Oh wow...

[manatee08]

Hey everyone. I'm an almost 20 year old junior in college, and I am a very serious horse show competitor... I ride for my school, and placed well at Nationals last year.

Ever since I was about 16/17, my trainer began yelling at me to "sit up!" while I was riding. I thought that it was just me being lazy, so I just worked really hard on my posture, which helped for a brief while. When I started hunching even more, I bought a Shoulders Back to horse show in. (www.shouldersback.net for those who don't know what it is) Looking back, I had sustained a really horrible head/neck injury falling off a horse right before my back got stupid, so maybe that was the cause? I don't know. I have had really bad back pain since that fall.

My back has gotten progressively more rounded at the top, at is horridly accentuated by the fact that my waist is bizarrely narrow from front to back, although it is a normal width. I know most people wouldn't complain about having a small waist, but it makes my back hump look even more rediculous.

In the past year the problem has suddenly increased exponentially. I didn't even REALIZE it, until a friend of mine came and took pictures of me riding on Thursday. Here are a few... I can honestly say I cried after I saw these pictures. I had no idea it had gotten so bad.
me and a normal back
another comparison- the small inset picture is me in MARCH! and the larger picture at the bottom is what a normal back looks like over a jump And in the inset picture, I'm NOT wearing the shoulders back, but the one that was taken on Thursday, I AM wearing it.

I am so upset. I called and made an appointment with the orthopedic doctor, and I've been reading about kyphosis surgery.

I'm thinking I am obviously going to need to have it done. I am completely heartbroken... either I am going to stop making teams at school because I am deformed (and the classes are judged on how pretty the rider looks on a horse), or I can take an entire year off riding (which is horrible, because I am never going to have another chance to ride like this or with trainers this good for the rest of my life). to have this surgery and risk never being able to ride again. I have no idea what to do. I am totally devastated.

Sorry for the rambling post, I just needed some shoulders to cry on that just might understand my predicament. I am so upset.

[Shari]

Hi Manatee,

You and your horse looked pretty good to me. The thought of letting this stop you from pursuing your dreams at such a young age, breaks my heart.

If the pain you're in is not going to stop you then neither should your appearance. I say camouflauge.

I had a significant rib hump that I was ashamed of, and my business was sponsering a golf scramble that I was asked to play in. I was very nervous because I knew I would be the only female in it, and I didn't want anyone to see my hump.

I had my sister duct tape a folded wash cloth to the indented side of my back so when I bent over I looked normal. Then I picked a shirt that tied around my waist so it wasn't tight against my skin. It was hot as hell because she taped me all around the rib cage so it would fall off, but it worked. All those men probably thought I was one sweaty bitch, but they never saw my hump.

Our situations are different, but I hope this encourages you to follow your dreams.

Shari

[bsprings]

Hi Manatee-
I don't think you look bad at all. I ride too and am scheduled for surgery this December. It is my one passion in life so I know where you are coming from. In my case I will have to be fused all the way down and I know my riding ability will be compromised. But I am just going to make the best of it- I will work hard at "learning" to ride again with my new body. I don't think if you had the surgery though it would be very drastic- I may be wrong but you would probably not be fused in your lower back and that would leave you flexible to absorb the motion of the horse. Another thing- it is not urgent at your age, you can have the surgery in a few years- don't miss out on your opportunities to ride with these instructors! I am 45 and have to have it done now (wish I had had it done in my 20's) but I would not panic if I were you.
Cathie

[macky]

manatee hi honey. I just had a look at your pictures and I honestly expected to see some one a lot worse, in fact you honestly and truly look fine to me.

Have you been to see the specialist? Things may not be as bad as your fear.

Macky