riding when the rider is lame

[philosoraptor]

I had a bad fall last weekend resulting in a serious left ankle sprain: nasty bruising and swelling bilaterally with pain that worsens when weight bearing. Xrays look clean but they want to do a 2nd set in a week when the swelling subsides to be 100% sure there isn’t something hidden. Then I do a follow-up visit with him & get a referral for phys therapy.

Today orthopedist put me in a big walking boot and told me to start putting weight back on it. He wants me active. I can do light exercise as long as I keep the boot on.

I asked him about sitting on my quiet, old horse at the walk. He was like :eek: …and then like :o …and then like :no: I explained that I don’t need to have feet in stirrups to ride, that my horse is very quiet, and that I’m not going to fall. He piped up “my WIFE has a horse” and fussed “horses are unpredictable.” I attempted to relate it to therapeutic riding and how good riding is when a person can’t easily walk much, but he looked at me like I grew tentacles.

I do have his ok for sitting something with my legs hanging down. As long as that something isn’t a horse!

So, considering this doctor didn’t seem to know much about horses, on a scale of 1 to 10, how bad of an idea is it to sit on a quiet horse and just walk around a bit? I have friends who offered to help me, if I need it.

How long do you think I should expect to be out of the saddle?

And what do I do with myself in the meantime so I don’t go crazy…?! I can’t easily walk much, it hurts to just stand, and was told not to swim (kicking is bad). Is here nothing left but to lay on the sofa with my feet up, eating bon-bons and watching Oprah? Someone shoot me now!

[GoingUp_POP]

I’m not a DR. , but I see no reason you couldn’t just walk around, maybe have someone else around to make sure you can get on and off, but as long as you just walk and piddle around, what could it hurt? Wouldn’t it get the muscles moving and help circulation?

[MunchingonHay]

get a back on track ankle bandage for you self!! I LOVE mine! I went from walking with a gimp and swelling all the time to walking correctly and no swelling in a matter of DAYS! I broke my ankle/leg in 4 places, dislocated it And tore all the soft tissue from toes to my knee. If I have seen improvement then you should.

I am not a paid rep. I actually really do love this thing:D:D

[Halt_Near_X]

I had a minor break in my foot this spring – so minor they didn’t cast or boot it, just gave me a stupid orthopedic shoe. I was pretty comfortable standing and walking, so I kept going out to the barn and rode without stirrups.

Mounting and dismounting were the biggest issues – hard to do without putting undue pressure on the broken foot. I landed off balance once on a dismount, had to put my broken foot down to keep from falling, and hurt for a week after.

Also, I overdid it several days at the barn. Just walked around too much, more than I should have, and was in pretty bad pain for a couple days after every time I did that. It was much, much easier for me to justify overdoing it at the barn than, say, at work.

Ultimately, it took two months before I was 100% back to normal and pain free. It probably would have been quicker if I hadn’t been so stubborn about being at the barn and riding.

[amastrike]

[QUOTE=philosoraptor;5826551]
I attempted to relate it to therapeutic riding and how good riding is when a person can’t easily walk much, but he looked at me like I grew tentacles.[/QUOTE]
On quick first reading, I thought you said “like I grew testicles.” Whooops! :lol:

If I were you, I’d hold off on riding even a quiet horse until the second xrays, just to make sure there’s no fracture. The last thing you want is to find out too late that you had a minor fracture and mounting/dismounting made it worse.

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

In early Jan I tore my MCL. The first MRI showed significant inflammation but the tear was small and obscured, and the ortho’s PA misdiagnosed and completely disregarded my continuing complaints of worsening pain and instability (wasn’t just me, she disregard my PT’s complaints as well). By the time I switched orthos, there were other problems that complicated the diagnosis…which finally occurred in late May. I was in a hinged brace 24/7 for 6 weeks, then I got it off at night. And then…finally! I was allowed to start weaning myself off the brace, and I was going to start back to yoga, and I had been allowed to get on and walk for brief periods…when Something Stupid happened. I was checking my horse’s hoof (so dry, and so hot, and he lost some hoof when the shoe came off), his tail was swishing and he was batting at flies, and my foot was sticking out because I couldn’t quite squat yet…and he came down, all 1100-1200 lbs, on my right foot.
The good news: if he’d come down on the metatarsals, I would have had surgery. The bad news: he broke the big toe in 3-4 places, the tip and near the joint complete fractures. The good news: I didn’t displace even though I was in denial for a week. The bad news: in a sandal thing and no weaning off the hinged brace for 6 weeks.

I asked if I could ride, but this guy is a sports rehab specialist so he gets it.

So here is what I do: I switch to the nonhinged brace (and yes, it is a pain in the butt to keep switching braces) and put a men’s tube sock over the sandal. If riding with someone, I get them to hold the right stirrup as my right leg is too weak too spring off. If by myself I get on using a stone ledge that gets higher in increments so I can get on the ledge and then get on my horse.

I walk. I focus on lateral work, transitions (walk/halt/reinback/freewalk). I focus on my core. Sometimes I trot in small bits, but I have to take my stirrups off or they swing back and nail me. I only dismount in the indoor, and then slowly and only land on my left foot, and I let my horse take my weight. When it starts to hurt I get off.

Of course, I have a nutso (not) OTTB, so I am comfortable going outside at night or daytime, and riding by myself. And he is very trustworthy at the mounting block.

At first, letting my right leg hang because I couldn’t use stirrups was problematic because of pain, but the more I use my seat/core, the less this is a problem.

Good luck! And hope you heal quickly! Just pay attention if you have your horse in a stall, checking his hooves, and there are those gnats about…

[SarahandSam]

I broke my foot last year, and so I did a month without stirrups while it healed up… I was just careful not to put weight on it mounting or dismounting; one time I accidentally just dropped down onto both feet and almost rebroke it (hurt like hell), but once I learned that lesson, I was super-careful again.

It was kind of a blessing in disguise because I really needed that month no-stirrups. I might need another broken foot to motivate me to do it again though. (:

So I definitely think walking around is probably fine… just be careful with getting on and off, and make sure your horse doesn’t spook at your boot. d;

[2DogsFarm]

Ditto on the Careful Mounting & Dis - that’s where I had the most trouble when I trashed my ankle. No break, but a bad sprain.

If you can’t rely on your horse to stand like a rock with you in the potentially Spooky Boot, have someone hold him for you.
Murphy’s Law says any unexpected movement will have you landing on the injured foot.

Once on, I had no leg at all on the injured side so anything beyond walk & a teeny bit of trot was not possible.
All those little movements you make unconsciously with your ankle will not happen without pain and risking further injury.

DG: Yowch!
Tell Ted he is no pedicurist :no:

[HorsesinHaiti]

DGRH: Yipes, you and Ted aren’t having any luck the last 12 months or so! Heal up soon - no more injuries for either of you!

[philosoraptor]

[QUOTE=GoingUp…POP!;5826582]
I’m not a DR. , but I see no reason you couldn’t just walk around, maybe have someone else around to make sure you can get on and off, but as long as you just walk and piddle around, what could it hurt? Wouldn’t it get the muscles moving and help circulation?

:D[/QUOTE]

You should be my doctor. I like your advice better.

[philosoraptor]

[QUOTE=MunchingonHay;5826590]
get a back on track ankle bandage for you self!! I LOVE mine! I went from walking with a gimp and swelling all the time to walking correctly and no swelling in a matter of DAYS! I broke my ankle/leg in 4 places, dislocated it And tore all the soft tissue from toes to my knee. If I have seen improvement then you should.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the tip! I will keep in it mind, but I am not yet ready to give up the solid brace. Right now i must wear this monstrous rigid boot that comes just below the knee. It looks like Robocop’s leg.

[philosoraptor]

[QUOTE=HappyVagrant;5826630]
Ultimately, it took two months before I was 100% back to normal and pain free. It probably would have been quicker if I hadn’t been so stubborn about being at the barn and riding.[/QUOTE]

Do you think the riding made healing slower?

I have this silly hope that by staying active, as long as I don’t re-injure it, it may help me heal faster??

[philosoraptor]

@amastrike;5826653

On quick first reading, I thought you said “like I grew testicles.” Whooops! :lol:

I wish I grew testicles. Then I would’ve had the balls to tell this doctor what I thought of his one size fits all approach.

In retrospect, I am also annoyed he asked me personal questions that were none of his business (how could I ever to feed horses when I was unemployed at the moment?). He also didn’t care I was in terrible pain and he said I would be just fine on ibuprofen.

I am resolved to heal faster so I hopefully don’t need any extra visits back to this guy.

If I were you, I’d hold off on riding even a quiet horse until the second xrays, just to make sure there’s no fracture. The last thing you want is to find out too late that you had a minor fracture and mounting/dismounting made it worse.

You’re probably right. I cancelled my lesson this week, and I guess the responsible thing is to cancel next week’s too.

I wonder if horse hurt this bad when they show a little soft tissue swelling & lameness. Maybe I should try some bute…? (just kidding)

[philosoraptor]

@DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho";5826736

In early Jan I tore my MCL. The first MRI showed significant inflammation but the tear was small and obscured, and the ortho’s PA misdiagnosed and completely disregarded my continuing complaints of worsening pain and instability

How did they know to MRI it? I am wondering if I should be concerned nobody suggesting doing a MRI or CT on mine. So much soft tissue damage & swelling - who knows what is torn?

So here is what I do: I switch to the nonhinged brace (and yes, it is a pain in the butt to keep switching braces) and put a men’s tube sock over the sandal.

I am so sorry to hear of your injury & slow recovery. That had to be so frustrating! Do you still have any problems from the injury?

What does the hinged brace look like? I have a huge rigid boot that come just below the knee. It’s tightened with velco and it immobilizes the joint.

[philosoraptor]

[QUOTE=SarahandSam;5826770]
I broke my foot last year, and so I did a month without stirrups while it healed up… I was just careful not to put weight on it mounting or dismounting; one time I accidentally just dropped down onto both feet and almost rebroke it (hurt like hell), but once I learned that lesson, I was super-careful again. [/QUOTE]

That is the bright side to it: a month without stirrups makes one a better rider.

Did they put your foot in a brace? or a cast?

[philosoraptor]

[QUOTE=2DogsFarm;5826787]
Ditto on the Careful Mounting & Dis - that’s where I had the most trouble when I trashed my ankle. No break, but a bad sprain.[/QUOTE]

You’re right that mounting is a dangerous moment. I always us a tall block anyway.

How did your sprain heal up? any lasting problems?

[OveroHunter]

Good luck! I mangled my shoulder 6 years ago and they had to fuse my shoulder and arm with a bunch of rods for 2 months so I couldn’t ride, but as soon as the metal came out, I was on a horse.

About a month and a half later during physical therapy my doc said “You’re doing great, we should have you back on a horse in no time!”

Well, I was not aware that I should not have been riding and the doctor informed me that it “should have been a given!” Oops! She was pretty upset with me!

I healed as good as I think I could have even with riding… Maybe you shouldn’t take my advice though!

[Halt_Near_X]

[QUOTE=philosoraptor;5827402]
Do you think the riding made healing slower?

I have this silly hope that by staying active, as long as I don’t re-injure it, it may help me heal faster??[/QUOTE]

The riding itself wasn’t problematic. The bad landing on dismounting did not help things, and neither did the fact that I was more likely to keep moving around and doing things when my pain levels increased. Too easy to say “I’ll just do this one more thing while I’m here…”

The trick is finding the line between being active and reinjuring, and I wasn’t very good at that.

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

@2DogsFarm;5826787

DG: Yowch!
Tell Ted he is no pedicurist :no:

Not his fault, really! I just didn’t see the bugs, especially with that tail swish…he kicked up high, came down on the foot, and stopped, thinking, “Hey? what’s THIS??..oh, nothing!” and then wham.

I hobbled out of the stall, collapsed into a chair, threw off my muckboot and was almost wailing from the pain. I left thestall door open and he shot his head out, because his mom never makes those kinds of sounds. Apparently he decided it was nothing because he went back to eating his hay.

It is very frustrating though, to have the memory of that easy hop on into the saddle, and your leg just …can’t. Thank goodness for stone ledges.

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

@philosoraptor;5827421

How did they know to MRI it? I am wondering if I should be concerned nobody suggesting doing a MRI or CT on mine. So much soft tissue damage & swelling - who knows what is torn?

I am so sorry to hear of your injury & slow recovery. That had to be so frustrating! Do you still have any problems from the injury?

What does the hinged brace look like? I have a huge rigid boot that come just below the knee. It’s tightened with velco and it immobilizes the joint.

They did Xrays, and the MRI was a logical progression. I had to ask for the 2nd one, but after draining the fluid once and two cortisone injections, and a continuing progression, plus the feedback from the PTs, it was obvious there was a problem. I would speak with your MD as it can be problematic - you may well need something that reveals soft tissue injuries, as they take much longer to heal.

I still have problems because I’m still not yet healed. But I’m getting there!

The hinged brace goes from mid thigh to mid calf, with these Frankenstein like lugnut things on the side that make it impossible to wear breeches. I did buy the very cheap ($15) fuller fillies half chaps on clearance form smart pak, but that was before the broken toe, because of course I can’t wear a real boot yet. You will have to skip half chaps, so just wear something without inner seams. I got some cheap yoga pants from walmart for $10, they have held up well, and if these keeps going on I will just get a heavier weight pair for the fall. I think this is why I’m not in a boot like yours because that would interfere with the brace.

I know the boot you have - so awkward. I also suggest when you ride, carry a whip on that side so that you can flick it against the wall and make sure you don’t bump your boot into the wall. You are just not used to something that big, and it can get ugly. If you can wear a bag on it to protect it at the barn that would help - not sure they make a sock big enough for yours!