Axel - update

S

Seahorse

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Well it's not as bad as I thought it would be, basically Axey has a very sore muscle just behind the saddle area on the left.
The muscle is in spasm and has been for a while, and has probably trapped a nerve causing him sciatica type pain.
No wonder he is grumpy poor boy.

I am taking him to the the practice next week to have scans of the area and possibly x rays just to rule out any other problem, and he is to have a steroid injection into that area to release the spasm.
Hopefully after that he will be fine.

Need to get my saddles looked at, as although they haven't caused the problem they probably haven't helped.


Thanks for all the suggestions and your support
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Phew glad to hear it's something easily diagnosed and fixable.

I mentioned it in another post but a horse on our yard had similar problems and had shockwave therapy to great effect.
 
Same place my chiro found P to be in pain with the same thing - behind the saddle on the near side! BTW, in the last post I said about her not wanting to work forwards into a contact - I meant rounding her back, not speed - she has NEVER walked out so well in her life, my hacking buddy is astounded ATM with her!
 
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Same place my chiro found P to be in pain with the same thing - behind the saddle on the near side! BTW, in the last post I said about her not wanting to work forwards into a contact - I meant rounding her back, not speed - she has NEVER walked out so well in her life, my hacking buddy is astounded ATM with her!

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OMG how wierd is that!
What has your chiro suggested to do?
I think this has been going on with Axey for a long time, I have always felt that he wasn't 'right' and had probably every type of back person imaginable out to him.
They probably did a temporary fix but it's obviously never got to the root of the problem. I wish I had got the vet out ages ago now, but he's never been this bad before.
No wonder he was grumpy all the time
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Chiro has suggested I keep an eye on her
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I have lessened the weight of rugs I am using and am riding one day, then day off, then riding and not working her hard ATM - just forwards and rhythmical rather than in a dressage outline, she has dropped hind muscle so am attempting to build this back up. However, I am going to jump her tomorrow (had a 5 day jumping ban and haven't jumped her properly since before Christmas) - we are going to have a hugely fun session with some friends and I hope she will enjoy it - if not I will prob be eating dirt
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I actually have a feeling that acupuncture would benefit her - I know it does for me when I have the same kind of spasm in my shoulder and neck, but cannot find anyone that does acupuncture on horses thus far. My vet (brilliant) is of the opinion that I will be wasting my money taking her in for now, and give it a good month and a regular regime to see if we have improvement.
 
I'm glad Axel's problem doesn't sound too serious.
I know someone who does acupuncture on horses but they are too far from you Weezy I'm afraid. She is in Devon - a vet called Wendy Vere.
 
That's so interesting isn't it that our 2 horses have the same problem?!
How did P do hers do you know?

One of the vets at my practise is training to become an accupuncture therapist and is looking for guinea pigs to train on, I might see if he wants to do it on Axey
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Seriously can't wait for wednesday now!
 
That's great news Sam - I'm pleased you've got to the bottom of it - poor Axey... he must be a good soul because the pain of sciatica is awful
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not surprised he's grumpy
Give him a big hug from H
Kate x
 
FWIW - Tia was treated with H-wave therapy and accupuncture
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She's now back in work after a months worth of the above and is SO much better
 
I WANT TO FIND AN ACCUPUNCTURIST
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I think P has messed her back up by being cast - yes, even in her huge pen she still rolls right over and lands herself next to the wall
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She always ends up getting herself up, but she isn't v careful where she rolls!
 
Gosh, I hadn't realised you were having problems. Bet you were relieved at that diagnosis though! Fingers crossed it all comes well and good ASAP!
 
I'm positive this happened when he was a 2 yr old and turned away, one day he was fine, the next he was phycho horse from hell. Of course being that young and not ridden it probably healed itself but I have always felt he was never right.
I am on first name terms with every back person in the area, he has had shiatsu, reiki, bowen technique, physio, chiro and sports massage therapy. Also magic John has treated him! He is fine for a while after then it all starts again. I think they have all helped but only short term.
It was my instructors chiro that advised me to get the vet and I'm so pleased I did. I hope we will finally get to the bottom of this now.

One good thing though, if he's this good with a bad back, what will he be like after....!!!
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I hope the injections help.

Just something to think about though...have you got to the bottom of what actually triggered the muscle spasm as without doing this even the injections will only be a temporary fix. I see that you have had problems for quite sometime as I did when my boy had a nightmare 10 months. he just kept getting symptoms of 'back problems' bucking, spasms etc but everything we tried only help temporarily until we actually worked out what was causing the spasms in the first place. I had the most fantastic osteopath and equine sports massage therapists who worked wonders to help him through his worst phases and he had steroid injections in his back but none of these actually stopped the problem until we found the cause. (EPSM as it turned out).

As I said, I do hope the injections help but just thjought it worth warning you that without a cause this still may be just a temporary solution.

Goodluck,

Sqip
 
Thank you, When I spoke to the vet today he said he was going to do scans and x rays first, then maybe inject steroids if needed. When he spoke to me on thursday he said it the other way round!

Hopefully we will get to the bottom of it on wednesday and hopefully the vet will recommend a back person who will be able to follow up on what the vets find.
 
Follow up is so important. I have my boy checked several times a year now as a precaution and he also gets extra treatments if he has a 'blip'. Keeps him comfortable and I've got very good at sensing when he's not right...then I back off the work and get him looked at.

Good luck on Thursday. I do hope that the vet is able to give you a reason for the spasms and sciatica cos then you can get on with mending the problem. Oh by the way..have you had a steroid injection? I have and I had what they call 'steroid flare' God that hurt! Anyhow, when my boy had his injection he was fine but you may just want to watch out for it...no matter how much the nurse told me I might be a bit sore tha next day, I was not at all prepared for just HOW sore I was!
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Sqip
 
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