10/01/2022
So anyone who’s met me knows that I walk with the assistance of a cane most of the time; after a couple lower back surgeries with multiple complications resulting in extensive scar tissue damage, I have been left with chronic pain, and severe muscle atrophy.
After 5 years of trying every conventional therapy possible, I had formulated a plan of my own for rehabilitation once we moved here, a part which included riding! I took the summer to rest, heal, relieve the stress of moving and this week I started. I used to ride many many years ago, so I do know some basics, but I’m really weak.
My MIL is fantastic helping me! The first day I just walked in circles in the round pen for 10-15 minutes, no pain, but sore in a good way. Today she set up some barrels so I could practise serpentines with leg pressure. After 10 minutes my legs were shaking and felt like jelly. 🤣 However, I’ve been really careful not to push too hard, just take it to my limit plus a minute or two, and I’ve discovered that riding exercises the very muscles that are affected the most, better than the stretching or Pilates I’ve been doing.
So I don’t know if I’ll be able to join the rest of the family on a trail ride this fall, but with regular riding I think I’ll be able to join in next spring:) This is Missy and I, she’s been so good and patient with my confusing mixed leg signals 🤣
