Re: Uneven legs--Numbness

["Tracey" <tracey@tbt.co.za>]

>For no reason we could find, I would have one great ride and at the next,
my leg (usually the right but once the left) would start to go numb.  It
would start in my foot and ankle (they would get so numb that
they would roll to the side) and then the numbness would work up until my
whole side would be numb. It is next to impossible to trot when one half of
your body is totally numb.  You have no balance and live in
terror that the horse will spook and dump you on your head before you even
know you are headed to the ground.<


I don't get the numbness, but if I'm working hard on an exercise involving a
lot of upper leg (collection, canter voltes)  then I cramp up in my groin
and upper thigh.  Could be similar to what you go through.


>I decided to go to Donna's. It took Donna a couple of days to begin to see
the problem.  At first, she thought it was my hip being locked up. She had
me start exercises on the right leg.  While in the saddle and with the horse
walking, I stretch the heel down and then the heel goes out (away from the
horse) without letting my toe turn in.  This must be done from the hip and
not the knee or it will torque the knee and cause pain there.  I already
have some knee problems on the right because of everything.

For one week she yelled "get that heel down and out".  When I got home, I
had an old Capriola saddle that had never had the stirrups set.  They
automatically turn my toes in and heels out.  If I relax and don't twist at
the knee, they will actually help stretch the leg for me.  I ride in that
saddle a lot during training now and notice that when I go back to my
endurance saddle, my right leg is much better.  Now I immediately notice
that the right stirrup is too high and all my saddles are back to even.<

Okay, then this does make sense.  Before I do any hard work in the arena, I
try to spend ten minutes without stirrups, to deepen my seat.  I used to
cramp up through my groin until I concentrated on dropping my weight into my
ankle, instead of my heel.   I found that, by doing this, my foot stayed
straight, and I didn't "hook" the way you mentioned.

>To not "hook" is a matter of breaking a bad habit.  The fastest way to stop
is not to use that leg at all.  Kick it free from the stirrup and learn to
ride without it.  It is scary for awhile, but after awhile, you don't hook
into your horse anymore. Plus it allows you more freedom to stretch the heel
out and down without the stirrup doing it for you. >

Sigh!  One of the "methods of torture" devised by the Marquis de Sade
(otherwise known as my instructor) is to work first without stirrups, then
with one stirrup, then with the other.   All of this without reins and at
trot and canter.  Yes, it improves your seat.  It also kills you slowly.
However, I guess, from what you are saying, it will also help the leg thing.

>Leg lifts to the side are really good too.  Stand straight, keep you foot
flat and lift you leg straight out to the side from the hip.<

Unfortunately, this is just impossible for me on my left side.  My left leg
"locks" and I can't do the exercise.  This is why I usually mount from the
right, too.



>a disc problem at L5.  That causes my LEFT side to lock and the right is
trying to do the real work alone.<


Ditto.  My disc problem is L2 - L5  Didn't think of it as causing the above,
before.


>2.  Lots of exercise for the left side and stretching for the right.  >

Exercise?  What's that?  (Joking : I know I have to do it, I just hate it)

>3.  Good shoe support and/or orthotics to keep the pressure on the feet
even.>

Unfortunately, I did not recognise the names of the boots you mentioned.
Ariats?  I ride in jodphur boots and gators (for competition) because I find
I get more flexion than in long boots.  My shoes are quite comfy.

>4.  NOW FOR THE REASON WHY SOME GOOD DAYS AND SOME BAD!  It has to do with
the time before the ride.  If I have irritated the disc before the ride ever
starts by long truck rides or bad beds or anything that causes the disc to
start to swell before the ride, then it continues to swell during the ride
and eventually puts enough pressure on the sciatic nerve to make everything
go numb.  >

Okay, makes sense.  Also explains why I cramp up at a show : nerves and lack
of sleep the night before usually means I lie on the couch watching videos
until it's time to wake up.  Not good for the back.


>That is why walking does not help--too late.  Arnica before and during a
ride helps.  Tylenol (I cannot take aspirin or IBProphin which would be
better) helps.  Doing back exercises in bed before I even get up
helps--knees pulled up tight to chest to stretch out back--laying like you
were on a cross and then trying to touch your right knee to your left elbow
and vice versa while keeping your back flat on the bed.  A good Chiro can
give you the routine.>

I'll chat to my physio about these.


>5.  Grandpa taught me one other thing:  faster is better!  My disc is going
to swell eventually because riding will irritate it.  The longer I am in the
saddle, the more it will go numb.  If I start the ride in good
shape, and ride a steady strong pace, I can finish before the disc wins!
Coming from a 74 year old distance rider, that is sound advice. Please note
that our horses are more than capable of this.>

I'm in an out of the saddle for short periods, so this doesn't really apply
to me.  Even when eventing, I'm rarely in the saddle for more than an hour
at a time, including warm-up and cool-down for the XC

Thanks for all your help.


Tracey