feeling really low just been diagnosed

[Barcie]

I have had hip pain for the last eight months since giving birth to my son. I have today seen a consultant and the xrays reveal possible avascular narcosis which means that the blood supply to my hip ball has been cut of causing the bone to die. The full extent of the damage will not be known until a MRI scan is done in a few weeks time.

I feel really despondent that my hopes of walking properly ever again will not happen and a hip replacement may be required but not until I am in my 50's as it only last for a few years and I am only 39.

Feel that I will never be able to ride my boy and perhaps he should be put on permanent loan. I have seen a few posts where some NR members still ride with suffering from arthritis. Please give me some positive tips and useful anecdotes so that you can give me some hope that I don't have to give up riding. Apart from falling off would you class riding as a non impact sport?

also it is not just the riding but the physical work mucking out lugging hay bales and water buckets and heavy poo ladened wheel barrows around how do you less abled riders cope?

[doris]

I know it's not much consolation, but have you thought about carriage driving if you can't ride? This would still give you something to do with horses, although I don't know your horse, so cannot say whether he would be suitable for harness.

[xXSundanceBayXx]

really sorry to hear your news :( :( im 15 and have arthritis, not badly but i have to take tablets and stuff for it, i only have it in my right hand and wrist though. this was from a riding accident when i was 12. i find that wering gloves helps as it gives me some support but when its cold it really really hurts. thats really all i can say.

[Alfies-slave]

Echo the thoughts on carriage driving, you can break your horse yourself if you feel up to it, or get someone else to do it, its not rocket science. You will have so much fun & you won't have to give up your horse. Carriage driving is not just about sedate show driving or driving out for a picnic or pub visit. This summer visit some horse driving trials, the Dritish Driving Society will tell you where there are local events. There you will see the fast & furious drivers!

Apart from that carriage driving is so much fun, it is very social having someone right next to you to chat to. There are so many disciplines within carriage driving that you are bound to find something to suit your tastes & pocket!

A change of saddle might extend your riding life, Australian Stock Saddles, Western Saddles and the style of riding that goes with them are easier on the joints. These forms of equitation are less wearing as they were designed for people who spend hours in the saddle.

[Shadowlark]

My left hip doesn't properly support my weight - the joint is a "Disaster area" as my Dr. puts it. I also have arthritis in almost every joint including my neck and a muscle induced curvature of my spine. (28 btw if your wondering ;)) I do a lot of yoga and some strength excercises - Basicly my left hip is solely held together by muscle.. and THAT took time. But the ridding was a BIG part of that therapy. I do a lot of stretching on and off horse and excercies that work the muscles around both hips (the other is in trouble also,, but hasn't had a nasty fall to agrevate it.. cause I always seem to fall on the bad one ;))

I have to be careful, my hip can dislocate while I am in the saddle - and I have come off that way. I am never 100% balanced and I have to keep that in mind when I ask my horses to work for me. My english saddle is collecting dust and has been for years. I usually ride in a treeless barrel saddle that keeps me tucked in tight. My horses are mounted from the right as it's the hip with the strength to get me up there.

I am treated regularly by my chiropracter, and an excellent theraputic massage therapist. I wear Kineseotape frequently
http://www.softclinic.ca/kinesiotaping.html
esp if I know i will be in the saddle most of the day. I have found great relief from APPLYING gloucosamine and Chondroitin in cream form rather then taking it in pill form. I have lost weight, gained tone and eat as healthy as I can (oh Starbucks..why do you cause me to diverge from my diet..I hate you.. but I love you..) I manage at this stage to not take any drugs.

I keep my horses out 24/7 and they are thriving, and I don't generally have the back breaking stuff you are worried about I do still haul feed and water.. but I think of it as an extension to my "work out". On my really bad days.. and they happen.. my OH who is terrified of the horses comes out and lends what help he can without going to near them.

Can I ride every day? Frankly no.. usually it's actually my hands that will fail me not the hip. If I have chilled them at all they will seize almost entirely.
However, we have 14 horses on the ranch 6 dogs and all the chores joys etc. that go along with the above. I do my own horses feet, Ride barrels and poles, compete in reining run agility with my dogs.. etc etc etc.

These things will only stop you if you let them. You need to ask yourself how important it is to you and take the steps you need to take to help it all go forward! A change in expectations, a change in scenery a change in discipline or even stabling practices could keep you in horse shoes as long as you want to be there :)

All the best,

[Barcie]

shadowlark thank you for your uplifting post I do have treeless saddle but may consider investing in one with a bit more support such as a western style my sister in law who lives out in the states swears by western sadles as being so much more comfortable and good for you if you are not quite perfect with balance.

I do find that I am not in pain when riding, dismounting is probably the hardest a long way down!! The pain is in my right hip so my left leg takes the impact on dismounting. Also if my boy puts in a big spook it I do feel it.

I have never considered driving and perhaps should look into it more. My horse is an IDx tb cross 16.1 hands 7 years old so young enough to be retrained. I will keep my eyes peeled for any driving events in my area anyone know of any in the berkshire area?

[Stella2]

I'm sorry to hear that, what rotten news :( I can't offer advice really, but if it was me, I think I'd keep riding. If you have been managing fine, then why not carry on. None of us know what the future brings, life is for living whilst we have it :) So maybe they have to bring the hip replacement forward a couple of years, people can have more than one of those - several in fact :)

Hence the phrase in my signiture line ;)

[horse__obsessed]

I do find that I am not in pain when riding, dismounting is probably the hardest a long way down!! The pain is in my right hip so my left leg takes the impact on dismounting. Also if my boy puts in a big spook it I do feel it.
use a mouting block to dismount;)

[Unbridled]

I'm 24 (soon to be 25) and I have an injury to my sacroiliac joint from a fall off Sugar. This makes my lower back tight and really painful. I suffer from a lot of muscle spasms in my left hip and leg. But you know what? Riding never fails to make my back feel better. Sometimes I can't go above walk because sitting trot and canter are too uncomfortable for my back, but the gentle movement of the walk really loosens up my muscles.

Just because you can't ride as you always have doesn't mean you can't ride at all. And even if you can't ride at all, maybe you could learn to drive? Chin up and the best of wishes for a speedy recovery. :)

[Wally]

Pm Monty, she can give you the lo down on riding with hip problems. She's the expert, (and not the one in my signature,) she knows her stuff, and can give you a realistic overview.

You could always take up driving, have a look at the British Driving Society Website. There are contact names on there for the local group reps.

[Skib]

My hips are OK (I think) but my back is bad so my left hip doesnt open out. I find it hard to use my left leg and to dismount.

I know an Americna riding instructor who rides following a stroke which left her with limited movement down her left side (her show jumpers quickly adapted, They had to, she says) and my own RI rides with almost no muscle on one leg following a back injury.

In other words, it is possible to ride a horse with an imperfect or impaired body, and even to start riding like that as I did. What one cant promise is that you can go on riding as you used to. It is a case of gradually discovering work rounds and what you can and cant do and teaching your horse to respond to your (now) more limited cues.

If one side of your body doesnt work, it means you haver to concentrate more on turns in one direction and take care to see your horse doesnt become unbalalnced because you always work on your easy way. It is very confusing for a beginner like me. A weak left leg makes it harder to ride on the left rein - yet hampers turns to the right? But remember that women rode side saddle using a whip to represent one leg? And you can do that.

The solutions found by other people wont necessarily be right for you. I'd start with the horse riding. Find a teacher who is interested in riding with physical limitations and can advise you. Ask Riding for the Disabled for help.

One important thing as you do find a way to ride. Ignore people who constantly correct you or say you are rubbish. I do get very miserable under the scrutiny of proper riding teachers! One has to accept the fact that one rides with the body that one has got. It isnt going to get better and it may even get worse, after a fall or in bad weather.

However, since you have a horse of your own, whom you know, you are off to a good start. I dont know your horse, but I know the American lady and my own RI have their own familiar horses to work with and I wish I had the same.

I do wish you well and hope you will find the guidance that you need. If you are really stuck in finding someone, PM me and I will tellyou how I found my RI.

[Afellpony]

I'm so sorry to hear your news. I wish you well and hope things will get better.

[Peanut]

Ditto AFP - so sorry to hear about your condition. I do agree with Wally that Monty is the obvious person to give advice on how you might cope.

Hope the MRI scan brings some hopeful news. Keep your chin up and take one day at a time is all the advice I can give.

[BeachRiding]

Your not alone! My TI Band has slipped so I can't even lift my left leg, the only way to walk is to wing my hip joint out and forward. This has resulted in my hip ball joint to come out. Talk about pain! I also have terrible sciotica pain. Consultation? I am only 15! My whole leg goes numb and I can't feel it for several hours....

My thoughts are with you. ( plus the arthritis in my knees and wrist is so bad I feel like shooting myself some days)

[NSCHMIDT]

Hey Barcie,
I'm sorry to hear about you condition. Before you get really down, please see the bone doctor. They do hip replacements on many ages depending on the condition. I have been an operating room nurse for over 10 years and I have seen them some on people younger than 50, much younger. Yes they have to be redone after a number of years. Also if the bone in your hip has been without blood supply and the damage is serve enough, your doctor will worry about infection as well. Don't lose hope until you talk to the specialist. ( you may also have to find one who is willing to do a hip on a younger person) I have arthitis in my hands and there are times when it's hard, but it's funny almost when you really want to do something your brain figures a way around the problem. Good luck to you

[LMS]

What horrible news, I'm so sorry.
If you are considering persuing riding, try different saddles, don't assume that a western saddle will be a good alternative choice. Yes, I agree that the base of support will be better because it is wider/flatter BUT it may put your hip in an angle that will not help your hip.

I have osteoarthritis of the hip as well as a cyst & labral tearing. I'm 38yrs old. This year was the first time that riding in a western saddle actually hurt my hip. Reasoning: because it can't give me the narrow support that an english saddle can give me. So until my arthroscopy, I can't ride in any wide saddle (for example the nice wide Klimke saddle hurts too) or ride a wide based horse.

I'd look at driving in your case.

Again, I'm so sorry for your news.

[teabiscuit]

so sorry to hear that you have such a major problem with your poor hip
xxx

[ruthb]

Very sorry to hear your news, but you are jumping the gun. Take a very deep breath and wait until you have had the MRI before you panic and start imagining the very worst.

When the doctors have confirmed what's wrong they will come up with a treatment plan. There is NO WAY they will leave someone of your age unable to move properly and there is masses that can be done in terms of surgery/pain management.

I know how you feel because I suffered nerve damage three years ago, which left me in dreadful pain 24/7. Lucky for me it didn't affect my mobility, but it was devastating as I was literally in agony and painkillers didn't work and it took months to diagnose. But please believe me that there IS light at the end of the tunnel. You are not alone. And the months before I was diagnosed were by far the worst - not knowing what was wrong and not having any proper pain relief and not knowing how long it was going to go on for was incredibly depressing/exhausting, and I felt just as panicky/depressed as you sound. But once I started to make progress the pain became more manageable and I got my sanity back too (almost!). I am positive that there will be a suitable treatment that will give you back your quality of life, and you will appreciate it all the more for having faced losing it.

One piece of advice I would give you is that sometimes to get the right treatment you do have to be very firm with doctors, and sometimes also have to do your own research on treatment. If your diagnosis/treatment is straightforward, brilliant. But if it isn't, don't be afraid to research it (internet brilliant - google to find the relevant support group and pick their brains on treatments/the best doctors), discuss what you have found out with your doctors and ask for second opinions & referrals if you have to. Don't be afraid to be bossy! I think that if you are not proactive you can get pushed to one side, and I found that taking some control made me feel a lot more positive too.

In the mean time spend as much time with your horse as pos - even if you're not riding its the best therapy ever. Good luck.

[LMS]

One piece of advice I would give you is that sometimes to get the right treatment you do have to be very firm with doctors, and sometimes also have to do your own research on treatment. If your diagnosis/treatment is straightforward, brilliant. But if it isn't, don't be afraid to research it (internet brilliant - google to find the relevant support group and pick their brains on treatments/the best doctors), discuss what you have found out with your doctors and ask for second opinions & referrals if you have to. Don't be afraid to be bossy! I think that if you are not proactive you can get pushed to one side, and I found that taking some control made me feel a lot more positive too.

In the mean time spend as much time with your horse as pos - even if you're not riding its the best therapy ever. Good luck.

That is soooo true! (first part & second part)
My doctor that I had so much faith in ended up always leaving me more frustrated at each visit.

She was always saying: "Oh you're in the normal range", "Don't worry so much", or the best "Nothing you can do but just wait, let's keep an eye on it & see if it gets worse". This is a doctor from a teaching university, who really is good but is too busy to be good.

The last advice was regarding my hip, I was in agony, couldn't walk let alone stand when there was a flare up. She ordered an x-ray & reffered me to a physio of my choice. The x-rays were general but cited a cyst. I asked her to look at the x-rays because some things looked odd to me but she wouldn't.

I ended up being very frank with my physio therapist & urged him to do something about it. I was on his case (but nicely as he's also a client of mine) and we finally got in touch with a top surgeon. On first assessment, I was told it was too late, but to be 100% he ordered more tests, then he told me that there may be hope but not to hold my breath.

I'm glad that I'd finally taken charge or it really would've been too late (may still be). I got myself a new doctor and we are now sorting out 10yrs of ailments that weren't addressed with proper follow ups.

[Trewsers]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Don't have any practical advice - just wanted to send some sympathy. I'm sure there are lots of people on here that can offer up advice.

[Faerie Rider]

Can't offer alot of advice myself just wanted to send some good thoughts your way..xxxxx(((big hugs))))xxxxxx

Thinking of you
FR

[Lucy J]

so sorry to hear about the diagnosis. with regards to driving, i do know that ryecroft school of equitation (google it) do driving lessons and Ithink they do events too....:)

[coverblown]

oh that's really tough, poor you, and I bet its really sore.

When my GP suggested in the summer that I may have OA I did a bit of digging about the operations, and isn't there one where they cover over the ball joints in your hip, which means that they can do it to a younger person like you? I am 50 and this is what they mentioned to me....

However, bloods came back negative - still have the pain tho' :confused:

But very best wishes, hopefully there is something to be done which will allow you to continue to ride...

Anne x

[Debs0571]

Hey there, so sorry to hear your news.
I'm sure you have allready heard this, but try not to get bogged down in what might happen, and if you can, take things one day at a time. Keep your chin up.
xx

[icegirl]

Ditto with the above - illness and any kind of disability is really tough to deal with -but you have lots of good advice from here to start you off and I wish you the best in your desire to keep going with horses and to do what you can with them.
Good luck.

[louise1]

[QUOTE=Barcie;1107593]I feel really despondent that my hopes of walking properly ever again will not happen and a hip replacement may be required but not until I am in my 50's as it only last for a few years and I am only 39. /QUOTE]

just to give you some hope. my hubby who is 41 has had very bad knee problems and the consultant wouldnt offer him a new knee until he was in his 60;s but his knee got so bad (after collasping whilst walking) they offered him a total knee replacement. i suggest you go back to your consultant (if you havent already) to say this cant be good for a person your age etc...

[Imp]

Re dismounting

I'm with you on the landing problem, I had a car crash in January and a neck and spinal injury left me weak down one side. I also have arthritis in my right hip from a broken pelvis when I was 15... I'm not the wreck I sound though :p

My recent probs have been hitting the ground whilst dismounting; so, I swing my leg over her neck and sit side-saddle like, reposition then adjust my landing onto either my good leg or equally spread (on a good dismount day ;) ).

I've found the other posts on riding with a one sided weakness very inspiring, I've been feeling very lonely about riding with my issues lately - I've posted a thread of my own on a similar vein today.

Your boy sounds lovely :)

I will keep everything crossed that things are ok for you, that this is a mistake (they happen), that the process plateued (SP? doesn't look right???) or that there is some remedy out there for you :p

[LMS]

I went & had a look on my surgeon's article that is available on line. Go down to "Core decompression & grafting" It talks about osteonecrosis (avascular necrosis), pre-collapse stage. Something to look at anyway.

Here's the link:

http://jri-oh.com/pdf/Dr_Beaule_article_new.pdf