Lumbar / Sacroiliac Problems

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cob1

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Posted yesterday about the cobster cow kicking when asking for canter. Physio couldnt come out as on hol so decided on vet. (Nb. he was schooling beautifully - bending correctly and doing walk - trot transitions beautifully only on sunday - apart from trying to ping me out teh front door when asking him to canter!).

She came out and his pain has recurred in his lumbar / sacrioliac area (muscle very sore and she touched it and he started broncing around the stable). He was treated by phsyio for same thing a fortnight ago.

She trotted him up on hard / soft ground and lunged - sound in all paces. However he did come up slightly lame for a couple of steps after flexion of Left hind (the pain was worse on left side anyway).

As it is a recurrence he is booked in for scans and xrays after 2 weeks bute and lunging.

The vet hasnt a clue what it is - musclar or bone problem. To think i was going to sell, and there is something wrong - at least his behaviour can be explained!

Has anyone got experience of something similar / what to expect?

My TB had subluxation of his sacrioliac and he was in a right state, im a bit scared its going to be serious .
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I had a horse with sacroiliac problems. I had a lungeing programme that lasted for quite some months - can't remember how many as it was a long time ago - with the final month doing lungeing over trot poles. On then when the muscle around the sacroiliac had strengthened and provided stability was I allowed to ride and that started slowly with walk and building up in the normal way. It probably took about 9 months in total before I was riding him normally.
 
Mine had this and it was caused by compensating for hock spavins. He was stiff in his hocks so he held himself tightly across his back and eventually the muscles went in to spasm.

Ask your vet to do a full lameness work up (x-rays, scans if x-rays are clear). Mine had his hocks medicated then a couple of osteopath sessions to release the sore/tense muscles.
 
Hi - my horse has sacroiliac problems (aged 10 - now 14) but it can be managed but unfortunately once a weakness is there it usually needs ongoing management.
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Mine had scans done nearly 4 years ago and then had steroid injections into the SI and also he has spinal processes that are close together but not actually kissing. He also had shock wave therapy on the spine.

I had his feet xrayed as I read that commonly horses with SI problems have a negative solar plane in the hind feet which is said to cause strain on the SI area and he did so now he has wedges behind. My friends cob has also just been diagnosed with SI strain and also has negative solar plane. Wedges need to be put on the hind feet to change the angle of the pedal bone. My friends cob will be injected with steroid and Tildren.

My horse took 6 - 9 months to be back in full work starting with walking in straight lines then going up the paces and also lunging in a pessoa. Also pole work to get him to lift his hind legs up. He has gone on to do unaffiliated elementary successfully
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and he hacks and jumps at a low level (coz Im a coward)
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. He did have treatment again this year and he has regular physio and needs to be kept in regular work so no long holidays unless through injury.

Good luck!
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Hes been having physio every 6 weeks for a year anyway, so hopefully at least im going to get a definitive answer.

My TB (who was PTS in Sept had KS, N and sacroiliac subluxation - unlevel pelvis) so i know the worst that could happen. So much for buying a younger horse eh?

Looks like we are in it for the long haul.

I did got to a talk on lameness in the winter which was given by a top consultant vet who is pioneering work into these areas, so hoping it will be treatable or at least managable.
 
The worst thing you can do is ask on here though, or google, as you can convince yourself of all sorts of terrible things!! When mine went lame I avoided asking for advice or searching on the internet until I had a diagnosis and treatment plan from the vet. You can go grey with the worry of what it *might* be other wise
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I am having the exact same problem with my horse atm, and I was going to put him up for sale too. He is on two weeks bute, the vet thinks his pelvis is unlevel, I am no vet but the back guy I use would have picked up on this, out of the two I trust my back guy more. Unsure as to what to do, the vet wants to do bone scans, xrays etc.
 
Cob1, what did you find your horse's problem was? Mine is suffering exactly the same so am getting the hind feet xrayed for negative plane of pedal bone, but spavin and kissing spines eliminated so far. When you say your horse was sound on lunge but objected to canter transition when ridden it's exactly the same story with mine! Hoping yours worked out well in the end?? cheers
 
Have you thought about EPSM related symptoms? weakness behind, lumbar region pain, muscle spasms which in turn can lead to out of kilter sacroiliac can all come from this; if he is on grain based diet, try the fibre only and high fat diet.
 
Little Cob came back from seeing Sue Dyson at the Animal Health Trust.

Diagnosed with sacroilliac joint issue and something neurological (she couldn't find what 'it' was, just that there was something not right).

He canters like a constipated cow, and often bucked going into canter, though seemed happy to stay in it.

He's been turned away for nearly eighteen months now.

The only think that has worked for him, so far, is Bowen Therapy. After one session he was moving so much better, with the hindlegs much more where they should be.

He didn't have Tildren, etc., as Sue didn't think it was right for him. She thinks it was a long standing problem (he'd track his bum ever so slightly to the right, which I thought was him being young and D1 being not so experienced back then). For a long time he was working well and enjoyed jumping.

He lives out 24/7. He's a tad overweight, but can't be lunged - tried it and he was lame within the day. The neurological issue might be affecting his memory; we're working at re-introducing a bit, etc., almost re-backing him in an attempt to get him working again in some form, at least to get and keep the weight off.

Sorry! That went on a bit :rolleyes:. I would try the Bowen Therapy. It's not my usual area, but it worked for LC.
 
I am almost bored with writing replies about SI problems, due ty own horse's problem but really do agree with Mrs Mozart. Bowen is great and also a good osteopath. I sent my WB who was written off by AHt - Sue Dyson to Donna Blinman for 2 weeks rehab and she manipulated his sacrum and his pelvis is now level. She also gives nutrutional advice and acupuncture. She is veterinary qualified and very reasonable - she gets to the source of the problem - im my horse's case it was likely a field accident caused the SI problems, however often there is an underlying cause like a hock or stifle problem which until sorted the SI problem will not be improved longterm.

http://www.donnablinman.co.uk/

Good Luck!
 
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