Bone cyst in stifle

[Marigold4]

My rising 10 year old gelding has just been x-rayed and a "quite big" cyst has been found in one stifle, possibly something odd in the other stifle - x-rays sent to surgeon for expert opinion. Both joints will be scanned next week to see what else is going on in the joint. He's been a real puzzle to ride as he has wanted to be on his forehand and not engage behind, finding canter really hard - now we know why. Poor chap. Thankfully I've not pushed him in all these years of trying to work him out - just light hacking and schooling. It came to light when he went to a pro for a few weeks, as I have no facilities at home to ride in winter, and she asked a little more of him.

I'm thinking we retire him now and hope he is OK as a field companion but pro thinks there are things we could do - steroid injections etc - and we should keep working him to keep him strong. He's home now and I'm definitely not doing anything with him until we know if anything else is going on in the joint, but does anyone have any experience of a horse able to comfortably carry on with a bone cyst with minimally invasive treatment? The info I have found so far is not encouraging.

 

[Midlifecrisis]

I am really sorry to hear this, it’s a bit bloomin heart breaking. Honestly I think you have to wait for the experts to advise you about the way forward. I don’t have experience of this exact situation but know about waiting and uncertainty and wanted to send you a hug.

 

[Marigold4]

I am really sorry to hear this, it’s a bit bloomin heart breaking. Honestly I think you have to wait for the experts to advise you about the way forward. I don’t have experience of this exact situation but know about waiting and uncertainty and wanted to send you a hug.

Thanks for replying and the "hug". I was sort of coming to the conclusion I should stop riding him before the diagnosis. He's been telling me for so long that he finds it hard. Sending him to the pro was a last-ditch attempt to either get him going or stop. So I was mentally prepared to retire him anyway and TBH riding him wasn't much fun. He wasn't lame as such just telling me it was all really difficult for him. He is a lovely boy and an easy horse to keep, so as long as we can keep him comfortable, he can just look pretty in the field. Think that's the end of riding for me though.

 

[Nicnac]

Sorry to read this. You've said minimally invasive treatment so rest and injections may help but only surgery I believe would be the surest option to return to full work. I guess it depends on what is found after further investigation.
HHO vibes for positive outcome.

 

[Marigold4]

Sorry to read this. You've said minimally invasive treatment so rest and injections may help but only surgery I believe would be the surest option to return to full work. I guess it depends on what is found after further investigation.
HHO vibes for positive outcome.

Thanks for the vibes. It's horrible waiting ...

 

[angel7]

Sorry to hear this, mine with bone cyst did not end well. It depends of its location and if it connects to the joint space and cartilage. Some are incidental findings and dont cause an issue, but some just hurt with bone pain and they cant tell us.

 

[Marigold4]

Sorry to hear this, mine with bone cyst did not end well. It depends of its location and if it connects to the joint space and cartilage. Some are incidental findings and dont cause an issue, but some just hurt with bone pain and they cant tell us.

Thanks for replying. I'm really sorry about your horse. I heard from the surgeon tonight and my horse's cyst is "impressively large" and connected to the joint. He seems pretty happy in the field and stable though. His ridden lameness was very subtle. We await the scans.