Anyone got experience with sacroilliac pain in horses?

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suzi

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Hi,

Just been to the vets to try and find the cause of my new boys slight hind lameness.

Been diagnosed as the sacroilliac joint after nerveblocks and scans. He had an injection into the joint and vet has said take it easy for a few days and then build it up slowly for a couple of weeks and should then be fine to carry on as normal (we are starting to work towards BSJA).

I was happy with this (as we had at one time thought the lay off would be much longer) but have just had a text from my instructor saying that it's bad news and maybe why the previous people sold him . . .

Vetting didn't pick up anything (he wasn't vetted by my vet due to distance) and he has been pratting about in the field (they think the injury was caused by him slipping).

I guess I'm just after anyones experiences with similar problems, how long the recovery was and whether it recurred at all?

The horse is rising 7 and has done BSJA up to 1.10m. I've had him for just over 2 months and have been having lessons and have taken him to a couple of small SJ shows (up to 90cm) and a couple of dressage shows.
 
i had exactly the same thing happen to mine.
we thought it was a spavin at first and it was just pure luck that the vet decided to check his back. he had three injections and was sent home without any bute.

he was on box rest for 3 days then i lunged in side reins for 10 mins for 11 days.
he was absolutely sound after the two weeks and i was advised to build up to jumping slowly - we spent the first week back in work in trot doing lots of pole work (raised and on the ground) before adding in a bit of canter. We were jumping again the week after coming back into work.

we haven't had any more issues with his back and we're back to jumping 1m+
hope your horse is ok
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My horse also suffers with his sacroiliac. He was for sale as an eventer and had done a lot of the training however, a specialist equine vet concluded that he 'may not' be fit enough to compete at a high level... so I bought him as a hack/rc.

My vet didn't suggest anything other than a workup. He has also seen a McTimony practioner.

From what I understand, the sacroiliac joint worsens when there is no muscle to support it (my horse had been taken from the field and worked hard for 7 weeks before the diagnosis, so went from being relatively unfit - to being worked too hard - then dumped in a field causing more muscle wastage...then I bought it!)

I was recommended a work up of walk walk walk walk walk walk............ the straighter and longer the better. Walking uphill was good for him however, I was told to keep trotting to a minimum because of the action and pressure it put on his pelvis. The stronger the muscles supporting the pelvis the better.

7 months on and he is 'sound' (albeit the problem will always be there)

I will be having the McTimony practioner out quarterly, along with a saddle fitter. Everythings been rosey so far *touch wood*

I was severly warned away from purchasing an unsound house especially given the cause but, I took a chance and thankfully, it has so far paid off.



My horse also passed a 5 stage vetting before he was seen by a equine specialist so don't beat yourself up about it not showing in the vetting. Time is a healer but you MUST be patient and manage it accordingly

best of luck
 
Thanks for your replies - spotted the other thread after I'd already posted.

I guess my concern is that a lot of the replies I've read suggest a long period of recovery and subsequent management but this has not been indicated by my vet who has said lunge for 3 or 4 days and then a few days hacking then 'get on with it' in his words.

The other problem is that I can't really tell that he's 'lame'. He felt a little stiff and has been a little 'strung out' in canter but I'm worried that I'll miss potential signs that he's still struggling.
 
i know what you mean about not being able to tell if he's lame - i totally missed it in mine at the start.

tbh it felt like he hadn't warmed up properly and was kind of "dragging" his back legs instead of picking up his feet properly.

I was very paranoid when it came to cantering - i actually got someone else to ride him so I could watch his back legs and got my RI to look as well
 
blood_magik said:
i know what you mean about not being able to tell if he's lame - i totally missed it in mine at the start.

tbh it felt like he hadn't warmed up properly and was kind of "dragging" his back legs instead of picking up his feet properly.

I was very paranoid when it came to cantering - i actually got someone else to ride him so I could watch his back legs and got my RI to look as well
Click to expand...

Good idea about getting someone to ride so I can watch. I have been having someone come up to ride him once a week in the school and I think I'll try and work it so that I can be there when she does . . . maybe have her watch me too. . .

I hope I don't sound too paranoid!
 
better to be on the safe side i think..
i felt so guilty because my horse tried really hard to jump even though he was in pain and I, not realising he was lame, thought he was being lazy and popped him over another x-pole :(

The first vet that came to see him thought he had a spavin because his flex test was positive and i was told to keep working him "as normal" until he went for x-rays.
Anyways, long story short, if you're not sure, ask someone - my RI noticed he wasn't right and he rarely sees us (can only afford a lesson with him about once a month).

good luck
 
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