Help.... is there a vet in the house????

[merlinsquest]

I need your advice please....

My horse has been having shock wave therapy for his arthritic fetlock joint, it is 6 months since the last treatment and he has just been re xrayed......

I have just read that shockwave encourages bone growth.. and I was wondering if it would have the effect of making the recent xrays look like there was more of an increase in the arthritic changes.

The vet thinks there has been a 10-15% deterioration in the joint and I am worried that either the shock wave has caused the arthritic changes to increase or to lay down extra bone s that it looks like its increased.

Really sorry for ramble but I just dont know whether to go for another cycle of treatment or not. He isnt really any better than before and if anything is worse :-(

Thanks for any help you can give me, I am getting a bit desperate now.

 

[BenjaminBunny]

Sorry can't help really - but my horse had shockwave for ligament damage and it encourages circulation and re-healing

so it reduced the thickening of my ned's ligament and improved the fibre pattern - but i don't know what it does for joints sorry

although just googled and found this

http://www.clarkequine.com/shockwave.htm

 

[BenjaminBunny]

Follow this link and check out page 4

http://www.vetmed.iastate.edu/department...FinalReport.pdf

 

[merlinsquest]

Thanks Benjaminbunny.... I looked at the site the other day and it made my brain hurt.... hence the quest for understandable information. I am just worried that the treatment is maybe not doing any good!!!