Anyone else out there riding in spite of past injuries that could be aggravated? I herniated a disc a couple of years ago, and have stopped jumping but have safely returned to riding. Now I find I am very tempted to jump again and think that small jumps may be ok. I find it hard to do the exercises every day but know that if I don't, I could end up crippled. So how does one decide---still ride and risk one day not being able to walk?
Or do we give up on something we love to do because SOMEDAY  more...

Anyone else out there riding in spite of past injuries that could be aggravated? I herniated a disc a couple of years ago, and have stopped jumping but have safely returned to riding. Now I find I am very tempted to jump again and think that small jumps may be ok. I find it hard to do the exercises every day but know that if I don't, I could end up crippled. So how does one decide---still ride and risk one day not being able to walk?
Or do we give up on something we love to do because SOMEDAY it may make us crippled? No one has told me to restrict anything, the doctors always said stuff like "If it causes you pain, you might want to stop doing it." Most riders like me know that "no pain, no gain." So therefore, it is harder to differentiate---how much of the pain is there because you are working physically hard and developing new muscles, and how much of the pain is there as a warning to go no further?
I do know that nerve pain (sciatica and pain from the butt down the leg to the foot) is usually a warning sign from a disc that something is awry. But sometimes after a ride my back feels alot better than it did before. I used to see a hands on chiropractor and he helped for awhile, but when the disc kept going, eventually herniating and pressing on the nerve root, he was still trying to manipulate my back and I don't think that that was good. I have an extraordinarily high pain threshold which is kind of bad, in these situations. Once I had a root canal and after, the dental surgeon wondered how I wasn't walking around in constant agony up to that point judging from the extent of the bleeding in my dental nerve roots.
Anyone tried acupuncture? Do you recommend it for a bad lumbar disc? Is it safe for me to be riding or am I just sitting on a time bomb? To jump or not to jump? When is enough enough? Any advice on these matters would be much appreciated. less...

Hi, i've just joined this site and have just read your comments about riding and a back problem, I broke my back about 10 years ago and made a good recovery, i was told to exercise and strengthen the muscles in the back, at no time was i ever told not to ride again. It comes down to knowing your own body and limitations, always warm up and flex befor riding ( i'm sure you know this )sometimes its better to enjoy what we have. I tried chinese acupuncture and found it really good. Keep healthy and  more...

Hi, i've just joined this site and have just read your comments about riding and a back problem, I broke my back about 10 years ago and made a good recovery, i was told to exercise and strengthen the muscles in the back, at no time was i ever told not to ride again. It comes down to knowing your own body and limitations, always warm up and flex befor riding ( i'm sure you know this )sometimes its better to enjoy what we have. I tried chinese acupuncture and found it really good. Keep healthy and happy x less...

I have diagnosed with a 5mm bulge in in the L5-S1 and a 6mm bulge in the L4-S1. Started getting radiating pains down left butt and down leg. Options were: Drugs - pain killers (not an option when working for the railroad), surgery, (no thanks!), live with it or try the new "IDS" Therapy. IDS is a computerized stretching machine that creates a zero gravity environment for the actual disc. It also allows the disc to rehydrate itself. I tried this and after 30 days of 3 x per week,   more...

I have diagnosed with a 5mm bulge in in the L5-S1 and a 6mm bulge in the L4-S1. Started getting radiating pains down left butt and down leg. Options were: Drugs - pain killers (not an option when working for the railroad), surgery, (no thanks!), live with it or try the new "IDS" Therapy. IDS is a computerized stretching machine that creates a zero gravity environment for the actual disc. It also allows the disc to rehydrate itself. I tried this and after 30 days of 3 x per week, back was much better. Riding again AND playing Racquetball which I love almost as much as horseback riding. I highly recommend IDS. Hope this helps as it worked for me. less...

"No pain, no gain" when you have back issues is a good way to end up in a wheelchair!
On the other hand, strengthing the abdominals and obliques goes a very long way toward your goal of jumping.
I, too, found that my back felt better after riding. At about the same time, I noted that the flexation of many back exercises - and at least one very expensive therapy machine - are almost identical to the body motions sitting at a lope (canter)- and I'll bet you've felt it, too!
I do beli  more...

"No pain, no gain" when you have back issues is a good way to end up in a wheelchair!
On the other hand, strengthing the abdominals and obliques goes a very long way toward your goal of jumping.
I, too, found that my back felt better after riding. At about the same time, I noted that the flexation of many back exercises - and at least one very expensive therapy machine - are almost identical to the body motions sitting at a lope (canter)- and I'll bet you've felt it, too!
I do believe, if you get to where your legs & abs can outlast your horse at the lope, you should have no back trouble jumping. less...

There is alot of good advice. I really agree with the yoga and building strong core muscles. I also understand about the love of riding and refusing to give up. Everyone has to use comman sense. And, sometimes, things in life must be modified to fit the current situation. Pushing to the point of permenent injury would not be logical to me. But, we all get to choose and we all live with the consequences of our choices.

Great question. DId you injure your back while riding? If so you might want to check out your horses back. They mirror so much. But for your back you need to be doing yoga to firm up core muscles which will also firm upi back muscles. It pur muscles that keep that spine toned up. You may not believe me but dressage exercises will help a whole lot also. Do know a lot of jumpers out there are not to concerned about form, which does earn injureies. Don't want to keep on and on yet, I've had my own  more...

Great question. DId you injure your back while riding? If so you might want to check out your horses back. They mirror so much. But for your back you need to be doing yoga to firm up core muscles which will also firm upi back muscles. It pur muscles that keep that spine toned up. You may not believe me but dressage exercises will help a whole lot also. Do know a lot of jumpers out there are not to concerned about form, which does earn injureies. Don't want to keep on and on yet, I've had my own disc problems. It really hurts like a knive. How all goes well. less...

I, too, have back/neck problems. Last year I also fractured three discs in the middle of my back and haven't been able to ride since then.
It won't keep me off though - I just can't stand loving them from the ground up!
What is the "rolfing" one of the members mentioned?
Sometimes, we just have to assume the risk for the love of the ride!!!

I have a broken neck, a cervical fusion, a broken tail bone, a couple of bulging disks and a herniated disk. Used to ride race horses. It's not if you get hurt, it's when and how bad.
I still ride, though I gave up the race horses, I still jump and ride cross country.
The best thing that ever helped my back was Rolfing. This is deeper than massage and longer lasting than chiropractic. It realigns the facia, (hope I spelled that right) the muscles and the bones.
Check out the Rolf Institute   more...

I have a broken neck, a cervical fusion, a broken tail bone, a couple of bulging disks and a herniated disk. Used to ride race horses. It's not if you get hurt, it's when and how bad.
I still ride, though I gave up the race horses, I still jump and ride cross country.
The best thing that ever helped my back was Rolfing. This is deeper than massage and longer lasting than chiropractic. It realigns the facia, (hope I spelled that right) the muscles and the bones.
Check out the Rolf Institute on line to find a practitioner near you.
Really, Really helps! Good luck to you! less...

Hi, I've got 5 "bad" lumber discs. I don't do any sitting trot and I keep my tail bone off the saddle when I canter. I don't see why you can't go over jumps if you stay in the jump position as much as possible.I've been told not to ride but I still do.I've altered my style of riding & I do my physio exercises to keep all the stomache and back muscles strong. I don't do too much riding. I'm happy with 2-3 hours at a time - it's better than nothing.If you stop riding you really need   more...

Hi, I've got 5 "bad" lumber discs. I don't do any sitting trot and I keep my tail bone off the saddle when I canter. I don't see why you can't go over jumps if you stay in the jump position as much as possible.I've been told not to ride but I still do.I've altered my style of riding & I do my physio exercises to keep all the stomache and back muscles strong. I don't do too much riding. I'm happy with 2-3 hours at a time - it's better than nothing.If you stop riding you really need something to replace it or your heart will have a big hole in it.I haven't tried acupuncture, just visualization & affirmations. "My back is healed".Watch the DVD of "The Secret"... Good Luck less...

Re: Dianastar write: I hate to say this, but if your pain threshold is that high, you will have a worse injury than most before you even know it. I would strongly consult a back specialist before any jumping.......and YES acupuncture could be a really good thing.Pls be care full and ride safe!!!:)

hello , how about my horse

I hate to say this, but if your pain threshold is that high, you will have a worse injury than most before you even know it. I would strongly consult a back specialist before any jumping.......and YES acupuncture could be a really good thing.Pls be care full and ride safe!!!:)

Bad backs are serious, 1 have 1 also disentergrated discs lower back and when 1 ride legs go to sleep, so what do you want out of life? even light riding is better than none, it about drove me nuts to not be able to speed event any more, But the alterrnative was worse! Think about it, I am learning to think differently, and do things differently, and I still get tons of pleasure out of it in a different way.
Think positive, just let your legs go totlly numb 1 time and you will think differen  more...

Bad backs are serious, 1 have 1 also disentergrated discs lower back and when 1 ride legs go to sleep, so what do you want out of life? even light riding is better than none, it about drove me nuts to not be able to speed event any more, But the alterrnative was worse! Think about it, I am learning to think differently, and do things differently, and I still get tons of pleasure out of it in a different way.
Think positive, just let your legs go totlly numb 1 time and you will think differently.And it can still be a BALL! less...