ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] Back Injury Summary

[endurance] Back Injury Summary

llayman@Imail.NeoRx.com
Wed, 06 Mar 96 10:46:42 PST

Thank you to all those that responded to my plea for advice on my back
injury. There were 21 replies, mostly by people who have had back
injuries themselves.

The number one piece of advice was to take my recovery very slowly,
treat myself like I would my $5000 Arab. I wouldn't push him through
an injury, why should I push myself. We're a team, we need each other
in order to perform.

Then there is ice, ice, ice, for the first 72 hours. I walked around
with an icepack stuck down the back of my jeans for five days. It
felt much better than heat.

My doctor (neurologist) gave me Ansaid, which is a good
anti-inflammatory. But it doesn't seem to kill all of the pain, which
I think is good. I figure that if my back hurts, I am less likely to
strain it during it's recovery. He's also sending me in for a CAT Scan
to look for further damage and degenerative disease (since low back
agony returns with injury once or twice a year)

Magnets. I am a bonified skeptic: being a research scientist, things
have to be proven consistently for me to accept them as possible
truths. But a few people swore by magnet therapy. So I took the
local rep up on his offer and am performing my own little experiment.
Now I've got a magnet down the back of my jeans. I alternate with ice
as the magnet appears to increase circulation and the pain does
increase slightly.

When the swelling and pain decrease, the strengthening and flexibility
exercises start. Watching my doctor demonstrate them made me wince,
but I'll be starting them soon, I guess. Yoga was also mentioned for
relaxation, strengthening and flexibility in the entire body. My
riding partner is going to drag me off to her classes fairly soon, I
think.

Chiropractors came highly recommended, but my only experience with
them has been a lot of money combined with no relief. So if anybody
has experience with a good Chiropractor in the Seattle/Eastside area,
I might be willing to give it a try.

There was controversy over wearing back braces, but general support
for wearing them during recovering. Wearing them all of the time
might lull one into a false sense of security and cause the muscles in
the area to weaken in response to the added support. My conclusion,
do strengthening exercises every day and wear the brace during times
of risk. Many recommended the Professional's choice Back support, and
I have ordered one. Just for all of your information, they will be
having a sale starting March 15th.




But my favorite reply was a quote given by Becky Hackworth which
seemed to sum up us horse people in general (ie accidents can happen
regardless of preventative measures)


"And no matter what you do, you can still blow your back doing
something as stupid as sneezing while bent over to tie your shoes."

Thanks again for all the support and advice. I won't be riding for a
few more weeks, so let the rain fall.

Linda-Catherine
Seattle, WA
LLayman@NeoRx.com
"Life is short, and the Art long; opportunity fleeting; experiment
dangerous, and judgment difficult." Hippocrates