Does lame always = pain?

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ForeverBroke_

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Possibly an obvious musing really, but I just wondered whether lameness always means pain, or could it also be more as its perhaps a way of compensating for something else and therefore not painful?

I only ask as my horse is currently lame on both hinds (has had full work up at vets to suggest PSD and other issue as nerve blocks didn't make him sound). No treatment really is viable for him as he is also inconsistent infront with bilateral high articular ringbone, collat. damage and arthritis, and so it wouldn't be worth the neurectomy etc etc. I've opted to retire him regardless (he was a hack through summer) but he'll be reassessed in 3 months to see whats what.

Is him being lame essentially for the next 3 months at least therefore meaning he's in pain? Should I be doing more? CAN I do more?! He potters to/from the field ok and he's still happy to canter and squeal up the field. He's also having remedial shoeing so perhaps this will help things, but we'll see!

I dont know if I'm making sense, I'm a bit in over my head with it all again. :(:confused:

Any reasoning much appreciated.
 
Is he lame on bute too?

Only ask as knew a mare who had a stifle injury, which was successfully operated on, but left mechanically lame as did not have the same range of movement (looked more stiff than out and out lame). Vets were confident that she was in no pain though.
 
It's something I always ponder too!

I think it often depends on the horse, but 9/10 times then yes, lame=pain. So currently baby Bee is lame, and we're not sure if that's due to tendon damage or the huge ulcerated areas on her leg and her knee wound (yay overtight bandaging...). Either way, it's 100% pain related.

I reckon a good test is if the horse changes when on bute- if he comes sound, then yes, it's pain related... Possibly!
 
Ah! Hadn't thought of it like that..

He's not been on any bute really ever, he had the odd sachet through the ringbone phase but largely its been to see how things go on their own steam without the bute. Obviously bute for maintenence etc is perhaps the next step but its not been suggested to me by my vet yet.
 
my mare was 'lame' on her right shoulder. the vet said she was not in any pain but just had a tighter muscle due to previous injury so she wasnt able to extend as much which resulted in her looking lame. but she was not in pain :) obviously until a horse voice collar id invented it is impossible to know 100% but thats what the vet said.
 
I cant speak for horses but I am injured in my shoulders have been for years now, they don't work properly ever but only actually hurt when its cold. So technical i am lame all the time but not in pain I would assume that it would be the same with horses, I had an old injury that healed wrong causing the problems so I guess its possible with horses if that makes sense.
 
Fleabite said:
Thanks, yes this is what I'm wondering.

I'd hate to just be watching him 'lame,' around the field when all the while he's in pain.
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Another way to look at it is he happy, I have fibromyaligia as well as problems with my shoulders, I can have random pains in my body I still have fun. If horse is happy I wouldn't worry too much as long as your vet, physio and you are monitoring. I would personally try bute to check it isn't pain then wait it out to see what happens, its what i do when injured. (only saying this for a happy horse not working before i get jumped on)
 
Yes quite! I think he is, he's obviously quieter than when he was firing on all canons but this can't mean that he's not happy! He's still bright and eating well, still whickers away to the entire yard whenever he thinks theres a bowl headed his way!

Will perhaps give my vet a ring about some additional bute strips for him for any 'bad days,' and see what difference they make to his way of going.

Thanks for you're advice!
 
I would maybe do a bute trial and see if he changes with it. My pony is on half a danilon a day and this is enough to keep him hacking comfortably. I often wondered if he was actually in pain so I stopped the danilon and he was definately stiffer. Perhaps have a chat with your vet about your worries?
 
BentleyBelly said:
I would maybe do a bute trial and see if he changes with it. My pony is on half a danilon a day and this is enough to keep him hacking comfortably. I often wondered if he was actually in pain so I stopped the danilon and he was definately stiffer. Perhaps have a chat with your vet about your worries?
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^^^^ agree with this, if in doubt, speak to the vet and do a trial.
If only they could talk :D
 
I would think there are two main reasons why a horse is lame, 1. it is in pain or 2. they are unable to move naturally because of an old injury etc but not in pain... My retired horse has arthritis in all 4 legs, some days he's stiffer than others but he's happy. Unless he was being ridden I wont go looking to give him painkillers. If he started to look so uncomfortable in the field that I was wanting to bute him just to maintain him (ETA maintain him living retired in a field, not doing any work) then I think I would be considering his future.
 
I think they can definitely be lame without pain, another human comparison but I damaged my elbow falling off so may never be able to fully extend my arm, but it will work and be strong again so not a problem, trouble with horses is most of their joints are weight bearing, so will probably be a bit painful just compensating for not having full range of movement, but more aches than acute pain. I should think after a year or so even weight bearing problems would be adapted to, but just a musing, I would probably try a Bute sachet too just to see if it improves with that.
 
Most of the time I'd say yes, but there's exceptions. My mare is very even, & always tracks up. The few times she's been lame, she, shortens her stride to compensate for the fact full flexing is uncomfortable. Not enough that most people would notice, just anyone familiar with her usual movement. And a classic example is a horse with a locking stifle. Clearly not sound when its locked but not lame. I agree with the bute trial too.
 
my mare was retired due to lameness about 8 years ago. she has been on a danilon every other day for several years now, but as no change to her degree of lameness and we were worried about long term effects of being on danilon we took her off it in the spring and she is no different off it.
she occasionally does something crazy in the field and is obviously a bit sore for a few days but no change to degree of lameness off the danilon. so i reckon she is more mechanically lame than in pain.
a bit stiff and uncomfortable when she gets up maybe...bit like me in the mornings.
my other mare looks about 1 or 2 tenths unlevel but is absolutely fine,
so although i would say new lameness indictes pain or discomfort, long term low level lameness may not...depends on horse, etc.
The horse's demeanor usually lets you know if they are in pain...
 
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