George Update - not good news

Sorry to hear this. My horse had PSD diagnosed last year; he had shock wave and box rest followed by 6 months field rest and is now sound and back in work. Improving his hoof health and the support provided by his heels I think was critical.
 
Personally I would not go for the op - however, I am not a vet but as far as I am aware a neurectomy is not curing the issue it is merely masking it as the horse can't feel it. Doesn't sit right with me. My sister's horse had PSD and had successful shockwave therapy at rainbow clinic. He also was on box rest then graduated to restricted paddock rest and box rest. He actually coped very well. I know a lot depends on the severity of the damage and where it is but time and rest generally works pretty well. My sister also bought some magnetic boots to help improve the blood flow. It isn't necessarily the end of the world at all and there are far worse things, it's just frustrating as it does take time for them to come right. Good luck whichever option you choose!
 
I would go for the op, my horse had the same diagnosis (similar age to yours) and we did the shockwave and rest but it recurred when he came back into work so ended up having the op which has been successful.

I would ask your vet about treating the SI joint shortly after the op too, my horse has had to have his done as he became unlevel again earlier this year and it turned out to be the SI joint which they think he injured compensating for the PSD (he has had a full year off due to my pregnancy so not noticed sooner) and the vets said they now routinely medicate the SI joint a few weeks after the PSD op (but they didn't when mine had his op 2 years ago) as it is a common side effect of PSD.
 
A friends 14 year old mare was diagnosed with this about 9 months ago. Options available to her were steroid injections or surgery. Friend was advised that she was not a suitable candidate for surgery and after researching the neurorectomy, the failure rate was higher than first thought. The vet also advised that steroid injections were not liable to work either. The mare was put on box rest for a couple of weeks with danilon, then turned out into a paddock 'maze' made up of lots of small areas linked together. This ensured that she wasn't out in the field tearing about. She was turned away for 6 months and then started being brought back into work, firstly with in hand walks building up from 10 minutes twice a day to 30 mins, and has now just started being ridden in walk for 30 mins. The latest scans show no signs of the injury and things are looking good.
 
I'm another George fan and you sound a lovely owner so I'm thinking of you. If you search for threads on hind PSD on here there are lots of experiences.

My boy had shockwave, Adequan, long box rest and also treatment for arthritis in the same fetlock. We didn't consider the neurectomy route, I wanted to try to heal the ligament, not just mask the pain but each decision is individual. He came back sound and did some competing but I keep him for hacking now as I have another young horse.

I have no scientific evidence for this but hind PSD seems so common now, is the fact that we do more dressage to blame?

((((Hugs))))
 
So Sorry to hear
My Pip had the op at the age of 6 by Andy at Rossdales - couldn't have been kinder.
She did recover and came back in to full work. Sadly 3 years later she was left in a field on her own, slipped and damaged them both again. Shockwave did nothing but cost me a lot of time, money & heartache.
Big ((hugs))
x
 
I'm another one who has had Andy perform the op on my horse and it worked v well for her. Sadly I had to retire her for other reasons, but I would go down that route again in the future, if needed.
 
My horse had PSD in both hinds. he had shock wave therapy alongside injections (can't remember name off top of my head but i did post about it vet section a while back) he only had short period of box rest as he's a box walker so he actually "rested" more in a tiny paddock. Bought slowly and carefully back into work and is now sound as a bell and moving better than ever. he's 15 so I've made decision not to event him anymore to minimise risk of recurrence (although like most injuries he's more likely to do something stupid in the field but don't believe in totally wrapping him in cotton wool!!) we're now happily (and moderately successfully) doing local dressage and trec with the odd bit of jumping on good surfaces. i know each case is different so im sure you'll take advice from vet as to best treatment for George don't rule out shock wave therapy. my boy is extremely happy and sound.good luck
 
Firstl I am so sorry to hear this

Unfortunately I know only too well what you are going through. My last horse had exactly the same. Scan showed just enough damage to mean surgery was the best option. Even though he was also slightly lame on front fore and other hind. None of which my vet picked up on it was so subtle

Surgery was done BUT not only did he never come sound on it. But also it turns out there is a degenerative condition that can cause it. I soon found out he had it in 3 out of 4 legs. I was very upset that they did not suggest scanning the front too. If they had they would have known he had not injured it and that he would end up with it in all his legs

Obviously I should never have been advised to put him through surgery. In fact the degenerative condition was never even mentioned.

I would always advise anyone before surgery to have the other hind and of the fronts scanned too and if there was even slightest change I would not have surgery. Unfortunately my beloved Micah was pts just short of his 8th birthday

One more thing to bear in mind is, if one hind goes the other one usually does too. Insurance will exclude the other one and unless done together there wouldn't be enough money for both

So sorry it's such a long post but I wanted to give you as much info as possible

I would be very very unlikely to put another horse through this surgery again
 
What bad luck, poor George!

Don't despair though, there are some good stories coming through about the surgery. I don't have any experience of it myself but if you go for it, talk to your vet about options with box resting. Maybe there are some sedatives to help George cope with the box rest, maybe a small paddock is an option, maybe he can go to a rehab yard and have a professional deal with that side of things (sometimes horses settle better to a new routine in a new place, and in a rehab place a lot of other horses will be in 24/7).
 
Mine had this in 2011 and recovered well with shockwave treatment and 6 months box/paddock rest with increased controlled work. The injury (fingers crossed) has not recurred and it really made me pay attention to any unlevelness in his action. I used magnetic boots, a tendon improver herbal gum spray (weird, but worth trying everything!) and had the chiro every 3 months as often they get sacro problems with the psd.

I do know how you feel re the crying though, it does make you feel useless and the situation hopeless doesn't it, esp as a one horse owner. Chin up though, look forward to lots of stable cuddles and buying nifty boredom breakers. Mine is on his third injury in three years needing box rest, different leg and injury each time, I could just cry most days tbh! The insurance company hate me too :rolleyes:
 
First can i say how sorry i am to hear this, you must feel like the bottoms dropped out of your world. Ive looked into this with 2 friends whose horses had the same condition.
1 had shockwave and rest and is back into work and scans are clear.
The other had the neurectomy and again is coming back into work,looking sound and pain free all isnt lost although it feels a bit like it is at the moment.
Take some time to process the information, talk things ober with your vet again good luck
Sorry, can i just add my tb nutty mare coped with paddock rest in a 14x14 pen in the field with her 2 fieldmates for 6 months, it was sometimes like walking the Tazmanian devil to the pen, but we did get through it. In this dry weather you might get away with a hay hutch on grass mats to stop the field poaching, i moved her pen twice a day around the front of the field, they do get used to it
 
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Im another that had Andy operate on both my mares hinds. She also had 3 shockwaves. It was my decision to keep her as a happy hack and she coped v well with the rehab. She is now 21 and going strong. Good luck whatever you choose,it is fairly common diagnosis sadly.
 
Gosh so sorry OP. Don't have any experience or advice but sending hugs and positive vibes to help with whatever you decide x x
 
Oh hun i have nothing to had which others have written but i had tears reading you were crying whilst typing. my heart goes out to you. Your pain is so obvious and i wish could give you a hug. no other words x x x
 
No experience or advice, I'm afraid but wanted to wish you both all the best. I have enjoyed reading your posts, I have a soft spot for George as I've had Shire x's myself and our first horse was also called George.
A difficult decision, which I don't envy you.
 
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