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Nicki
Bronze Member
 United Kingdom
149 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Oct 2008 : 1:42:07 PM
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Hi all, I wasnt sure whether to post this, but thought maybe somebody out there might have some experience/advise.
I have just had a disc operation on my back and been told strictly recovery time 3 months before riding.
More Importantly and this is my Question - during the scans for my lower back the Surgeon wanted to MRI by whole spine because I ride. In doing so he has found a section in my neck where he says there is insufficient space for the fluid surrounding the bone, and he very simply told me that I couldnt ride again. I was and still am, absolutely flabbergasted.
He says that because there is so little space for cushioning, that if I have a fall and fall in a certain way that this is jarred then I will be definitely be completely paralyised. You can clearly see what he means on the scan. But I don't know about the implications. Could I have been like this all my life and just never known?
He has told me I can have an operation - but going for the back op was a Major issue for me, and I'm still getting over that. This op is a serious operation involving cutting across the front of my neck and taking vertebrae out and putting in a metal contraption and screws etc.
Clearly I have a major life decision to make - either don't ride or have the OP. I can Never give up riding, but I dont want the Op either.
I'm not asking for advise on what to do, as that is unfair - I just want to know has anybody experienced this, or knows of anybody with anything similar? I am so shocked, I just need to try and balance this with some practical information/knowledge of others.
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Merlot
Platinum Member
England
3260 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2008 : 1:50:32 PM
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| Oh dear, am so sorry to hear this - what a dilemma and one I don't envy you. My friend Polly (on here) has major back issues and was in hospital for an epidural yesterday which sadly for her didn't work as planned and she has to go back for further investigations. She might be able to offer you some advice/help. Will point her in your direction when I speak to her if she doesn't see this. |
 photo by Eric G Jones |
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Gucci
Silver Member
England
389 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2008 : 2:12:23 PM
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| Nicki why don't you have a chat with the Physio/s who treated you after your op. They will give you some practical and realistic advice about the other op and your rehab afterwards.They will have seen people go through it on many occasions so will be able to give you the information you need. At least you will know what to expect and that will help with making your decision. |
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emma
Gold Member
816 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2008 : 2:18:17 PM
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Well firstly i hope you recover weel from the first op.
When i was 10yrs old i had a serious neck injury, which resulted in the doctor telling me not to ride again. Well i still ride, perhaps this is stupid but i wouldnt be me if i didnt ride. Riding doesnt hurt my neck at all, its the risk of a fall which was the problem. I just figured there are other things im more at risk from.
I did however once queue up to do a bungee jump before being dragged away by my mum who wouldnt let me do it. I thought she was being a bit dramatic, but when i mentioned it to my doctor they said there was no way i could bungee jump, the forces you experience could break my neck 
I suggest you speak more with your doctor and ask if its something that could have been present for some time or if its recent. |
Emma
Fulmer House Arabians
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karen d
Gold Member
United Kingdom
847 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2008 : 2:26:09 PM
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hi nikki
in 2000 i had a 2 level spinal fusion.
they removed 2 discs and took grafts from my hip to fill in the gaps and built a metal cage around my spine with rods up either side and lots of nuts and bolts holding it all together!!!
i was told by one surgeon that i would never ride again, so i changed surgeons, to one that was horse friendly!
he has never had a problem with me riding after the operation, but did stress that he would rather i didnt fall off (so do i) and probably not do too much jumping.
one of the things that he was worried about was not the riding as such, but the lifting of water buckets and hay bales etc.
i have to say i was very naughty and whilst still in my body brace after about 2/3 months i got back on my horse, but only cos i wanted to see if i could and also cos i trusted him with my life.
i still ride every day, compete in endurance, dressage etc and apart from a niggly back, which i am sure all horsey people get i dont really have too much problem.
i have never regretted the operation.
one thing i would say is that if you do have it done, listen to what they tell you and make sure you have recovered before you start racing around too much,
best of luck whatever you decide |
www.gkjarabians.co.uk |
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trinity
Gold Member
Scotland
1126 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2008 : 3:24:48 PM
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| Can't offer you any advice other than something that Iain Stark said at a recent training event. He always rides in a hunting stock and has done ever since a trainer of his had a serious accident and was told she would have been paralysed had she not been wearing a hunting stock which gave her neck enough support when she fell to cushion it. I would look at your options and not give up on not riding again yet. I hope it all works out. Best of luck. |
Beck |
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polly
Platinum Member
2183 Posts |
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Minty Arab
Silver Member
England
482 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2008 : 7:42:37 PM
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Hello hope you are recovering well from your op? i cant offer much help with backs(my problem is my legs)but at the beginning of last year i was told that i was unlikely to walk let alone ride,the surgeons were very unhelpful it was my occupational therapist that put me in touch with the riding for the disabled people who worked closely with the physios to make sure i worked the right muscles to keep me as safe in the saddle as possible,they also advised to wear a stock or scarf as well as a good body protector that is flexible,ive found the physios and OT`s are much more positive about riding and tend to be of the opinion that you have to weigh up the risks against quality of life
i really hope they can come up with a better soloution for you,as i know how scarey major surgery is! Good luck and let us know what happens. Emma X |
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Nicki
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
149 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2008 : 4:56:53 PM
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I just want to thank all of you for your replies. It really helps. I dont know what I am going to do. But I do know all I think of night and day is going riding. I tried to explain to my partner last night, that if I cant ride then most of me will have died anyway. Unfortunately he was having a very "male" moment and couldnt understand the issue !
I am so torn between just riding as soon as I recover from this op. But I'm also really conscious that if I then fall off and something terrible happens, it isnt just me that suffers but all those around me. I feel like all roads lead to the 2nd op - but am going to take good advise and get a 2nd opinion, and also get a 2nd MRI scan in a couple of months and see if things have changed at all. Like everyone says it isnt the riding, its the falling off.
Sadly my "trust you with my life" horses, one passed away and the other retired due to injury. Leaving me with a slightly mad 8yr old (lots of whipping round, 360's, stop deads, and major bucking) although I dont fall off him that much (twice in 2 years, and that when I just had no strength in my leg before this Op), but I am very conscious that I have to really ride him and never really relax. But I really love him and I worked so hard to get him to where he is now that I dont want to give up on him.
My others are just babies, and one I have only just started backing, and I so want to ride him - but that doesnt sound like the most sensible idea either. However, if I try to find a new horse I know from experienace all the mad options that people put up for sale and dont tell the truth about. Finding an endurance horse was really hard, everyone keeps the good ones ! but maybe a quieter horse would enable me to ride without the Op and with only the same amount of worry as say a shunt in the car. Or I just have the op. and dont need to worry.
Thank you for the good advise - stock and body protector sound like a Must.
Once again thank you - all of you, deeply appreciated. x |
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jaybird
Gold Member
France
1192 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2008 : 07:26:20 AM
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Hi Nikki
Well I have had two back operations, both quite big ones, my consultant thought that to even contemplate riding a horse was madness, at the time I was not having any of it and so continued to ride, but I do get a numbing sensation in my legs after awhile so I stopped, I still get on now and again if the horse is as safe as any can be, so my adversion to 'nutters' is probably founded, I spent many years owning horses and took alot of pleasure in having them shown by others so it's not a 'lose all' situation just one to come to terms with I guess.
Good luck
Beryl |
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Egbert
Gold Member
USA
1051 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2008 : 10:21:19 AM
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Nicki,
As others have suggested, get a second opinion from someone who is horsefriendly. Seems to me that there are various devices that can be worn to protect your neck and head were you to fall. And I know this sound silly but do you still bounce?
What is a hunting stock? That sounded like some sort of protective device as well.
Good luck! And am saying a prayer for you.
Gari |
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Theo
Silver Member
England
368 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2008 : 3:52:43 PM
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Hi Nicki,
I have had the operation done in 1996 after a rugby scrum collapsed on me. Crushed the disc between C5 and 6. Accident on 7th Dec.Spent 1 week in traction and then 1 week post op, got thrown out of hospital on Christmas eve, tried to throw a section of hay over the stable door on Boxing Day (Agony! ) Not a good move!
Op consisted of taking a piece of hip bone (opted for right hip so could get my left leg up in the stirrups ASAP  !)Had a butterfly plate fitted across and screwed in by 4 screws.
So far so good, took me a couple of months to recover, I managed to lose 2 stones over the 2 weeks in hospital. Would say 3 months to get back in the saddle.
Have since started numerous horses, riding buckers and rearers etc to no ill effect. Fingers crossed! The fused joint seems stronger than the old one.
Dont know what I would have done without having the op, might have ended up in a wheelchair? Get it done, it'll be fine!
All the best,
Theo :-) x |
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