My mare in work 15 wks post PSD surgery.

I

Ilovefoals

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I've just been reading the thread about PSD and hind limb neurectomies and fasciotomies and thought I'd post a video of my mare on new years day. It's nearly 16wks since she had her surgery and the video shows our second canter since June.

D was broken in Germany for her mare test as a 3yr old which is how the vet thinks she did her ligament damage. She was then a broodmare til the age of 7 and I bought her in foal with the plan of re-backing her and doing dressage on her. In march this year, the process began and from the start she was a challenge. She was very backward and tense a lot of the time. Would frequently plant herself and refuse to move, (I posted asking for advice about her behaviour at the time). Her tail was constantly swishing and she'd grunt in protest at being asked to go forward. However, she never looked lame! There was just something that told me she was in pain as I just felt it wasn't in her nature.

Long story short, scan showed very old scarring to suspensories in both hind limbs. Shockwave made no improvement so after many tears and changes of mind, I decided to go for the surgery. Like other posters have said, the bandages were a nightmare causing rubs which took a long time to heal. She went off her food and box rest was a nightmare. But in the end, I'd do it all again. The vet has said he couldn't have hoped for a better result. We've followed his rehab instructions to the letter and are now able to introduce a small canter per session.

She's so much more forward, no napping or planting, no narking when I tack her up. She also had been suffering from gastic ulcers which had probably been caused by the stress of the pain she was in and these have been treated and not reoccurred. She still does a bit of head chucking at times which I try and ride her forward out of and also has a tendency to drop behind the vertical so any tips appreciated.

I'm keeping my fingers well and truely crossed for her future as she means the world to me. I hope seeing her in action can give those whose horses are going through the same some hope.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dke2BLS7oaU&feature=g-hist&context=G2a78696AHTwLGSAADAA
 
Wow, no one cares or has anything to say about my video. Thanks so much! I did think I was probably wasting my time posting it so I'll not bother in future. I'm obviously below a comment of any kind :(
 
Ilovefoals said:
Wow, no one cares or has anything to say about my video. Thanks so much! I did think I was probably wasting my time posting it so I'll not bother in future. I'm obviously below a comment of any kind :(
Click to expand...

I cannot get onto your video at the moment, but that is great news, you must be so pleased. Happy New year for you then. :)

Onwards and upwards
 
Your mare looks lovely! Good to hear your positive experience. My boy was diagnosed with bilateral suspensory desmitis last August (he suddenly was stiff and reluctant to move forwards, but wasn't obviously lame initially) but at 16yrs old the prognosis hasn't been great for him. He had shockwave therapy (but never had his legs rescanned afterwards) and I've spent the last few months slowly re-introducing work. I was told that he'll probably only manage to cope with happy hacking, so have been told not to expect him to do dressage again (even though we only did very low level stuff) and never to jump him again.

Do you have any idea how old the scarring was? Am interested as my vet thinks my boy had been going downhill for quite a while before he suddenly started stiffening up, and that's why he doesn't think there's much hope of reversing the damage. He said given he's not lame, nor in obvious pain and given his age, he wouldn't recommend the surgery for us.
 
Thank you Nelson and Tigers Eye :) Am absolutely over the moon with her progress which is why I was so upset no one had commented!

DD - The vet thought the damage was done when she was broken in at 3 as she's done nothing but be a mum since. She's 8 now. That's why the shockwave didn't work and I opted for the surgery instead. The damage could never be reversed but the source of the pain removed instead. She was a good candidate as she has good conformation and no other associated issues that we're aware of so her prognosis is good. She's my horse of a lifetime and so I wanted to give her every chance. I wish you all the best with your boy. It's such a heartbreaking thing to happen. xx
 
Hi, thrilled to hear your news, it was me who posted the other thread and my lad is now nearly two weeks post surgery. Can't see video at minute but i will watch later. Thankyou for posting and sharing, means a lot to me to hear positive progress as I've everything crossed for my lad x
 
How brilliant :D it's nice to hear positive stories, it's very easy to find the bad stuff when you search the net so a happy ending is lovely.

My mare was diagnosed with bi lateral psd but I was told she was never a candidate for surgery and now we are out of insurance so not an option, plus she has SI problems so being dangled upside down and the general would prob cause more problems than good. We shall just see where we get to, I'm not hugely competitive (that could read we are not very good ;) ) but she is my first horse bought with my money and she shall stay as long as she is happy.

Can I ask what her canter was like before, our canter is dreadful and I have been blaming the SI but I'm wondering if maybe the suspensorys are more the problem.

My mare when she was bad just used to plant and threaten to rear even hacking. We school and hack now. Who knows what the future holds but it's certainly better than the vets had me hope to start with.

Again, well done :D she looks happy and if your anything like me after all the miserable diagnosis and decisions thats the best thing ever :D
 
Robthecob - I am like you, her comfort is more important than anything and that's why I'm determined to take it slow and listen to her when she tells me to slow down. Her canter before was always very stuck. She wasn't really able to go forward and would almost canter on the spot. My instructor was always shouting at me to kick her forwards but she just wouldn't go. It now feels effortless and I don't have to nag at her all the time either!

SI problems are quite often a result of PSD, so theoretically, if the ligament pain was fixed, the SI pain should then become much easier to treat. It's all so complicated though, not to mention expensive. Most of my bills were covered by insurance but still went over by nearly £1000 which I'm paying off so I understand where you are coming from re cost.

Can I ask why she wasn't a candidate for surgery?
 
Super looking horse. I hope she continues to reward your faith and patience in her. Good luck.

My boy aged 18, medium level dressage horse and twice Hoy's hunter finalist did his hind check in August 2011 been on box rest ever since, scanned mid Dec and healing well but still facing another 2 months in the box before walking under saddle can commence. (he is a nutcase on lead rein but safe as houses under saddle).

Anybody had success with a hind check injury in older horse - (big one 17.2hh m/w). I am hoping he will return to happy hacking and lower level dressage. He is not a candidate for a field ornament having been busy all his life as a competition horse. He enjoys a few hours turnout and even managed overnighting in the field after retiring at HOYs 2009 but then threw a tantrum and did his check in the field. Retirement won't suit him so I am holding my breath he comes right.
 
I don't really know, that sounds odd doesn't it but I was just told by Sue Dyson that she wasn't a candidate. She has poor hindleg conformation very straight through the hock your mare on the video looks to be the complete opposite. A lovely pair of back legs ;) lol I know that horses with straight conformation behind are more pre disposed to this injury. I think sue Dyson felt that the suspensory damage was secondary to an old SI injury, possibly a handstand gone wrong as a baby, who knows I've done all the guessing all the crying and only now about 2 years later am I accepting its probably not going to be a fairy tale ending but hopefully a happy one. We hacked out for over 2 hours yesterday without so much as an odd step so I know she has a role. I'm going to re write the fairy tale ending and try convince the boyfriend to get riding lol, then when she slows down in the future I'll have a legitimate reason to get another ;) lol don't tell him though!!

How much did the opp
 
Whoops hadn't finished, how much did the ip and after care cost ? Just incase I have a small windfall / decide it's worth selling a kidney for ;) :D
 
Thanks AA. No experience with check ligaments I'm afraid but I hope he comes right for you.

Robthecob - Yes, I believe conformation plays a large part in determining whether surgery would be successful. And S.D knows her stuff. It sounds like you are doing the right thing for your current situation. I too have cried enough to sink a fairly large ship so I totally sympathise!

Altogether, my bill was £6k, but that included 3 x shockwave treatments and 2 days in the hospital for lameness workups to diagnose in the first place. So I reckon you'd be looking at £4k for the op and follow up. I'm also using a physio every 2 months as well just to make sure that her muscles are coping with being back in work. The costs soon add up!
 
Crikey that's a lot of money. We shall carry on as we are, I schooled tonight and she was brill so fingers crossed by concentrating on the si we are targeting the right thing. I too get my amazing physio out every 3 months for a check over. She really is brilliant and I would trust whatever she says.

I wish you all the luck for the future :) do keep us updated. :D
 
Thanks guys. I'm just going to take it easy for the rest of the winter and see how she goes. Just working on her forwardness, rhythm, relaxation etc. I also want to do lots of hacking with her as she's not very good at that! I think it's important for her mind as well as her body to get out into the countryside a bit. Come spring, I'll see where we are and maybe start asking a bit more of her schooling wise. I also want to lose 3 stone! So maybe next time I post pics, you'll see a difference in me too :)
 
excellent! lovely to hear positive outcomes :) i commented on the video ;) so it will get more views now (it will come up on my subscribers pages i think with the new youtube layout :))

she looks lovely - huge well done for persevering through the problems, i'm sure it is all worth it! :D it is lovely when they come back so well after surgery/injuries. i was so pleased when a previous horse Dani came back into work and jumped his first clear round 65cm sj after months of box rest and field rest due to a ruptured peronius tertius ligament!! was a tough time but he pulled through and everything was worth it!!

good luck to you :) onwards and upwards!!
 
She looks fab, I am 5 weeks or so behind you with my boy, and I can't wait to get back on him. I hope he is as good as her. Thanks for sharing. Interesting you mention the crabbiness tacked up, mine is an angel but was definatly agitated, tail swishing when put under pressure and when tacked up.
 
What a lovely story, really pleased to hear your mare has come sound again, she's very beautiful and looks lovely and relaxed. Good look for 2012, great start for you.
 
My 11yr old gelding has just been diagnosed with PSD in both hinds. We going to do the rest & recuperation treatment first. But it's nice to hear that surgery is a good option. Do they think it had completely fixed the problem??
 
my PSD mare came home today, fresh from surgery, so I am so pleased to see your story. She also had SI issues so I'm crossing fingers that it will work.

Really hope your horse continues to progress well. x
 
I know this is an old post - just wanted to see how the horses here got on. My mare was diagnosed with bi lateral hind PSD today and will have surgery as soon as they can fit her in at Rossdales.

I am at the "gathering all the information I can" stage of grieving
 
Coffeeandbagel, there is a Facebook group for horses with psd that you should check out. For lots of stories. Very mixed results really for things that do and don't work, unfortunately.

Best of luck. Xxx
 
I went through the op with my girlfriend last year..... You are welcome to message me any questions and I will help where I can..... I know the feeling for where you are now, searching for answers that are hard to find......
 
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