Should I rest or keep going? (m)

[Nimbus65]

So after my fall from Stan last weekend which left me very sore and with a suspected fractured tailbone, I'm really struggling w/ whether to keep riding or wait until I'm all healed up.

My bum is the only thing that really hurts (and it does REALLY hurt). I rode Friday morning - quite full-on, loads of walk to canter and canter to walk transitions requiring me to really SIT into the saddle. Yesterday, I went to our yard's Christmas "mini Olympia" and sat on a hard seat in the cold for three hours. This morning, I had already booked to ride, but was VERY sore before I got on (Stan, lunge lesson) and I did find that when I had to really "hold" him with my legs to get him to work in an outline, the pain was unbearable. My instructor did give me her seatsaver for the second half of the lesson (which really) helped, but I'm really torn about whether or not to keep riding as I'm not sure whether I'll heal faster if I stop or whether it makes no difference.

I was pretty anxious to ride on Friday and today to make sure I didn't lose my nerve (6 weeks or so off would give me too much time to convince myself that Stan was a monster and I will always fall off when he bucks), but I wonder if I shouldn't take a break over Christmas. On the other hand, I don't want to completely stiffen up and feel like working those muscles (especially those in my lower back) can only help them. I really struggled to keep Stan in canter today because after about 7 or 8 strides, my back went "ow" and I stiffened which good ole Stan took as a signal to return to trot.

What do you guys think?

My bum/lower back is painful enough that it's hindering me n day-to-day life . . . it's a pain (literally) to get in and out of the car, I find walking up stairs painful and walking any great distance is a challenge (I took the dogs for a 2-hour-walk yesterday and was really struggling towards the end), sitting either for any length of time or on a hard surface is a challenge and bending and stretching hurts too. But I sleep fine at night and the amount of pain when I'm not doing any of the above is a dull ache, so it's not completely stopping me from "operating," if that makes sense.

What would you do?

[Faerie Rider]

Hi Nimbus

Have you been checked out at the Doc's? I really think it's worth it..I'm not one for going if I don't have to..but I didn't know how badly I was hurt until i did...and you might find you are doing more damage and that could keep you out of the saddle longer..pop along to the GP and he will tell you if you have to go to hospital for an xray..it would be better to know.

Feel better soon and Happy Christmas
Regards
FR
xx

[Hallmarked]

I would say rest. Sorry to sound like a spoil sport but if you are in that much pain surely it must be difficult to enjoy or ride to the best of your ability anyway.

However having said that, Faerie Rider is right in that you should really seek a professional medical opinion, which is NOT me, personally I would be afraid of making the damage worse and ending up spending more time out of the saddle than if you had rested. You might have to take a few steps back in progress while you re-build your nerve but a sympathetic instructor should help you no end.

To help make day-to-day life more comfortable do you carry around a nice soft fluffy pillow to rest your poor tail bone on everytime you sit down to reduce the pressure?

However I might be overly cautous as you only get one back, but at the end of the day you need to make your own mind up.

Positive vibes for a speedy recovery and I hope it doesn't spoil Christmas for you.

[nutkin]

I would say rest or you could make things worse.I'm currently not riding due to my accident(10 weeks now)and my injury,classed as whiplash is damage to the joints and ligaments as well as muscles in my back and neck.I have tried to ride and had to be helped off of my horse as the pain caused me to seize up and be unable to get off.I know that in the long run I am better off not riding and it sounds as though you know the same thing.TBH with a suspected fracture to the tailbone if you were to fall chances are it would become a complete break which would mean a much poorer outlook for you in the long run and a possibility of paralysis.Is it really worth taking that risk?

[cazrider]

Honestly Nimbus? I'd take the break. Give your poor tailbone a chance to heal, which, to be honest, doesn't sound like you are at the moment. You can still lunge freeschool and do groundwork. Why not use the opportunity to do some groundwork with Stan, and if possible, get someone else to school him on the odd occasion to keep the ridden work up. It sounds like a real pain (ho ho:o ) but it may be better for you in the long run. Best of luck whatever you decide.:)

[Nazdaq]

Hey, I bruised my tailbone in my first fall almost a month ago now, and I had to rest it for a week, and the pain was just like yours. I then rode at the end of that week even though I was still a bit stiff and aching, and I was alright in just walk and trot for half an hour. I then didn't ride again for another week, and was all but healed by the end of that time, other then the occansional twinge in my tailbone when going up stairs (Ouch!) I would say like the others have said, you need to rest it, but it may heal faster then you think if you do rest it, so I would say just have a break from riding, and when it feels a little less ouchy get back on him but try to limit it to walk and trot for a while. Hope that helps and you heal up soon! :D

[Werehorse]

If something hurts, it means (generally) that you are causing it more damage.
Rest as much as you can until it heals. In my experience, trying to 'work through' something will always make it worse. The best advice I've ever been given concerning injuries - me: 'it hurts when I do this..' doctor: 'don't do that then' :D

Have you seen a doctor about it? (sorry if repeating.) Might be worth considering seeing a physio if it gets no better with rest.

[Mary Poppins]

You really should rest or you could do yourself more damage. You do need to see a doctor - at least then you will know how serious your condition is. If it is just bruising you can make the decision to continue, but the damage may be worse than that and you may really have to rest. It isn't worth the risk to carry on regardless.

[fair~filly]

Stop & rest..!!
I carried on riding with severe back pain & now face a life of no feeling in my leg. I've been medically retired & day to day living is a pain (literally)
No chance of me riding again, I have to stay away from the yard as I get tempted :(

[Afellpony]

I hurt my back riding a few years ago. I was riding horses that were too big and strong for me. I gave up riding for 3 years when I bought a foal and had her to bring up and bring on. I must say the rest did it good and it didn't hurt for ages after that. It doesn't hurt now at all when I ride Falcon (touch wood). It only hurts if I ride a big pulling horse which I dont now. No reason to ride anyone else's, or riding school horses. I still get the occasional twinge but I put it down to the trains I ride to work. I guess a bad back is just one of the hazzards of riding (and of every day life). I think if you're tall you stand a greater chance of back injury that if you're short, like me.

[kayjayhorses]

I fractured my rib a couple of months ago and I stopped doing everything to give my body a chance to heal, to be honest I was in that much pain I couldn't do anything anyway but the sooner it heals the sooner you can get on with your riding and be pain free.

[Nimbus65]

I'm still really sore and walking hurts so I think I should see the doctor . . . I can't go today or tomorrow, but I'll go either Wednesday or Thursday. And we'll see what he says.

Thanks for all your advice . . . it's a bit of a no-brainer really - I guess I'm just hating the idea of stopping for a while :(

N

[Trewsers]

If it were me I'd definitely stop until I wasn't so sore. Believe me, you can do more damage by keep on riding - I have a nagging painful back (my own fault for lifting too much and too often) and honestly, the only thing that puts it to rights is rest and more rest. Besides, its fun watching OH muck out etc...hehehehehhe....hope you're healed soon!

[Skib]

Nimbus, I just read your reply on the walk trot transition - which makes perfect sense to me. So decided to reply.
My recent fall was also worst on my lower spine and I am still stiff more than two months later.My riding has gone backwards and I suspect it is because I did go back too soon.

I wanted to be in the saddle and stopped hacking but went for a lesson. Rising trot really hurt each time I sat, which showed I was wrong. And I wonder if going back to riding too soon has meant I am still suffering now?

My advice is to allow the bruising time to heal, but I would also try to stay supple by moving as much as you can? Walk which you are doing (though not too far). I have always walked when my back was bad. And once the bruising has subsided, may be you can find a physio therapist to suggest exercises that might help.

Then when it doesnt hurt to ride, go back to it gently? But choose carefully what you do and dont spend too long in the saddle? Don't do what I did and avoid rising trot by spending 45 minutes without stirrups.
My back doesnt hurt when I am riding but it does most of the rest of the time. And my OH says the bruising still shows on my lower back. I used to reckon that 6 weeks was enough to recover from any accident or being ill. But this time it is dragging on and on.
In your place, I'd be very careful of myself for the next six weeks and hope it is all over by then.

[BeachRiding]

Rest!

How are you feeling now?