Anyone got experience of nursing a muscle strain in the hindquarters?

[3OldPonies]

As title really. Horse is presenting with stiff quarters and lameness on offside. Vet has been and thinks most likely muscle strain, remote possibly of a small fracture. X-rays not an option as no electric at field, no transport and no insurance. Overnight improvement has been seen and vet agrees there is improvement. Restricted turnout, no stables either! Pain relief is in place.

 

[SEL]

Yup. Didn't get warning the hunt were in the area 18 months ago so horses charged around, churned up field etc. Sore down his right hind and I could feel the muscle was warm and swollen.

I won't box rest for muscles because they just tighten up even more, so carried on turning out. We had 10 days of metacam just to bring the inflammation down and to make sure he kept moving. Walked out in hand & then under saddle for the next month with the odd in hand trot up to assess how he was.

Soundness returned pretty quickly but he flatly refused to canter right lead for months so something was sore. Lots of bodywork and lots of straight line riding.

Annoyingly its obviously left him a bit weak there because he can tweak it still and need a quiet few days despite being fit & evenly muscled.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Yes, my now retired lad did this in the field. Next door hired a bouncy castle and I can only think either them pumping it up, the sight of it or the kids screaming on it scared him and he pulled his quarters. Typically we had an important comp that weekend! Physio came out and said it was the deep muscles in his quarters. He was allowed turnout in a very small space. She showed me how to massage him. It took at least 6 weeks before I started riding in walk again. Wishing yours a speedy recovery.

 

[3OldPonies]

Yes, my now retired lad did this in the field. Next door hired a bouncy castle and I can only think either them pumping it up, the sight of it or the kids screaming on it scared him and he pulled his quarters. Typically we had an important comp that weekend! Physio came out and said it was the deep muscles in his quarters. He was allowed turnout in a very small space. She showed me how to massage him. It took at least 6 weeks before I started riding in walk again. Wishing yours a speedy recovery.

Thanks for the good wishes.

And thanks both for sharing your experiences.

My lad is looking better tonight, when he gets going his walk is almost like normal
Obviously still in some pain as you can see it catch him occasionally and turning is quite sore still. I'm quite prepared for a long rehab, time is the one thing we do have.

 

[lialls]

magnetic rug or Arc equine to help it healing?

 

[3OldPonies]

Thanks for the suggestion

 

[LEC]

Yep - gave them time off, turnout and metacam for first few days until they could roll normally

 

[3OldPonies]

Thanks for sharing.

The good news is he's walking and moving normally now, so the Bute has been reduced to one a day for the next couple and then we'll take it away completely. After that it'll just be taking things steady and let him slowly increase time with his field mate. I do think though that keeping him out in our grass school has helped. It's the one point I argued with the vet, she wanted him shut in a really small area that I thought would cause him to be standing too much and stiffening up even more. I think being able to quietly graze and move slowly without the constant turning of being in a small space has helped.

 

[fredflop]

I’d look at getting a chiro and a physio to visit

 

[Asha]

if he had fractured the pelvis then box rest is best course. If its just muscle soreness then turnout is the best option. My vets recommended no pain relief as they can do to much as they feel fine, and then that puts them back.
Just been through it with one of mine.
I know youve said no transport/ electric but if theres any chance of a fracture then it needs scanning as opposed to xray.

Mine passed a vetting as sound, but i wasnt convinced. Thats when i pushed for the scanning /xrays. He had multiple fractures. So just because he looks better , doesnt necessarily mean he is.

 

[3OldPonies]

The fracture was a last minute thought from the vet after deciding on muscle soreness as the muscles were very tight. She did say that it probably wasn't and is quite happy from the follow up calls that there is no fracture.