Chwee
Well-Known Member
Hello, any experience of a bruised stifle out there please?
My horse fell in the field and became immediately very lame (6/10), after x-rays and ultrasound scans at RVC it was concluded that the damage appeared to be minimal and he had just bruised himself (no reason to think he needed an arthroscopy to look for meniscal damage). He was 2/10 lame after about 5 weeks and came sound on soft and hard surfaces, in a straight line and on a circle a couple of weeks after that. He started walk in straight lines for 20 mins building up by 5 mins a week and is now starting his 4th week (35 mins) of walk. Hes being sedated for turn out and is now in a 20 x 20 grass pen and taking 1.5ml of sedalin (reduced from 3ml that he was getting when he first started turn out 5 weeks ago). On Monday he came in with mud all over his belly so I assumed hed been running around he didnt feel quite right in walk but was difficult to tell so I trotted him (whilst on board) in a straight line in the school and he felt horrific, I then did the same on a hard surface and he felt fine. Im new to riding in this particular school and it was deep after heavy rain so Im half trying to convince myself that was the issue. I didnt ride yesterday so tonight will be the moment of truth. My vet is on holiday this week, back tomorrow so Ill ask her when shes in, but really just wondered whether anyone knew is a bruise could cause intermittent lameness if the joint was stressed (i.e by running about) or whether the fact he was lame again on a soft surface immediately points to more serious soft tissue damage (meniscal tear)?
Any advice appreciated
Thank you
My horse fell in the field and became immediately very lame (6/10), after x-rays and ultrasound scans at RVC it was concluded that the damage appeared to be minimal and he had just bruised himself (no reason to think he needed an arthroscopy to look for meniscal damage). He was 2/10 lame after about 5 weeks and came sound on soft and hard surfaces, in a straight line and on a circle a couple of weeks after that. He started walk in straight lines for 20 mins building up by 5 mins a week and is now starting his 4th week (35 mins) of walk. Hes being sedated for turn out and is now in a 20 x 20 grass pen and taking 1.5ml of sedalin (reduced from 3ml that he was getting when he first started turn out 5 weeks ago). On Monday he came in with mud all over his belly so I assumed hed been running around he didnt feel quite right in walk but was difficult to tell so I trotted him (whilst on board) in a straight line in the school and he felt horrific, I then did the same on a hard surface and he felt fine. Im new to riding in this particular school and it was deep after heavy rain so Im half trying to convince myself that was the issue. I didnt ride yesterday so tonight will be the moment of truth. My vet is on holiday this week, back tomorrow so Ill ask her when shes in, but really just wondered whether anyone knew is a bruise could cause intermittent lameness if the joint was stressed (i.e by running about) or whether the fact he was lame again on a soft surface immediately points to more serious soft tissue damage (meniscal tear)?
Any advice appreciated
Thank you