Bilateral Hindlimb lameness

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Emma1703

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My mare has recently come back from Newmarket after being referred for a bone scan due to a recurring sore sacroiliac area and very subtle lameness. The bone scan showed no significant abnormalities other than mild increased uptake in sacroiliac region. She had a cortisone injection on both sides and I was told to start bringing her back into work very slowly after three days off. She also had X-rays done on both hind legs which showed as clear.

However she is now very lame on both back legs! Now her back isn't in pain I'm assuming she's not holding her back awkwardly and hence the lameness has worsened/showing up more. My vet came out two days ago and we have arranged to nerve block next week.

There is no swelling/heat/any obvious injuries that the vet or I could find. Has anyone had any similar experience/any idea what this could be?
 
Bilateral PSD would also be my guess. Horrendously difficult to spot until it deteriorates badly and goes hand in hand with compensatory back problems.
My experience of this wasn't good.
If you know she's lame both sides, is there much point nerve blocking? I think I'd just start with an ultrasound from the bottom up, but I'm not a vet, so I'd have a good chat with them to see what they think.
Just to add, mine had no obvious swelling or lumps but both tendons were shot.
 
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My initial thought was suspensorys too but given that she's a cob doing nothing too strenuous chances just seem minimal! Both my local vet and the orthopaedic vet at Newmarket have said to start with nerve blocking and take it from there, although to me too ultrasounds make more sense to me.
 
I'd be asking whoever you used in Newmarket. Did she have the SI blocked at any point? You need to start with blocking so you know what you see on diagnostics is the 'thing' that is causing the issue.
 
Emma1703 said:
My initial thought was suspensorys too but given that she's a cob doing nothing too strenuous chances just seem minimal! Both my local vet and the orthopaedic vet at Newmarket have said to start with nerve blocking and take it from there, although to me too ultrasounds make more sense to me.
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Actually, cobs are highly susceptible to PSD because they are heavy on their feet - according to my vet who is a specialist in that field.
I would also agree that nerve blocking is a bit pointless given you know she is is lame in both hind legs.
Scanning would be my starting point but you have to go with what your vet says as he/she is in possession of the full facts and has done a clinical assessment, not just a bunch of people on the internet with their own experience.
 
My HW maxicob was diagnosed with bilateral hind limb PSD after nerve blocks. He presented as sound in a straight line, but was p1ssing off in canter under saddle.

Vet initially reckoned it was behavioural, but low and behold after blocking out the supensories on one limb he became obviously lame on the unblocked limb, and then went sound when both sides were blocked. Confirmed by scanning (needed the powerful in clinic scanner to penetrate his thick skin, the portable one couldn't cope!).
 
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I bought a cob to try and avoid all these problems and she seems to have been out of work for the majority of the two years I've owned her haha.

Mine is very subtly lame on the straight, but very obvious on the lunge! She has randomly been bucking and bolting off so my vet too thought it was behavioural.
 
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