another question about the in foal mare with muscle wastage!

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monsterwillow

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hi everyone. i have another question if you dont mind giving me your opinions again!

spoke to physio and she said try heat and vigorous brushing to try and stimulate the muscles until she can get to me.

started yesterday and after applying the heat and brushing for a few minutes there was a lot of twitching going on and she was really fidgety with that bad leg. if, as the vet thinks, it is damaged nerves (and he said the area would be numb) why the twitching and fidgeting?

did the brushing/massage again this morning, m.ore twitching. she was moving about the stable ok. did it again this afternoon and after some twitching and fidgeting she seemed to get bad cramp, now she is sore and not wanting to bear weight on the bad side?

phoned vet and he said give her bute for now and see. again a bit confused that the massage would somehow cause her to now bein pain when he had said it would do nothing.

he said leave the massage for a couple of days but if it is indeed a nerve problem, would the massage and heat actually be stimulating these damaged nerves and would it be sore if she were suddenly feeling them again??

i have another vet coming out during the week for a second opinion anyway but justs seems a bit odd that this is happening since starting the massage and heat therapy xx
 
To me that sounds fairly promising, she must be getting some sensation through it. I would imagine it would be uncomfortable and odd to have feeling come back which may be why she's fidgeting and seems sore. I'm sure some of the people who have experienced this first hand when stimulating nerves on a damaged limb will be able to tell you if this is normal. I hope so!
 
I have no answer and no experience in this area but have just googled and there is a lot of info on this subject online... may be worth getting trigger happy with google. I typed in 'massage therapy nerve damage' and got this:
http://www.moontidemassage.com/injuries.html

further down the page it talks about nerve damage. Not in any detail but Im sure with google you can get more info
 
Haven't seen your other post however in people with nerve damage such as sciatica applying heat can make the pain worse.
 
I get a lot of femoral nerve pain in my leg massaging it makes give all sorts do wierd symptoms from intense pins and needles to numbness or tickling and cramp.
I think it's a good sign that something is going on.
I hope the physio can help .
 
thanks. anyone else got any opinions/ experience.still waiting to hear back from physio.

will probably be tomorrow i would think xx
 
I also think it is a positive sign, you probably just overdid it, if the nerves are damaged they should be able to respond to stimulation, if they are dead they will not, think of a denerving op the nerves are cut and no longer transmit pain but they can still regenerate over time and cause lameness, I know it is not the same as your mare but shows how the body can repair itself.
Your physio should be able to help, I really hope you can get through this and get the foal born safely.
 
Thanks everyone! Physio been in touch, she says its an excellent sign! Nerves obviously still working and muscle being stimulated so keep going with massage x
 
I would, in this case, ignore the vet and follow the physio's instructions. I read your original thread but did not comment, it sounds to me as if the foal is lying awkwardly and after the birth all will be well. I certainly wouldn't be making pts arrangements yet.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I would, in this case, ignore the vet and follow the physio's instructions. I read your original thread but did not comment, it sounds to me as if the foal is lying awkwardly and after the birth all will be well. I certainly wouldn't be making pts arrangements yet.
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I agree, physio will be the best hope of resolving her problems, fingers crossed it all works out well.
 
Can only speak from personal experience, I have nerve damage in my shoulder/elbow, I went for a course of massage which made the pain unbareable so then when for accupuncture, which really helped. Could she have accupuncture?
 
Can only speak from personal experience, I have nerve damage in my shoulder/elbow, I went for a course of massage which made the pain unbareable so then when for accupuncture, which really helped. Could she have accupuncture?
 
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