Lameness Work Up - What happens?

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Rio had the vet out today, flexion tested, turned circles on a hard surface and lunged. He is lame on both front and hind right legs with swelling to the right stifle. He is going in for Nerve Blocks and X-Rays to the area next week hopefully.
What actually happens when they do this? I've always been lucky enough for our other lamenesses to never go further than a week of bute and rest.
Thanks :)
 
Hello,
Unless they know otherwise they usually start at the feet and work up (in my experience). So they will nerve block then trot up if still lame they will work up the leg until they find an area that if they block it stops the lameness.Then they will investigate this area by a variety of x-rays/scans.
 
we had all the normal trot ups - one of mine was lucky in a sense as he came 100% sound once they did the top block to take out the foot but my mare had both hinds and a foreleg blocked (she was very broken) and the hinds showed a 5-% improvement but she didn't come fully sound throught the nerve blocks - she was then scanned,x rayed and eventually bone scanned \9this was on a different day as she had to be left there and the radioactive stuff ordered)
 
Thank You :) So once they scan and everything they can then tell me what it is and how to fix it? I don't have y own transport so am having to arrange this as well making it even more difficult not knowing if he will be staying there or going home the same day. I hate messing people around :(
 
Ask the vets about how long they think they will need him for. Our vets like them in very early in the morning or the night before and I prefer to collect them the following day so they don't have the added stress of travelling after being messed about with during the day.
 
I would 'budget' for a very long day - Nerve blocks need time to kick in - and each injection slowly moving up each leg in turn will take some time...

I hate to say it - but I think it needs saying now - X-rays and nerve blocks dont always have the answer - and the problem might not be a 'fixable' one either. Just something to keep in the very back of your mind!

Wishing you both the very best x
 
Happy Hunter said:
I would 'budget' for a very long day - Nerve blocks need time to kick in - and each injection slowly moving up each leg in turn will take some time...

I hate to say it - but I think it needs saying now - X-rays and nerve blocks dont always have the answer - and the problem might not be a 'fixable' one either. Just something to keep in the very back of your mind!

Wishing you both the very best x
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Thanks HH, I am definitely aware of this, my family seems to attract health problems so I'm not going there with any hopes etc. If they find something, great. If not, I'm at no loss. Rio is my pet essentially. He's 7 so still a baby, we compete rarely due to transport and at unaffiliated at that. He was meant to be going home from uni for a month off out in the field whilst I stayed and sat my exams so if he needs resting and rescanning or something like that then so be it. This might our 3rd year of no work all summer due to injury so we are pro's at it by now ;)
 
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