Kissing Spines

ponieslovered

ponieslovered

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 January 2010
Messages
61
Location
Berkshire
Visit site
I think im losing the plot !!!
My horse has been diagnosed with kissing spines (last week), it looks like 1 has fused or is fusing a the moment, and there are 3 or 4 other vertibrae that are really badly damaged.

I have been reading through loads of posts and information on the subject, and so many people are saying that their horses and ponies have been diagnosed with bad KS, and they have been advised to lunge using a pessoa 5-6 days a week for 10 - 20 mins. People have stated that the horses are much better after this.

What i dont understand is How the horses are better !!! Pessoa training wont suddenly make the KS better, I know that if the horse works long and low it is easier and less painfull for the horse, and obviously if the horse rides with its head in the air with a hollow back the pain is worse, that makes sense.

I really want to try and work through this with my horse, but really want to understand how a horse with KS (bad case of KS) can go on to perform at a high level and be successful, when it has just be using a pessoa and no other treatment.

Please can anyone give me info or stories on this, it will help me put together a work program for my horse :-)

thank you
 
I maybe wrong but I think it is to do with building up the muscle correctly therefore giving the horse more support and stabablity though its back and by using the abnominal muscles more effectifly it takes the starin away from the back. I know that I suffer with back troubles and that by improving my core muscles it really did improve my back whilst the problem is still there by using other muscles it reduces the strain.
And this is effectivly what happens when you lunge in a pessoa you build up the core muslces but also by working long and low the space between the vertibrae is increased so it will help in reducing the inflamation of them touching. I dont know much of this ccondition but think im right is saying may horses have some kind of joint injection to help with inflamation too.
 
So what symptoms did your horse present with ponieslovered? My horse had the diagnosis of KS too last week . 7 out of 10 impinging vertebrae. The vets want to operate to remove 4 vertebrae but I am not happy to put my mare through such an op. She has had the injections of Tildren and Cortisole but have to say that not much difference noticed so far.

I am going back to discuss xray results with vet tomorrow as didn't really take too much notice of them first time. I am actually going to seek a second opinion to see if extensive physio and lunge work in the Pessoa can help her effectively.
 
Hi TICTAC, im abit like you, didnt really take it all in. My horse actually is an angel !!!.

He never bucks or rears and has never bolted with me. He had a slight swelling of fluid in the saddle region, which puzzled me and when running my hand down his spine over the buttocks, he just dropped his backend to the floor. The worst he has done whilst riding is Spook (just jump and land on all 4's) never taken off with me. He is a little stiff on the left rein when lunging or riding in circles.

So anyway called the vet to look at the swelling and pain in the spine and they thought sacro iliac desease, put him on 3 weeks box rest, after a week the swelling had not gone down so did xrays.

From what i can remember 3 are touching and 1 is crossed possibly fused.

I mentioned surgery and the vet didnt seem to encourage that he said go for cortisone injections.

I am so puzzled because i have spent the last 3 days reading loads of peoples stories, and some say rest the horse then bring it back into work and it will improve, some say cortisone injections and the horse is great.
Im confused because, if the vertabrae are touching surely the horse must be in pain !! (a lot of pain) so why did mine not go barmy and unseat me !!! he did a dressage test 3 weeks ago and got 68% he was great.
How can people say that rest them for 3- 6 months then bring them back and they will be ok ?. This is why i am puzzled, surely if the vert's are touching the horse will always be in pain when ridden.
Im going round in circles, i dont know what to do, but i am looking around for a painkiller that i can give him daily something like No-Bute, or something similar, i cant bear the thought of him being in pain.
Also my insurance policy states it wont cover a condition existant before i took out the insurance. my vet thinks he has had this problem for well over 2 years, and i have only had him for 8 months :-(
any guidence is appreciated
 
My horse was diagnosed with kissing spines years ago, after having been x-rayed at a local vets. Luckily I had another vet who suggested being referred to a vet hospital where they had very strong x-ray machines - turned out my horse didn't have kissing spines after all (although vertebrae were close together).

Instead my mare had hurt some ligaments/muscles on her back - after weeks of physio, magnetic rug and a special exercise regime for her, she recovered - took a while though, as she had to 'undo' thinking of pain when being ridden.

I'd advise - if you've not already - get a 2nd vet opinion and if not done so, get referred to a vet referral centre - sometimes they have better x-ray machines than ordinary vet practices. At least then you can be 100% sure what exactly the problem is, and take the best course of action.
 
Injections are a short term problem (some people are lucky and can use them for years) but injections did not work for my mare so I opted for surgery. I pushed my vets to refer me to Willesley and she went up to see Svend and he said she was a candidate for surgery.

where abouts in the country are you? I had to act fast (and not waste anymore time) as insurance only covers up to a year!!!
 
meant short term solution!

Also wanted to add my horse was never dangerous, things rapidly got worse, firstly her canter, could collect at all then couldnt even to circles. then her walk was staggered with a rider on....then her trot not tracking up on the hind legs (always had a big over track) flexion test by vet was fine too (please not horsey was min of 16/17 at this time) but xrays confirmed it, then the surgery xrays confirmed it again...when he opened her up it was worse than what the xrays showed!

I know someone else who after being referred to the surgeon wasnt so lucky and it wasnt possible to operate. very sad.

Hope you get on ok :)

x
 
a quick post as im dashing. pessoa will strendthen muscles around inc abdominal muscles. by strengthening the overall musculature then there will be less strain on latissimus dorsi.

physiotherapy will also help alot
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top