Kissing spine injections?

[CAM1508]

About 6 weeks ago my horse was diagnosed with kissing spine after bucking me off (very out of character for him) and being sensitive on his back when being groomed and girthiness. He had x-rays which confirmed that his t8, t9, t17 and t18 were very close and causing him some discomfort. This was medicated with triamcinolone acetate and we have now spent the past weeks lunging and longlining him to build his muscle up to support his back, plus getting him sound as he has been intermittently lame in both hindlegs. In the next week or two we're planning to get someone on him as the vet wants soneone on him before the injections wear off.
How well do the injections actually work and for how long? Its just that I dont want to be back on riding him and for the injections to wear off and to come off him again
Also, what happens when the injections stop working? (Ive heard that after using them for a while they start to not work as well and become less effective)
Its just that I really dont want to put him through the op if I dont have to as his KS is only mild
Thank you! * xxx

 

[cptrayes]

In my horse five were done. I was told to rest him two days, and did. The result was spectacular - for three weeks.


You need to be sure that your horse's problems are not also to do with ulcers (curable) or sacroiliac or proximal suspensory desmitis (iffy prognosis) , all of which are very often associated with kissing spines.

Mine has now had the new ligament resection operation and I am due to ride him soon. I have a thread showing his progress if you want to look at it in the vet section.

 

[frannieuk]

The grey mare in my signature had it done a little over a year ago - she'd started to be reluctant jumping and just went off the boil a little so I had her x-rayed and scoped and the x-rays showed up that she was a little close over 3 vertebrae. There was no actual impingement and no sign of changes but she was definitely sore, so we injected and then she did 6-8 weeks of rehab work. Although her saddle appeared a good fit, on the vet's advice, I got it changed for one with a wider gullet (not headplate) to give more room across her spine. Since then (touching wood furiously) I've been very careful to keep her well muscled with topline and working correctly, and she's just about to move up to Newcomers. With hindsight, her loss of performance occurred just after a minor blip in a jump off where she crashed through the back rail of an oxer, and whilst she didnt come down it was a near thing - I wonder if she jarred herself up badly and aggravated the vertebrae, but I guess I'll never know. I will always, always keep her muscled up though. Hope this gives you some hope, however, I might be a bit wary with yours as he has hind limb lameness too. Good luck in whatever you decide x