ARC Equine Unit

Well I have spoken briefly of my experience on here before. I have the Microdoctor which was the original microtherapy unit - trialled on humans and horses and still sold along with an equine counterpart Microvet.
I have some good and one piece of neutral feedback, no negative though. I suspect when one spends alot on a device one is looking for positive feedback also :)

I do not have circa £400 to spend on a micro therapy unit so I did some research and the Microdoctor is exactly the same technology as the Arc, not as well presented and with less extras, but functional.

I used the Microdoctor on my mare's tendon incision site following her surgery last July twice daily. After the first use of 30 minutes the swelling just halved in size and remained gone - that was incredible to witness. I must stress that I followed my vet's rehab regime absolutely to the letter and my mare was rescanned (in Dec) and the vet was ecstatic that the tendon had lots of new regrowth. Now as I was so diligent with her rehab, it is hard to attribute the great healing to the use of the Microdoctor alone, however we both concurred that it likely assisted greatly.

My daughter had a repetitive strain injury in her wrist which caused her great discomfort and she was under the doctor for this. On a weekend visit I stuck the machine on her 4 times. She noticed an amazing improvement - so much so that I went on to buy her a neoprene wrist version of a micro current unit.

My neutral feedback is that I have a shoulder strain/injury - it is really niggling and painful and I have tried the machine on that several times now and I have have found no benefit from it.

Recently my veteran pony was slightly sore behind, this resulted in a hock swelling the size of a grapefruit. I was ready to call the vet the next day as the pony was almost immobile with it. My husband suggested to try the Microdoctor and I did for 30 minutes. By morning the hock was back to almost normal size. I put the unit on him again that morning and the following evening and he was sound and there was no sign of any swelling. My husband is quite a sceptic when it comes to gadgets and he was just amazed.

I would have no qualms on using this unit on any problem. It does not replace veterinary advice, but I do not believe it can cause any harm. It only mimics the body's vells own micro current signals afterall.
 
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LynH said:
I have a horse who had a thrombosis in her jugular vein following six days on IV at a major vet hospital. At it's peak it was the size of a football, needed five months of antibiotics caused considerable discomfort to the horse. It was decided not to remove the residual scarring surgically as there is a significant risk of nerve damage. On scanning the blood flow has now rerouted via smaller blood vessels which have enlarged over time but there is still a visible lump which can affect the horse's ability to comfortably work in a more advanced outline.
Reading the ARC equine website my initial thought would be that this could be helped as it is soft tissue and I would be keen to reduce the scar tissue.
My concerns are as Tarrsteps mentioned that there is no negative feedback and that I could potentially cause a bigger issue by using this without my vet's input. The lack of negative feedback does make me nervous, nothing is ever that good, someone somewhere must have had a problem and I just cannot get past the 'it's too good to be true' feeling. Secondly with a thrombosis if there is any possibility that the treatment could cause any of the thrombus to break away inside the vein then it could cause a potentially fatal blood clot. If the natural healing process is to reroute blood flow through smaller vessels then if I accelerate the healing process using the machine then an increase in blood flow through vessels not designed to take arterial flow could burst under increased pressure again causing significant problems.
In this case I see the potential for a lot to go wrong and much as I would love a treatment which would remove the lump I think in the hands of general public without proper veterinary diagnostic tools there is the potential for something to go horribly wrong.
Most people here have sought veterinary advice first but do people actual use it in place of vet treatment and in that case is it always 100% successful?
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Whilst affording the unit isn't an issue, I am also concerned regarding the "cures everything" comments on this thread. I would be using a unit to treat ringbone, and therefore to reduce swelling. The last thing I would risk is an accelleration of calcification.

My impression is that the units sound great with soft tissue injuries, but I'm uncomfortable with the lack of clinical studies for osteoarthritis.
 
YasandCrystal - (sorry can't quote) if you have no qualms using it would you be happy to use it in my situation where accelerating the body's natural reaction could put too much pressure on vessels that are not yet ready or designed for arterial flow? Also would the risk of a blood clot not concern you when accelerated healing could possibly cause an overly large piece of the thrombus to break off? I've spoken to my doctor (ok not a vet) about treatment on te thrombosis and was told it's far too dangerous to try. Even surgery is dangerous for that reason.
mtj - I'm glad you see my point, surely a machine I can use myself can't distinguish between good and bad acceleration of cell growth?
 
LynH said:
YasandCrystal - (sorry can't quote) if you have no qualms using it would you be happy to use it in my situation where accelerating the body's natural reaction could put too much pressure on vessels that are not yet ready or designed for arterial flow? Also would the risk of a blood clot not concern you when accelerated healing could possibly cause an overly large piece of the thrombus to break off? I've spoken to my doctor (ok not a vet) about treatment on te thrombosis and was told it's far too dangerous to try. Even surgery is dangerous for that reason.
mtj - I'm glad you see my point, surely a machine I can use myself can't distinguish between good and bad acceleration of cell growth?
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What does your vet say? ARe they aware of MCT/Arcequine? I tried to discuss it as an option with mine but they weren't aware of it and unable to have a conversation about it.

FWIW I'm of the same mind that surely it can't be "this" good with no side effects and possible risks. I'd just like to be aware of both sides to make an informed decision and hopefully not make my situation any worse.

I did start another thread asking for before/during/after scans and x-rays as everyone seems to be having such great successes and working with a vet but none have been available so far. I find this strange given how long this product has been out and how vets would be re-scanning/x-raying regardless of Ae use. I know Ian is working on a project and hopes to have scans from it available soon but what about the people who've already has successes and astounded vets etc?
 
LynH said:
YasandCrystal - (sorry can't quote) if you have no qualms using it would you be happy to use it in my situation where accelerating the body's natural reaction could put too much pressure on vessels that are not yet ready or designed for arterial flow? Also would the risk of a blood clot not concern you when accelerated healing could possibly cause an overly large piece of the thrombus to break off? I've spoken to my doctor (ok not a vet) about treatment on te thrombosis and was told it's far too dangerous to try. Even surgery is dangerous for that reason.
mtj - I'm glad you see my point, surely a machine I can use myself can't distinguish between good and bad acceleration of cell growth?
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I agree - I had not considered your situation fully. In your situation I would listen to my vet. I would be happy to use Reiki in your situation, but not a therapy unit which can have contra-indications. I would not use it on a person with a pacemaker for example.

I am also undecided in the case of ringbone or any other arthritic condition as to whether the micro current could indeed speed up the calcification of bone or whether it only affects soft tissue.
 
In our case, we didn't use the ARC instead of vet treatment - but alongside what our vet had advised. I would guess that the majority of those who have commented on here were probably quite sceptical about what it could do when they first tried it - I know we certainly were. My positive comments are because we've had a good outcome so far.

Personally I would have thought each injury needs to be looked at individually (obviously discussing with your vet) before deciding whether to try using the ARC.
 
Interesting point about osteo-arthritis - since if I could afford the unit thats what i would want to treat. Last thin I would want to happen would be for it to speed up!

Would like Ian's comments - so far I dont think it has been used for that, but for soft tissue injuries.
 
I haven't spoken to my vet as I would need to have evidence that it hasn't caused a fatal reaction on a thrombosis and not sure a vet would give me a guarantee. So far they opted not to operate because of the risk. I would suspect my vet would tell me not to do anything but I will ask. My point is that is not a stipulation of use that the vet should approve use and that's what concerns me.
I had also understood it is not like a tens machine which I have used on myself for years. I am currently having electro neuro modulation on nerves around my lungs caused by a near fatal allergic reaction to prescription drugs (here lies my problem and nervousness about trying anything new or untested). The electro neuro modulation is different as it is directed at the nerve, you can feel it and know almost immediately if your pain has eased or not. My pain specialist hadn't heard of micro doctor and was opposed to me using it although I can use tens.
More than anyone I would love a guaranteed fix for me and my horses but I'm painfully aware of what can go wrong.
 
I've just bought one - in my case it is for an un diagnosable chronic problem, possibly in his shoulder, most likely soft tissue as no evidence of anything on bone scan.
Anyway, we are at the point now where it is 'worth a go'! But if anyone wants more scientific details I can highly recommend speaking to Ian directly, he's been very helpful, and they are definitely not a TENS machine, my horse hates the TENS sensation but is fine with this unit.
 
I was sceptical and wondered why there have been no definitive reasearch papers/trials on it, but I am given to understand that this sort of testing runs into 100s of £1000's so understandable really.
My daughter's consultant looked up the Micrdoctor and said he could understand how they work and assist healing.
 
YasandCrystal said:
I was sceptical and wondered why there have been no definitive reasearch papers/trials on it, but I am given to understand that this sort of testing runs into 100s of £1000's so understandable really.
My daughter's consultant looked up the Micrdoctor and said he could understand how they work and assist healing.
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This it true of a lot of "alternative" therapies. The sort of costs involved are beyond the scope of most inventors, small businesses etc. and, quite frankly, not in their interests, especially selling to the equestrian market. As a rep for a herbal supplement company said to me once, why would they want to prove it works? That would open them up to all sorts of controls, competition from Big Pharma and the potential for their products to be controlled or banned for competition. Much more sensible, from their view, to make no medical promises, only implications, and let people choose for themselves.

To the question of using for a thrombosis, this:
http://www.ehow.co.uk/info_8559934_microcurrent-contraindications.html while hardly a good scientific source, does discuss more of the pros and cons than any of the dedicated sites I've seen.


Again, this is NOT to be negative. I have tried an Arc Equine and, with only a brief experience, would be inclined to feel positively. If I had the money, I might even consider purchasing one. I'm not even a hard skeptic, I am merely curious and, in the interest of fairness, I like to see all sides. I start to get anxious when people tell me there is only one side because I have never seen that truthfully to be the case. (See LynH's comments above - who thinks about getting a potentially fatal or debilitating condition from everyday Antibiotics?? But uncommon is not the same thing as unheard of.) I will also say other sites I've looked at and people I've talked to have been similarly positive but also unforthcoming about ANY negatives to do with the therapy. Ian has, in fact, been very forthcoming.
 
Tarrsteps - thanks for the link. I couldn't see any contraindications on the ARC Equine or Microdoctor websites so it is good to see that my thoughts re the thrombosis were on the right line.

Does the information that comes with the Arc Equine include these contraindications?
 
Does anyone know if u can use it as a preventative? My vet said my horse is sound but to be careful because of his shape he will be predisposed to suspensory desmitis and now I am worried :s
 
Micro-current technology is not a panacea. I do not make claims for what it "can do", but I do give examples of what I have witnessed over the last 11 years of research and anecdotal use.
As is stated on my website, I first started from a point of total scepticism ( I come from a first career where scepticism becomes a way of life!). Also stated very firmly, especially in the User Manual, is that this technology is in no way a substitute for your existing Veterinary policy and practice, merely an "add-on" to it. Your first port of call MUST always be to your Vet!
ArcEquine has been available (though very little advertised) for a year. That time has principally been used to discover, and rectify, the initial glitches. During that time word has spread "virally".
I am currently in the process of compiling a database of all of those who have purchased, or been given/loaned a unit to date, and this will be used to circularise them to get their feed back, whether that be good, bad or indifferent. I will also be asking for copies, where they exist, of any supporting scans / photographs.
The Vets in my local Equine Practice totally support this technology. They have witnessed the results on many occasions.
All feedback, as above, will be made available to another Vet ( a sceptical but open minded Vet), who will use it as a start point in a Literature Review, and paper, as it relates to bone, tendons/ligaments and wounds.
I am in the process of obtaining before and after scans of a specific case study, will show them, together with the factual story, on the website, and will alert this thread when those are available for view
 
Hi Ian. Please can you confirm if it should or should not be used on a thrombosis and if there are any contraindications like with the Microdoctor?
 
Got my unit a couple of weeks ago but having been really busy so just started using it, and am now fully committed to following a daily regime .
My 8yo mare has severe collaterall ligament desmitis, some days she looks ok other days struggles on a circle, ive gotten this as a last ditch attempt at trying to get a horse who is at least sound enough to hack and mabe do some low level dressage, so starts our journey.
 
Marydoll said:
Got my unit a couple of weeks ago but having been really busy so just started using it, and am now fully committed to following a daily regime .
My 8yo mare has severe collaterall ligament desmitis, some days she looks ok other days struggles on a circle, ive gotten this as a last ditch attempt at trying to get a horse who is at least sound enough to hack and mabe do some low level dressage, so starts our journey.
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Marydoll I'd be fascinated to hear how you get along with it - my horse has exactly the same condition as yours and I was reading this thread to see if the Arc would help him. Please keep us updated. Thanks and best of luck :)
 
Thanks Angelbones, will do. After a few months im going to have her feet x rayed again to see if its made any difference to the areas of luminosity where the ligament inserts into the bone which showed up as a bright white ring on the x ray.
 
I've received my unit today, watched the dvd and strapped it onto one pony for the next 6 hours.

My question to those of you who may know is how far can the control unit 'speak' to the delivery unit? I've attached the controller to the stable bars whilst the pony is stabled but if she were to be turned out I presume she'd have to be within a certain distance from the controller?

I can see that I'm going to have to buy an extra control unit and delivery unit so I can do two horses at once to make it practical around my yard hours, so I do hope it works!

The other question I have in case you guys know is about selecting programmes. My first horse has SI issues, undetermined hing limb lameness on near hind and also has bilateral collateral ligament damage to fores. These are not new injuries, in fact his insurance has expired on both claims, and he's been rested, treated accordingly and brought back into work to see how he is getting along. He's relatively sound (a bit stiff, short on the nh) but bute makes no difference. I presume I use P1 and P2 for the 6 hours a day along side his current work regime rather than starting back at box rest as if he was newly injured?

The second pony has back pain, most likely from saddle issues it seems (a very long story :( ) but it otherwise 100% sound. I'm working with a physio for her, and she also has icing, stretching and trophic stimulator sessions daily. Again I'm thinking P1 and P2 for the 6hrs / day whilst undergoing all the other stuff and her current work regime as she hasn't suffered a 'trauma' so to speak. Does this sound right to you?

I'm not very good on the phone but will call the company (hate hate hate doing that!) or email but thought I'd pick your brains first.

Any help gratefully received, thank you peeps :)
 
Re programs, I think you need to speak to Ian. My understanding is that choosing to appropriate sequences is an important part of the process so go with exciter advice.

Re the controller. . .do you mean the little box you use to select the programs? That doesn't even have to stay on after you use it to select, unless you need to monitor where you are in the sequence.

Or the delivery unit the electrodes plug into? That bit stays plugged in so on the horse. . .
 
TarrSteps said:
Re programs, I think you need to speak to Ian. My understanding is that choosing to appropriate sequences is an important part of the process so go with exciter advice.

Re the controller. . .do you mean the little box you use to select the programs? That doesn't even have to stay on after you use it to select, unless you need to monitor where you are in the sequence.

Or the delivery unit the electrodes plug into? That bit stays plugged in so on the horse. . .
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Wow TarrSteps, thanks for speedy reply! Re the controller, yes I mean the program selector handset - does it really not have to be left switched on after setting?! I had no idea...do I need to go back and read the manual again :o I had just assumed it was sending a signal to the delivery unit attached to the horse for the duration of the session...am I making myself look even more stupid with every word?! :p

I will call Ian and get some program advice...after a stiff drink and some rescue remedy.
 
Angelbones said:
- does it really not have to be left switched on after setting?!
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Really :D. Once you have started the program of your choice you can switch it of a put it away safely.

The delivery unit gets the whole program in one go. So once it is running you only need the control unti on if you need/want to watch it count down.
 
Angelbones said:
Wow TarrSteps, thanks for speedy reply! Re the controller, yes I mean the program selector handset - does it really not have to be left switched on after setting?! I had no idea...do I need to go back and read the manual again :o I had just assumed it was sending a signal to the delivery unit attached to the horse for the duration of the session...am I making myself look even more stupid with every word?! :p

I will call Ian and get some program advice...after a stiff drink and some rescue remedy.
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once it has infa red sent the programm you can indeed turn it off and put it away!
Email Ian, he'll tell you what sequence of programs to run :) He has left his email address somewhere in this thread
 
I have used the ArcEquine for all sorts of aches and injuries for my family and my horses. I have now used it for a very severe rash on a mare and am extremely impressed by the result. She came up in a fairly bad rash at the end of January and we carried on working her as normal, wasing her occasionally in hibi scrub. But when we worked her they became very hot and raised, so I turned her out for three weeks. When I got her in they were not much better so I tried a prescription only bacterial fungal shampoo. That was a disaster and the hives were more aggressive and spread more, running in to each other.
At this point I wondered if it was first triggered by alfalfa, so stopped feeding that. Two days later the vet tried giving steroids. Two days later the rash was not much better. I finally thought that ARc Equine was my only way forward. (I had been putting it off as she is a WHP and I did not want to clip her leg in patches to make the contacts work. But by now the hives had completely ruined her coat!!)
Within 24 hours there was a noticeable difference and after 3 days I was happy to ride her again. At 5 days my daughter accidentally fed her some alfalfa! The hives came up again, but not so severely, and using the ArcEquine several times a day quickly brought the lumps down. They are pretty well gone after 10 days from first use.
 
Until I can afford the Arceuqine I have got a micro doctor from ebay and am using on my golfers arm for the first time as we speak. If it works then there is more evidence to get an arc unit when funds allow.
 
I wanted to bring this thread up again because it was great to read it & it helped in deciding to buy the Arc Equine & I'm glad I did.

For anyone considering it - its totally worth the money!

My veteran is 19 this year & while he is really active & fit, competing riding club level & generally enjoying life, he never worked in a outline or used the correct muscles in his way of going. He was a riding school horse his life & I bought him when he was 15 as my first horse! He had alot of muscle wastage behind his withers, from going upside down all his life!

Anyway, over the last 4 years, in conjunction with lots of help with lessons & a fabulous Osteopath, he started to learn how to go correctly & he was looking the best he ever had.

But as he started to get more consistent, he developed a mystery lameness that was like a hop in the near shoulder, only when ridden. I was gutted but I knew it was probably because of years of muscle wastage & a restriction or degeneration has developed over the years. I got the vet to work him up & he diagnosed him barely 1/5th lame on hard ground on a tight circle but said that due to his age etc, he wasnt overly worried, to continue to work him & offered him anti-inflammatory/painkillers to keep him ridden & fit but I wanted to find the cause!

He had nerves blocks done but nothing showed up. The vet was honest with me that he didnt think he would ever come 100% sound. I had the Osteo work on him intensively for 2 weeks including getting bute in order to help with the treatment (on advice of the vet) & while it improved somewhat, it just wasnt gone :(

I was gutted cause he has so much life in him & despite this mystery hop - he was in great form & really willing to work!

Anyway, I read about the Arc system & contacted them to ask if they thought it could help & I got a firm yes! They were fantastic to deal with, on email for all my questions, worries & panicking!! Great support!

We were given custom programmes to work through & he got 3 weeks off to start & then some rehab work under saddle. We used the unit twice a day if we could (sometimes just once) and he went from being a small bit underweight to putting on more weight & shining out of his skin & also turned into a very talkative fella which was odd for him! And was beaming & happy to work. After about 10 weeks of using the unit, he came sound!!

I cannot recommend it enough - for the sake of a few hundred quid, I have a horse now with many more happy ridden years ahead of him, without the need for bute or medication! That itself is priceless to me anyway!

The Osteo is really impressed with the changes in him, she even feels that his muscle wastage is starting to improve & I can only see it improving more with more work & being able to use himself properly now with no restriction holding him back!
 
How interesting, I've been wondering how people have been getting on. I'm sitting here with mine on me at the moment!!

I bought a unit a month ago with the aim of using it on the horse and myself. It's a long story, but the horse had hurt her back having a massive 'get the saddle off!' broncing tantrum after I'd fallen, and as a result of the ensuing back pain / trauma her gastric ulcers also came back. I've been using it on her overnight to encourage relaxation and healing both for the back soreness (which has also been treated by the osteo and seen by the vet) and in the hope that the relaxation and healing promotion would also help the ulcers (alongside the usual omeprazole and antepsin treatment).

To be honest, as there were also other treatments at play it's not possible to state as fact to what degree the Arc has helped each of these things, but I do know that her symptomatic improvement on the ulcers front, which had been pretty slow on just the drugs, certainly appeared to accelerate after we started using it. We'll continue to use it through her return to work after a long lay off to ease any muscle soreness and to keep her as relaxed and as pain free as possible as we wean her off the GG. I will also use it as first port of call whenever I think she may have some pain, as it now seems clear that pain (and pain-related stress) is a big trigger for her for ulcers and obvs we don't want her having NSAIDs.
The other thing is that a scar she has always had on her leg with a lump of scar tissue underneath it (and which has been sore when you prod it because of the scar tissue over the bony bit) has significantly shrunk in that the scar tissue's flattened and the visible scar is shrinking.

I've been using it on myself because in the above-mentioned fall I broke my shoulder. I didn't buy it until about 12 weeks after the break, so not really the immediate treatment they'd recommend... I've been using it to help with the physio - as in the physio is trying to "unseize" the shoulder and restoring range of movement can be a pretty bloody sore process! Again, not having gone through this exact process without the Arc it's impossible to say scientifically exactly what impact it's had on that process but I can safely say that it: definitely makes you feel more physically relaxed; while it's on it removes my usual lower back pain (which I always get niggling away from over arching); I also do not get my recurrent sciatic pain down my leg (which is usually brought on by sitting / driving for long periods) while I wear it; and after the physio has worked on my shoulder the muscles and tendons etc are usually pretty sore but as I am in the habit of putting the Arc on immediately after physio I've noticed that I'll feel the ache / tenderness kicking in mid afternoon and will think 'ooh where's that come from' and will check the time and see that the unit has recently finished its cycle, so I think it's good at removing the 'new' pain from the muscle soreness following physio. It has also reduced the scar tissue underneath the operation scar, so much so that physio who'd previously castigated me for not massaging it enough to break down the tissue, last week told me I'd obviously been doing a good job on it (er, haven't massaged it once).

So, so far (for humans) I'd conclude that while it hasn't 'loosened' the shoulder movement (it's tendons and ligaments that are in spasm rather than muscles so maybe that's to be expected) nor has it made the shoulder pain-free, it does help the muscles to recover more quickly from the massage / trigger point release work as part of physio and it eases the general soreness following physio, and it's doing a great job of reducing scar tissue. It also works well on general pain caused by muscle tightness, or 'new' muscle pain, and seems to do a great job on the sciatica.

So while it's not a magic cure-all (and doesn't claim to be) I think it's going to continue to be really useful, particularly because I don't want to use painkillers for the horse and because I have recurrent aches which it seems to ease.

I'll keep using it, and keep watching the results, and report back when we learn any more!
 
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