Good and Bad

 Let's start with the bit of bad, then move on to all the good that's happened since the last time we chatted.

The bad? The test results and specialist referral did not go the way I hoped, which led to a downward spiral in which I spent many hours wondering just what the future was going to look like (and why I couldn't just have less physically taxing hobbies.)

So, that was fun. 

But the good news is that I'm doing way better in real life than they thought it looked on paper, which means maybe I'll be lucky and that trend will continue.  Yesterday I was able to navigate stairs solo, the feeling and strength is definitely returning to my legs and I'm a lot less wobbly walking around. I have another round of scans as a check in (and surgery if needed/I choose to) scheduled in two months-ish. Hoping for no surgery!

Anyway, funny/happy things:

My husband is the best. And he likes the ponies. He's been doing all the pony care for me the last couple of weeks (and spoiling them rotten) which equally makes me feel super guilty and also teary with gratitude.

Good ponies

The ponies are amazing creatures. Much as husband likes them, he's not an overly experienced caretaker and yet they forgive him everything and are very patient and kind to him. Sophie especially can have some serious quirks and opinions but she's been an angel. The other night he was trying to let her into her stall (that had dinner ready for her) and she just stood quietly outside and wasn't going to move a step closer. I had to remind him to move well out of the way of the door first, because she was just saying she wanted to be polite and not crowd him when she walked by <3

He's somehow house trained Sophie? He's been annoyed at her stall habits for years (and I was like, it's horses, it's how it is)  and somehow he's solved it.  It sounds like she thought about peeing when he got there one morning but he made her go outside first and just told her what a good girl she was when she peed there. And now it's a bit of a thing, she pees before she goes in at night, and first thing when he lets her out in the morning. If you haven't guessed they're pretty much besties at this point and I'm told if I ever want to sell her I can't, he's keeping her as a pet.

Well, This Kind of Stinks

 Slightly whiny post ahead, with the disclaimer that I'm well aware I generally live a pretty charmed life and really have nothing to complain about.

Basically, I've had a sore lower back off and on for a while now. Then, about a week ago I was walking around and my foot wasn't going where my brain was telling it to and I had very little strength in that leg.

That's a bit of a red flag, so off to the doctor and a CT scan I went. I very naively thought there would be some magic thing they would do that would fix it as fast as it came on, but no, that's not how it works. 

I was hesitating to post this because I thought about waiting until I have more input and what the plan moving forward sounds like, but on the other hand, it sounds like at a minimum 6-8 weeks of no (or best case limited to walk) riding is on my calendar. If there was ever a group of people who 'get' how it feels to have riding off the table or limited for an indefinite time, it's you!

As to how I did it? Your guess is as good as mine. I had a pretty painful fall off B maybe a year ago where I landed on my back/tailbone, but also it could just be a lifetime of wear and tear and riding...the internet tells me lower spine compression and slipped discs are actually pretty common rider specific injuries. So, if you're like me, a rider with on and off lower back pain, go get checked out before it becomes anything serious. I waited so long that I'm not getting any guarantees I haven't done permanent nerve damage.

I've got input from a specialist coming next week. As it stands, I'm hopeful for time being the answer and being back in the saddle in a couple of months with no/minimal pain. At some point I'll need to wrap my head around what my riding and goals will look like. No matter who I talk to it does sound like there will be some limitations and things to consider in the future, but I'm trying not to get ahead of myself. For now, I just follow the medical advice and see how things evolve.