|
|
Post by Sheryl on Mar 1, 2017 22:02:30 GMT -5
I've been MIA for many reasons, but the one I want to talk about is my severe hip arthritis....
Those of you that remember me from the long haul....I was obese, got healthy and had some of the best riding years of mylife. In 2014 I took on a very challenging horse but I was fit, confident and loved to RIDE. Then one day I couldn't stand after dismounting. Long story short, even with joint injections (and every supplement known to womankind) even riding for 20-30 minutes leaves me in bawling pain. Docs won't replace hip yet because as long as I am careful with activities I am okay. I can't do kickboxing, running or....ride, but pretty much normal 50ish woman activities I am okay.
So, young horse has a new home. My old horse is basically retired (lame at the trot and serious heart murmur) but I have back my driving pony. I'd sold him but owner was ready to pass him on, so of course I took him back. So right now I am caring for an old big horse and a prime of his life pony - and doing nothing with them.
I like driving, but I don't love it. It's a hassle (loading cart in trailer), there are few places to drive, and my pony is a hot little hackney. He has mellowed though and after a year running feral, I have ground driven him and very impressive that he remembers everything. I have lost some of my nerve though.... do I feel safe driving him?
I have a boyfriend who is not a horse guy but tried riding. He is old too...haha...so riding caused him too much pain. He sounds game to try driving. I showed him videos of combined driving and he said he'd like to try that! So why am I resistant? I think I haven't gotten over the idea that I can't trail ride for 6 hours (or 6 minutes) anymore, I think I am low confidence carting.
I think I have talked myself into taking pony for a drive....and if I live to tell about it, actually get a cart that fits him! And maybe one that I can haul in my trailer. I guess it seems too soon to give up on horses!
|
|
|
|
Post by ride4fun on Mar 2, 2017 11:37:53 GMT -5
I have never gotten the driving bug, which is a shame with 3 minis that could use a job. But folks that do drive sure seem to have a lot of fun with it and my recollection is you enjoyed it with your mini years ago.
Bless you for taking care of your older guy. I'm still riding but I also have my retired with arthritis mare Shade. Some days I think I need to get ready to let go and then she will go trotting around looking good, so for now as long as I can get previcoxx and she looks so contented eating and hanging out and still has some days of trotting around being sassy its ok.
With your hip issues do you want to continue the horses on property? Its hard for me to imagine not having mine right here, but if I couldn't play with the horses without trailering that would be a big refactoring for me.
And if your hot hackney seems like not your ideal personality fit maybe you can find someone in the driving world with a steady Eddy that is a bit slow, and they'd like to have a faster horse for the CDE competitions and you could work out a mutual 'feed lease' and then if that works out sell to each other?
Congrats on the boyfriend, It is not uncommon for guys that don't ride to find they enjoy driving with horses when they try it.
|
|
|
|
Post by ride4fun on Mar 3, 2017 0:34:49 GMT -5
Got to thinking after I typed that, what I think I would probably do in your shoes is change docs, figure out how to mimic the after riding limp and exaggerate my pain levels to the new doc. "It hurts all the time" This is colored because my mom's doc put her off getting knee replacements for about 10 years -- and she ended up with foot problems in the meantime and then dying at only 68 and didn't get to enjoy the new joints for the time nor to the extent that she should have IMO. So even though I would be hesitant to have a major surgery like that, I'd also think that I would want to do it too early vs too late.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jenni on Mar 3, 2017 11:22:00 GMT -5
Nice to hear from you again! I would also get a second opinion. I have a friend who had her hip replaced in her early 50s and another had both knees replaced. Both are horsewomen and they would have been fine doing "normal" 50 year old activities but they still wanted to ride and do the extra things they really enjoy. One had a Dr who didn't want to do the replacement because at her age the replacement might wear out - she told him she'd rather have the good years now than when she was 80...
|
|
|
|
Post by Kit on Mar 5, 2017 0:44:07 GMT -5
I agree with the 2nd opinion. A friend of mine is looking at a hip replacement, and she just turned 45. Her only stipulation is she had to loose weight before they would do the surgery.
|
|
|
|
Post by Idaho Linda on Mar 5, 2017 23:10:20 GMT -5
Find another doc--one that specializes in sports medicine. My doctor friend just got her hips replaced. He angled her news hips for riding.
During this bad weather, this same friend has her driving pony boarded where there is an indoor arena. She drives there. Her other horses are at her home.
|
|
|
|
Post by Marci on Mar 7, 2017 0:00:21 GMT -5
Yes I agree on the second opinion. Obviously he doesn't get the riding thrill. And yes, first its the one joint that goes and you overuse the rest to make up for it next thing you know thae all need replacing. Besides we aren't spring chickens over 50 and you still will get one more new hip if this one fails.
I wish I could afford a mini to drive, But on my income and the fact that there is a lot more to owning horses than simply the driving and riding (which actually helped my back pain a lot.) I will have to pass for now. Oddly I am OK with that. I never thought I would ever say that.
But maybe someday a little silver dapple driving mini or shetland? And then there is a cart that is so close to riding. My friend Kerry pointed it out to me, and yeah I want a steady Eddie myself.
|
|
|
|
Post by Idaho Linda on Mar 7, 2017 23:47:03 GMT -5
Something to check would be the position of your insurance to pay for the surgery if you are still able to do "normal" activities. Getting insurance to pay is in the hands of the creative coder.
|
|
|
|
Post by kerryc on Mar 8, 2017 14:15:06 GMT -5
Amen to a different doctor. Check into the different types of hip replacements. IF they go thru the back of the leg (if I remember correctly) they don't have to cut as much muscle and recovery is MUCH quicker IF you keep up with your rehab.
My dance instructor had his done. He was really bad, bone on bone and about 6 months away from cracking the pelvis wearing it so thin. He found the best sports doctor and had it done. His recovery time was 3 months as I recall. He worked HARD at his rehab. He is back to playing tennis as well as teaching and competing with his students in ballroom dancing - ALL of it from smooth to the Latin dances.
|
|
|
|
Post by DorothyB on Mar 9, 2017 12:10:05 GMT -5
Another vote for a different doctor!
I had my first hip replacement in 2000 when I was 42. Yes, I could have waited, but I wouldn't have been able to have the kind of life I wanted. I was limited in the amount of walking, couldn't do a lot of other stuff without pain.
I decided that even if I wore hips out and couldn't get them revised and had to be in a wheelchair later in life, it would be worth it to be able to live life now with the rest of me healthy.
I had the second side done in 2001 and the first side revised in 2010. I will likely need the second side revised in 2018 (last year my surgeon said maybe when I was 60 - I go at the end of this month for annual x-ray).
Since my surgeries haven't had major complications, I feel that I absolutely made the right choices! I am now retired and am riding frequently. Since late 2014 when I retired, I have done 10 "intro" endurance rides and last year did 2 "limited distance" (25 mile) endurance rides. I'm having a blast!
|
|
