I know I am not the only “stove up” elder who still enjoys the art Of Hunting to hounds.
So ,what do you all take,to ease the pain/pains.:winkgrin:
Over the years I have used all normal otc stuff.
Flexeril especially effective if chased with some Irish whiskey.:yes:
I am having particular problems at the moment.Pain as soon as my a** hits the saddle,it gets worse the longer I ride.
I hate to give up,but just cannot afford DR visits,which include MRIs and all the other $1000 + dollar treatments.
I have some old injuries to my back I keep in check with monthly chiro visits and Arnica gell or tabs. I also take a couple of Advil Liqui-gels before I hunt and that seems to work better than taking them after, especially with the stiffness after the long drive home.
I have the number of a Reiki (spelling?!?) practitioner that a friend swears by and plan on setting up an appointment for that.
Have you ever tried acupuncture for pain control?
Do they make adiquan for people?
I’ve had great results with Celebrex (prescription)
I take two asprin the night before and two asprin the morning of and that has kept things feeling pretty darn good during the season.
Go to a gym and do weights, under the supervision of a GOOD coach.
Get one of those big ball thingies, and the little stool that comes with it - use it instead of your regular chair when you sit in front of the computer - you’ll strengthen your core without even realising it.
Me, I do the above, plus chiro when needed, Ibuprofen 1/2 an hour before I get on the horse (aspirin gives me a HORRIBLY sore tummy), and hot baths after a hard ride (but stretch gently afterwards before hitting the sack). I always mean to be a good girl and take Glucosamine/MSM on a regular basis, but I’m incapable of remembering ANYTHING on a regular basis, so - :rolleyes:
Your alternative is always Dutch courage. 
I’d think, however, that going to see a good GP might be wise, in case you have a more serious health issue that you can nip in the bud with good professional care and maintenance.
Advil is definitely my friend. Sprenger stirrups, too. More recently, I’ve noticed that the padding I’ve always enjoyed is rather wasting away, loss of muscle mass. Sooo. Just this week I invested in some cycling shorts to road test. More of an issue on the ol’ bones in my western saddle than English, but I am pleased to report after two rides in the shorts under breeches (the informal pull on time) that the extra padding is just what I was looking for- had been riding somewhat defensively in subconscious pain avoidance mode- the padding is a definite help.
nurse chimes in here!
Oh boy this is soooooo my subject of expertise!!! :winkgrin: :yes: Of course, you need to know the cause of your pain but you already know that.
Remember that Ibuprofen can be taken in many levels of doses up to 2400 mg in a 24 hr period. So experiment with dosing that works for you within these limits up to tolerance or side effects. Side effects can be minimized if taken with food or with a large glass of water. 2 tablets every 4-6 or 3 tabs every 6 or 4 every 6 or so. Stomach irritation is the most common side effect but I’ve also found my self a bit sleepy sometimes after large doses or should I say, I’m just calmer. That makes it perfect for pre-hunting pain management for me!!
NSAIDS work best when taken 24/7 rather than here & there. Always take with food and lotsa liquids. They decrease inflamation/irritation (heat/swelling) and when that happens the pain goes away or lessens. Ice to the area of pain also does the same thing but for shorter periods. Ice & NSAIDS is good for many of our horse related aches & pains. Ice for 20 mins before riding, immediately afterwards then every 4 hrs to bedtime.
My current fav nsaid is Naproxen/Aleve. It lasts 8-12 hours for me so I can get away with 1 tab twice a day but you CAN take more per the label. Always read the labels!! Max of 4 per 24 hrs if you stomach can handle it.
My orthopedic surgeon told me to take nsaids before I hunt/ride, then immediately afterwards, then that evening, then next morning. The thinking is that you prevent the inflammation/irritation of exercise before it happens or minimize it as it’s happening and help to decrease it afterwards if that makes any sense. I take Naproxen the morning of a ride and that evening and so far that does it for now.
Mind you, I heartily recommend life on Celebrex also. It’s different class of nsaid and extremely good for long term decrepitudes!! But it’s one you go on and stay on. Not made to use “as needed”. You have to be on it 3 weeks 24/7 to even see it’s full effect. Most of us need the 200mg/day dose rather than the lower 100mg dose. I took it for 7 years for a bad knee and herniated discs. It didn’t fully make the pain go away but made me functional by taking 75% of the pain away.
The best thing I ever did was lose a huge amount of weight for my orthopedic pains. That works really well combined with the increased mobility you get. Keep moving please, don’t stop riding but just lessen the intensity if you can. Stop jumping, hilltop, stay out shorter periods of time or car follow or walk follow on bad days. Get a less jarring strided horse or borrow one!
Get all the padding you can to absorb shock. Pads for stirrup irons, super dooper under saddle pads, seat savers w/paddings! Sprengers! Ride a hole or 2 lower. Or ride more in 2 point to avoid sitting trots or cantering and let your ankles/knees/hips absorb the shock instead. I imagine yours is a back problem as it IS the curse of us equestrians.
It’s likely that your problem is not a permanent one. Most discs are reabsorbed in 6 mos to a year so if you can wait it out - you might be fine. Be patient, stay involved in the hunt, walk out, clear trails, stay active and your hunt involvement will help you weather the depression that naturally comes with chronic pain. It’ll help you stay motivated to fight this. Be strong!! Don’t discount using antidepressants as they can also help you cope with pain too.
Flexeril is a muscle relaxant only. Not a pain killer, no effect on inflammation/irritation so…if you are having muscle spasms then take it but absolutely be careful as you can NOT drink or drive or ride on it. Some of can’t take it and work either! Way too strong. Rather treat the cause of the muscle spasms which is…inflammation/pain from an irritated nerve thats resulting in a spasming muscle. So Flexeril in combo w/an nsaid class drug can be good for an acutely bad back but most only need the Flexeril for a few days then just keep taking nsaids AROUND THE CLOCK for maintainence.
So remember my motto…;)…Take Your Pills, Shut Up, and RIDE!!!
And take it easy…listen to your body;…it never lies to you…
Best wishes comrade!!! 
WOW - awesome answer, Watery Gee!
I was thinking about this this morning, and had a couple more suggestions.
You could try popping some Robax (Costco’s generic no-name equivalent works just as well; identical ingredients, but costs much less).
Did you try a different saddle? For instance, I have pretty much INSTANT miserable back pain when I ride in a Stubben, yet others swear by them. Maybe your saddle is too big/small/wide/narrow/modern/old-fashioned for your physique?
Look into trying a trekking saddle. Forestier do a super one, as does Frank Baines. The seats are designed to be sat on for many long hours, but they don’t look much different from regular GP saddles.
Here’s the Frank Baines one:
and…Trumbull Mtn are VERY helpful and knowledgeable, so they will be able to advise you further, hopefully.
Forestier (at Sandridge Saddlery in Canada):
Please no Flexeril + alcohol/driving 
Wateryglen is right- flexeril doesn’t help alleviate pain- just a muscle relaxant.
Might try rotating Aceitaminophen/Tylenol + Advil/Ibuprofen (each is taken every 4 hours, so if you take one and then wait 2 hours and take the other and then continue as directed, you cover all peaks and lows.) The key here is that ibuprofen is anti-inflammatory/pain relief and the acetaminophen is pain relief only. You can ask your doc if you have questions.
Do NOT exceed recommended doses. Tylenol and Aspirin are two of the most serious medications you can overdose on. As an ER nurse, I have seen some horrible (intentional and accidental) overdoses on these “safe” OTC medications.
People over 60 or with other health problems/on other medications can have decreased kidney clearance which makes taking medications as prescribed even more important.
Talk to you doc.
I am an advocate of the hot bath…repeat as needed 
Hot bath plus epsom salts, soak till water cools. Might try adding a seat saver to your saddle as well.
Ditto the nsaids when necessary as long as they do not interfere with other meds you may be taking.
may I add!!!
To expand on what Romany touched on…a deep seated saddle is hard on your back because it tends to lock your pelvis in place. You don’t slide around front to back so your spine takes the jolting. If you have any fanny fat; the cantle comes up and smacks you in the butt when you’re cantering or jumping…perhaps!!! :winkgrin: So…a flatter seat saddle is more open and forgiving and less jolting on your back. Also…a deep seated saddle tilts your pelvis forward which is an unnatural, somewhat lordotic or exagerrated lower back angle. You want to open up your lower back angle so a flatter seat allows you to sit with a straighter lower back. The best lower back angle would be bent over as when you stretch or ride 2 point. Keep pelvis tilted back not forward is your goal IMHO!!!
I can no longer ride in a deep seated saddle (3 herniated discs) thus I switched to a “close contact” but well knee/thigh padded saddle. It also forces me to ride better to stay on…which is good thing, right!!!
Chin up miss Fernie Fox!!!
Find a foot pack to enjoy too.
[QUOTE=fernie fox;4317587]
I know I am not the only “stove up” elder who still enjoys the art Of Hunting to hounds.
So ,what do you all take,to ease the pain/pains.:winkgrin:
Over the years I have used all normal otc stuff.
Flexeril especially effective if chased with some Irish whiskey.:yes:
I am having particular problems at the moment.Pain as soon as my a** hits the saddle,it gets worse the longer I ride.
I hate to give up,but just cannot afford DR visits,which include MRIs and all the other $1000 + dollar treatments.[/QUOTE]
I find Arnica and the Hot Tub the best treatment!
Pat
Lots of stretching before and after riding will help too. Get your back and bum warmed up before hitting the saddle. Excersise on your non-hunting days is helpful too - working your abs will save your back. The more flexible and strong you are will lessen the risk of injury.
Fox hunting legend
Just wanted to say that I have been having a hell of a time with an abscess on my Percheron draft mare that just will not give up the fight and get better! I have spent a pretty penny on her hoof and you name it I have done it.
Just down the road lives Albert Poe. I have met him a few times, he is very polite and kind, always willing to talk horse and has an easy way about him when he shows me his TB’s he is raising, training, riding and racing. I could stand there and listen to him speak about his exploits, wisdom and stories all day.
Today, thinking that maybe he would know what to do, I drove over to his place and asked if I could speak to him about the abscess Trixi has. He asked what she was, where it is then said let me get my farrier tools and we can go take a look at her. So we went back to our farm and he took a look, widened the hole a bit for me, we found the abscess, then he explained to me what to do to help it, how to get my farrier to shoe her and if he couldn’t do it, Mr. Poe offered to come out and do it for me. We spoke a few more minutes then he left.
It is so nice to have a neighbor who has so much knowledge willing to help a fellow neighbor, come out and to share the knowledge he has. It is also neat to have someone with his history in fox hunting want to share that as well as the history of Virginia too. And his horses…sigh he has a young filly that I would steal in a heartbeat, she is just drop dead beautiful! He now has her half brother and is stood there undecided who I liked the most…
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