Riding again after Great Trochanter (femur) injury

C

Countrygirl82

New User
Joined
4 March 2025
Messages
5
Visit site
First time poster but long time lurker here, and after some positive stories of injury recovery!

Just over a month ago, a friend’s horse spooked, and long story short, ended up kicking my leg which resulted in a fracture to my Greater Trochanter (the knobby bit that sticks out at the top of the femur) It was broken in three pieces.
I ended up having surgery with a plate fixation (but with lassoes holding it in place not pinned to the bone, so it can be removed next year) I am now nearly 4 weeks post surgery and recovery is going well, with partial weight bearing with crutches for another few weeks.

I am really keen to get riding again at some point, and am listening to my consultant and physio’s advice, but they can’t give me any real time scale on when I might be fully recovered. In the meantime I’d love to hear any positive recovery stories and anyone’s journeys of getting back in the saddle after hip/leg injuries. Thanks in advance!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7443.jpeg
    IMG_7443.jpeg
    419.9 KB · Views: 15
  • IMG_7444.jpeg
    IMG_7444.jpeg
    481.8 KB · Views: 15
That looks nasty. I broke my left hip in 2017 coming off a young horse we had recently bought in. This was a Sunday morning, I was operated on the next day, left in bed on the tuesday, up on a zimmer on wednesday, thursday on crutches and friday I went home on crutches just toe tapping. A month later I had a check up and was told I could start weight bearing. I was back on the horse in 4 months. I have a dynamic hip screw in place. I was 63 at the time. Good luck I hope you heal well and are soon back in the saddle.
 
onemoretime said:
That looks nasty. I broke my left hip in 2017 coming off a young horse we had recently bought in. This was a Sunday morning, I was operated on the next day, left in bed on the tuesday, up on a zimmer on wednesday, thursday on crutches and friday I went home on crutches just toe tapping. A month later I had a check up and was told I could start weight bearing. I was back on the horse in 4 months. I have a dynamic hip screw in place. I was 63 at the time. Good luck I hope you heal well and are soon back in the saddle.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this, wonderful news to hear, and sounds very similar to my timescales so far. The day after the operation, the physios had me up and trying some stairs etc which was absolutely terrifying and painful at the time! I’m 42, so hoping I will have a fairly quick recovery, but it all feels very slow when on crutches!
 
Not hip but I did a fabulous number on my lower leg and ankle a few years ago (Weber c of fib, smashed through tib joint, avulsion fracture of talus, total rupture of deltoid ligament…)
Two plates and 10 screws and I was back on board at 12 weeks.

I got into a boot at 6 weeks post surgery and that was when I really got myself back up and moving. I’d ditched crutches by about week 8/9.

Good luck!
 
scats said:
Not hip but I did a fabulous number on my lower leg and ankle a few years ago (Weber c of fib, smashed through tib joint, avulsion fracture of talus, total rupture of deltoid ligament…)
Two plates and 10 screws and I was back on board at 12 weeks.

I got into a boot at 6 weeks post surgery and that was when I really got myself back up and moving. I’d ditched crutches by about week 8/9.

Good luck!
Click to expand...
Amazing recovery! Thanks for sharing that, sounded very painful!!
 
You’re all making me feel bad. I broke my ankle at beginning of October (horse knocked me over and trod on ankle). Had it operated on and have quite a few screws. I’ve still not got back on, mainly because I then got a large DVT in
December which is causing problems plusI still can’t get my riding boots on as ankle still swollen nor walk without limping!
 
asmp said:
You’re all making me feel bad. I broke my ankle at beginning of October (horse knocked me over and trod on ankle). Had it operated on and have quite a few screws. I’ve still not got back on, mainly because I then got a large DVT in
December which is causing problems plusI still can’t get my riding boots on as ankle still swollen nor walk without limping!
Click to expand...
So sorry to hear this, that must’ve been painful, and I’m sure your X-rays are interesting like mine.
I’m currently on blood thinning injections every day for a month, I guess to prevent any DVT.
I’m sure you will get back in the saddle, it’s still fairly recent since your accident afterall!
 
Countrygirl82 said:
So sorry to hear this, that must’ve been painful, and I’m sure your X-rays are interesting like mine.
I’m currently on blood thinning injections every day for a month, I guess to prevent any DVT.
I’m sure you will get back in the saddle, it’s still fairly recent since your accident afterall!
Click to expand...
I was on the injections for 6 weeks after I broke the ankle but got the DVT a few weeks later. Was put on blood thinning pills but a scan last week shows that it’s not shifting so have been put back on injections 😩. Note to everyone, I had pain in my thigh because of the DVT, not the lower leg, which meant the NHS physio didn’t think it was a DVT when I said my leg was swollen and thigh hurting (ended up going to A&E on Boxing Day!)
 
Countrygirl82 said:
They really are stingy! The initial jab doesn’t hurt but the after sting is horrid! I think I have another 17 to go (not that I’m counting or anything 😅)
Click to expand...
I’ve just bought some Cryogesic spray which my sister tells me is good numbing the area to be jabbed. It seemed to work this morning 🤞. Sometimes the jabs hurt and sometimes they don’t. I swore very badly with yesterday’s one!
 
asmp said:
I’ve just bought some Cryogesic spray which my sister tells me is good numbing the area to be jabbed. It seemed to work this morning 🤞. Sometimes the jabs hurt and sometimes they don’t. I swore very badly with yesterday’s one!
Click to expand...
I had 30 days of these after my hip replacement. I am sure a couple were blunt, just couldn't get them to penetrate so two didn't get done. Those two really hurt.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top