Unable to ride

[MummyEms]

Hi lovelies
So I'm feeling extremely low. I've been in hospital due to excruciating back pain. Admitted for 3 days, MRI just revealed I have a ruptured disc in my spine.
I can't walk sit or stand.
I'm devastated. It's likely 12 weeks rest and physio.
I've worked so so hard on my horses. Not to mention the bond and the love and how much seeing them and them seeing me means to us daily.
I also have children with ponies who will also lose out now. They'll all have to be turned away.
Obviously they'll have all their basic needs thoroughly met but it won't compare.
Has anyone else ever been through anything similar in any way.
I could cry and not stop tonight

 

[Quigleyandme]

That is rotten luck. Only a true horse person would, despite excruciating pain, unable to rest as no position they adopt affords any relief from the pain, only get teary because they can’t be with the horses. I do sympathise really I do but Jan/Feb are probably the best months to be laid up and fingers crossed you and the children will be back in the saddle by Spring. X

 

[JackFrost]

I was off for a few months once. 12 weeks will pass. It's important not to lose your general fitness so do what you can to keep the rest of your body functioning and ready to go again, and stay positive. TBH the weather is so rubbish now, and with lockdown, a lot of people aren't riding, and won't be til the spring!
Don't know your horses, but the work you have put in won't go to waste. I don't think they measure time like we do, they'll just be happy to see you again like you've never been away.
It does sound hard for you, physically and mentally. can't think of anything useful to say, sometimes life just throws these things at you . Thinking of you. Don't cry x

 

[Canterbury Cait]

Ah, that is so tough, I’m sorry.

Try to imagine of one of your horses was injured and out of work for a few months...I’m sure you would treat them with kindness and patience. Now try and apply that to yourself!

it will be worth it and you will come through x

 

[Amun]

I don't have any advice but I really feel for you, this would shake everyone. It might seem very distant now but you'll be back one day. If I was in your situation, I would probably use the time for something I overlooked for a lack of time, whatever that is - learning new language or watching netflix day and night hope you will feel better soon

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Hi lovelies
So I'm feeling extremely low. I've been in hospital due to excruciating back pain. Admitted for 3 days, MRI just revealed I have a ruptured disc in my spine.
I can't walk sit or stand.
I'm devastated. It's likely 12 weeks rest and physio.
I've worked so so hard on my horses. Not to mention the bond and the love and how much seeing them and them seeing me means to us daily.
I also have children with ponies who will also lose out now. They'll all have to be turned away.
Obviously they'll have all their basic needs thoroughly met but it won't compare.
Has anyone else ever been through anything similar in any way.
I could cry and not stop tonight

Yes, I am currently laid up with a frame on my broken leg, walking with crutches for up to 6 months. I was in hospital just over 2 weeks, so possibly had more time to get used to the idea. I can see my horses out of the window but that's it. It is what it is. I am a lot older than you though and have learned to take life in my stride, neither do I have children wanting to ride. I hope that you make a speedy recovery.

 

[MummyEms]

Thank you so much for all the kind replies. Somehow it means a lot and helps.
Xx

 

[Quigleyandme]

The children will have more time to bring you cups of tea and biscuits, massage your feet, plump your pillows, comb your hair, do the laundry, wash up, peel the potatoes...gosh, I’m sorry, I appear to be hallucinating.

 

[JackFrost]

"Quigleyandme, post: 14507041, member: 134374"]The children will have more time to bring you cups of tea and biscuits, massage your feet, plump your pillows, comb your hair, do the laundry, wash up, peel the potatoes...

But I thought the children were being turned away??
MummyEms, ]I also have children with ponies who will also lose out now. They'll all have to be turned away.

 

[SO1]

In 12 weeks time you will come out of hibernation and hopefully it will be a different more positive world with more people vaccinated for Covid and maybe no more lockdowns.

Hopefully it will not be too difficult for your husband with the kids at home and you incapacitated. Do you have someone who can come in and help?

My pony had a suspensory injury in March just before the lockdown, and I thought well you know it is depressing but at least it is lockdown no shows, and not going to be missing out on much whilst he is resting and rehabbing. Also he normally needs a lot of exercise in spring to keep his weight down which would have been difficult with the lockdown, and trying to comply with YO requests to reduce number of visits and time at the yard due to lockdown. As he is on part livery he did his walking programme during lockdown on the horse walker, no worries about laminitis as he was on box rest on soaked hay and I did not have a moral dilemma about riding and going to the yard too often during the lockdown. The first month of lockdown I did not go at all to the yard, then after that I went to the yard a couple of times a week to see him. Then when lockdown lifted he was ready to be trotting and for some individual turnout. If he was going to be injured the timing was perfect.

You are injured, you will recover, if there is a good time to be injured now it is, perhaps while you are lying in bed or on the sofa you can supervise home schooling of the kids, if they are old enough they can help a bit around the house whilst they are off school and keep you company. You will be less likely to catch Covid too hopefully as not leaving the house.

 

[oldie48]

I'm going through something similar in that I can't ride but I tell myself that at least the weather is vile and with Covid, I'm not missing any competitions. You get chucked stuff at times in your life that you don't have any control over and you just have to get through it the best you can. I hope you are getting enough pain relief and can sleep, unfortunately that will bring you down quite low. Your horses will be fine and probably benefit from a break, most people can't do much with their horses ATM anyway. I'm a very keen reader, so I've been filling time with that and also for the first time in my life I watch something on the TV for an hour every afternoon with the fire on and a dog on my lap. What I am finding particularly annoying is the medication I am having to take is making me put on weight even though I am eating less, if that wasn't the case I'd be self medicating with chocolate! I hope you are feeling better soon.

 

[ycbm]

I've watched my husband cry and unable to move with the pain of a ruptured disk three separate times. He's tall and it goes with the territory. I sincerely hope they have your pain under control.

On the plus side, for the past 20 years he's been relatively pain free, just a bit stiff because they have fused, so I hope that gives you hope for the future.

I've been 'off games' a number of times over the years and it sucks big time, so you have my sympathy. I hope time goes quickly.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I’m sorry to hear this. I rode 3 weeks after a compression fracture to my spine and it was utterly stupid, I have suffered ever since. You’re much stronger and more clever than I, your love and compassion for them shines through. Take it a day at a time, you’ll be back before you know it. Look after yourself OP.

 

[MummyEms]

Well it's 3.50am and the electric shock like pains have woken me up!
Reading your replies is comforting as I hadn't really realised how many other people have been through something similar.
All I keep thinking of is what my horse must be wondering. She's just such an intelligent and kind mare, if only I could tell her why I'm no longer there each morning.