Deep physio under sedation-Worried!!!

pistolpete

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My horse has been out of work now for nearly eight months long story short is they think he injured his neck in the field and consequently was un-coordinated/wobbly behind. He had bone scans steroids blood tests the works.
Good news is he seems to be getting stronger and is now in light in hand work and being lunged. The vet thinks he will benefit from physio under sedation for a tight spot on his back right side where the saddle would end. I am so worried as he had phsysio before and then had this awful accident. Just want him to be a happy hacker. Thoughts please?
 
My horse has been out of work now for nearly eight months long story short is they think he injured his neck in the field and consequently was un-coordinated/wobbly behind. He had bone scans steroids blood tests the works.
Good news is he seems to be getting stronger and is now in light in hand work and being lunged. The vet thinks he will benefit from physio under sedation for a tight spot on his back right side where the saddle would end. I am so worried as he had phsysio before and then had this awful accident. Just want him to be a happy hacker. Thoughts please?

You will find a lot of people horrified at the prospect of any kind of manipulation under sedation. I have to say that there are very very few professionals I'd trust with it BUT it has made the most amazing difference for my horse who had seen various physios and chiros for a rather tangled web of back problems, and made small bits of progress... but in half a dozen normal treatments she didn't make anything like the progress she made with her first osteo treatment under sedation (under constant veterinary supervision during treatment). It is quite alarming to think of your horse being "pulled around" while knocked out. But unlike some who are full-stop anti the idea, I would have it again with the osteo that I trust. I only went for it after speaking to other people who'd had the same treatments from the same osteo and seen real benefits with them. I really don't think I'd let someone loose on a sedated horse without testimonials from people who'd had the treatments before. So in the right hands I think it's immensely powerful, especially for horses with temperaments that mean they don't tend to 'let go' into treatment done without sedation... but in the wrong hands it's also immensely powerful, if you get what I mean.

Is there anyone you can talk to who's had the same treatment by the same person?
 
I would only consider this route with imput from a vet with specialist expertise in this area and a ACPAT equine physio.
 
I would only consider this route with imput from a vet with specialist expertise in this area and a ACPAT equine physio.

Agreed. Sounds like the vet has a physio working out of their practice for this? I would say though that if they only think there's one area of tightness in a relatively eay to treat area, sedation straight-off may feel a bit heavy-handed and it MAY be that if they do indeed have a physio working there regularly, the vet is recommending the sedation route because it's the only route they offer as a practice (rather than advising you find a physio outside to do it).
 
Agree with above. Heard of one horse who had this after a lifetime of chronic bucking, turned out he had a damaged neck when a youngster. The treatment put him right.
 
What sort of treatment are they proposing? My horse has H-wave therapy under sedation quite regularly, and I have no problem with it. The reasoning behind sedation is to enable them to give him a really powerful, deep session - and he always feels fab afterwards
 
The first physio I had wanted to try it for my boy's arthritis but it sounds to scary for me. Would be interested to hesar about positive expereinces for OA horses (neck and SI joints)
 
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