Hi there, I'm new to this site. I had 2 SCS implant trials before finally having the permanent implant surgery on December 16, 2009. I have been dealing with chronic pain since 2001 as a result of scarring and lymphedema from cancer surgeries and from degenerative joint disease of the sacro-illiac joint.

Prior to my scs implant I'd tried most of the pain medications available as well as having gone through 2 experimental treatments (dextromethorphan and ketamine injections).

Since having the implant, my djd pain has been reduced by about 70% but it has not helped my lymphedema pain at all. I continue to take Dilaudid and norco for pain as well as using lidoderm patches.

As I'm at 4 months post-implant, I've started back to some of my normal routines but continue to watch how much weight I'm lifting. One of my unanswered questions regarding this implant is if I'll ever be able to ride horses again. Horses are a huge part of my life and I initially turned down having the implant after my first trial because the implant would interfere too much with caring for my animals. The past 4 months have been very trying as I've not been able to care for my animals ( I have 2 horses, 3 dogs, 4 ducks, a chicken, 6 parakeets, and 2 tanks of fish!) My poor mother has been having to care for the animals for me.

If anyone knows anyone with an SCS implant who has horses, I would love to hear how they are managing their horses and if they are able to ride with their implant.

WELCOME HICKTOMBOY ! !

From one horse lover to another !!



That is an excellent question!!
I have 6 horses and have faith that YES we will ride again!
I've only had my SCS (for bilateral leg pain) for 6 wks now, so it's a bit soon for me to get too excited about it just yet.....
BUT! I will ask my Dr at my next visit in 2 wks.

I would assume, if we have rather 'temperamental' horses, it should be ok.
Let me know what feedback your Dr is giving you on this issue ok!
We can compare notes!

SO GLAD you found this wonderful forum!
I'll be anxious to get to know more about you!
.......I'm a 'hicktomboy' myself.... and PROUD of it!!

We'll be in touch!
TTYS
Rae

I hope you both can ride again..

I think if the horses are well trained, calm and smooth gaited, and if you start slowly...things should be OK.

as you most likely are out of riding condition..
slow and easy take your time..

Of course run it by the dr to get his input.

I think the main obstacle would be the overall temperament of the horses in question.
are they calm and mellow?

Hi Hicktomboy. Glad you came on this site, there are an awesome bunch of people here

I have met one of Hicktomboy's horses, Cyrano, he was such a dude - Hicktomboy was one of the kind owners that leant their horses for the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games, and I had the honour of riding Cyrano. I havent met Hicktomboy since but we keep in regular contact through the computer world.

Hicktomboy I hope you find the answers you need in this site. It's great being on here with you (I visit the RSD site) and hope we meet again soon. Im trying really hard to get to the WEG - its a long road but Im working at it!! How far are you from Kentucky?

I really hope both you and Rrae get to ride again, hold onto that dream, horses are great healers and I swear they just know when you need that little bit extra care. For me, if I am unable to ride, I just smell them - non horsey people think I am mad but you two will understand!!!

Take care and keep strong my thoughts are with you xo

Hoooorayy! i LOVE horse talk !

And to be quite honest, my horses are mostly just 'pasture pets'.....it's not like I've ridden in any derby's or anything !

And 2Claws, I had to laugh (about the 'smelling' the horses bit) !
I KNOW what you mean!!! I LOVE the way horses smell!

So, if I actually ever ride again or not......at least i have that 'special' time I can spend just sitting with them while they eat (I also love the sound they make when they eat......chomp chomp chomp......it's soothing!)
SO! If people think YOU are 'crazy' then, I'm right there with ya!

And YES! Horses DO 'know' when we need a 'hug'........
On several occasions, when I was particularly 'down', I'd go out to the pasture to just sit, cry, see the sunset...... well, the times when I'd break down crying......my precious 'Dillon' and "Lucky" would come over to me and just stand there and rest there big ol' muzzle on my shoulder ....or the top of my head...... innit sweeet?!

I'll be happy to at least be able to still take care of them, brush them, talk to them.......
Thanks guys for the horse chat

Here's hoping for pain free days!

....Rae

LOL cool, I know just what you mean too.

I have a bratty mare - got when she 4.5 mos old - too soon I think, but the price was right and the people needed to sell her.

messed up and gave her 4th cutting alfalfa for a short time and she went a little nuts or maybe she was a bit nuts anyway they had named her Sassy and it does fit.

she's hyper sensitive and reactionary - very soft in the mouth and responsive that way but the few times I have been on her she's bucked me off, and my dh..
{I have chronic RSI/TOS & mild c spine osteos}
anyway a little nervous about getting tossed again, I started saddling her again this last summer - oh she's she's 18 this year!

But I can see her out the window and mess with her, hehe yes, smell her too nothing like the smell of a horse...
even when they are wet they don't stink like dogs do -- what's up with that LOL

I'll toss up a pic of my brat.

Oh gosh hicktomboy, I am so sorry I stepped into some of that pasture stuff I used to find on my grandparents' farm with my post to Cold Feet B4 Surgery..... I did not realize you are trying to find out whether riding is OK post implant. Reading only there and not in your full range of posts I wrote out of context about riding.

Even so, since I have ridden much and understand your yearning to return to the saddle where you can lean forward and nuzzle your friends, I do SO HOPE your Doc will give you good advice on this concern! Now as for me, well.... just chalk one up for my exquisite ability from time to time to define the word DUH with my goings on.

One who hopes the best for you and your horses,
Mark56

....Sometimes i think you're just a little too hard on yourself!


Jo*Mar ! What a beauty! (..so is your horse.... )
I think i watch too much Craig Ferguson......


P.S. I've read somewhere that the two best ways to strengthen our BACK
Muscles, are swimming AND.....HORSEback riding!!!


I reckon we still need to get the 'ok' from our Doctor, tho

Thank you, Rae- Naw, not doing the many lashes routine, just understanding sometimes the pasture has surprises in it. Gosh, Mark56

I was actually riding up until a few months before my implant surgery in December...and (thankfully) I'm one of those lucky people who can go for extended periods of time without riding and just jump back on and my muscles all agree with it with no griping and remember exactly what they are supposed to do on a horse!

2Claws, Cyrano turned 30 last month!!! I can't believe my boy is that old and with his size..I'm so amazed that he's lived as long as he has! I've been thinking about getting a harness and cart so that I can drive my mare again..she's been retired for a long time..but she's a trooper and will put up with anything I ask her to do.


Rrae - Boston Scientific, the company who made my implant refuses to give any advice on riding..which I find extremely annoying...my doctor originally said that he didn't think I'd be able to ride again ( that was before my first trial) but has since said that I MAY be able to ride again, but no jumping and absolutely no buckers (hmmm...can someone tell me if there is a way to tell a horse that it absolutely can't buck LOL) I told him that I'd give it exactly 1 year for my implant to scar in then I'm getting back on regardless.


My pain levels have always been much less when I was actively riding on a regular basis so if it gets down to the choice of never riding again and having only 1 of my pains reduced...or riding whenever I want and having all of my pains minimally reduced from the riding...I think I'm going to have the implant pulled and just go back to dealing with it.

I have severe pain in my right leg from lymphedema, pain in my left hip & groin from lymph node dissection surgery that has major scar tissue build up, pain in my left sacro-illiac joint due to degenerative joint disease that was created from improper gait due to uncontrolled pain (oh joy). Originally we had high hopes that the SCS implant would control about 70% of my pain..but sadly, it has only controlled about 70% of the sacro-illiac pain and about 20% of the hip/groin pain. It has done nothing for the left leg which to be honest, was the pain that I wanted gone the most because the alternative treatments I've been getting (RFAs and nerve blocks) aren't working anymore and the SCS was my last ditch attempt to try to control the pain.

I am only at 4 months post op though so I'm still crossing my fingers that things will get better over time and I'm going to go in yet again for an adjustment. I'm hoping they can find at least one new program that might help with the leg pain.