[kiwi farmgirl]

Hey everyone

I was wondering if someone out there has had surgery on their back (or something similar), and how soon after they were able to ride again...?
I had discectomy surgery the week before Xmas. Basically the surgeon pared away most of my disc between vertebra L4 and L5 in my lower back as it had ruptured and was pressing on my nerve preventing me from walking. The surgery came about after a minor horse accident (got dragged a very short distance) and then lifting the lawnmower... stupid I know!

Long story short, but as my back's been injured since July 2009, I've ended up selling my main mare, and the filly I had almost finished breaking in. Luckily I do still have my old boy who is 26 and basically retired. I am suffering severe withdrawal symptoms from my horses!

Has anyone else gone through this? I feel up to trying some light riding (walking etc) on the old boy but DON'T want to impede my recovery. I can walk and bend and do most things. I have some minor nerve damage to my right leg so part of it is numb, and my big toe doesn't work too well. Other than this, I feel OK. The surgeon has said that I will be able to ride again, but as I don't have my follow up appointment with him until Feb 15, I'm desperate to get some sort of idea on the timeframe parameter on when I might be able to ride again.

Cheers,
Kiwi

[kiwi farmgirl]

BUMP

[improv]

Hi Kiwi girl.
I know there are are few members who have had back injuries and surgery.
I was hoping that they'd pop in.

I can't help at all I'm afraid, except the standard *hasten slowly* and don't risk a setback.
Perhaps you might PM Taliem? I'm sure if she's about she'd have a chat with you.

Best of luck and I hope you are back on board soon.

[champagne]

I can fully appreciate how you would be feeling as i to have a severe spinal condition that has prevented me from riding for some time and i also understand the withdrawals from horses.. the only suggestion i can offer you is to take things slowly.. and build up a level of fitness & strentgh before you climb aboard. i know how my muscles felt after a ride having a holiday so keep in mind with a back injury or after spinal surgery there is going to be a fare bit of muscle atrophy and as we riders all know all our muscles are used to ride a horse.. I have yet to climb aboard due to a variety of reasons but when i do i will be taking things slowly and most likely only ride at a walk for no more than 10 mins.. I'm of to se a rheumatologist(sp?) soon

[kiwi farmgirl]

Hey everyone

Thanks for the great advice.

Taliem replied to my PM and gave me some great advice, being that I really should wait a bit longer until I'm much more healed, as she waited almost 12 months after her injury.

I might see if I can help at the local PC here or something to give me my HORSEY fix !

I'm moving up north in a couple of weeks to my partners place, so I will be taking the old faithful retired horse with me, and I guess having him around will help somewhat with my horsey cravings!

Cheers,
Kiwi

[mum1]

kiwi farmgirl, on 30 January 2010 - 01:21 PM, said:

Hey everyone

Thanks for the great advice.

Taliem replied to my PM and gave me some great advice, being that I really should wait a bit longer until I'm much more healed, as she waited almost 12 months after her injury.

I might see if I can help at the local PC here or something to give me my HORSEY fix !

I'm moving up north in a couple of weeks to my partners place, so I will be taking the old faithful retired horse with me, and I guess having him around will help somewhat with my horsey cravings!

Cheers,
Kiwi

Hi Kiwi

I too have had two major operations. Both were back in 2005. I had a double fusion and decompression in my neck and a laminectory and decompression in my lower back. I also had nerve damage to my left foot,which still troubles me now but not much I can do about it. It was described to me as messages going to the right place but going on a different route! If that makes any sense at all....Over that period of time I have also lost nearly all my confidence too so it becomes a mental thing as well.

I retired my mare and she became a broodie. My biggest goal in life is to get back on. My physiotherapist said that just the actual sitting in the saddle would be good as it would open and stretch up my spine. My Dr has advised that I can walk around slowly as long as I never do too much. Unfortunately all our horses are babies except for my OH's which is just too big for me to do anything with. I struggle lifting my arms up and carrying anything heavy is out of the question. I would love to find something around 14-2 - 15h that has some western training. Would probably even be willing to swap a horse if the right one came around. Unfortunately everyone is looking for that 'once ever bombproof horse' and to get one western trained will probably only ever be a dream.

If you can safely mount your old faithful horse,maybe just a few slow walks with someone in attendance would be helpful.My biggest fear is that I wont be able to get off and will have to come to the earth with a jolt or a bump.I was thinking of going to see the people at RDA for some advice.

I think you sound a bit closer than me in getting back on so I wish you well. Please stay in touch and let us know how it works out.
Best wishes for your complete recovery.