I would follow up on the clavicle treatment if I were
you. Years ago (back in the 80’s) early in my endurance career my
horse stepped in a hole at a canter on a conditioning ride and flipped head
over heels. I was thrown clear but hit on my right shoulder and
rolled. All I could think about was my horse – I was terrified she
had broken her leg as I saw her foot go into the hole right as it
happened. She was ok and amazingly my saddle didn’t even have a
scratch. I am sure she could have used a massage therapist and a chiropractor
after that accident but at that time we didn’t even know about such
modalities. She got a couple weeks off and then returned to a successful
endurance career.
Once I had checked her, I looked down at myself and noticed
my right arm was in the “classic” position for a broken collar bone
(had just finished first aid the week before) and then felt the pain in my
shoulder and started to get nauseated. Luckily I wasn’t riding
alone and my partner lifted me onto the horse and walked next to me to get me
back to the barn and then on to the emergency room. I remember being
upset because they had to cut one of my favorite ride sweatshirts off me to examine
my injuries. I ended up with a badly separated shoulder and broken
clavicle along with lots of abrasions and contusions. I spent a week
(this accident occurred the first day of spring break so I didn’t miss
any classes) in bed on pain meds and then returned to work. My poor
students had to put up with left handed notes and grading comments the rest of
the year! I still laugh when I come across some of those left handed
lesson plans in my resources.
My mare and I had grown up together and we trusted each
other implicitly so I actually did a 50 mile ride on her 6 weeks later with my
arm still in the brace/sling…wouldn’t do something like that now—ahh,
the folly of youth J
The long term repercussions have been a right shoulder that
is significantly lower than the left and causes minor irritations like my bra
strap won’t stay up to major irritations like my whole arm goes numb when
in certain positions such as typing. It also keeps my chiropractor busy
keeping me from seizing up in other places in my back. Take the time to
fix it so you won’t have to wear a Racer Back bra the rest of your life! J
Kathleen Ferguson
PS I was terrified for years when I would ride through
areas with holes in them. I agree with Angie—you just have to keep
riding through your fear and try to relax and not upset your horse and
eventually you get back to normal. Centered riding classes gave me some
relaxation techniques to use when I felt myself tense up.
