Digital Flexor Tendon Sheath Synovitus...experiences/advice please? :)

[LittleBluebell]

My gelding was diagnosed with this last September, as he was 1/10th lame. He was scanned, tendon was healthy, but had some scar tissue in the tendon sheath. Treated and i was told to walk him out for 40 mins for a couple of months. Vet checked again 2 months later, and was found to be half as lame as he was before. I was told to increase the workload, starting with 5 mins trot, building it up for 5 mins every week.
Due to 2 yard moves and a holiday this year, we are now up to 30 mins trot on soft ground plus about 30mins+ of walking. I just wondered if anyone has had any similar experiences and what the outcome was?
Vet is coming up to check him out again tomorrow as i am not convinced he will ever be 100% sound.

Thanks for reading

L

 

[alsxx]

Sorry to hear this, my mare has this in her LH combined with 'heel pain' in her RF (no one has been able to say exactly why but I suspect early stage nav). She has sadly been lame since August, she did 8 months of box rest for various reasons, and would present sound on the LH when trotted up straight from the box, however if you looked at her a week later the use of it would make her lame again (only about 2 tenths)., however I think if there is scar tissue present they are generally harder to sort out.

I dont know if she will ever be sound on it again, my vet thinks she should have it medicated again, however I have taken off her shoes and turned her away for a year in the hope she sorts her RF out and then we can maybe look at medicating the tendon sheath again. I know they are very tricky injuries to heal as they tend to be prone to flairing up again quite easily. My mare had no changes present other than inflammation on her ultrasound (they even MRI'd it but nothing showed up on that either)

Sorry probably not what you wanted to hear.

 

[LittleBluebell]

Forgot to say it is his LH and he has worn wedges since September which have made a difference.

Thank you for your reply. Sorry to hear about your mare also.

L

 

[Cazzah]

My gelding damaged his LH at the beginning of January and was absolutely hopping lame for about 4 days and then overnight 1/10th and within a month was sound. Was admitted to hospital and there for nearly a week having lots of tests as he was so lame they thought it was something really sinister.

He was on box rest for almost 4 months, complete box rest for 2 weeks, then supposed to lead in hand but would just explode so I got on and walked. Built up really slowly in the school to an hour/hour and half including canter for 30 mins in 10 minute stints. Vet came out and rescanned and was really pleased with the results - still some scar tissue and I think he will always have a small windgall type swelling but it doesn't affect him at all. Been out 24/7 for past two months and happily jumping 1.20.

My vet was surprised by how quickly and well Baz had healed and I guess I was lucky (fingers crossed - trying not to tempt fate!) but every injury and horse is different. Just keep persevering - I think the key is to be sensible but keep building up the intensity of the work whilst considering how he is coping. There is hope!!

 

[Daytona]

my mare had this and was lame on and off, they decided to operate on her and flush the tendon out and shave off bits inside through key hole surgery, so far she has been on box rest but today can go out into a small area, we were told there was an 80% chance of full recovery.

Fingers crossed....!

 

[LittleBluebell]

I shall keep my fingers crossed for you!

Vet diagnosed mine as a happy hacker! No school work or tight turns or trot/canter on hard ground. Slightly uncomfortable on the left rein on the lunge, so we are happy hackers now. Has prescribed a bute a day and will see how we get on! No jumping for us! He seems quite happy in himself though and have managed to get him a sharer who is more than happy to hack him out, so i can get something to compete and school (surprised i miss it!), so hopefully this shall all work out!

Thanks for the replies

L x

 

[Daytona]

Hmmm i hope she not going to be just a happpy hacker....! she will be an extreamly expensive one if so!

Horses arrrrr...!

Oh well here's hoping but if not wot can i do. She will be an extreamly posh hack lol

Thanks

 

[LittleBluebell]

Lol at posh hack

i'm sure she will make a full recovery, there is an 80% chance, my geldings chances were never that high!

He is a very handsome hack though! lol

L x