Intermittent UFP - looking for a good news story!

[JakeyRolling]

Hi, anyone out there whose horse was able to work through IUFP issues and get to a stage where low level RC activities could become a reality?

My 7 year old mare came to me with the issue, both hinds are affected, and was then out of work for around 7 months due to a small fracture followed by lockdown. During the time off her IUFP became much worse due to loss of the little muscle and condition she had, she is extremely weak behind. We're on a slow return to work program, with some pain relief to get her over the hump and hopefully build the quads enough to stabilise the stifle ligaments.

I know its a long road ahead with no guarantees of a good outcome, but was hoping that someone out there may have been through the same and come out the other side with a rideable horsey? She's a lovely girl, and has been trying very hard despite her obvious discomfort (hence the pain relief) - I would love to get her right.

Her stifles don't ever completely lock out, they catch at every stride. I'd love to hear any success stories about conditioning programmes or the other surgical options. I have already heard a few horror stories, any good news? Anyone?!

 

[ester]

I know of a surgical success for full locking intermittently not every stride, both were done albeit iirc only one tended to lock fully but they suspected the other would once they had operated on the 'bad' one.

 

[JakeyRolling]

I know of a surgical success for full locking intermittently not every stride, both were done albeit iirc only one tended to lock fully but they suspected the other would once they had operated on the 'bad' one.

Thanks. Do you know if it was splitting or blistering that was carried out?

 

[ester]

splitting.

 

[tristar]

you could do x rays to see if its joint formation, or if anything else is going on, to confirm the joint is normal, before going any further

the ops are not always indicated and have resulted in some cases of destabilization of the joint, you need to talk to as many different vets as possible,

i would talk to universities of bristol and specialists, not the local vet, as they see many more cases and outcomes, mpd op, is done under local, standing, usually bi laterally

have you tried upping the work, hard work can help , 1d try that first

 

[JakeyRolling]

Thanks Tristar, stifles were xrayed in December last year and were totally clear, she also had a full body bone scan at the time which only identified a small femur fracture which she has now completed the prescribed rest / rehab for. No hotspots on stifle joints, which was very good news at the time.

As a result of all the time off, she is extremely weak and presents as quite uncomfortable too. We are going for upping the work with pain relief at the moment, which is why I was hoping someone else might have gone through the same and had a good result as at the moment I can't see much improvement. Pain relief is a recent addition, we were trying to make some headway without it but I can't see much improvement and have found it hard to be very consistent when she seems quite sore. Its a bit like one step forward, two steps back just now, but I suppose this could be par for the course?..

 

[tristar]

all you can do is try, best of luck keep us updated please