WWYD ? Time to hang up my boots ?

[Xmasha]

Ive just had a meeting with the specialist about my hip arthritis. Theyve told me i need to give up riding.
At first they told me i would be able to have key hole surgery to remove the bone spurs. So I put my ID mare in foal so when i had the surgery she would be off having a foal. Now im not eligible for this op, as apparently it would the make the arthritis worse in the long run.
My husband is very supportive and has suggested i focus on the breeding side of things. I do love breeding , but i do it because i enjoy the hope of one of them being my next riding horse.

So wwyd ?

1. Listen to the doctors and give up riding, and focus on breeding
2. Try riding a horse not quite so wide
3. Ignore doctors and carry on as normal.

Its not just the pain from riding thats the problem, its afterwards. I have to crawl up and down the stairs on my hands & knees as its so painful, and the bone spurs will cause my leg to give way. Having not ridden for 2 weeks the difference is amazing. I feel almost normal.

 

[Abacus]

First - I am so sorry for you. It does sound as though riding is so painful (afterwards) that it isn't worth it, or good for you in the long run.

A left-field suggestion: have you ever tried side saddle? Some people wth hip issues find it helps. You don't say which hip is worse and I can't remember which way round you'd need to sit, but there are saddles where you sit on either the left or the right depending on which hip is worse.

 

[Equi]

It’s a situation that really sucks. Give up riding, sell the big horses (so you don’t be tempted to ride and hurt yourself) and get a solid little driving pony and trap.

 

[Birker2020]

Ive just had a meeting with the specialist about my hip arthritis. Theyve told me i need to give up riding.
At first they told me i would be able to have key hole surgery to remove the bone spurs. So I put my ID mare in foal so when i had the surgery she would be off having a foal. Now im not eligible for this op, as apparently it would the make the arthritis worse in the long run.
My husband is very supportive and has suggested i focus on the breeding side of things. I do love breeding , but i do it because i enjoy the hope of one of them being my next riding horse.

So wwyd ?

1. Listen to the doctors and give up riding, and focus on breeding
2. Try riding a horse not quite so wide
3. Ignore doctors and carry on as normal.

Its not just the pain from riding thats the problem, its afterwards. I have to crawl up and down the stairs on my hands & knees as its so painful, and the bone spurs will cause my leg to give way. Having not ridden for 2 weeks the difference is amazing. I feel almost normal.

You're having a rubbish time lately aren't you? I am sorry.

So its not just the pain aspect if you keep riding? If I've read your post right its the bone spurs that will make your leg give way and which will increase in frequency?
But instead of giving up totally could you not reduce the time you spend in the saddle, say cut it down by half and see how you feel, maybe ask your doctor if that is a feasible idea.

However, I think you have your answer however devastated you might feel at having to give up riding. You don't want to end up in a wheelchair or something like that. But I can understand when you want to ride how horrible it is that you can't and sympathise.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

You could always get into driving?

I wonder if a saddle that fits you well (appropriate twist and all that) on a more slab sided and narrow horse would help. I don't know that this would make riding "good" for you though.

I would say stick with the breeding, especially if there's a good market for what you produce, and consider driving because you can do a lot of cool things that way too, if it interests you. Sure, it isn't riding, but it's still training horses.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Have you tried riding a narrower horse? If it does take away the pain for you, id certainly do that.

Would riding less help? So you could still get your 'fix' just not as often.

Otherwise, could you try driving?

I'm very sorry to hear you've been experiencing so much pain. I think, as hard as it is, you need to consider your own quality of life and it sounds like riding in your current set up is just making it worse for you. I'd be looking at doing everything I could to reduce pain, even if that does mean sacrificing riding. ?

 

[Leandy]

Its not just the pain from riding thats the problem, its afterwards. I have to crawl up and down the stairs on my hands & knees as its so painful, and the bone spurs will cause my leg to give way. Having not ridden for 2 weeks the difference is amazing. I feel almost normal.

Oh dear. On this basis I would give up personally. I cannot believe it is worth the pain. I'd be looking at other ways to get my horsy fix. Whether as spectator, volunteer or owner etc. Just involvement which is not as rider?

 

[Squeak]

I think I'd be tempted to try a different saddle on current horse, try a different size/ shape of horse and failing that get in to driving and possibly see if there's a rider who would school or compete them ridden too so that you could potentially still enjoy that aspect of it too if you wanted.

I would definitely keep breeding if you're enjoying it, although I can understand that the motivation was to breed something for yourself rather than anything else.

Such a tough one and it's a rubbish situation to be in.

 

[Xmasha]

First - I am so sorry for you. It does sound as though riding is so painful (afterwards) that it isn't worth it, or good for you in the long run.

A left-field suggestion: have you ever tried side saddle? Some people wth hip issues find it helps. You don't say which hip is worse and I can't remember which way round you'd need to sit, but there are saddles where you sit on either the left or the right depending on which hip is worse.

Thank you . i did think of side saddle, i know very little about it. I was concerned that i would need to ride astride at some point otherwise would this affect the horse and make her sore /stiff ? Its my left hip thats worse, and the left leg that gives way. The right is getting slowly worse as im starting to feel that at times too.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Agree with those that say about narrow horses. I've gone to TBs now as the wide natives with their jarring upright shoulders was really making my hips sore to the point where getting off after a long hack was excruciating pain.

 

[Xmasha]

You're having a rubbish time lately aren't you? I am sorry.

So its not just the pain aspect if you keep riding? If I've read your post right its the bone spurs that will make your leg give way and which will increase in frequency?
But instead of giving up totally could you not reduce the time you spend in the saddle, say cut it down by half and see how you feel, maybe ask your doctor if that is a feasible idea.

However, I think you have your answer however devastated you might feel at having to give up riding. You don't want to end up in a wheelchair or something like that. But I can understand when you want to ride how horrible it is that you can't and sympathise.

Thanks Birker. Yes, been a rubbish few months.
Its not even the amount of time in the saddle thats the problem, im the same whether its a 15min school or 2 hour farm ride. Its the minute i sit with my legs forced open to a certain degree. Its pushed me into a horrible armchair position, sort of perched on top. Hence why my balance hasnt been the same for a few years now.

 

[Birker2020]

Thanks Birker. Yes, been a rubbish few months.
Its not even the amount of time in the saddle thats the problem, im the same whether its a 15min school or 2 hour farm ride. Its the minute i sit with my legs forced open to a certain degree. Its pushed me into a horrible armchair position, sort of perched on top. Hence why my balance hasnt been the same for a few years now.

Probably clutching at straws here but wondered if any of the results on this search will help you
https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/search/3203393/?q=hip+pain+and+riding&o=relevance

i see you have been having this issue since 2020

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'm really sorry to hear this.

I do think that it's worth trying a narrower horse and seeing how you get on with that before fully hanging up your boots. If you don't know of one that you could ask for a sit on, maybe try Willington Hall Riding Centre and see what they've got? Tulip (who I ride there) isn't too wide and is lovely, but they have plenty of others too. Very helpful and knowledgeable people.

 

[eahotson]

Ive just had a meeting with the specialist about my hip arthritis. Theyve told me i need to give up riding.
At first they told me i would be able to have key hole surgery to remove the bone spurs. So I put my ID mare in foal so when i had the surgery she would be off having a foal. Now im not eligible for this op, as apparently it would the make the arthritis worse in the long run.
My husband is very supportive and has suggested i focus on the breeding side of things. I do love breeding , but i do it because i enjoy the hope of one of them being my next riding horse.

So wwyd ?

1. Listen to the doctors and give up riding, and focus on breeding
2. Try riding a horse not quite so wide
3. Ignore doctors and carry on as normal.

Its not just the pain from riding thats the problem, its afterwards. I have to crawl up and down the stairs on my hands & knees as its so painful, and the bone spurs will cause my leg to give way. Having not ridden for 2 weeks the difference is amazing. I feel almost normal.

What about driving?Or would side saddle help?

 

[milliepops]

sorry if you've already done this, but is there any chance of a second opinion before makings such a sacrifice? just in case someone else has a different POV or ideas?

 

[Xmasha]

You could always get into driving?

I wonder if a saddle that fits you well (appropriate twist and all that) on a more slab sided and narrow horse would help. I don't know that this would make riding "good" for you though.

I would say stick with the breeding, especially if there's a good market for what you produce, and consider driving because you can do a lot of cool things that way too, if it interests you. Sure, it isn't riding, but it's still training horses.

Thanks CC
Ive booked myself a lesson at Ingestre tomorrow. Ive told them why and what i need to achieve, so i should get an answer over the next few days as to whether i can ride a narrow horse / different saddle.

 

[Birker2020]

sorry if you've already done this, but is there any chance of a second opinion before makings such a sacrifice? just in case someone else has a different POV or ideas?

Good idea

 

[sbloom]

I would say saddles can make an enormous difference and there are specialist brands available that are geared around rider requirements (they don't neglect the horse!) and Rider Reboot group on FB.

 

[Xmasha]

sorry if you've already done this, but is there any chance of a second opinion before makings such a sacrifice? just in case someone else has a different POV or ideas?

I never thought of that. Ive been seeing the doctors for years now, and have been to see more physios than i care to mention. the last physio was amazing, and i genuinely thought wed cracked it. Then one day i fell over after my leg gave way and was in a mess. Cue urgent visit to physio.She worked on me for a bit but my left leg just went into spasm and she had to stop and referred me straight back to the Drs. Doctor then transferred me to the skeletal team. Who did an assessment, with the aim of sending me for keyhole. They then told me the op is only for 20 year olds, and at my age ( 52) its considered too risky as it can make the arthritis worse. The centres who do this procedure wont touch me ? Do you think its worth a private consultation ?

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Sorry if I have missed a chapter, but as a fellow hip arthritis sufferer (who just had a waste of time arthroscopy which is what it sounds like you were offered, so try not to be too disappointed it can't go ahead) are they not discussing hip replacement? That is the next option for me (along with a pelvis srgery as that's buggered too) and has been discussed with my surgeon. If you are in this much pain, then I am surprised that they haven't offered it up as an option.

It's a serious thing to have done but they do ceramic replacements for active people who will heavily use the hip, and if it's stripping you of the thing in life which you love then I would be pushing for it.

ETA: I am 26yo in case it's relevant.

 

[Xmasha]

I'm really sorry to hear this.

I do think that it's worth trying a narrower horse and seeing how you get on with that before fully hanging up your boots. If you don't know of one that you could ask for a sit on, maybe try Willington Hall Riding Centre and see what they've got? Tulip (who I ride there) isn't too wide and is lovely, but they have plenty of others too. Very helpful and knowledgeable people.

Thanks TP, a friend of mine suggested a trip to a riding school. So ive booked in at Ingestre tomorrow. Fingers crossed x

 

[Xmasha]

Sorry if I have missed a chapter, but as a fellow hip arthritis sufferer (who just had a waste of time arthroscopy which is what it sounds like you were offered, so try not to be too disappointed it can't go ahead) are they not discussing hip replacement? That is the next option for me (along with a pelvis srgery as that's buggered too) and has been discussed with my surgeon. If you are in this much pain, then I am surprised that they haven't offered it up as an option.

It's a serious thing to have done but they do ceramic replacements for active people who will heavily use the hip, and if it's stripping you of the thing in life which you love then I would be pushing for it.

ETA: I am 26yo in case it's relevant.

He said im too young for a hip replacement, and that part of my problem is that im conformationally challenged ! The MRI showed that my hip joint goes further in than normal. I dont know whether that makes a difference ? i should have asked more questions. When they said give up riding i didnt really hear anything else.

 

[sbloom]

You need improvement in the rest of your life, not just ridden. Please look at rider reboot, it's actually this guy, he's VERY good

https://www.theneuromechanicsacademy.com/about-us - he will refer on where appropriate and may even have good medical contacts who can help you.

At the riding school you will have no idea if the saddle suits you, so it's not going to be definitive enough if you still have hip pain from it.

 

[Xmasha]

You need improvement in the rest of your life, not just ridden. Please look at rider reboot, it's actually this guy, he's VERY good

https://www.theneuromechanicsacademy.com/about-us - he will refer on where appropriate and may even have good medical contacts who can help you.

At the riding school you will have no idea if the saddle suits you, so it's not going to be definitive enough if you still have hip pain from it.

Thanks for that sbloom. I will look at that now

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

He said im too young for a hip replacement, and that part of my problem is that im conformationally challenged ! The MRI showed that my hip joint goes further in than normal. I dont know whether that makes a difference ? i should have asked more questions. When they said give up riding i didnt really hear anything else.

I would go back, with someone else to help (ideally someone not afraid to stand up for you if you are struggling with info overload) and try to see whether a hip replacement is an option. I know lots of people who have had NHS hip replacements who are your age or younger, one of which is currently climbing Kilamanjaro.

I have a tilted pelvis after one too many falls and thus my right hip no longer fits in the socket, so I wouldn't imagine my surgery would be simple either. They want to do a triple pelvic osteotomy (break the bones around the hip socket, rotate it back to where it should be and then pin it back together), and a hip ball replacement. So I'm sure there is a way around it. I was originally fobbed off with being told that I could have a prescription for serious opiate drugs and being told not to ride or do anything to aggravate it at 24yo, as I was also too young to have a replacement; with a view to re-assessing when it was unbearable.

Initially I accepted this as my sentence, however from speaking to family I went back to the doctor and advocated for myself a little more sternly. I understand that it's difficult, and I am succeptible to being meek with doctors due to them having so much knowledge and me respecting the profession, however you have to remember that they are there to serve your best interests and not refuse reasonable treatment. It's easy for them to dismiss a serious surgery in favour of just giving up what exacerbates the issue as the preferable and lower risk option, but they are also not horse people, and if they were told to give up their reason for living they might start to consider surgery too.

If people can have nose and boob jobs on the NHS due to 'anxiety', then you should be able to have a choice in treatment for a potentially life limiting problem.

 

[Tiddlypom]

The Rider Reboot guy is at Kelsall on Aug 2nd.

Not sure if there are any 45 minute dismounted 1:1 sessions left, but I'm booked on one in the afternoon . ETA there do seem to be spaces available

https://www.theneuromechanicsacademy.com/store/product/p_2915743

There's also a workshop in the evening, and there do seem to be spaces on that.

 

[Xmasha]

The Rider Reboot guy is at Kelsall on Aug 2nd.

Not sure if there are any 45 minute dismounted 1:1 sessions left, but I'm booked on one in the afternoon .

There's also a workshop in the evening, and there do seem to be spaces on that.

Its Reanne at symbiosis who has been treating me. She made a huge difference at the beginning. Shes very very good

 

[Xmasha]

You need improvement in the rest of your life, not just ridden. Please look at rider reboot, it's actually this guy, he's VERY good

https://www.theneuromechanicsacademy.com/about-us - he will refer on where appropriate and may even have good medical contacts who can help you.

At the riding school you will have no idea if the saddle suits you, so it's not going to be definitive enough if you still have hip pain from it.

Ive just spoken to David. hes going to speak to Reanne at symbiosis about what treatments/work shes done with me and see if theres anything he feels that he can do. Thanks again

 

[nagblagger]

A lot of people advocate pilates with success, I haven't tried it though. i have right hip pain- i hate dismounting , however i changed my stirrups to the 'springy' type, put in a seat saddle insert to make it narrower which has helped.

I would definitely get a second opinion, you are not old at 52!

 

[w1bbler]

He said im too young for a hip replacement, and that part of my problem is that im conformationally challenged ! The MRI showed that my hip joint goes further in than normal. I dont know whether that makes a difference ? i should have asked more questions. When they said give up riding i didnt really hear anything else.

You seem to have had lots of helpful suggestions. No idea if hip replacement is the right thing, but my friend had both hers done in her early 40's & it revolutionised her riding. She's mid 50's now & has no regrets. She is a doctor & still had to push like hell to be 'allowed' the op.
You are definitely not too young