IRAP for Collateral Ligament and Arthritis

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lozza_cook

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Has anyone used IRAP for a collateral ligament injury in the foot? My boy is going to be starting soon and have 4 injections 2 weeks apart. Unfortunately he also has coffin joint arthritis so the plan is to use the IRAP to help both.
Any news on your experiences would be great? Wondering how quickly i will see an improvement as i know collateral ligaments can take 9-12 months to heal.

I'm not too hopefully however as it is all due to concusion from poor confirmation and therefore he lands on the outside of the foot. No farrier yet able to stop this
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I'm afraid I haven't had experience of IRAP but I did look into it when my boy was diagnosed with collateral ligament damage. From what I gather it is still in the early stages and therefore the effects of IRAP are somewhat uncertain.
What I can say though is try not to worry too much about the arthritis as yet. From experience it seems to be a common to have coffin joint arthritis with collateral ligament damage. Have you tried steriod injections into the coffin joint yet? I went down this route with my boy as there was much associated swelling and this helped to reduce it. Good luck with the IRAP, I'd be interested to hear how you and your boy get on.
 
I looked into IRAP but I think it's more for joints than soft tissue? Steroid / HA injections are usually the first course of attack for coffin joint arthritis, although I know some vets are now pushing IRAP too as it claims to have more long term benefits. I dont know hoe quickly you should see a result. The thing is the horse may look sound before the ligament has fully healed. Rest and rehab are really important for ligament healing - usually 6 months box rest with controlled exercise. However I think THE MOST important thing is to get the foot balance right and your horse shod correctly so I would try and find the best remedial farrier you can. I would also start your horse on a glucosamine based joint supplement. Good luck
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hi, i would second what marchtime and kanter said. i am now in month 9 of rehab with damaged collateral ligaments and slight arthritus of coffin joint. i mentioned irap to my vet but she was'nt overly forecoming about it. we had the coffin joint injections though. what she told me was that foot balance is the most important thing and to only work on good even surfaces. my horse has TB feet -low collasped heels and he is shod in heart bars and they have done wounders for his feet. i had the farrier this morning and mentioned putting him back into normal shoes and he said the heartbars are very benifical for horses like mine so going to keep him in them till next show season. the re-hab and on-going controlled exercise for this injury must be folllowed to the letter and not rushed. the surface that you re-hab on must be firm and even - walking on tarmac is perfect. yes it does take along time but slow and steady wins the race !! no matter how hard it gets don't be tempted to turn your horse out or you could undo all the good work. feel free to p.m me. good luck x
 
Hi all
Everyone seems to have different ideas our vet has said two months box rest for damage to the collateral ligament then shock wave therapy for our 10yr warmblood mare who has good confirmation but shows early signs of navicular which he feels we should treat with tildren. Expected time before returning to work 6 months. Has anyone used tildren with good results.
 
Hi,

My horse has current injury to the collateral ligaments and also to DDFT. He has been treated in the main with cartrophen with excellent results to date.

I fully agree with all the comments about foot balance. I had to have my horses feet x-rayed to find that he was unbalanced and then it was all changed to be perfectly balanced ( he used to land on the inside of his foot first).

Cartrophen was initally given to my horse as prior to MRI my vet thought he could have the beginnings of arthritis (which he didnt), however as we had such good results with it (he came sound on week 3 after injury), we have continued with it.

It really is important that you get his feet checked out. The drug you asked about was not suggested to me and I dont know anything about it. But hopefully people posting about there experiences gives you some other options if you decide not to go down that route.

The thing I have learnt with both tendon and ligament damage is that we all have slightly different opinions and management programs to get our horse back into work.

The main ones seem rest, then controlled exercise, sort the foot balance out, look at making sure they are having the right nutrients and then hope for the best knowing you have done everything you can.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
 
Thanks for all your advise.

He was on Cartrophen for 4 weeks back in April and looked better whilst on it but when he came off it he went back to his original lameness but i will ask my vet about it again.

My horse lands on the outside of his foot but he has really bad confirmation on that foot and can't current get him to stop landing on the outside. Remedial farrier said that wasn't the biggest problem and has put him in wedges - however both vets agree that its the sideways concussion which is causing the arthritis and lig damage.

The differing opinion between my vets is a worry but to be honest i am going with my gut feel and not turning him out in a paddock which was advised by one. Maybe he thought he would be sound by now and thats why but he isn't so i'm keeping him in and walking him up the road in hand... not sure how much longer i will be able to do this for though! ;-)

I'll finish the IRAP treatment and if he shows any improvement I will take him back for a repeat MRI scan to see how the ligament is healing.
 
Hi, my horse has arthiritis in his coffin joint and hes had IRAP treatment, we tried before the IRAP steroid injections but they didnt work, box rest and he jumped out his stable etc.. Hes now sound all due to the IRAP.. Hes back in work, got egg bars on and enjoying life again.. Good luck with your guy.. I rate IRAP, the vets in the vet school didnt rate the IRAP and i had to push to get him the treatment, so glad i did now.. He got 3 injections of it..
 
Help,

My horse has collateral ligament damage. Vet put him in a cast for 3 weeks, didn't help, he's still lame. Any and all advice and experiences would be much appreciated
 
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