Lameness and Si

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Katelouise

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Hi all

My 7 old Irish cob is lame on left hand but looks more like an widening outward movement rather than tracking forward which makes me suspect his SI.

Vet been twice, bute and rest and physio seen him. Nothing hock downwards, no muscle soreness or back pain, she agrees it seems up high and he is unhappy with the flexion and not crossing over when turned on a circle on right rein.

Vet suggested I get back on a do light work but i won't want to add unnecessary weight when I don't know what's going on and he was reluctant to move forward when last under saddle. Saddle checked 8 weeks ago and no issue or soreness

Full lameness workup booked for this week and going to ask for scans so I can find out exactly what's going on

Has EMS and levels under control, not footy or signs of laminitis. Just reluctant to move forward, swinging left hind and watching him on his stable camera he isn't lying down which he normally does.

Does anyone have any similar?
What was the outcome/treatment? Im reluctant to give steroid injections due to EMS and risks with lami.

Tricky as I need to work him to keep his EMS under control but I want to know what's going on before I even consider getting back on and his health will always come before the ride.

Thank you x
 
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I initially thought the same but he's got no issues with backing up and no reaction there but will get the vet to include in their check, thanks so much for your reply x
 
I had one with an SI injury. He wasn't moving correctly with the hind legs but it was bilateral not just one leg. He was also sensitive over the SI. Mine wasn't a big laminitis risk and I had the SI injected with steroids, with a lot of in hand rehab he recovered. I'd seen mine fall so it was clear what was going on but it's hard to diagnose SI injuries and yours sounds as though it could be something else.
 
this could easily describe my old horse. He had stifle arthritis. Had weird movement behind and didn't quite track up. He had also damaged a ligament within the stifle so I'd start with a scan and xrays of the stifles.
 
spike123 said:
this could easily describe my old horse. He had stifle arthritis. Had weird movement behind and didn't quite track up. He had also damaged a ligament within the stifle so I'd start with a scan and xrays of the stifles.
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Thank you, im going to ask them to scan. Appreciate your reply x
 
Same as spike123, we have stifle problems that present very similar to your boy. No issues backing up, no stifle lock etc but swing of the left hind, reluctant to cross under, flexions made her look like she had 3 legs. It does result in her overusing the glute and lumbar muscles to compensate so it does show in the SI area as a hip hitch, but none of my team suspect SI or back is the primary issue. We didn't scan as vet was already pretty sure it was stifle and she thought unlikely to see much.

We opted for Cartrophen instead of steroids (too fat for steroids!!) and have seen a big improvement in combination with physio rehab focusing on correct movement over the back and building the quads and adductor/ adbuctor muscles.
 
Last canter was at a dressage comp with my daughter and looked fine, after that it was mostly hacking and the ground has been too hard to canter, I rode in the school again and he felt reluctant to go forward other than in walk, vet called and hes been off work since as didnt get any better with rest and bute x
 
So pleased we have an answer and a plan. Shock wave therapy, turn out in small fenced off pen in the field with sedalin to prevent hoolies, he can be walked for 20/30 mins a day in straight lines then reassess in 4 weeks. Potentially hot/cold with ice boots but discussing with vet later. Change in diet to reduce calories when not in work so he doesnt balloon and cause issues with EMS.
 
similar to a mare where i am. She has damage to both hind suspensories and possibly her ddft in front as well. One of mine had the vet today as well to see what was going on as she looked really uncomfortable behind. It's seemingly due to pain in front. She injured her check ligament a month ago and has since ran through electric fencing and made herself worse
 
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