Occasionally, I get a pain in the neck. I’ve had the tendency for close to twenty years, but the spasms are infrequent enough that I don’t think of myself as having a “bad neck.” I have to be careful about several motions, including stretching and reaching overhead. (I have a Rubbermaid step stool in the kitchen, craft room, and downstairs so I never have to do so.)
I especially tend to notice my neck when I haven’t been riding regularly. The past ten days, I have been unable to ride because it was either too cold, or the arena at my trainer’s place was too covered in snow. Yesterday, my neck had almost reached the stage where it was about to spasm. During a severe spasm, the only thing I really want to do is rest with my head carefully propped up and a heated rice pack on my neck, while consuming great quantities of aspirin.
Fortunately, we have had a few warm, sunny days, and the arena, while wet and sloppy, was not slick nor particularly trappy. Even more fortunately, Hap loves that sort of footing. Putting the saddle on him was a slight challenge, because I didn’t want to stress my neck or shoulders, and Hap’s back is almost at my eye level. However, pushing the saddle up worked just fine. Hap took the bit out of my hands as usual and got his treat after I put his ears through the bridle. He was never difficult to bridle, but I’ve worked on making him keen about it since he is so tall and I don’t like to stretch.
I didn’t ride him very long: a few rdounds at a walk, followed by enough trot to warm up and be ready for Hap’s lovely smooth canter. In this sort of footing, he collects his stride slightly without being asked and without losing any relaxation. Then, with my back warmed up, I practiced sitting trot for a few minutes, since I knew if I could manager to sit Hap’s trot at all, it would be very good for my neck.
Afterward, as we walked around to chill out and cool down, I moved my shoulders and neck. As I had expected, my neck no longer had that slightly sore spot which threatened to become a dull knife at any incautious movement. The Hap massage had worked again.
Same problem. Maybe I should come out and ride Hap.
That’s really interesting that riding actually helps your neck. That’s the kind of therapy I want recommended for my various aches and pains, although I do notice that if I ride regularly generally I feel better.
Must tun in the family. All that works for me is lying flat on my back with heat on my neck and not moving for 12 hours or so. Not an easily achieved remedy. Never tried horseback therapy!