sam72431
Well-Known Member
Very very long story short following on from some very mild intermittent lameness my horse was booked in for annular ligament surgery and this was performed 12 weeks ago.
Surgeon shocked to find two ddft tears torn manica flexoria as well so removed manica did the desmotomy and debrided ddft. I was told long rest period 50/50 chance of being ridden etc.
Came home pretty sound and all fine, reaction to stitches which were removed early. Came sound again and then doing hand grazing on vets advice fine and had around 2-3 weeks no issues started reducing danillon on vet advice. Leg blew up in loads of pain as in agony leg boiling. Back up on danillon which made no difference after 1.5 she went back to the hospital for a week.
She had cellulitis and tendon sheath also inflammed but inconclusive if the tendon sheath was septic as they couldn't get a sample. Treated the cellulitis and then took on surgeons advice a calculated risk to do a steroid injection into sheath. This seemed to work and we have been in the clear for injection as this hasn't come back and steroids was 5 weeks ago which is when she came home again.
We had about 2-3 weeks completely sound with no painkiller and was just starting to do in hand walking when one morning she shot back (she is super fresh) the leg then swelled up and she got sore again after a few days so have been on danillon twice a day for a week. We then tried to take her off again over the weekend but she got sore unfortunately I was away so unsure just how sore! She's had shoes off ever since op as not been sound enough to stand on leg for long enough.
Farrier came today and I decided to go ahead with it as she was looking fairly comfortable again since continueing the danillon. Well I felt so guilty Farrier was very very kind and patient but you could see it hurt to weight bear on leg to get other leg done! I cold hosed her leg afterwards and in fairness she walked back in ok. Tonight I took her out for walk again and although stiff she was walking ok I iced her legs as well to keep inflammation down.
I am just feeling constantly guilty if I'm doing right thing. I speak to vet every day and follow his advice to letter but he has said he's not really dealt with a horse with all three injuries at once and not sure if it's normal for her to be up and down like this. She is bright in herself eating and wants to be here but is this fair?! She is only ten and I don't care if she is never ridden again as long as she is happy and pain free but she's been in three months now and it feels like it's never going to be over!
Non horsey bf thinks not fair to keep her in and can't be on painkillers forever (obviously) but vet saying just give her time. Other people saying get a second opinion and also should vet come and do scan to check nothing underlying since she went backwards last week?! I'm at my wit's end so any help much appreciated!
Surgeon shocked to find two ddft tears torn manica flexoria as well so removed manica did the desmotomy and debrided ddft. I was told long rest period 50/50 chance of being ridden etc.
Came home pretty sound and all fine, reaction to stitches which were removed early. Came sound again and then doing hand grazing on vets advice fine and had around 2-3 weeks no issues started reducing danillon on vet advice. Leg blew up in loads of pain as in agony leg boiling. Back up on danillon which made no difference after 1.5 she went back to the hospital for a week.
She had cellulitis and tendon sheath also inflammed but inconclusive if the tendon sheath was septic as they couldn't get a sample. Treated the cellulitis and then took on surgeons advice a calculated risk to do a steroid injection into sheath. This seemed to work and we have been in the clear for injection as this hasn't come back and steroids was 5 weeks ago which is when she came home again.
We had about 2-3 weeks completely sound with no painkiller and was just starting to do in hand walking when one morning she shot back (she is super fresh) the leg then swelled up and she got sore again after a few days so have been on danillon twice a day for a week. We then tried to take her off again over the weekend but she got sore unfortunately I was away so unsure just how sore! She's had shoes off ever since op as not been sound enough to stand on leg for long enough.
Farrier came today and I decided to go ahead with it as she was looking fairly comfortable again since continueing the danillon. Well I felt so guilty Farrier was very very kind and patient but you could see it hurt to weight bear on leg to get other leg done! I cold hosed her leg afterwards and in fairness she walked back in ok. Tonight I took her out for walk again and although stiff she was walking ok I iced her legs as well to keep inflammation down.
I am just feeling constantly guilty if I'm doing right thing. I speak to vet every day and follow his advice to letter but he has said he's not really dealt with a horse with all three injuries at once and not sure if it's normal for her to be up and down like this. She is bright in herself eating and wants to be here but is this fair?! She is only ten and I don't care if she is never ridden again as long as she is happy and pain free but she's been in three months now and it feels like it's never going to be over!
Non horsey bf thinks not fair to keep her in and can't be on painkillers forever (obviously) but vet saying just give her time. Other people saying get a second opinion and also should vet come and do scan to check nothing underlying since she went backwards last week?! I'm at my wit's end so any help much appreciated!