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Sorry your feeling the way you are. Being frightened is understandable. Idon't have the problems you do so no suggestions. But here if you need someone to talk too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patty1065 (Post 921300)

Hi,

This is my 1st post. I have been lurking around for the past few weeks and finally thought I'd introduce myself.

My name is Patty and I was in a horseback riding accident on 8/9/2012. I have ridden horses for the past 38 years and have been teaching for the past 3 years and this is my first accident where I hit my head. I had just mounted my horse and within 30 seconds he spooked, started backing up quickly, he tripped and we both went down. I was wearing a helmet. I only remember him starting to back up, I do not remember falling. I remember bits and pieces in the the emergency room.

They did a CT and MRI and I had a subarachnoid hemorrhage. I was in the hospital for 4 days and then released.

My symptoms are:

brain fog
vertigo
balance problems
concentration problems
speech problems (finding words etc)
anger
anxiety
slight vision changes (colors changing,text size changing)
tingling
constant hand & feet movement - this happens all the time without my brain telling my fingers or toes to move, I hope this makes sense.

and the last two (that I remember at this time) are the most disturbing to me. I have gained about 15 lbs. I have been watching what I eat (except for today since it is my bday) and have been exercising daily, long walks and eliptical machine. I know that exercising causes my symptoms to be worse, but if I don't exercise then I get extremely anxious and I feel like I HAVE to exercise because I don't want to gain anymore weight. Oh, also, I quit smoking cigarettes the day of the accident.

The last symptom is not necessarily bad for me, but it is not normal. I used to get bad migraines before the accident. After the accident I noticed that I do not feel pain the same way, if at all. For the first few weeks I knew I had headaches by feeling the pulsating, but did not have any pain.

I also used to have bad neck and shoulder pain almost every day(which caused my headaches). That is totally gone. So other than the fogginess and dizziness that can come from walking too long, I do not feel muscle fatigue and I feel like I can just walk and walk and walk because my legs are almost numb like. I know this is not good for my symptoms. How concerned should I be about this lack of pain? Does anybody else have this problem?

Regarding the weight gain, I believe this is from quitting smoking and maybe there was some pituitary gland damage? I had hypothyroidism and on meds before the accident. My internist raised my meds just last week, I think just to appease me, but still no weight loss. Any ideas?

I have not driven a car since the accident. I have not been back to a Neurologist since the hospital, My internist doesn't think it is necessary, but I am now looking into finding one to get tested. Not sure what tests they are going to do at this stage, but I feel like I need answers.

Lastly, I know that a subarachnoid hemorrhage is pretty bad. Other than the brain bleeding, (mine stopped bleeding while still in the hospital) it seems like all the symptoms are the same as pcs. Am I missing something? Why do the drs say these are so much worse? Are my symptoms more apt to be permanent? Do I have a higher risk of another bleed? Any info would be helpful? My mother had a brain aneurysm at my exact age (46) and is now paralyzed and I guess I am a little freaked out and nervous for my future.

Sorry this is so long. I tried to put this in shorter paragraphs so it would be easier to read. I also have a problem with long paragraphs.

Thank you,

Patty

Ginnie, Never heard of therapeutic riding IN the water, that's awesome! LOVE that idea. I used to teach therapeutic riding... now I need it. :o Must be indoors? Certainly the wrong time of year to be swimming with horses outside now in Canada :)

Patty, not driving would be a real hassle for getting to the barn etc. I've been driving since my accident, I'm very lucky. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have been for the first week or two, but the ER doc only told me not to drive myself home from the hospital. I wouldn't have been able to find my way home anyhow!

Lying about being dizzy to be cleared to drive... yeah, that's not cool. Last thing you need is to cause an accident and hurt yourself more, plus the risk of hurting / killing someone else!! Yikes. Glad you're doing the right thing. *hug*

I don't fall because I'm dizzy so much, its some lack of coordination that no one has been able to nail down just yet. They've dabbled with vestibular therapy and orthopedic therapy and now I'm out of extended health coverage so my therapies are on the back burner until they renew in January.

I'm pretty confident I could ride ok, but I've been proven time and time again that I'm not a good judge of my abilities anymore. I also thought I could go down in our deep ditch last week and retrieve our garbage can lids and ended up tumbling down 12 feet to the bottom, cracking my metal cane, but not knowing... crawling up out of the ditch, standing up using my cane and SNAP it went... me falling down right at the side of our very busy road with horns blaring.

So given stuff like that, I'm trying to be patient and trust that my doc knows my limitations better than I do. But its hard. I'm antsy! ;)
Starr

Yes Patty, the swimming with the horse was a hoot. Loved every minute. There is a causeway near by, where horses are allowed. I had forgotten how strong your legs have to be, and the fact of water resistance...I slid right of the back side, came up laughing and sputtering! Got right back on. I have had two spinal fusions, and am fused C3-7. I had no additional pain from the experience, and will go again soon. If there is a pond in your area, maybe you could try it soon too. Lots of older people went, as well as disabled kids. I hope you can get back in the saddle again. I am 6o yrs. old and can't wait for another adventure!!! ginnie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patty1065 (Post 922365)

Yes Jomar, horses can be quirky! What kind of horse do you have? Do you still ride? We have come to the conclusion that the reason the horse that I fell from spooked that night is because I was riding him a little later in the day than normal (7:00 pm), and since he is almost blind in the left eye (he's around 27 years old), the shadows looked different at that time of day when I leaned down to tighten the girth. So he flew backwards and fell down. Normally, this guy is the calmest, quiet lesson horse you could find. Who would have thought! :eek:

I have a Pinto breeding stock mare, Sire was a paint & dam a pinto but she is a solid coffee color w/slight roaning.

I haven't gotten back on her much at all since she bucked me off in 96.:o
Since then I had gone back to work and didn't have time between kids/family & 10 hr wk days.
Since off work (chronic RSI injury), I just didn't care to risk getting bucked off again.
She is flighty, unpredictable and smart, a bad combo.
She seems to be mellowing out now that she is getting older LOL.

My first horse was a perfect Palomino gelding:D, he spoiled me by being so good and easy to teach things to.
Of course when we are young we are usually fearless too.
My palomino did spook/bolt early from a tractor pulling a plow, and ran into a electric fence and then started bucking, that was when I got dumped on my head and got a concussion. Luckily it was minor.

I live in Florida, and at least for another month the water will be warm enough. There are 5 stables that do this down here. No saddle, you go bare back, no helmet, etc. I was in deep water when I slid off, no kidding, this was a great experience. If you can do it, in a local lake etc in Canada, you won't regret the ride. I did this in Missouri back when I was riding. The Stable for "Sam" had a farm pond. We plunged right in during the summer months. I had not done this since I was 45. I hope you get better Starr, and that the PCS goes away, and allows you to have those fun experiences again. I never thought I would be able to do this again. Get well. ginnie:hug:

I am not sure I would get back on your horse either. I have been on spooked animals before, NOT fun! My Sam was an American Saddle Bred, and he was mellow at 17 years old. Barn sour, and would run like the wind back to the barn. I had to field catch him, cute trick.... Horses are smart, and my memories are filled with those years I had him. He was blond with white main and tale. I almost bought a dappled Grey, but he spooked too easily. Glad you love horses too. Maybe you could find a good old boy or girl, that would let you get back in the saddle without fear. The "water" experience was with a 10 year old female named "Lady" and she was... I can't believe I made it through my youth, without getting dumped on my head! Ginnie:hug: