I dont know how much longer i can go on like this

I missed you too @outlander

I am sending you knowing hugs esp what the docors tell you , what did they say ??

that they dont think i should ride a horse again @Shaz51 that is my entire livlihood and have been riding for the past 21 yrs.

Hi @outlander

I have just read the last couple of days of your thread - I am so sorry you have lost your job with the horses - you really liked it and although it was tough work the exercise must have helped - but yes

You have a lot happening and I am pretty sure a lot of it is physical but certainly so much of it is impinging your psychologically too -

So yes - what do you do now? - I guess have a bit of a break and think what else - now might be the chance to get a proper job - too busy to baby-sit for free - I like the idea myself

But it is terrible to get the sack - I know this from my own life - not my fault either - but still - it's undermining

I have been working outside - I twisted my knee in August and working in the garden was too much but I have been able to do some over the last day or so - necessary to destroy the antsnests here - the soil is very sandy and ants love that - and I even had the little so-in-sos in my bed - they were coming in my window as payback for putting antsand into their nests

Thinking of you Outlander

Dec

Yes - not riding again is a very disappointing thought @outlander

I had to give up driving because of my physical condition - that was really hard - I have to go through my pain specialist about getting my licence again and like - that's not going to happen

I liked horse riding myself - I rode the last time when I was on holidays in Tasmania back in the 1990s and paid a price with back pain and that was before my spine was bad - but I know myself - I would do whatever I could for as long as I could and I would do the same again

But back problems and horse riding might not be good companions and yes - I know how hard it is to give something like that up

Dec

Of course you don't want to give up riding @outlander - thinking about it - riding would be harder on the lumber spine than the neck but yes -

You need to work out your pain-issues and how best to manage them - chronic pain is really something that can be cured - only managed - treatment is always difficult

I would like to drive again - actually I am not all that keen on driving locally - I live near a lot of busy streets which I am sure I could manage - what I really want to do is take trips which means I would only drive a short time - taking lots of breaks

You are encouraging - so many people are not. Everyone seems to know better than I do - it can be very frustrating - I have done a lot of driving with back pain and know to break and rest -

I think I wrote it in my thread that I must be getting slow of speech or something because people tend to finish my sentences for me - and now - how hard driving could be

You see past that though - at how frustrating it is not to be able to drive - sigh - I will be glad to pick up my walking again - I went out for a short walk today

I really hope you don't have to give up riding - there is something really special about being out alone with a horse

Dec

she worried about a fall in regards to my neck but riding causes me pain all over @Owlunar my foot basically gets reinjured when i do heavy riding, hip issues then sets off the back and neck pain. but the top of my spine is twisted from my last fall and neck degeneration. i am on constant anti-inflammatroies (arthritis medication) and regular pain releif but that does help in a flare up. ive had to call radio drs out to get needles for pain or stronger pain relief. so im working on pain management as well.

im sorry- im not sure what you mean by 'i look straight through'- can you explain that.

driving yes tends to cause back and neck issues so have to be careful and take regular breaks and things as well. i do hope that you can get back to that at your own pace.

you say everyone knows better than you but noone knows you better than yourself. people can tell you what is wrong diagnositcally but only you can say how much pain your in and how much more you can handle. and people finishing your sentences- i find that older people- not elderly just abit more aged like to speak but when they do sometimes go off track about what the point is- kinda like going the long way around instead of a simple sentence. does that help at all? these are observations particularly as a carer of someone who is moe aged.