A 'crushed' lumbosacral joint. Heartbroken.

HeresHoping

HeresHoping

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It's not good news. Further to this: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...ah!-again-Off-to-Newmarket-Long-and-woe-is-me, my call with Dr Sue Dyson yesterday afternoon was that he has possible suspensory damage on his left hind. However, she wants to rescan him this morning because yesterday he was kicking out too much for them to scan properly (air in the joint, she said).

But the devastating news was that she was 'not optimistic' because the scintigraphy scan revealed severe abnormalities of the lumbosacral joint (which sits just under the tuber sacrale or jumpers bump). When pressed, she said it appeared 'crushed'. Obviously, I feel completely knocked for six.

I don't know how to read this at all. If her comment about not being optimistic was a euphamism for something that cannot be mended, why is she scanning further? Is it because if the suspensory ligament is not torn, there is a slight chance he could get better?

I am going to call my vet this morning and ask her to speak with the AHT as I am, unfortunately, finding speaking with Dr Dyson a bit difficult. I want to ask her directly, and to use veterinary terms as I do understand them, but I can't. I just seem to mutter and stumble and feel like an ignoramus and silly. And part of me is suffering from the fact that I have read so much on here and elsewhere that she is very pessimistic and that many have come back from her prognosis and gone on to heal.

I don't know what to do. I really don't. I've run out of tears now so can think at least a little more rationally. I hate not being in possession of all the facts. I want to see these abnormalities and understand what she means.
 
Ok well until you can get your questions fully answered there is no point stressing yourself out more. I find writing them out in a list most helpful.

Can you not go there and speak with her?

Hugs x
 
Thank you dianchi. That's a good idea. I have called my vet and left a message to say I need a straight explanation and could she ask for me, too. I still have to speak with Dr Dyson this morning after 11:00 so will try and get my act together before then.
 
Make a list of what you need to ask and then leave a space on the page to jot down anything you want to remember .
Let us know how you get on .
 
I was really hoping for you that it would not be anything serious. My vet said exactly the same to me about the AHT, that they were probably the best in the country for suspensory and SI issues but that the prognosis is often very doom and gloom, you obviously don't want your vet to give you false hope but you do want to know whether there is a chance of them coming right.
 
I have been there with Sue Dyson who diagnosed chronic sacro illiac dysfunction (that's as bad as it gets not even a hotspot on the bone scan as the injury was so chronic) - the thing is for me it is better that she paints the pessimistic picture - she is a vet and a realist and nobody would thank her if she said 'well you may be lucky and he will come sound' if the prognosis is poor. I got LOU for my WB and I went on to send him to the holistic vet Donna Blinman at Higham who 'mobilised his sacrum'. Now I know that Dr Dyson would say 'pah impossible' - but Donna is a vet and an osteopath and my horse started moving so much better after 2 weeks at Donna's. After being turned away for a year, I have been using a straightness trainer for the past 9 months and I have him on turmeric now and he is moving so much better now.
 
I have spoken with Sue Dyson again. I'm going to go and bring him home to think.

His left hind suspensory is pretty lacerated. She suspects that it may have been for some time, or it certainly pre-dates the spine injury. 70% lesions. She said on its own, this could have been treated. With shockwave therapy, there would be a 40% chance of recovery. If they operated, there was a 76% chance he could be fine and return at least to a level of work as a general low-level all-rounder.

But, his lumbosacral joint, which is where the lumbar spine region connects with the sacral region, is crushed and she suspects crumbling. Worse, when viewed from above, there is a distinct kink in the spine. There are many nerves extending from that region that emanate from the spinal column, and she thinks that the abnormal structure will press on these and interfere with his mechanics, causing pain.

Her opinion is that we could medicate the joint to make him more comfortable but there is no guarantee it would work. We would have to ensure he is out at grass as much as possible (not feasible at our current yard) and it would be months and months before we could test whether he was rideable again. Given the extent of the trauma, she wouldn't agree that it would survive any significant work, even if he was. She stipulated that she had nothing to compare his injury with. A slip in the field could cause the whole reaction again. But then again, it could settle and heal enough for him to carry on at a low level. He would probably need medicating every 6 months for the rest of his life.

I think I know the answer but I still want to talk to my vet.
 
So sorry you've had such depressing news, as Tiddlypom says, don't do anything drastic yet. Give it time for everything to sink in, talk to your own vet and anyone else who has anything constructive to say. As long as Larry is not in any discomfort just now you have some thinking time.
 
Sorry to hear your news.

I've read posts by YasandCrystal and her story was the one I thought of when I started reading this thread before her reply. I'm not sure if any of it would be an option for you?

Can you get LOU and find turnout ( on a hill) and give him time?

Another option, mainly for the tendon
but perhaps for other issues, maybe worth looking into is arcequine? I've been in contact with Ian before and he was waiting to publish results of a horse wuth over 70% tendon damage/ hole IIRC.

Best of wishes however you decide to proceed. Horses are heartbreakers :(
 
So sorry for you - have been there with my PSD horse (still am really) - if you can arrange to give it time, then you never know .... If you can't there is no shame in PTS.
 
Thanks everyone. And thank you for reminding me of the arcequine unit. Does anyone know of whether Ian Thirkell has started to hire them? I could possibly get that down as complementary therapy, I think. I know it's a ridiculously low probability that he'll ever be right again, but I think I'm going to give him a chance. I might change my mind depending upon how much pain he's in and whether he deteriorates. My vet said he'd have to be thrown out in a field for 6 months and do nothing but let nature work its magic. If I can help nature a bit by taking his shoes off, exploring the magic of turmeric and zapping him with mini electronic pulses, I will do. My YO has said I can turn him out daily and is prepared to sacrifice a field (wet, wet, wet here in the Fens) for this purpose.
 
OP I used a microtherapy unit on my cob mare who had tendon damage and an operation to tidy it. I did stick to the rehab to the letter but also used the MicroVet (£165) and the vet was more than pleased with the healing after 6 months. She is completely sound now and competing in dressage and hacking and she is 21 yrs old so no spring chicken. I have her on turmeric too. Take a look at all the micro therapy units available - I would have used it on my WB, but he is not stabled so I have been unavble to. I did however purchase a Stim machine to stimulate his nerves - it was only £40 from ebay (new) with rubber pads for animal use and that has been very helpful in his rehab to reactivate his dormant nerves.
 
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