Kissing spine post op. does physio really help?

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katy1986

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Just wondering your thoughts on the matter my horse has been for kissing spine surgery this week, hes still not home yet! hopefully hes coming home on saturday :)

I know their seems to be many of you guys who have had horse's with this condition on here. I was just wondering did your horses have physio? or did you use any of the massage pads on the market as part of your rehab?

My vet doesnt seem to think that massage is nessesary as he thinks that the muscles in my horse back will relax and recover by the pain in his back going away since the op. Im not doubting him but from the millions of posts iv read on here about the rehab many of you have used physio's. He said it wouldnt do him any harm but i was just wondering if any of you found it beneficial or am i just going to be pouring money down the drain???
 
We just followed the programme the vet gave us. Never considered using a physio after the op.One thing to spend your money on would be a pessoa if you haven't got one.This really helped build up his muscles over his back.
It's up to you really, you know your horse and if you think he would benefit (and the vet doesn't object) from a bit of treatment go for it.
 
Digger123 said:
We just followed the programme the vet gave us. Never considered using a physio after the op.One thing to spend your money on would be a pessoa if you haven't got one.This really helped build up his muscles over his back.
It's up to you really, you know your horse and if you think he would benefit (and the vet doesn't object) from a bit of treatment go for it.
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I do have a pessoa but my horse never responded to it well. he either wouldnt go forward or would have a bucking session. Obviously now i know why he went so badly in it. I havent recieved my programme yet i get that when i pick him up.

Did you see a big difference in your horse after having the surgery?
 
Hell yes !!
I had only had him 6 months before he was diagnosed with ks.When I first got him he was lovely and quiet. We hacked ,hunted and did a bit of schooling.As we progressed he started getting a bit nappy, reluctant to go forward and jumping, bless him, he threw himself over jumps.I got one of my friends to jump him and I could see what she meant. Anyway I am rambling.
After the op and all the lunging, I got on him expecting the fireworks. He was as good as gold.To be honest I did have to sell him on. As he was no longer in any pain, the nice quiet horse I had bought was quickly becoming to strong for me. Don't get me wrong he was still a nice horse but to much for me to cope with.
Work wise he was back to jumping 3'6 and coping with work really well.
If your horse worked well before chances are you will get that back.
 
Hi

I didnt get physio until about 6 months after surgery...one insisted she came like 3 times a week which totally took the micky so i ignored her and went back to my usual physio (my horse had been away for the rehab) and she came 3 times over about a 2 month period thats it....I also must say iv had much better results at building topline through a halter and rope (altho i used my pessao for the rehab...if i were to do it again i wouldnt)

2 years on my mare is perfect :)
 
Different horses require different treatments.
From what I've seen knowing a physio and assisting when I've been needed, it has worked wonders for horses with KS, using a water treadmill allows them to use their muscles without the stress, then they have been worked in a Pessoa (lightly) and it's all gone from there, :)
 
Well I am 4yrs on from surgery and still not regretting a second of it.

From my own experience, your horse will be carrying itself differently because it now can and will get a bit sore and stiff from time to time as it builds muscles where they have been lost or that were never there in the first place because they couldn't move their legs & back properly. On that basis getting a check up/a sports massage or physio check every now and again as you start to work them would be beneficial.

If you consider that pre-op they were experiencing pain which cause poor porformance or in my own case, huge behavioural difficulties, then preventing soreness caused by the re-introduction of work even if minor could save you and your horse from a bad experience, something I was very keen to avoid. I just had my back lady check my ned every 2 months and it gave me a good guide to how he was coping and where he was struggling. I am sure many might disagree with me, but my re-hab although tough was such a journey of learning, we completely re-backed my horse and he is doing brilliantly.

Good luck to you - i hope all goes smoothly from here.
 
God absolutely YES to having physio!!

Get your vet to agree to it then you can have it on the insurance.

Ultrasound and laser therapy in the preceding 6 weeks following surgery, followed by regular H wave therapy once you start working them in the Pessoa.

My surgeon also said 'no need for physio but it wont do any harm if you want to use it', but I do think its absolutely essential ( physio's words, not mine) She is a very very busy lady, and does not waste time and energy on horses that dont need it so I do think she was right- surely that would make sense as itts a major operation- the first 3 months after surgery are so crucial to get the back to quickly return to optimum function, anything you can do to help things along to make the back stronger is of benefit. I'm sure it helped mine because by one year post surgery he was super, very muscled up & winning at Elementary dressage.
 
Hummm this is all very intresting. I brought him home yesterday and he seemed a little nervous on edge but soon settled.

Im really not sure if im imagining this but he seems happier and seems to be moving better than what he was already and that just in his stable. His back end has always been poor but it seems a better shape. Its mabey in my head i dont know surely you wouldnt see a difference that fast would you?
 
Well I saw my horse, 3 hours after surgery and he was already looking more comfortable - probably the pain relief he was on! but I have to say from day 1 you could tell that niggling pain had gone, he just look a bit more relaxed in the eye and was standing differently.

Wishing you the very best of luck - hope your ned goes from strength to strength, it's a brave thing to make the choice to put them through the op and it isn't the right thing for every horse, but in my case I have no regrets and am delighted to have a happy comfortable horse that is still moving forward and doing well.
 
I'm really struggling to get hold of a physio, even thought the ACPAT website. My TB had the op in July and is doing well, although is now refusing (very politely) to lunge!

Has anyone any ideas how to build topline and those important back muscles from the ground?
 
Yes feel free to pm me if you want some ideas, i found long reining was the way forward for me as less confrontational and my rather difficult horse took to it immediately. I can give you some info on my rehab programme which included introducing some ground poles etc too. Don't know any physio's your way but can ask my physio if she knows any similar practitioners in your neck of the woods if you want me too.
 
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