Guessing a fair number of those docs have Active Lifestyles™️ too.
My PCP has no idea what to think of me.
Well, it could be because she barely looks at me.
During my last visit, months out from my hard landing, she said, “I don’t know how you do it. I can hurt myself getting out of bed.”
I was launched from my 4 year old in a lesson last week. My coach said it was pretty dramatic: scoot, buck, launch, with us both going down. I was wearing a helmet and air vest (as I always do on the young horses). Air vest deployed but the zipper broke. We all still think it helped a bit. I asked to get back on, but my coach wisely refused. Coach put my horse away and I called a friend to take me to the ER. (The good news about being older with a fall, is that you go to the head of the class at the ER). Had a CAT scan: at least 4 broken ribs (image was fuzzy so we are confirming with radiographs that there aren’t more). The pain is HORRIBLE. The narcotics they gave me made me sleepy and stop breathing, which is the worst thing for broken ribs, so I only take NSAIDs. I am using my Bemer cuffs on my ribs 2x per day and I think it helps. Sleeping is horrid, but all my breaks are on my left side. By the end of the day, my left boob feels like it is going to explode. I also still work full time and I am having trouble making it through a day. I keep the horses at home, so the barn work is impeding my healing. I am looking to send my 4 and 6 year olds away to training with someone else (and possibly 2 hours away) and that is killing me, but I can’t swing a blanket over or pull the hay down. Also I don’t think I want to ride the 4 year old now or ever (he might be too sensitive for me). Had the vet do a complete vetting, since this was the first launch in 5 months and pony’s back is also sore from saddle that is not appropriate for his back (according to new fitter, who came on Tuesday). Vet has him on two week course of robaxin.
Take care of your ribs! My doctor said that the healing is at least 3 months and you don’t want to short change because if you displace your fractures the only solution is surgery. She also said I could feel pain for up to 6 months (or longer). When they tell you one month, it’s wrong. Six weeks is when they start healing.
I was cantering a colt in a draw in the canyons when he, according to the vet, may have fainted.
He went down in slow motion with a crash and just laid there.
I was pinned with one leg under him that was hurting and thinking he may be dead.
After a bit he woke up and groggily moved around where I could get up and he also stood up.
We walked all the way back to headquarters, he seemed fine, I was limping and didn’t notice until I had him put away that I had broken the lowest rib on the right.
Don’t know how that happened, but that one rib hurt for several months, initially made it hard to breathe or talk, get dressed or climb on the tractor, much less a horse.
Decades later at times that spot still gets sore.
Can’t imagine several of those, ugh!
Bad crash 3.5 weeks ago. Separated shoulder and 8 broken ribs (nondisplaced 2-9 both lateral and medial) on the right side. I am considered an older person as well (60). I did meds the first 10 days (Advil, Tylenol alternating every 8 hours; robaxin every 8) then tapered quickly. Advil is not the best for bone healing.
For me, I hopped on the next week after the crash. Felt no pain at all at the walk. Now I ride every other day and am up to 10 minutes of trotting. No meds. I pay close attention to the pain to gauge my work. Ease myself on and off using a mounting block.
I find walking riding both encourages me to stretch up and open my chest and makes my muscles move. We did an hour trail ride the other day.
The big challenge is making sure you get deep breaths as soon as possible to prevent lung constriction. Use spirometer exercises religiously. Also, stretching to open the rib cage. Simple stretches within your comfort zone to help things loosen up.
Still can’t sleep anyway other than on my back.
I’m impressed you started back riding so soon, and so much. I’ve separated a shoulder (which resulted in a torn rotator cuff) and cracked a few ribs twice, and can’t imagine getting on a horse until those are healed.
Rebecca
Understood. Everybody has their comfort level and understanding based on medical advice. I’m not saying what I do is for anybody else. My post is meant to say that this all can happen and riding is still there.
I am finding that I have a very different perception of pain than most folks. Also since I work in orthopedics all of my doctors have given me the same advice, “pay attention to the pain and take it easy.” They don’t go much farther because they also know I am very conscious about balancing healing with the need to keep using muscle, loading bones, and fitness to have a better outcome. So, in my case, it means don’t condition my horse for upper level eventing and work through soreness.
I would never give the same advice to anybody else. And in my circle of riding friends, I know the hypocrisy of them telling me to take it easy.
I have a very high pain threshhold. It’s common for people like me due to having rheumatoid arthritis. When I separated my shoulder, I led my horse a long way to get back to the saddling area, unsaddled, groomed, fed, and then walked him about a mile to the current pasture. Then I drove my stick shift car home (it was my right shoulder). After getting home and sitting for a few minutes, that’s when I noticed the pain.
And as for ribs, they were so painful that it was hard to move. But those incidents were before I developed RA.
Rebecca
My doctor said blowing up balloons works as well as a spirometer. I guess it’s time to have a party. 
In spite of weathering decades of migraines, I do NOT have a high pain threshold. For my two non-displaced broken ribs and the (substantial) soft tissue damage around my pelvis and lower back, I took Tramadol and Tylenol (very allergic to NSAID’s) around the clock for five weeks. This worried me enough to try to cut back on the meds prematurely–a very bad idea which set me back nearly a week. One day I woke up and pain was not the first thing that entered my mind—it almost seemed like a miracle.
I didn’t start riding for five weeks (a week a the walk before progressing). Now at 9 weeks, I’m back to a full short schooling session on one horse and hacking out another. I’m still surprised how much strength and endurance I lost in this short period of relative inactivity. I’m determined to recover to my previous levels: In addition to riding, I’m continuing to swim and do a core-strengthening routine 3X week. I’ve also started visiting a chiropractor who fixes a lot of riders. I feel very grateful to have almost no pain.
I wish everyone the very best with their recoveries.
I am in awe of people who have come back from injuries to ride!
How is everyone doing? I am about 3.5 weeks post injury on my four broken ribs. I have been using the Bemer cuffs on myself about 3-4 x a day. It has made a HUGE difference. I have not used NSAIDS in about a week and a half. When I get sore and painful, I use the Bemer and it helps. I still have pain and feel it when I stretch or lift anything and have to be careful how much I do so that I don’t get burning pain. I am sending my horses for training for the winter so that I can heal.
My lower left rib cage still hurts somewhat, occasionally.
To get to sleep when I lie on my left side it really helps to have my folded up BOT scarf on or around my lower rib cage.
I have yet do dare sliding down the saddle when dismounting.
Glad you decided to send your horses to a trainer so you’ll have plenty of time to heal. I was very interested in learning about the Bemer cuffs you mentioned. Great that you can use the equine set on your own injury with good results. How do you use Bemer on your horses?
I’m now up to short schooling sessions on two horses and hacking out a third—so almost a full riding workload. My little (14.3) GP chestnut mare (aka the Pocket Rocket) had a minor temper tantrum yesterday with airs above the ground—something she usually reserves for her trainer. I guess she’s decided I’m recovered now!
Best wishes for your full recovery!
@swnest have you tried any of the newer migraine medications? I started Aimovig in July and it’s definitely been helpful.
I have two young horses who came back from the colt starters very sore in the back (which is not unusual), so I bought the Bemer to use on them on a regular basis to support them through their development. I like to hang the cuffs on the blanket over the stifles. Bemer is low level PEMF and has to be used regularly. Used on my ribs, it especially helps to take pain away when it gets really burning at the end of the day. How long since your injury?
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