Terrible article in the times today. Melanie Reid has broken her neck

[elastamum]

Article in the times Lifestyle magazien today written bt Melanie Reid a times journalist, who is in hospital having had a fall at a X country at the beginning of April and has broken her neck. sorry but I cant find a link to it. As a single mum and also an older competitor, it really made me think that it might be time to stop jumping. Poor Melanie

here

very well written and honest - hope she recovers.

God, how awful. I sincerely hope she makes a recovery. Poor woman.

Marvelous article - so brutually honest.

It really scared me. I was drag hunting my horse last season, not jumping big stuff but what happened to Melanie is so easily done. If that was me i would probably lose my kids - and wreck everyones lives - I think i might just give up jumping. Im not nearly as good as i was in my twenties anyway.

good luck to her. Sounds awful.

That is so painful just to read. I hope she recovers some more feeling. We have a friend who had to learn to walk again after a parachute accident. He said it was the hardest thing he's ever done - but he did do it.

Shockingly good article - awful thing to happen.

A good friend of mine broke her back a few years ago - she jumped a wall on her horse but they went different ways on the landing and she landed on the ground, seated. Compression fracture of T10, I think it was - and they didn't even call an ambulance, she walked, bent over, to a landrover and was taken to A&E. SHe couldn't stand up straight, that's how they knew it was serious. Anyway - she was bloody lucky, no spinal cord damage, had her spine pinned and she is ok now. BUT - this was despite wearing a back protector (which wouldn't have helped her in this instance) and the fact that she has also been riding for 25+ years - it just shows that however experienced you are, and however hard you try to protect yourself, accidents do sometimes happen.

Hope Melanie gets her legs back again.

How awful. I hope she recovers.

A bad neck/back break is one of my biggest fears as I get older.

What a horrible and terrifying experience for her. I hope she recovers quickly.

It is so awful for her, I do so hope she recovers

It is so awful for her, I do so hope she recovers

My blood ran cold reading it, has been on my mind on and off all day. I take so much for granted and take such terrible risks, I feel ashamed.

Is there a good chance of her recovering the use of all her limbs?

Just been crying reading that. Brought back some bad memories of when I broke my back 10 years ago. I really hope her condition continues to improve

I read that too. Not a horsewoman but was at it. I do so hope that her situation improves.

Stripey - did you recover completely from it? Or have you got after effects?

I read that and am sending her my very best vibes. Poor thing.

What a wonderful article, in a chilling way. Wonderful because she has the power to describe her situation in a way that chills readers to the bone.

Wishing her all the best.

I still have very bad pain in my back and down one leg. I've had countless MRIs and seen consultants, osteopaths, chiropractors, etc. 15 years on and I'm pretty much coming to the conclusion there is nothing that can be done. They won't operate as they can't see what's causing the pain.

I am lucky though that I can walk, etc.

stripey, sounds like you've tried a few things - have you tried acupuncture? Can be very good for pain relief.

I was talking about this to someone the other day, she has a bad back and is finding it very helpful. I think I'll have to give it a go.

I tried it for my knee about 15 years ago and it didn't help, but it turns out I had lose bits of cartilidge floating about so maybe it wouldn't have.

My friend has been told by her acupuncturist that her muscles are very tight and that acupuncture will help relax them. My consultant has said to me that he thinks the pain may now be muscular. He reckons at first the pain was from the break and my muscles tightened, now they're so tight they're actually causing the pain and its a viscious circle. So guess I have nothing to lose.

It's certainly worth a go, I'd say - if they can't see anything else wrong with it then freeing up tight muscles would be a good thing. Sounds like you have sciatica as a result as well - too-tight muscles around the lower back and core could cause that.

I know this is an ancient thread, but I just wanted to say that I went to listen to Melanie Reid at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on Sunday and came away absolutely stunned by how courageous, honest and downright funny she is. An amazing lady, dealing with "a crap hand" to paraphase her words, with wit and wisdom. A very sobering, poignant and thought provoking evening. If you ever get the chance to see her or listen to her, please go.

I have never seen her, Frosty but her column is the first thing I read every Sunday in the Sunday Times. She is a great writer and regularly makes me cry. But in terms of giving an really earthy insight into life as a tetraplegic, she is amazing.