I'm just curious (for my sanity) if any of you are horse people with bad disks. Is there life with horses after sciatica? I herniated a disk last summer and started light trail riding in the fall. I was up tp the point where I could trot and canter this summer, then bam! The sciatica is debilitating and worrse than last year. It happened on 7/3, and yesterday was the first time I drove (and did I pay for it!). I still can't sleep more than a few hours at a time, am on major pain meds, and I go back to work next week. Anyway, back to original concern; do any of you ride? I just need to look forward to something. Thanks so much!

Holly, I used to have horses and ride. It's still one of my favorite things to do. I know of people that have gone back to riding after fusion, but I know that I would be scared to try it after having been through years of pain. It's not worth the risk to me.

If you want to ride again, I hope you are able to. Take care. Tammy:wave:

Thanks Tammy, I just wanted to tell you that I have read several of your posts, and you are a very smart, compassionate person who has obviously blessed many people (in spite of what you have been through!) May God give you an extra special blessing.

How very sweet of you Holly! Thank you very much!

I really do hope you get the chance to enjoy the freedom of riding again. There is just something about cantering on a horse in an open space.. that is just amazingly "free".

A cute tidbit.. if i was riding and the only saddle available was western.. I would post on the western saddle. Not exactly easy, it looked sloppy but it worked! hehehe. English was my preference.. but many family members swore by the western saddle. My ex-sister in-law was an amazing rider. She still does team pinning. She looks like she is an extension of the horse. I was never that good of a rider. I was always in awe of her riding abilities. She is one with the horse. It's an art for sure.

Please keep posting (no pun intended) :p and let us know how you are doing. Take care. Tammy:wave:

I have had a 2 level ACDF and a PLIF at L5/S1. I still ride. As a matter of fact, most of my back is shot due to Juvenile Discogenic Disease. I have a bum back, but my bum back doesn't have me.

I am praying for an ADR at 4/5, but will still ride. The thought of roller or ice skating makes me shutter. Snow skiing is a big NONO. Now that my neck has fused, I will try again at water skiing. There's certain things that I know my legs just won't allow me to do because of the nerves. Riding just takes balance and a good horse that takes care of you, which my Buddy does.

I do EASY trail rides and I also post with a western saddle. MUCH EASIER! Loping is a joy and virtually painless once I catch the rythym (can't figure out how to spell that darn word!.

Good luck!

My surgeon told me I will be able to ride within a year after my 2 level plif 4 weeks ago. I sure hope that's so! Good luck. That actually was my deciding factor in having the surgery.

I asked if I had the surgery would I be able to ride agaiin and he said absolutely within a year. We've had a mustang for the whole time I've been having problems and I haven't ridden at all.

But I still love to be at the barn, can't wait to get back out there and hopefully I'll be able to ride by next summer. I think I'll start with an older more domesticated horse than our mustang though, and leave the rough riding to the kids! :)

Thank you all so much for your encouraging replies! Tammy, I ride western (with a great lambskin padding) and I do post the trot. I'm not that great of a rider (numbness down back of right leg from torn disk eight years ago). I have fallen off 11 times (getting kind of good at it - I always fall on my side).I ALWAYS wear a helmet. At one time I had stickers all over it, and I looked like one of Jerry's kids! It has saved my life more than once.

I'm blessed to have horses in my back yard, so I still get to spend a lot of time with them. I just need to be patient, patient, patient. I'm feeling a little better. I only wake up once now in the middle of the night to wander around the house with a hot pack waiting for it to be time for another pill. At least I can walk now. I'm on 800mg neurontin 2X/day and my second epidural might be working a bit (started feeling better 6 days after the shot), in addition to the Oxycodone and ibuprofen. I get injection numero 3 next week, and I'm seeing a spine surgeon on Thursday - just for advise. I don't want this happening every summer. I've put myself on a strict diet and have lost 10 pounds (my horses will love that!). I'm planning on sticking with the PT longer than before, and I will really BABY my back - even when I feel better. Anywho, that's my plan for today. Oh, and I go back to work next week (5th grade teacher) and my boss is sympathetic about letting me go home early. Thanks so much again for your replies!

And MKF, good luck on your riding! Where do you live? I live in Northern AZ.

God bless, Holly

Hi Holly - I'm in the twin cities area St paul / Minneapolis suburbs

Hi horsefolk. I brokemy back (L2) in 1990 on a new horse, got lousy initial healthcare. Still rode (in a brace! I had great posture!), but 15 yrs later not all the PT, chiro, and acupuncture in the world was going to keep me ujpright. The general response to the MRIs was "oh ****!" L2 had basically disintegrated, everything below it was out of line; disk material nonexistant; badly pinched spintal nerves. So...had a fusion of L2-4 and a laminectomy 1.5 years ago.

I'm still not riding, but hoping to. Had to put my last horse down about 2 years ago, but have access here to a couple of sweet QH and a *fabulous* little Peruvian Paso. I agree w. the posting to the trot advice--but try one of the gaited horses if you can. The pasos have this nifty little fifth gait somewhere between a trot and a canter that is the smoothest thing I ever sat to. Can't post to it, and don't need to. You could have a glass of wine on the palm of your hand and not spill a drop.

My right leg is still weak from nerve damage, tho slowly getting better. When I can get it over the saddle I'll ride again.