Kissing spines and steriods - does it work and how long does it last?

[A Musing]

Hello, me again with my KS troubles!

I've done a bit of reading around and googling, and am not feeling that positive about steriod treatment for KS. Seems like most people try a course or 3, but it doesn't last long (like weeks, maybe months or up to a year), then try tildren/shockwave type stuff, then when that doesn't work they end up having some form of surgery as being the only longer term fix.

Sounds a bit depressing to someone who's just doing the rehab from steriods

So can you let me know if you/you know of people who have had longer term success with steriods, or if not, what permanent/long term fixes are there?

Not sure why vets seem so set on steriods if the experience isn't great, or maybe it's just that we only hear of the failures yet there are still lots out there where steriods has worked ??

 

[lizness]

Worked at a vets for a bit and saw some successes. Think the key is to use them with correct rehab to develop muscle to support the back once the steroid has worn off

 

[maxine1985]

Not what you want to hear but didn't work for my mare, or 2 others I know either :-(

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

The other thing to bear in mind is the risk of steroid induced lami...I would personally not want to use them for that reason.

 

[HelenPassfield]

The treatment worked very well for one of my boys. Overnight he became a completely different horse, the moment I got his tack out after the treatment the change was unbelievable. Before as soon as he saw the saddle he would stress out but from that day paid no attention whatsoever getting tacked up. We went from not being able to walk 2 steps when ridden without rearing straight up, and all kinds of other bad behaviour to handle and on the yard to a well behaved, honest horse. This was a year ago, and last season I did a lot of lessons, clinics and xc schooling and now hoping to get back to eventing him.

 

[HelenPassfield]

Should also mention that I was aware of the possibility of lami but the horse was so unhappy I was willing to risk it. We had got to the point I was considering PTS because he was so unhappy and becoming dangerous to handle so I figured there was not much to lose.

 

[A Musing]

Oh well, a teeny ray of hope then. I've heard so many negative stories so far, not quite sure why its the first port of call, although realise surgery is drastic and not always guaranteed. I hope we can be one of the success stories but haven't had much luck so far so am feeling a bit sceptical and wondering if after all this effort we will end up starting all over again. Can only wait n see I suppose.

 

[Goldenstar]

I did steriods and Tildren on an old boy with mild KS he hunted lightly for a season with the right sort of work to support his muscles he had regular physio and equissage.
He managed very well unfortunatly he picked up another problem that was more problematic and retired .

 

[serenityjane]

Steroids are often sufficient to control the pain from mild kissing spines and to allow the horse to work correctly and pain free-so by the time the steroids wear off, the horse is moving properly and is no longer experiencing pain. Steroids were also used by our vet at as diagnostic tool for more severe KS-not all horses with xrays of close spinal processes are actually experiencing pain from them, or the problems in the spine could be caused by something else and are only a symptom, so an operation would be pointless in this case. Our horse was given steroids and if there was no improvement then we were told that surgery would probably not be an option.