Horse lame - MRI next

[rosielita]

I have a tricky one here. My horse were one day suddenly lame on the right front leg. The vet was called out and we have searched and searched. We started with examining the horse and there is no swelling og heat (never been any heat or swelling as long as I have known him for either). The lameness is not there on a straight line regardless of whether it is hard or soft surface. On a circle he is 1/5 lame on soft surface and 3/5 lame on hard surface and only in trot. He is sound in walk on a circle and on a straight line. Flexion test was clear in every leg except fetlock in the right front. We started nerve blocking the fetlock - no change. Nerve blocked the hoof (in two rounds, first back and then front) - no change and we could rule out navicular syndrome if I understood the vet correct. Nerve blocked the whole leg and he became better but not sound. X-rays and ultrasound were taken of both front legs and they couldn't be better. My vet and I both agree on that the next step is a MRI and we are currently waiting on our appointment, but in the meantime I were wondering if anyone have experienced something similar? I have searched and searched but it seems like most of the injury's that are discovered on a MRI are pretty severe and that breaks my heart. Does anyone here have a good experience with taking a MRI were the horse recovered and came back to shows again?

 

[IveRunOutOfNamesToThinkOf]

I’m so sorry, the need for an MRI does sound bad, I’ll hope for the best for you though x

 

[nutjob]

My horse has had an MRI, he has not come sound but I think I have been unlucky rather than it was impossible. He had nerve blocks and was much improved by blocking the hoof and blocked completely to the fetlock. MRI was done to just above the fetlock and showed a SDFT injury just above hoof level and some arthritic changes in his fetlock. At the time of the MRI, both the vet who did the procedure and my own vet thought he would recover and he was doing well on restricted area turnout and controlled exercise. Sadly about 6 months into the rehab he reinjured it and also damaged a hind suspensory, presumable messing about while turned out, so now the tendon shows too much scarring to be likely to recover.
I don’t know how far up the leg the MRI can go but if your horse doesn’t come sound with the whole leg blocked I wonder if an MRI will find the problem? I’m not insured so I think carefully about very expensive stuff which is probably not so much of a concern if insurance will cover it.

 

[IveRunOutOfNamesToThinkOf]

So sorry Nutjob

 

[Melody Grey]

My horse presented with the same pattern of inconsistencies you state and had a ligament strain within the hoof on MRI. Horse was remedially shod for a period (primarily for other issues in the hinds) and is now back barefoot and sound.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My mri experience is not great my mare had a ddft injury in the back of the pastern tried 3 lots of box rest and rehab and couldn't get her sound she was retired at 14.

My vet did think her injury was a very old one like before I had her and the scar tissue held it together for years when she was a brood mare, I think when I started riding her again it was just too much strain on it, stem cell wouldn't have worked and she couldn't have steroids as she was cushings ems

 

[iknowmyvalue]

I’ve got a good experience. Mine was lamer than yours, but similarly didn’t block to the foot but blocked higher up, positive to flexion. Nothing on X-rays/scans but MRI showed bone bruising. Came completely sound after box rest, repeat mri was clear, and he’s now sound and back in full work

 

[rosielita]

Thank you very much for all replies, really appreciate it! Nice to hear some good and successful stories, it help me keep my hopes up. So sorry for the ones that did not recover after an injury discovered on the MRI. Luckily I have a good insurance that covers everything. Fingers crossed he can come back to work again!!

 

[Lovely jubbly]

I had similar X-ray showed nothing but MRI showed a host of issues most old injuries..collateral in near fore,off fore DDFT injury and a start of side bone and we slight damage to suspensories in both hinds. We are 6 months into rehab was told would be a year possibly 18 months for everything to heal. She is sound at the moment with remidial shoeing and cartrophen injections. Been told she will end up a light hack,no more competitive work but she’s 16 so if I can get her light hacking again I will be happy. Pharmaquin joint supplement and Boswellia added to feed have helped as well. Luckily my insurance has covered it as MRI was £1600.

 

[EASTIE17]

Experiencing this at the moment, after 12 months spending lots of time and money on getting a tendon injury right. Got the all clear, gradual return to work over about 2 months, lame in from his turnout paddock one evening (purpose built to help him later on in his tendon rehab when he was able to be out of the box) and its been 2 months of nerve blocking and injecting but now think its DDFT, awaiting on MRI and if the suspicion is correct then its the end of a very promising competition career at 9! Hope yours goes better and they sometimes do, the positive thing about an MRI is that it will generally tell you exactly what the issue is, which at the end of the day even if its bad will at least give you clarity. Best of luck

 

[SOS]

I’m really sorry to hear about your horse. I had very similar, barely lame horse but just not right, couldn’t tell on the soft, only more obvious on the hard. Horsepital rang and checked I definitely wanted to spend money MRIing when not that lame. He had tore his DDFT in the foot massively. But after a long period of rest and rehab has come back to hacking and low level work.

I would definitely go for MRI else you will never really know the answer - which could be minor as it looks! We almost didn’t with my boy but he would of never came sound if we didn’t do things properly so in the long run definitely worth it.

Plus if you’re insured they will eventually exclude the leg anyway so may as well get a diagnosis and throw some money at it.