Recovering from herniated discs!

Hi all! I'm new here as of today and what an awesome forum!! I especially love this PSR group!!

Anyhow I have a few questions. Has anybody here experienced back problems/injuries and gone on to successfully ride again?

My two girls have just started riding and I've got the serious itch once again. I grew up in the hunter/ jumper world then upon leaving for college started riding off and on for pleasure. After 3 kids I got in a rut and felt I really needed something for me and started riding again purchasing my first horse for my 30th birthday. Anyhow, that was a disaster but I learned A LOT! Mostly what NOT to do and that paying a huge price for a trainer does not necessarily make them an expert!!

Anyhow, I've set riding as a goal. Due to my back issues I really need to lose weight. So I thought what better incentive then riding?? Upon losing my first 25 pounds via diet AND exercise I am going to start riding lessons again...during the day, not with my girls! Hoping to lose the last 25 with riding as part of my workout!!

One of my fears of course is the possibility of riding being aggravating to my back making it not a good activity for me! I'm terribly scared I'll get the...sorry no riding ever again warning if my back starts acting up!! Thought maybe someone might have advice or ideas!

I'm looking right now for a Pilates instructor who is trained in back injuries so I can get the benefit of Pilates without doing further damage to my back!! I KNOW in order to ride I need to work on my core and 2 herniated discs and 4 c-sections leave me with no core muscles to speak of.

I am a bit afraid that even at 5'8" and 205 lbs (my first goal) riding instructors will look at me like I'm nuts! Even then I'm going to have to be careful that the lesson horse doesn't have a huge jarring trot!!! Maybe I'll never find the right combination!

Whew, that's my short story long! Thanks for reading and thank you mostly for this forum!!
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I'm about the same size as you. I rode QH's most of my life and I changed to a gaited horse. I have 3 disc in my lower back that are bad. I have been able to ride for 8 hrs without to much discomfort. I ride Missouri Fox Trotters. I do trails and mountain riding. I rode a nice paint mare but her trot was rough and by the time I would get off after a 2hr ride I couldn't move and it would aggravate the sciatica. I hope that you can ride again and not be in pain...But keep the thought of trying a gaited horse. It has extended my riding life....

I have one herniated disk in my lower back plus a fracture in the L5 & getting back into riding has help with my back pain.

I had my first surgery in 2008 and my second (full fusion) in January 2012. I am working on losing the weight I've gained between the two surgeries from not being able to walk. I'm 5' 7" and weigh 200 and I'd never weighed more then 150 in my life (except pregnant). I have 4 horses now and bringing my 5th home in a few days. I'm back to training and working with them and riding. No doctor will ever tell me I can't ride, that's for me to decide! If it hurts, I won't do it. If it doesn't feel right try another horse. My surgery was at the L5/S1 disc and I feel great.

Herniated Disc Pain Relief and Treatments Guide.


Herniated discs are a major cause of disability in people under 45.
I am one of those people.
For the past 3 years I suffer L5S1 disc hernia, the most common type of hernia.
But each case is slightly different and that makes it very difficult to treat.
In my case I also have hyperlordosis, scoliosis and spina bifida.
I have been trying countless treatments and supposed cures. I was often left in disappointment but fortunately found some sources of relief.
I'm not a doctor, just a student with lots of experience with a mother which is a doctor.
At this time, despite my efforts, I have reached a point where I need surgery.
But if I have had the experience and the knowledge I have now I could have avoided this complicated situation for sure.