Torn ligaments in ankle after fall from horse - Update: getting back in the saddle??

[Ceylon_Star]

It’s been 4 weeks since my injury, and the ankle is pain-free for the most part. It’s a bit sore if I do any crutching without the air cast on (like from bathroom to bedroom after a shower) but it’s nothing that a 220mg tab of Naproxen (Aleve) can’t fix.

Unfortunately the nerve pain in my thigh is worse than ever. I went to a walk in clinic on sunday and the doctor prescribed a heavy dose of narcotics and xrays on my hip/back/pelvis/femur/knee/ribs/neck. As far as I know the xrays showed nothing (I have not heard from anyone about the xray results so I’m just assuming they’re clear at this point), but the pain is still bad. I don’t think the clinic doctor listened to me, because if he had he wouldn’t have just prescribed narcotics, because I can take all the oxy or tramacet or W.H.Y in the world but it won’t do a thing for nerve pain.

The hip no longer hurts, the pain is isolated to a section of the outer side of my left thigh, about 3" below the hip to 2" above the knee. soft touch (like my pants touching my skin) hurts a LOT more than firm pressure, so I’ve got the thigh wrapped in an elastic bandage in hopes of stopping the nerves from screaming at me. When I shower, I can’t feel the water hitting my thigh - the pressure OR the temperature. it’s super bizarre…

As soon as I get confirmation that nothing is broken, I’ll be seeing a chiropractor to try and get the nerve unpinched.

I see the surgeon on the 27th and (fingers crossed!) will be able to put weight on the foot again, and then start borrowing one of my parents’ vehicles (since theirs are automatic and mine is stick shift) and start getting out of the house more.

[Ceylon_Star]

Saw the surgeon today. 3 more weeks of non weight bearing (ugh).

I told him about the nerve pain and he told me that nothing can fix it and that it may or may not improve within 1 to 12 months. I told him that my GP recommended physio and he said not to waste my time. I then asked about chiro or accupuncture and he said it’s a waste of money. Then he tol me that I need to lose half my bodyweight if I stand any chance of finding relief (which would leave me at 110lbs, yuck!) and that it was all “assuming the pain is real and not a grab for more narcotics”. WTF? If I was looking for drugs, I wouldn’t say it’s nerve pain because no amount of narcotics would ever bring relief from nerve pain!

I am extremely angry, in a lot of pain (luckily it’s isolated to the patch on my outer left thigh), and getting more and more aggravated with each passing day. This is ridiculous and I have lost a lot of respect for the surgeon now after the way her treated me when I brought up my nerve pain.

[RMJacobs]

I think the problem is this particular surgeon. I think he’s full of crap and that another opinion from a better doctor on the questions you asked would be in order. Best of luck–you shouldn’t be treated this way.

Rebecca

[Ceylon_Star]

Had my first physio appointment yesterday, and the PT is quite stumped. On the one hand, the nerve issues are textbook Meralgia Parasthetica (pinched lateral cutaneous femoral nerve - causes sensory impingement and sensitivity [at the same time too, ugh] on the outside of the thigh) but there’s clearly something else pinched in there too (not sciatic because the pain clearly stops at the bottom of my kneecap, and sciatic issues would extend all the way to the foot). I responded with pain to manipulations that should have helped relieve the MP, and felt nothing when he made manipulations that should have caused the MP to flare.

he would like me to have an MRI, but because the hardware in my ankle is magnetic, it’s unsafe to do so until hardware removal in late January or sometime in February.

The pain is ridiculous, I’m losing sleep and spending much of my waking time in tears. The ankle NEVER hurt this badly. It’s been 8 weeks now and the nerve pain has gotten progressively worse. I’m on a waiting list to see a neurologist, but likely won’t get in until after the hardware removal surgery in the new year. I have been to a ton of walk in clinics, my family doctor, my surgeon, and have tried medication after medication, now trying physio (but the PT is stumped and has to get in touch with a mentor of his who specializes in nerve issues to see if it’s even possible for him to help me with the nerve pain) and if after my next two sessions (wednesday and friday) nothing’s changed then I need to try something else. My parents absolutely refuse to assist me in paying to see a chiropractor and I cannot afford the chiropractor fees in my area without assistance (they’re 3x the cost of getting my pony adjusted by the equine chiro!) now that Medical EI claims that I’ve been injured long enough and it’s time for me to go back to work.

As of yesterday I can put some weight on the bad foot, but it causes a significant increase in pain in the nerves in the thigh, so the PT suggests keeping weight bearing to a minimum because pain = inflammation and more inflammation = more pain, not less, which is counter-productive.

all in all I’m feeling extremely hopeless, my appetite has gone down the tubes (been living off of orange juice and grape juice because anything else really upsets my stomach these days). I REALLY hope I can find relief soon, it’s been a long 8 weeks and according to posters on neuro forums, it could be YEARS before I see any semblance of relief…

[Ceylon_Star]

I’m feeling cautiously optimistic today. Despite getting only 3ish hours of sleep last night, I woke up feeling well rested and with a dull ache in the thigh, rather than the sharp pain I’ve been dealing with over the last couple months. I spent the day out at the barn for our Christmas party/open house, I don’t think I sat down for more than 5 minutes the entire day, and was on one crutch instead of 2. My good leg is sore, in an “I’ve been on my feet for longer than I’m used to” way, but the nerve in the bad leg is still mostly a dull ache, with an occasional “tweak” (kind of like how if you take too fast of an inhale of too cold of air and you get a slight stitch in your side) on the front near my knee. This is HUGE, it’s the most comfortable I’ve been since before the fall. I’m not going to hold my breath, and I’m expecting tomorrow to be extremely painful, but if it’s not then YAY! Physio tomorrow morning, and then back to the barn to meet my leaser’s old coach (who she’d like to take lessons with again if I approve of the match between coach and pony) and watch her lesson, then Tuesday I’m spending the whole day recovering from my ridiculously busy/active few days (been on the go since Wednesday, I’m driving again [though had to trade vehicles with my parents since my car is a stick shift and theirs are automatics], and getting out and being social and active has had a HUGE impact on my moods). I’m not getting my hopes too high, but I’m definitely feeling more hopeful than I’ve felt in weeks!

[Ceylon_Star]

Thanks to 3x/week physio since December, I’ve been healing well, nerve pain is almost gone, and I have a bit more flexibility in the bad ankle. I have the second surgery (to remove the hardware) on Thursday (Feb 20), and the surgeon expects me to be back on my feet the same day. I am going to take a few days to just rest and stay off my feet to let the incision heal well enough that I won’t just break stitches if I try to wear normal footwear, just to be safe.

I have been on a horse once since the fall, my leaser led me on my pony for a 20 minute walk, and it’s the only thing that has unpinched the nerves that were causing pain and numbness in the left thigh. There’s still a dull throbbing and slight numbness, but it’s 95% better than it was after that short ride.

I’m now looking at getting back into the workforce (if I can find a job that will take me and my lack of skills outside of kennel work) and back in the saddle regularly. Goal is to be doing 20 minutes of walk on a lead/lunge line 2x/week by the end of March, gradually increasing to 3 or 4 days/week, and then increasing the amount of time in the saddle, and then weaning off of the lead/lunge. I have several gracious offers to ride other people’s more steady horses, and will definitely take advantage when I can.

My biggest concern at this point, as far as getting back in the saddle, is how the heck am I going to get on and off?! My guy is 14.1 so it’s easy to get onto the mounting block and swing a leg over, then do the same to dismount, but the others are 15.3 - 17.3hh so a bit tougher to get on. Any suggestions?

[Ceylon_Star]

Second surgery was yesterday early afternoon and it went GREAT. I’m already up and walking with little to no pain (though still taking the prescribed painkillers for a week, on a prescribed schedule, to prevent it from actually hurting because the nurse who’s had a similar procedure done said that the bones healing over hurt WORSE than the screws being put in. yikes!). But my goal in that time is to switch my midday dose to naproxen, instead of the prescribed narcotics, and then just have the strong meds before bed and when I wake up, kind of how I’d done it the first time around. The surgeon agrees that that’s a good idea and to make the switch as soon as I comfortably can.

He has also given me the green light to get back in the saddle once the stitches come out and the incision is 100% healed, yay! Going to use friends’ steady-eddies for a while until my strength and balance are back, before going back to my cob, just to be safe and to set us up for a better ride.

[RMJacobs]

Very glad to hear some positive news on your situation!

Rebecca

[romewhip]

Awesome! That’s a huge step forward, pardon the pun!

[Ceylon_Star]

Thanks guys

I’m healing WAY better from the hardware removal, even better than I expected. Minimal swelling (at least now that I was able to take the gauze wrapping off from under the tensor. It had been wrapped too tight and was actually creating the swelling in my foot/toes), definitely hurting but I find if I take the extended release painkillers before bed, I’m pretty good for the following day pain-wise. It’s more of a “i’ve been on my feet too long” feeling, even if I haven’t been on my feet at all, rather than a “I just had surgery” pain.

I’m also scheduled for an MRI on March 6th to finally figure out which nerves are pinched and how best to finish unpinching them. They’re about 85% unpinched at this point, between my mon/wed/fri physio sessions since December and my 2 20 minute long “pony rides” since New Year’s, but there’s still occasionally a nerve that fires off and takes my breath away, but it’s a once in a while twinge instead of all. freaking. day. There’s also still a fair bit of sensation loss on the front/outside of the thigh. I have SOME feeling now, rather than nothing, but it’s still nowhere near normal. I can feel firm pressure, and cold temperature, but can’t feel light touch (or clothes touching the skin) or warm temperatures.

2 weeks off from physio (can’t go back til the incision is 100% closed) and then I can start up again and get fitted for braces. I’ll be getting one for everyday wear that will fit in my Keen hiking runners, and a second one for horsey activities that will fit in my blundstones but still allow enough flexibility that I can wear it for vaulting as well (where I need to be able to point my toes).

Super glad to be on this side of it all though, that’s for sure!

[red_mares]

Glad to hear your doing better!

I did the boot/brace search last summer. Instead of getting a boot with a wide calf to accommodate the brace, I ended up getting a pair of zipper up Volant paddocks that stop below the ankle. I punched holes along the outside of the zipper so they lace up. The brace I have has a enough support that I don’t need a higher boot. I could sprain an ankle in paddock boots, so I have no illusion of them actually providing any protection or support.

BTW, you almost owed me a keyboard. Check the COTH definition of canoeing and reread your sig line. :lol::eek:

[Ceylon_Star]

BTW, you almost owed me a keyboard. Check the COTH definition of canoeing and reread your sig line.

that’s actually why it’s worded how it is And I keep a spare keyboard kicking around for that very reason! haha!

I’m trying to picture what the heck you did with your boot and I can’t seem to figure it out. Do you have a picture of it? I generally ride in my blundstones (they’re actually the shoes I wear on a day-to-day basis, for the most part). The pair I have now are a half size bigger than the pair I wore out (wore right through the soles after almost 10 years of daily wear, haha) so have extra room in them, but the issue is being able to point my toes enough to get the foot INTO the boot, haha. Lace-ups might be the way to go. I don’t do tall boots, I just don’t feel comfortable in them and prefer a paddock boot with half chaps. I am, however, going to treat myself to a nice pair of western boots once I’m all healed up again, as a reward for surviving this ankle BS without totally losing my mind, haha. The next year or so in the saddle is going to be spent learning how to ride western so I have a “holy s#!!” handle (and the more support of the EZ ride stirrups I ordered to go on the saddle). Bit more, uhh, security? while I’m regaining strength and balance. Plus, it gives me time to find a bloody saddle fitter who will actually do the alterations to my old Passier that I need to have done. (Seriously, I know what I need to have done, but the local saddle fitters refuse to work on Passiers and Stubbens that are from '99 or earlier, and mine’s a '75 in GREAT shape. I’m the 3rd owner and have used it more than the previous owners combined in the 3 short years I’ve owned it)

[red_mares]

I’ll try and get a picture tonight.

I tried on a slew of boots. I almost bought a pair of Blundstones because I couldn’t get my foot (& the brace) OUT after I got it on.

Surprisingly, or shockingly, I haven’t had much problem riding. Walking through the barn can still be hazardous if I find something uneven (which I will :rolleyes:) I putzed around on the school horse last fall and got my legs back pretty quick.

[Ceylon_Star]

You sound as graceful on your feet as me! I’m supposed to be using a cane right now, but I can’t figure out how to use it in a way that gives support but that I DON’T end up tripping myself with it! Yep, a ballerina (do they call the guys that too?) I am not!