Recovering from a Fall

[AskMyAccountant.17]

Last Saturday, so five days ago, I was thrown off a horse. (A complete, thrown in the air, summer-salt forward land on neck/back) Typical, I shook it off, just hacked the remaining horses, went home, took a nap, and have proceeded with my regular routine.

The soreness set in Sunday/Monday, but I am still feeling it in my arms/sholders/back. (I probably shouldn’t have gone to the driving range Monday to hit balls either.) I’m thinking of scheduling a massage this evening, but has anyone used any other therapies for muscle soreness? (I’m like ok, for my horse I would schedule bodywork, PEMF, etc.) We just had a local IV-Drip Infusion shop open locally, but it’s fairly pricy. I would like to be able to raise my arms and turn my neck, suggestions?

[tikihorse]

Go to the ER. Not being able to raise your arms or turn your neck is serious. At the very least, call your PCP and ask what s/he says!

[hybriseris]

Seconding go to the ER. Falling on your back, and ANY part of your neck, is no joke. Could be absolutely nothing but I also personally would not want anything manipulated by a masseuse until I knew everything is where it’s supposed to be and in working order.

If it turns out you’re just very strained, I often get tension and discomfort in my lower neck. I find a good topical CBD balm wherever you’re most tense is really, REALLY helpful. I will look at the name of mine when I get home.

But definitely getting checked out first…

[S1969]

@hybriseris

Could be absolutely nothing but I also personally would not want anything manipulated by a masseuse until I knew everything is where it’s supposed to be and in working order.

This!

And having just experienced a different sports related injury - massage is not typically recommended for injury-related soreness versus overuse soreness (DOMS). You would not massage a bruise, for example. It probably wouldn’t feel good, and it is potentially going to cause further injury.

[luvmyhackney]

Ouch, go to the dr to make sure no major damage. Then go soak with some epson salts depending on what they say.

[wsmoak]

If your horse fell that way, flipped forward and landed on his neck and back, wouldn’t you have had the vet out to poke and prod and possibly take xrays to make sure nothing was broken or cracked?

I don’t think they want you in the ER these days unless you are in obvious distress. At least the ones around here are packed fuller than full, you’ll wait many hours if you are not actively trying to die on them. But an urgent care clinic should be able to check you out and do some xrays to make sure you don’t have a fracture or something that needs to be stabilized to heal.

But to answer the question, no I don’t think I’d go for a massage this soon after a fall. I had a pretty bad fall in February and it was a couple of months before I wanted anyone touching anything. My neck was not involved however.

[Warmblood1]

Just a cautionary tale, but my husband actually did fracture his neck and he also could not lift his arm or turn his head. He did not go to the ER and the fracture was discovered later (this was before we were married and I would have made him go). He certainly didn’t think he fractured it but he sure did. Its possible you could have actually hurt yourself. I definitely think it’s worth checking out. Please update us and let us know.

[OnDeck]

Broken necks are no joke. If you go to a massage therapist and they shift something that’s already broken in there (or any type of sudden movement) you could be paralyzed. Go get an x-ray at urgent care at least.

[Equisis]

Echoing the other responses here. I had a neck fracture that went undiagnosed- I had other, more painful injuries from that fall, and was so focused on those things that the neck injury didn’t register until I realized I was having trouble turning my head… four weeks later. I was fortunate that it was stable and all ended up ok, but I was riding at the end of that period and it’s scary to think what might have happened if I’d had another fall. Be on the safe side, and get checked out!

[EmilyM]

Call an orthopedist if you don’t want to go to the hospital. They can xray and evaluate if you need mri etc

Arnica will help w bruising and soreness without risk of harming yourself. Sore no more or you can buy a gel in the pharmacy.

[2DogsFarm]

I ’d all the replies & will add my own:
Pls get to Urgent Care (agreed an ER is going to mean a loooooonnnggg wait - unless you’re bleeding ) & make sure nothing worse than sore is going on.
IF & only IF that’s the diagnosis, try arnica gel.
Hoping you heal ASAP!