MRI scans

[noname]

I'm currently debating whether or not to have an MRI done on both front feet. Please could people let me know if they had a diagnosis and if they don't mind telling me how much they paid? My insurance only covers 50%. I'm just worried that I'll send the horse for an MRI and it does not come back with a diagnosis. Nerve blocks and X-rays have been done already.

Thanks.

 

[ycbm]

I'm currently debating whether or not to have an MRI done on both front feet. Please could people let me know if they had a diagnosis and if they don't mind telling me how much they paid? My insurance only covers 50%. I'm just worried that I'll send the horse for an MRI and it does not come back with a diagnosis. Nerve blocks and X-rays have been done already.

Thanks.

First ask your vet how the treatment will differ if you get an mri done.

For me, any horse which nerve blocks lame to the feet where an x ray shows no explanation as to why would go straight to a barefoot rehab no matter what the mri showed, and so it would be pointless to pay for it.

also, if your vet can't convince you that the prognosis for recovery is better if you have an mri, there would be no point.

Current cost at my nearest one is over 1200 pounds, I think.

 

[noname]

Thanks. Have actually done the barefoot route before the vet. The X-rays show sidebone due to foot inbalance but all very minor so think there must be something else going on!

 

[Tangaroo]

Years ago my boy had MRI on front feet and it showed he had degenerative deep flexor tendons. He had previously had xrays and nerve blocks and injections into coffin joint to no avail. The specialist told me he would never be sound, not even on bute and either retire him or PTS! He was 6yrs old! My own vet who was a real old school type thought about it and said to give him 6 weeks on heartbar shoes and something called Navilox alongside bute. If that didnt work we were going to PTS.
He slowly got better and better and was put down this year at the age of 18 having been eventing and RC activities for the last 10yrs.
We definitely wouldnt have known what was wrong without MRI but im also so glad i didnt listen to the specialist.

 

[noname]

Yes mine is only 7. It's so frustrating! I'm tempted to play around with the shoeing again.

 

[SNORKEY]

Hi, my horse recently had scans of his hips and both rear legs and it was £1800 inc vat. The work up before was £300 as well, which was just me riding for 5 mins and a couple of trot ups!

 

[noname]

Thanks Snorkey, did they find what was wrong with your horse?

 

[sianny87]

My vet diagnosed a front lameness, but x-rays didn't show anything of any significance. Can I ask where they are nerve blocking? Is it just one leg/both legs?

Mine was nerve blocked and she went sound no that foot, but lame on the opposite fore. I was told about £1200 for MRI and advice from a few was to go to Newmarket because they tend to be better at reading the MRI's. The use of MRI's is still in early stages for horses. I didn't take mine for MRI, instead got a second opinion because I was convinced something else was going on. It was in fact stifles and back causing her lameness.

 

[ester]

Thanks. Have actually done the barefoot route before the vet. The X-rays show sidebone due to foot inbalance but all very minor so think there must be something else going on!

what do the nerve blocks show?
how were/are the feet bare? They can still end up with the same balance issues as a shod horse under run heels etc. How long are we talking for lameness?

 

[SNORKEY]

Unfortunately my boy was diagnosed with bone spavin, bad arthritis in both hocks. I'm not that happy as an X-ray would of showed the same and if they would of done that first I would of had a lot more money towards his £3k operation I've now got to find the money for as the insurance money has nearly all gone

 

[AnitaStreet]

I recently had MRIs on both front hooves up to the fetlock, it just a few pounds under £1k at Liphook. It didn't make any difference to the course of action, I suppose it made me feel a bit better as it showed less than feared (although horse still lame 4 months later). NFU paid the whole cost, not sure I'd spend my own money on it. Not sure that helps your dilemma much but good luck anyway...

 

[L11GHH]

My mare was intermittently lame for 4 months RF only, had two lots of X-rays & nerve blocks, vet kept insisting it was laminitis... Told me to give bute & keep riding... Thank god I did nothing of the sort & demanded a referral for MRI. Cost £1200 +VAT covered by insurance thankfully but I didn't know at the time if they would cover, I would have paid it anyway as I couldn't bear the upset & frustration any longer. Was worth every penny! Results showed a strain of the medial collateral ligament of the coffin joint. She has as 50/50 chance of making a full recovery, she's had remedial shoe fitted, on box & small pen rest for 6 months & PRP injection in to the joint and ligament. Without the MRI we'd still be scratching our heads now!

 

[pairciban]

L11GHH my boy has done nearly the same as yours! He has strained his lateral collateral ligament on his left fore. He had his MRI on the 1st July at the Newmarket Equine Hospital it cost £1380 I think in total, for both fronts, he is not insured for vets but has his own bank account. He was being treated for a nasty kick on his other leg when he went lame, he has never been hopping but just not right. He had xrays and nerve blocks, he blocked out 80% sound on the foot and 100% sound to the fetlock. We chose NEH over closer places and we did find out what he had done which is more than worth the money. He has not had shoes on for a few years now so I didn't want to put him in heartbars, I have found a fantastic remedial farrier who agrees with me and is trimming him every 3/4 weeks. Fig is on box/tiny paddock rest for 6 to 9 months, my vet said the out of all the things he could have done this has the best chance of a full recovery. He is 10 and we were competing at elementary dressage and just starting to jump 1m classes but he loves hacking out and being noisy so if he can come back to doing just that then we will both be happy.