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Rider Issue, Loss of control/feeling in ankles

3K views 20 replies 11 participants last post by  Saskia 
#1 ·
Hi guys..

I have gotten to the point i am desperate for some answers. All my life I rode western, switched to english about three years ago. And have ridden very very seriously under a very educated trainer who breeds FEI sport horses and ponies, and trains a lot as well. There is something that is happening to me and has for some time. When riding, after a little while, one or both my ankles will start to feel fatigued. It is very strange. When this happens, I lose a LOT of strength in it, and it will go limp. It goes back and forth on which or both. However, I don't know what to do. We have made sure I wasn't bracing anywhere. It happens to me the most in a CC or Jump saddle. I have much less issues with this or rare issues with this if riding in a dressage saddle. I notice it comes on the most during trot work, in a jump saddle. I have tried many different saddles as well. It is slightly scary though.. Because when it happens, after about 20 seconds my foot goes limp and seriously floppy and I can't do anything. It is to the point, last year at a show, I was riding with one stirrup two holes higher because it was occuring, and I had to show. Any and all input is appreciated. I do aspire to event.. And have a green horse I am bringing along that is not forgiving of a flopping foot..
 
#7 ·
I would skip a few riding lessons and put that money toward going to the doctor. I agree it sounds like you could have a pinched nerve that only gets pressure when you are in a riding position. I'd probably go to the chiropractor first, and then see what happens. Since you talked about a previous injury, some physical therapy may help as well.

Personally, my sciatic nerve gets pressure on my left side when I sit for long periods. My entire leg will start to tingle. Regular chiro visits keeps my pelvis on position so that doesn't happen anymore.

Does it seem to relieve anything if you purposefully point your toes outward when riding?
 
#4 ·
You may want to try some type of ankle support that you can fit in your boots. I would do some ankle strengthening exercises at home, like with a workout band and just put it on the ball of your foot and flex it down, take notice if you ever find pain when walking or doing something else.

Definitely see a doctor as soon as you can, problems like this can turn into very debilitating injuries sometimes.
 
#5 ·
I have to be careful what kind of stuff I do to my one foot due to an injury I had. Back in January a full spreader fell off of the jack, and onto my foot. Started lifting it off with the jack, and fell back down on it. If I do the wrong thing, I am unable to walk without some serious pain meds. No bones were broken that we discovered, but they wish something would have just broke because I have extensive tissue damage after that. However this issue was happeneing before, and still continues. If I did some excesses , would it be counterproductive to do more to one foot than the other? I would like to try to strengthen it, but do not want to do too much and go backwards with the other foot.
 
#9 ·
do you have any plantar faciatis type problems? I mean, do your feet hurt when walking? I don't think there is any connection, but just one thought that occured.

I , too, think it's a nerve thing. but, maybe the irritation to the fascia is more present at all times than you think.

just out of curiosity, what sort of shoe do you were daily, and what sort of boot. and, have you tried padding the stirrups? Cashel has some nice stirrup pads.

I get numb feet on my left side without the pads on the stirrup, and I am riding very long stirrup even, and hardly any pressure on the stirrup bar. right foot has not issue. so, maybe just how the nerve runs along the bottom of foot.

anyway, the long story short is it must be some sort of nerve impingment. nerve impingement can become harder and harder to cure, the longer the nerve is in an irritated state.
 
#10 ·
do you have any plantar faciatis type problems? I mean, do your feet hurt when walking? I don't think there is any connection, but just one thought that occured.

Sometimes when walking up and down the hill to turn horses in and out I noticed a similar fatigue but not to the same extent.

I , too, think it's a nerve thing. but, maybe the irritation to the fascia is more present at all times than you think.

just out of curiosity, what sort of shoe do you were daily, and what sort of boot. and, have you tried padding the stirrups? Cashel has some nice stirrup pads.

I generally wear work boots there. Not much padding at all and my feet kill me by the end of the day if I do. Sometimes I switch it up and wear Nike sneakers but I don't usually because saw dust and sand gets in them in the tiny ventilation holes and it just feels gross LOL. I still get the fatigue feeling in them sometimes. But feet dont kill me at end of day. I ride in Ariat paddock boots. Moderately comfy, and have the groove in the bottom for the stirrup. MY stirrups have pads in them. Never changed to different pads though.

I get numb feet on my left side without the pads on the stirrup, and I am riding very long stirrup even, and hardly any pressure on the stirrup bar. right foot has not issue. so, maybe just how the nerve runs along the bottom of foot.

anyway, the long story short is it must be some sort of nerve impingment. nerve impingement can become harder and harder to cure, the longer the nerve is in an irritated state.

I can look into it. Sure never thought I would have these issues before I ever was even in my mid 20s. :/ I am the only one that has these sort of issues that I know and it is embarassing when everyone around me just says push through it but I seriously CANNOT.
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#12 ·
Can you take your feet out of the stirrups and just let them relax for a few minutes? Maybe do some circles with your ankles? Sometimes I spend 2+ hours in the saddle and my ankles will start to go a little numb and stiff but just taking them out of the stirrups and relaxing seems to help; just a thought.
 
#15 ·
I truly feel for you! Being eighteen and having nerve problems with my feet and knees I can really relate! Especially when everyone around me tells me I'm too young to be having health problems. I ride with a compression style brace on both my ankles and one on my knee. I was having problems with knee pain after riding 20 minutes, and completely losing feeling in both my feet after an hour. I tried long stirrups, short stirrups, turned stirrups, padded stirrups, no stirrups... Nothing worked. I can't afford a chiro so I started experimenting with braces. Back on track had an amazing knee brace for my pain but I ended up losing it :(
 
#16 ·
What a, give up the wheat, and start supplementing the iodine. Wheat is inflammatory, and causes joint pain. You ARE too young for having pain....I am almost 60, and most of my aches and pains are gone.....I gave up most grains, and started supplementing iodine, and it changed my family's life!! (For the better)
 
#17 ·
Around my parts we get plenty of iodine from fish and iodized salt (salt is a major cause of taking in TOO much iodine). I didn't know about grains!! Some of my ankle pain is from injury, broken bones etc, so ridding grain from my diet should relieve some of that pain? You learn something new everyday I guess!
 
#20 ·
I highly suggest seeing a chiropractor and someone who knows A.R.T. aka Active Release Technique. I began seeing the chiropractor for help clearing up a long term injury to my foot. Come to find out one of the main reasons for the continued pain was something I was doing with my ankle. They were able to help me fix it all and see how other issues (I didn't know I had) were causing other problems. Everything is connected in some way. If you can also dissect your position in the saddle for them they are also able to help figure out how you can correct your riding to keep from creating physical issues like pinching nerves, etc. My chiro and soft tissue guy (ART) have been completely worth the investment.
 
#21 ·
I used to get numb feet and then really bad pain in the outside of my ankles when riding.

I tried getting more supportive boots, wraps, doctors weren't interested. I spent hundreds on new stirrups (which are great actually) but none of it really helped.

What actually ended up helping was stopping the support, I had been wearing half chaps and paddock boots pretty much forever and for some reason stabilising my ankle was making it worse. Now I just ride with lace up ankle height boots and the pain is a lot better. Still around but not so bad.

Might not be related to yours but maybe try and change things up.
 
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