Riding after a back injury?

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Ninepins

Active Member
Dec 12, 2008
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Hi All

I am new to the forum and wondered if anyone out there had any experiences to share on this subject?

I've recently had spinal surgery (discectomy), and am looking to start riding again when the time is right. I have talked it over with my Dr who has said that the 'jolting' action of riding is not going to be good for my back (of course all our backs are different - for some people, riding is good for their backs, but unfortunately it's not for mine.) He didn't tell me that I should stop riding, but to be mindful that it isn't 'helpful' for my back. :(

So... I plan to return to riding, knowing the risks, and obviously want to make it as safe as I can, and take any measures to make it easier for me to keep riding for as long as I can. I have heard that building core strength is very important for those of us who've had back injuries, so I'm planning to work on that.

Is there anyone else out there riding after having had back problems?
 
I broke my back in two places. They fused two disks it means I have one leg shorter than the other by about an inch and I do get discomfort occasionly but I learnt to live with it and I ride now :D
 
I have problems very similar to yours. The best thing I ever did was find an Osteopath and Physio who both rode. I was told in no uncertain terms that if I rode again I risked paralysis. My Physio (who I found more by luck than good judgement) nearly fell of her chair laughing and had me back in the saddle in 6 months. Nearly 2 years (and the odd fall ) later - I'm still here.

If you're in Surrey PM me and I'll send you the details of the Osteopath and Physio.

If not... warm up slowly. I know from the first circuit in walk if I'm going to cope in canter that day. Don't hack - at least to begin with. The horse's movement is less predictable and I find it jolts me worse and will hurt more the next day. I tend to stick to dressage as I find the movements more predicatable - Horse willing! Look around for a good back support. The best one I've found is prolite - but there are loads. If a back protector works for you then use one - but I must admit I find it restricts my flexibility and tends to make it hurt worse on bad days so I tend not to. Find some good stretching exercises which work for your back - no-one is quite the same, so you have to sort of find your own.

If you have the opportunity try a gaited horse. I tried a freinds Icey once and I've lusted after one ever since. The running walk is really smooth and much easier to sit than a bouncy canter.

Personally I see my Physio or my osteopath every 4 weeks or so, and I do Pilates / Body conditioning to make sure my core strength is OK (Sounds like I'm this uber marvel - I'm not. I'm a slightly overweight rather shabby 40 year old mum!)

Most of all - stick to your dreams. You will get back up there!
 
I also broke my back in 2 places and was told not to ride any more, but ignored the consultant had a few months off and then went back. Then bought Puzzle (my horse) and never looked back. I only get discomfort if i ride for over 2hrs at a time.

so yes becareful but get back on and try, you can only admit defeat after you've tried. :D
 
I had the same operation as you when i was only 21yrs, I had my L5S1 removed and was also told that I really should not ride after this.

However after a two year break allot of swimming and physio I am now back to the same standard as I was before i had the operation. Take it slow do not do any jumping for the first six months or so as the movement and action can cause problems so just be sensible.

You should be fine tho. Good Luck :)
 
Thanks everyone! It is great to know you've all been able to get back on successfully. I'm so happy to hear that, and I really appreciate the great advice in all your posts. :)
 
I had a c spine discectomy on the 9th October, dont know how different the surgery is to the back or the neck. My consultant told me before surgery that there was no reason not to ride as long as i'm not planning on any cross country or show jumping in the near future. I was back riding within 7 weeks of surgery, only for ten minutes mind, I suppose it all depends on your recovery and consultants advice.
 
I had a discectomy at L5S1 in 1997. I wasnt riding then, and it never occurred to me to ask if I could when I finally started!

The only thing is, after the surgery I still have a numb foot and my left leg is weaker than my right...and I notice tis when I'm riding as I dont think my eg aids are equal.

Core strength amd stability are key.
 
I broke my back from the waist down,, much of it shattered, among all kinds of other breaks and damage else where. This was in Dec 06. Was 8 months before I could even think on getting on Dyfra and I did even though the Doc did not want me too.
I started out with a Bareback pad and rode in a
45' round pen, for around 5 mintues. Slowly worked my way up in time, though did not ride often at first.

Found out a lot of the Treed saddles were and still are, too painful for me to use when I ride a horse. I use Treeless saddles.

Only horse I can ride now are ones like Icelandic's, that have super smooth walk and Tolt.
No way would I be able to ride any thing that just trots. Is why I had to sell my Fjord.

I do use a helmet and now I ride in a Charles Owen body protection Vest, as it is Beta 3 rated.

You might look into an Icelandic or other super smooth gaited horse. Your back will Thank you for it. :D
 
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I suffered from disc problems from the age of 18, anything that involved leaning forwards was difficult, eg half seat canter, jumping, mucking out (that was the worst!). I always had to wear a prolite back support.

I remember being in agony one day, shuffling round the yard, and OH and some friends persuaded me to have a gentle walk round the roads - I struggled to mount, but because my posture was so much better in the saddle, I actually felt better when I got off!

It made me a very nervous rider, as when I fell off I suffered more than other people, and would be out of action for several days.

Gradually it got better, and an x ray showed the disc had worn away naturally and the vertebrae have fused. I now jump without a back support, can canter in half seat for the majority of a 2 hour funride with a pulling horse, and most sadly, can muck out 2 stables :(:D

My RI says my position is better, my core strength is good and I have regular McTimoney/sports massage/myofascial stretching to keep myself in good working order!

I'm not as flexible, don't have as much shock absorption, but do have strength there - I can lift 20kg sacks of feed and this morning lifted my 28kg pup onto the vets table! That would have resulted in 3 days lying on the floor in the past ;):D I no longer say 'I can't do that, I have a bad back' - just wish someone had offered me an op, rather than the 16 years it to took to happen naturally :rolleyes:
 
I've been fighting back problems for years now,but only recently found out what the problem is. My S1 has slipped out of alignment, I have a herniated disc that is pressing on my sciatic nerve on the left side and is dehydrating between S1 and L5, a bulging disc between L5 and L4 that is pressing on my sciatic on the right side and dehydrating, a bulging disc between L4 and L3 that is dehydrating, the curve in my lower spine is too shallow(birth defect), I have arthritis throughout my spine, and general degeneration of all the discs. Whoo, that's a mouthful!lol.
It's not exactly the same, but I understand back pain!!!
Some days I am in excruciating pain and there is no position other than flat on my back that relieves the pain. Honestly though, I find that if I stretch(carefully,lol) before hand my back tends to loosen up after about 15 min of riding and I feel much better afterwards. BUT I ride Rocky Mountain Horses and they're VERY smoothly gaited. They do a lateral 4 beat amble that is almost like floating. Every time I get on a trotter, even if it's for 5 min, I pay for it dearly.

The tips in the above posts are all really good advice. I do ride with a back brace, especially if I am going on a trail ride. Yoga/Pilates is Awesome for back pain as long as you don't over do. Definitely work your way back up. After a surgery like that some of the muscles in your back will have atrophied and won't be NEARLY as strong as they were.

I can't recommend getting a gaited horse enough! Even on trails they're much smoother, rough terrain is how the gait developed in the first place.
 
minor injury compared to yours and these listed

I had a fractured L2 coming off a horse in Feb 2007. Told to take 4-6 months off - just managed 4. Never looked back - until a rotten fall last weekend left me with fairly severe concussion and loads of bruises and pain in my back - will go back, will just question what I do lots more.

But don't give up, just go easy on yourself....
 
Thanks everyone. Your posts have cheered me up no end.

I agree that core strength is paramount for us riders, particularly those of us who face back problems.

Sorry to hear that there are so many of you out there who have injured themselves. Having said that, it is a huge relief that I am not alone. I wish I had found this forum earlier. :D I have spent a very gloomy couple of weeks thinking I would never get out of a walk again. I have a good sports physio but unfortunately haven't been able to find one who rides. That would certainly be ideal. (Che's, unfortunately I am not in Surrey.)

Jen_e_Jen - your problems are very similar to mine. I had surgery as my L4/5 disc prolapsed and was pressing on the sciatic nerve. I was in constant pain and it got to the point where I could no longer walk or sit. The scans also showed degenerative discs.

elaine - completely agree with you about the leg weakness. I found that before I had the operation when I was still trying to ride with sciatic pain, and can really notice the difference in my legs now I have started physiotherapy.

I am mainly a dressage rider (or at least try to be!) so am really aiming to eventually be able to get back to doing sitting trot and cantering again.
 
Ive always had bad backs but 2 years ago fell and chipped my spine. I recovered quick etc. But i do have alot of pain at times, and at one point have been stuck on the floor unable to move! I found that Bowen therapy helped ALOT!

Riding wise..if im sore, then a nice leasurely walk helps loads i think the movement keeps me stretching without straining if that makes sense? But i find that doing any sort of work or the sorts is painfull.

At other times im 'sensitive' and manage to do some light work but find i sit very wrong to stop the pinching pain in my lower back.

9/10 times though im fine and dandy and find that the less i ride the worse i actually feel.

BUT ive not had an operation so cant comment on that aspect!

Hope you are ok! x
 
I had 2 herniated discs, L5 and L6 I think, one was pressing on my sciatic nerve, i was unable to walk, dress, stand, drive- do anything really for about a year, the bottom part of my spine, right at the bottom is degenerating, I am in constant pain with this and have been told there is nothing that can be done. I was offered an op - Im not sure if this is what you had when I was 30 but I was really really scared of having this done and asked for something else- they offered epidural injections but didnt think they would work. I had these done in Jan 06 and the day I had them done was the day I stopped taking the heavy duty painkillers i had been taking for a year- I still get pain sometimes, and the nerve is damaged in my left leg. I cannot stand for long periods or sit for long periods without pain or it completely ceases. I started riding about 6 months after the epidural as although no intense pain, i had to build up my muscles as out of action for along time, and the nerve in my leg was painful. I have always ridden in a prolite back support as I figured the action of spooking would be the one that was most likely to damamge my back again. at home /work i try to get up every 15 mins to half and hour, I was told to never sleep on my back or front, and always on my side. I cannot canter in the seat as i do no have the strength thru my back or legs really and my horse is quite wide- i always canter in forward seat. Sometimes I cannot ride as im in too much pain, or my legs /back just feel to weak but last year i was swimming alot more and that seemed to help. Listen to your body is the best thing.
I think i should see and osteo and maybe start pilates or something. All the best, you will get there, i remember feeling like I would never ever be able to sit on a horse again but it does happen. Good luck xxx
 
I have a back problem (not as bad as yous though) as I have 3 degenerating(sp?) disks and a broken one that is rubbing on my nerve, but i am only 17.

The doctor and physio told me that riding and swimming were the best things I could do for my back as It develops a good posture and so builds up the muscels that support you back.

I never have any problems whilst riding though I do sometimes have an achy back after doing lots of stables or shiffting rubber matting or hay etc but I can still ride afterwards and it doesn't get any worse.

I know this isn't the same but I hope you can go on to ride again
x x
 
OneWish said:
The doctor and physio told me that riding and swimming were the best things I could do for my back as It develops a good posture and so builds up the muscels that support you back.

x x
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I think I like your doctor and physio :) Mine usually give me the opposite advice about riding and tell me its not a good idea because it puts additional pressure on the discs. Needless to say, I choose to ignore that advice :cool:
 
I had a bad fall from nutty warmblood in Nov 2006... shattered two vertabrae,,, now am back to riding .. normal walk and trot fine,,, sitting trot and canter, can be dodgy, depending on how i,m feeling,,, pain killer consumption can be high or low ish, depending on how much work i have done, but back is stable now, and feel positive about my riding future,,,
find having alesson where i have to work hard still not too good tho..
MM
x
ps now got Mills, 14.2 little ponio coblet sort of thing... no more warm bloods for me..!!!!!!!
 
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