion) and a discektomy at L4/L5/S1 in May 2007.
I didn't start riding again until Jan 08 and as I was without a rideable horse at that point I had lessons on a equisimulator which I found to be really useful. That built my muscles and confidence back up without having to worry about having a real horse spook under me. I bought a mare to hack in March 08 and got back gently riding. Unfortunately I had further pain problems in my back (nothing to do with the riding) and suffered sciatica due to the implant failing and the same two discs bulging again so had a spinal fusion, discektomy and laminectomy at L4/L5/S1 in July 2008. I was advised by my consultant not to ride for 12 months post op. I decided to put my mare in foal to prevent me riding sooner than I should. I've just weaned my foal and hope to get back in the saddle next month. I will go back for a few lessons on the equisimulator again before I ride my mare.
I guess my story shows things don't always go right or how you'd planned with spinal problems BUT I haven't given up yet. I hope your recovery goes well, age does have a lot to do with how you fair. I'm the wrong side of 40 so won't ever be right but hopefully I'll have a few more years of riding and enjoying my horses.
 
Hey,

I had mine done last Tuesday
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and I was wondering about this! However, although my op has gone rather well or at least 100 times better then what I thought it had done. I am going to take it slowly and not get back in the saddle for a few weeks. I have started to notice how much muscle wastage I have down my left side, as it was my left leg that took the biggest hit with me!
However, it doesn't stop me wanting to get back in the saddle tomorrow after my stitches are out (or knots removed).
Roll on tomorrow
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