Riding with arthritic spine and bulging discs.

cblover

cblover

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More bad news about my health....it's never ending. I knew I had something wrong being in constant pain and after a fall last September that broke my lower back and heel, but I can do without this.

My MRI results show several bulging discs in the lumbar region and arthritis in my lower spine. At least I have answers now I suppose. My doctor says I can try riding again but riding can aggravate bulging discs she says. What I simply can't risk is a fall.

So, I think I have some decisions to make and I just don't want to make them. Ridiculous I know but I need to discuss it with you peeps to help me.

We own our own land with stables etc, so that will stay and my older cob mare will be with me forever. I don't really ride her now though as I feel too big for her and at 15, she needs a lighter rider I feel. But I also have a clydesdale I rescued last year with the intention of backing her this year. She's had a few health issues that are on going but she is literally the sweetest thing on four legs.

Is there any point in backing her really? She's 17hh and even if she's well behaved she is still newly backed and all that comes with that, plus the size she is makes me think I'm taking too much of a risk. Would you sell her on?

If I could carry on riding, maybe I'd be better with an older, more experienced happy hacker. And of course then you have to go through getting to know them and their quirks. I'm really bonded with my clydesdale too which doesn't help.

Any suggestions or opinions please? X
 
I have one bulging disc with no nerve impingement. I still ride although I pick which horses I sit on now.

My doctor says do what I want as long as it doesn't hurt, have you had phyiso?

My mum had four bulging discs that happen when she was mucking out, turned to put muck into wheel barrow and they just went.

As for the big baby horse how about getting her backed and someone to ride her for you and be envoled with the ground work and then when she is a bit more established get on and just play with how you feel on her?
 
Sorry to hear of your health issues.

Does the younger horse need to be backed? As in, do you feel she needs a job to do? If she is happy being a lawn mower and you are happy to keep her that way, there's no need to sell her if you are attached. However, if you are looking to ride and are able to, that brings the question of whether you happy hack your older mare (if possible?), or get another, though caring and paying for 3 horses is some going.
 
My clydesdale is 9, so not exactly a youngster. Lol. I can only manage 2 horses and I've made the decision not to ride my older cob, but she'll be here forever. I'd like to carry on riding, although I know it won't be like it used to be or as frequent.

So do I back her, sell her, possibly breed a pure bred clydesdale from her (we did plan to do this at some point anyway), back her then sell her.....???. Arghhhhhhh!!!!
 
cblover said:
My clydesdale is 9, so not exactly a youngster. Lol. I can only manage 2 horses and I've made the decision not to ride my older cob, but she'll be here forever. I'd like to carry on riding, although I know it won't be like it used to be or as frequent.

So do I back her, sell her, possibly breed a pure bred clydesdale from her (we did plan to do this at some point anyway), back her then sell her.....???. Arghhhhhhh!!!!
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It's a tricky one. I'm not sure how easy it would be to sell her given her age. Worth a shot though! Plus, if you do back her and all goes well, she could turn out to be a happy hacker for you? Backing her will give you either of those options.
 
I have bulging discs, and bursitis in my hip (amongst other things :-) ). The GP was not forthcoming with ideas, offered various pain killers, and said I could have a steroid injection. I did a local Physio, who slightly improved my hip.

I then went to a 2 week residential physio, and they were very different. After an initial examination I was on a course of exercises and body awareness to fire up the correct muscles to support the back (clenched bum whenever I use the opposite shoulder), as well as specific exercises to encourage the "bulge" back in (a lot of Cobra Position, even though it was very painful).

I was dubious, but it did work. I also then had to do a LOT of leg exercises as my left leg was so wasted it also was not firing up. It felt ridiculous as I did not seem to "remember" how to use that leg.

Now I can ride, but I am very careful as to what I ride. I find a smaller horse is better, but not a cob as they seem to be wider and a more jarring action. I prefer one that is schooled so I do not need to use my leg above a touch (which should be all horses I guess, but in real life it is not all that many).

Even so, I have given up jumping bigger fences, and loooooong rides.
 
That sounds sensible and I'd like to keep riding. I love the character of my clydesdale but of course she has it all to learn still. I sorted of rescued her and she's ever so grateful bless her. I'm sure she has the temperament to be quiet and lovely but even getting off her might be a bit of a challenge. Why is everything so sodding hard! Lol

If I thought she'd take me safely down the road twice a week for about 30-40 mins, I'd send her my friends to be backed as planned and keep her. But, as the docs says, it's not the riding it's the risk of falling that I must avoid!
 
Just been looking at the width of my clydesdale and she's narrower than my cob....another thing going in her favour.

Meant to say before that I've also have steroid injections in my hips too as I have chronic hip tendinitis. Think I need rubbed out and drawn again! Lol
 
After 3 spinal ops over the last 13 years I'm still riding and finds that it helps to ease the pain. I have permanent nerve damage in left leg and lower vertebra are fused following recurrent prolapsed discs. I now ride in a body protector which helps to keep me straight and gives me more protection if I fall. I just ride older horses that don't need regular riding so if I'm having a few bad days it isn't of detriment to the horses. I use a gel seat saver which helps and I prefer riding my daughter's 15.2 rather than my 16.2 as getting off is less jarring.
I would def carry on riding if you can as the mental and physical gain you will get is worth the slight risk. Just make sure anything you ride is as safe as you can get and perhaps keep to flatwork.
 
Thanks that's helpful and makes me feel optimistic. Although when you say you prefer a smaller horse to get off, it makes me think my 17hh clydesdale will be too big to jump off.
 
I agree with Slightlyconfused. I think it is worth backing the big hairy girl and seeing how the land lies then. In the mean time try pilates and other core strength exercises. A colleague of mine has suffered with bulging discs and found that pilates really helped - after getting over the initial unease about joining such classes at the gym.

As for getting on and off a bigg'un there are always high bits of ground, mounting blocks, logs etc that can be used for both mounting and dismounting. Horses are amazingly intelligent and trainable for your particular needs so it is worth baring this in mind when choosing who to back her for you... Also...Have you tried taking turmeric? may help both of your conditions?
 
Cb fan - I love the fact your always optimistic. I need to rub shoulders with you! Lol

She's a lovely big horse, not without some of her own physical issues, but I'm working on them now too. She's really got under my skin, and I don't want to part with her but it's a long way down. Lol

I do take turmeric and glycosamin gold and feel this is helping a little bit.
 
I'm another with bulging discs, I ride 4 times plus per week and although my consultant says to keep on riding he also says to avoid falling off! personally riding I feel eases my back, the movement is good for me and doing nothing makes my back bad. Some days it hurts walking across the field on uneven ground so I jump on my horse go,for a long hack Come back and it's gone!

I've had a nerve block injection under mri and its relieved any sciatica I had so there are treatments.

My philosophy is I will ride as long as I can, you're a long time old and I'm not there yet!
 
I have arthritis in my spine and some disc issues. Up until about 3 months ago, I was nearly crying when I was riding and convinced that I would never ride again without pain. I had been on Naproxen and paracetamol, and codeine, none of which helped. If I went to trot the pain was so intense that I would have to stop instantly. I had been to see two physios and paid out probably nearly £1k in private physio. No luck. I'm not a depressive person by nature, but was starting to feel seriously down and couldn't see a way out of the pain. I was then recommended a totally different sports therapist and a few days after the first visit, I felt better. After the second visit, which was two weeks after the first one, it was even better and now *touches wood* after about 5 visits, I am almost pain free. If I overdo it, I take paracetamol and ibuprofen for a day or two, but I also had hip bursitis and that has also almost disappeared. I am swimming two or three times a week and also doing two or three very tough gym sessions, but it is totally under control. I think it really depends on getting the right person to treat you and getting the right exercises to do :)
 
I only had one bulging disk but my physio actively encouraged me to keep riding as long as I was very careful about maintaining good posture throughout. I also did/do lots of pilates and as above, do the Cobra every day to help prevent the disk bulging again.
 
cblover said:
Cb fan - I love the fact your always optimistic. I need to rub shoulders with you! Lol

She's a lovely big horse, not without some of her own physical issues, but I'm working on them now too. She's really got under my skin, and I don't want to part with her but it's a long way down. Lol

I do take turmeric and glycosamin gold and feel this is helping a little bit.
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Hehe! I have to be optimistic or I'd never do anything! :)

It is a long way down... but we don't think about that or we'll end up there! ;)

Glad you feel the turmeric and glucosamine is helping... Just don't rush into any decisions you might regret ;)
 
I'm going to take my time making a decision. In fact I'm sitting here thinking about the whole thing. I've got an app made to have her back checked (just a bit of an MOT) and I'm waiting to hear back from the spinal specialist about my back.

So no rush I'd say. X
 
As an off the wall comment, have you thought about a gaited horse to ride? Something like a five gaited Icelandic that doesn't choose naturally choose trot when you go up a gait from walk. I have a four gaited one at the moment that does trot by choice and I have to ask for tolt but my mare I used to own naturally had the smoothest gaits you could ever wish for. She tolted naturally by choice, sometimes a little pacey but the most comfortable ride you could ever wish for. So smooth you hardly knew you were on a horse and no jarring on the spine. A bit like sitting on a massage chair! You's need the right horse,certainly, as they aren't all comfortable, but if you find the right on they can be.
 
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