Riding after hallux rigidus surgery

ThreeTB's

ThreeTB's

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It appears I may have to have surgery on my big toe and am told I will be non weight bearing for 6 weeks! Haven't seen the surgeon yet, but googling it seems to be 8-12 weeks recovery time. Has anyone had this surgery and how long was it before you were back in the saddle? (I'm thinking sitting on a horse would be better than walking on the foot, so might be quicker getting back to riding than walking ;))
 
my friend had this done and she had a pin through her big toe which stuck out of the end (this was quite a few years ago) think you will be best talking to your surgeon and asking what damage you could do by riding on it . bones take 6 weeks to heal remember! good luck -hope it doesnt hold you back for too long:D:D:D:D
 
I'd be interested too as need the surgery but am avoiding it big style because of the recovery time. I'm told I would have a plate screwed across the joint, plaster cast, non-weight bearing for weeks and after that a lot more recovery time! I suppose once the cast is off and you can get boots on riding may be ok. The thought of bone being black and deckered off is a bit ewwwww!
 
OMG I hope there's nothing sticking out of the end of it! :eek: supposed to be 2 screws which will be internal and hopefully not stick out at all ;) My appt with consultant is 14th Nov so am hoping to get it done before xmas (10years of BUPA through work has finally been worth it!), then if the weather is as bad as last winter I won't care that I can't ride or walk the dogs :D
 
attitude is key to recovery! if you have a real reason to get better you will recover much quicker. i woke up from my back surgery and said "how long till i can ride" take their advice but youll work out a way if your determined!:D:D:D:D
 
jumbyjack, I've been putting it off too, but can't cope with the pain any more. When you walk the dogs for 1.5 hours and every single step is painful, something really needs to be done ;). It wakes me up at night and is often really painful even when I'm not weight bearing on it, and I am starting to limp and will seize up in other places as I compensate.

I've chosen to go private as I can choose when to have it, and last winter I hardly rode so would like to get it over and done with so I can be riding again in the spring. Worst time of year for arthritis too, so would have to suffer through the cold and damp again :( OH will take care of 2 horses, my new one will go on full livery while I'm out of action - would have been easier in summer with them out 24/7 but OH said he'll manage and then we'll be able to ride together again in the spring :D
 
Archiepoo - I'd like to be ready for the first fun rides in March/April :D Would be gutting to be laid up in the summer watching everyone else enjoying themselves, lying in the house while other people muck out in the depths of winter is a much more appealing proposition! :D
 
lol yes i m sure you will be laughing at us muppets mucking out with hats and frozen fingers while youll reclining eating chocs on the sofa!! and as i said three tbs it was years ago my friend had this done so im sure theyve improved it by now so dont worry about wires sticking out too much!!!! lol :D
 
There is no saying you couldn`t ride post surgery..... but it takes 6-8 weeks for the fixation to secure that`s why NWB for 6 weeks.
I see your point about being able to keep pressure off the big toe whilst riding, easier than walking, however.... horses are unpredictable and a slight spook could mean that the toe is compromised!
a good guide would probably be 8 weeks at least depending on whether the surgery is successful and that there are no complications.
And remember the last thing you would want is to have surgery again to fix a misaligned or joint that isn`t healing, then you have to add on another few months rehab time!
The toe has to fuse properly and this takes time.

I have not had the op but am a physio
 
miss_wilson, I don't intend to ride within the first 6 weeks :eek: just that a lot of websites/sports forums etc state return to sporting activity in 8-12 weeks post surgery.

I will obviously ask the consultant when I see him, but wondered if anybody had any personal experiences with riding, as most experiences I've come across on the internet are runners, and that's obviously using the foot more than sitting on a horse.

I probably won't even want to ride if it's icy and snowy, but am more worried about piling on weight due to inactivity (after losing a stone this year, don't want to undo all my good work!).
 
i always said id do what the surgeon said --but its soooo hard to wait the recommended time -i wasnt supposed to get on a horse after my back surgery for 12 weeks(almost complete compression of the spinal cord with nerve damage and dropped foot) i walked like id had a stroke for ages and was in agony - but couldnt wait three months to sit on a horse! i lasted six weeks and had to sit on my super quiet tb-it took 4 people to get me on and off lol! do talk to your surgeon tho to be safe.x
 
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"miss_wilson, I don't intend to ride within the first 6 weeks just that a lot of websites/sports forums etc state return to sporting activity in 8-12 weeks post surgery."

Sorry think you misunderstood what i said, i was not implying that you were going to ride at 6 weeks, just that your healing time is 6-8 weeks
 
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