Lower hind limb lameness

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NooNoo59

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Any ideas - nothing on xray, no swelling, lumps, heat. Horse is reluctant to put all weight on this leg which is more noticeable when a foreleg is lifted and he has to put weight on the hind, any thoughts/ideas?
 
Hi

Im no help im afraid, but Im going through the same thing with my boy at the moment, xrays are clear, not swelling etc..

He has just come back from vets, where they have nerve blocked, and pin pointed to the coffin joint, so next step is going to have to be an MRI

Have you had any nerve blocks done?

Fingers crossed you find the problem
x
 
Yes but not in the joints, having that done next week so will keep you posted, it is in the lower half of the leg as that was nerve blocked out yesterday, when have you got your MRI, is this the only way they can pick up joint damage?
 
Our boy was the same and our vet did an ultrasound and the annular ligament has thickened and is pressing on a tendon. Hardly anything to be seen or felt from the exterior but the ultrasound was very clear.
 
Im not 100% sure, but i know with my experience, the xrays were all clear, from the pastern down, ie navicular bone etc, so i think they never blocked the coffin joint and he became sound, so I have been told MRI would be the next step, as it could be something going on with the joint itself, or tendons, ligamentd etc that attach to the coffin joint..

Apparently its the next step to go to find out anymore information

Ive not yet booked my MRI, as still awaiting from insurance to find out if they are going to pay for it

keep me updated on your progress it would be interesting to hear how you are getting on

xx
 
Update - went to the vet again today, definitely in the hind leg from the fetlock downwards, next step MRI, vet thinks could damage to the ddft and prognosis is guarded depending on how much damage is done, anyone else got any further with anything?
 
Mine had a ddft tear in front foot diagnosed by MRI back in march,have taken shoes off,is walking out and is now sound so I am cautiously optimistic.I was also given a very guarded prognosis.good luck,I'll keep my fingers crossed.
 
Hi NooNoo59, sorry, I wasn't ignoring you, just couldn't get on the computer much! Our vet said the only thing which could be done for our pony is an operation to cut the ligament. As our pony was not too bad, our vet said he would rather wait a while - he said best to operate in winter if possible, when it's cooler to box rest a horse (usually!) and there aren't any flies around. However, at lunchtime, I saw our pony having a little canter and a swivel and a buck - and then he couldn't put his bad leg to the ground - so we might not be able to wait that long. He was walking around again after a few minutes, but I will have to report back to our vet and see what he says. How is your horse today? It is such a worry, isn't it?
 
Mine was just before inserts on pedal bone,50 percent of the width of the tendon but not very long.we did 4 weeks of box rest,was advised a minimum of 12 with in hand walking,horsie was a bit mental with the walking as was used to living out so after the four I turned him out in a pen which he was happier in.I wasn't prepared to stick him in a box for a long period of time if I had such a guarded prognosis of him coming right again anyway.
My vet was quite supportive of my decision and touch wood,so far so good.
Forgot to mention he also has a spavin so box rest definatly wasn't going to help that.was kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place but I think I made the right decision.good luck with yours.
 
Thanks guys, i have to wait for the MRI now then at least I will know what i am dealing with. I have this sinking feeling in my stomach that the prognosis will be guarded which is what i dont want to hear as i keep my boy on livery and he would be an expensive field ornament but I am jumping ahead i need to wait and see, he is comfortable at the moment and enjoying being on the sick list!!
 
Mines on livery too,I think I cried for about 3 days after he was diagnosed but am starting to feel more positive now,I had lots of good advice on here.let us know the results and I have everything crossed for you.
 
MRI booked for a week on wednesday, feeling sick and worried, horse has done no work for about five weeks now and is still resting that leg a lot which does not bode well - cant even think about what they might say, anyone else got any more news?
 
Hi, hope the news next Wednesday is not as bad as you fear it might be. Regarding my boy, I thought this morning that he was resting his leg even more than usual, then my friend told me that she saw an RAF transport helicopter (the sort with two lots of rotor blades) flying really low over the field and her horse and mine galloping round in a panic yesterday afternoon. Thanks a bunch, helicopter! I haven't been able to update my vet because he is on holiday this week. So things aren't great. My horse is at livery as well. I would never part with him, rideable or not, but I hate to see him in discomfort. We will have to go for the operation but we were hoping it would not be till winter. ALO, glad your horse is doing well. Good luck to all!
 
UPdate - MRI done on Wednesday pony was an absolute star! Spoke to vet today and it is a tear in the ddft in the foot, looks recent as is still inflamed but he has done hardly anything for three months! On first inspection of report he has given me a 50% recovery to full capacity. Am seeing the vet on Monday to look at the pictures and he will then have chance to speak to surgeons etc to give a better idea of how we treat and the prognosis. In any event he wont be ridden again this year, so its bad but could be worse.
Anyone else got any news?
 
We had a racehorse in last year hopping lame - diagnosed with MRI as having a solar traumatic injury serious damage to ddft it was completely detached from the bone, pedal bone was also damaged and associated soft tissues. After a lot of rehab - minimal pain relief, serious support bandaging, 6 months of box rest, in hand walking for several months, build up on the walker and 16 months after the injury he went back into training and won his first race! The vets said he would probably never come sound only ever be a hack at best etc.!
Keep positive and take it gently as it will take a long time if the ddft is damaged in the foot
 
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