A question on human muscle aches

[atr]

I’ve just got home from day 1 of an excellent clinic. It was hard work, but very productive.

I’ve only been riding regularly again for about 3 weeks after some time off. Horse did not get time off so he’s fit and raring to go. But he can take a bit of leg at times.

I’m in generally quite good shape for a 62 year old, but I’m no Charlotte Dujardin and my leg and hip muscles are currently asking me what in the heck I think I’m doing… this too I know shall pass once I’ve been back in the saddle for a while.

But my immediate issue is tomorrow, as I have another clinic session which I would like to get the most out of.

Any tips for getting the jello legs back in full working order in the course of the next 18 hours or so? I’m just about to go wallow in a bath full of Epsom salts and I’m making sure I hydrate.

[Paisley_Pony]

Ibuprofen to relieve inflammation, plenty of sleep if that’s possible, and if you’ve got access to it, the Absorbine vet liniment gel is great for people, too. Have fun at the clinic!

[WildGooseChase]

Get plenty of sleep, replace electrolytes, drink lots of water, and eat a somewhat carb heavy meal tonight. Edited to add: don’t go bananas on the carbs, but don’t be afraid to eat a piece of bread with your meal, or potatoes/white rice. Carbs are important fuel for muscle recovery.

Personally, I would stay away from oral NSAID’s if you can. I’d rather use the Epsom salt idea, but also cryotherapy. Soak in cold water for a couple minutes, as cold as you can tolerate. That will help reduce inflammation and pain.

For tomorrow, you’ll be sore, but I think you’ll be alright. Same thing, lots of fluids, replace electrolytes, but eat clean (lots of fruits and veggies!), and make sure you eat some proteins as well.

Have fun at the clinic!

[atr]

I’ve never met a carb I didn’t like Potatoes and asparagus with my fish tonight.

Considering I’ve been riding for most of my life, I’m bummed by how quickly nowadays one’s body decides it’s forgotten that you do this. Ah well at least I’m still at it!

[paw]

Yup - at 62 I need to keep up - if I’m off for a week (much less 3!), I know I’ll feel it. I do a lot of stretching, hot showers, Votaren (diclofenac gel) and ibuprofen.

And yet it still hurts the next day… but it’s a good hurt.

I’m a firm believer in “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”.

[Equibrit]

Prophylactic anti-inlammatories before the exercise ! (but don’t be tempted to do heroic stuff)

[merrygoround]

Aha! Those muscles are telling you that you haven’t used them in the last three weeks. And as you’ve found, the older you get the longer it takes to rebuild those muscles and to repair them when you’ve insulted them. They do tend to hold a grudge.

What to do now? Aleve, a hot tub, and a non-greasy, non smelling liniment carefully applied to the affected areas before you head out to that clinic.

[outerbanks77]

Probably too late now, but Biofreeze can be helpful for soreness. If you’re riding again tomorrow, maybe grab some and put it on after your clinic today.

For more localized muscle knots, I really like palo santo essential oil (no, I’m not all into ES, but this stuff works).

[BigMama1]

Epsom salt bath and Aleve before you go to bed, Aleve again with breakfast. Have fun! Who is the clinician?

[JB]

I know “tomorrow” is today, but…

Yes to lots and lots of water, and the bath. But also, walk. Movement helps a lot. Either ibuprofen or acetaminophen depending on your kidney function, for the night.

If you take an anti-inflammatory before the exercise, use acetaminophen, as that’s not an nsaid and won’t be processed through the kidneys, as the combo of exercise + nsaid can be a problem. Probably not a big deal once, but it’s just safer to use acetaminophen. It’s really a bigger deal for those who regularly pop an Advil before they hit the gym

It’s also good to do some light exercise before you start grooming. Walk, do some basic stretching, do your OWN warmup before you get on and ask the horse to do his, where you’ll also be continuing your own warmup.

[Manni01]

Just my personal experience and I am only 60, I do feel sore after riding sometimes and for me a good Pilates session with a lot of stretching helps, or a little jog kind of shakes out all the soreness as well…. I am not a fan of pills for issues like this…

[Jackie_Cochran]

This year I have become a human barometer. It IS going to rain tonight.

I woke up OK. Then, as the storm possibility rises I am putting on various of the Far Infra-red Radiation (F.I.R.) stuff on, layering the BOT, Fenwick and Incrediwear stuff.

Right now–both ankles, right shoulder, my upper and lower back, the bottom of my left rib cage (a new one for me), left wrist, my neck, my head, my hips, my upper thighs it just goes on and on.

Part of this is from my lesson on Wednesday, with upper back pain predominating Thursday morning.

These F.I.R. things work better on my various pains than anything else I’ve tried, except maybe taking 6 to 8 aspirins a day.

Unfortunately the added heat does a number on my nerves abilities to transmit signals, so I am sort of lurching around the house but at least I am not plagued by sharp pains in half my joints.

These things also help all of my muscle pains too. Put one on, the pain lessons, put on the next layer of a different F.I.R. fabric and the pains get better, and when I put on the third layer my pains either go away or I barely notice them.

And I sleep so much better too!

[Scribbler]

I also feel if you are riding tense you get more tired and more sore. And it’s hard not to ride tense in an important lesson or clinic or competition!

[candyappy]

When I overdo it on something new or overextend my body on a familiar activity-- I find that taking an Aleve ( wal- mart brand) and actually staying active and moving gets any soreness gone very quickly.

If I stay still it is much worse.

[atr]

Thank you all. We made it through in one piece and actually I felt pretty strong today, which was just as well as we had a marble-loosing moment or two. Horses, already!

It was a very good clinic. Mette Rosencrantz, who I have ridden with a couple of time a year for many years. I always come away with something useful.

I think there is a glass of wine in my not too distant future.

[atlatl]

I’ve ridden with Mette before; she is a machine.

She got on my horse before I got my new saddle and declared the old one was like “trying to swim in clogs!” I couldn’t describe it better!

Glad you had a good clinic.

[atr]

She really is an astounding force of nature and hilarious. I love her!

[lorilu]

Please explain the issue with nsaids and exercise. I find that ibuprofen works much better on my aches than acetaminophen.

[lorilu]

Another vote for Incrediwear. I sleep in the leg sleeves and regularly wear a knee sleeve and it absolutely helps. Different effect from BOT type products.

[JB]

@lorilu

Please explain the issue with nsaids and exercise. I find that ibuprofen works much better on my aches than acetaminophen.

Is it safe to take ibuprofen for the aches and pains of exercise? - Harvard...