Nerve Blocks

J

jetty

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Hi,

Just wondered if anyone could help me. My boy is about 2/10ths lame on his nearside hind leg (his left hind) there is no heat, swelling or pain so i called the vet. She suggested two weeks of really hard work to see if the lameness increased, as it would then be easier to nerve block him.
I have been lunging him for up to an hour a day for the last 12 days and he is very slightly worse. He is insured but has an exclusion on this leg because he went lame on it last year but was fine after 2 weeks box rest.
The vet said that if we dont nerve block him he would only be able to be used as a light hack, so do you think its worth nerve blocking him if hes only slightly lame? Will we be able to see any difference? Also could someone please explain the whole nerve blocking process. How much would a nerve block be likely to cost? Would the nerve block be able to be done in his field? Does he have to go in to the vets to have x-rays and how much would these cost?
I am ringing the vets on Tuesday to talk to her about it and to make my decision but would be grateful for your imput.

Sorry for all the questions!
Thanks for reading,

Laura
 
2/10 lame is a reasonable level of lameness and should be blockable by any vet. I would not want to ride an obviously lame horse so yes i would get nerve blocks done to find the location of the pain and treat it. 1/10 lameness is barely noticeable to many owners - 2/10 should be obvious. Your other alternative would be to ride your horse on bute - but to continue riding in all the normal activities (i dont know what you do) without treatment is unfair on your horse - most lameness is due to pain.
Price of nerve blocks and xrays vary from vet to vet. Most practices charge for each nerve block and for examing the horse after each one. Many vets would only be happy to do basic foot blocks on the yard but may make allowances if travel isnt possible.
 
Thanks for your reply glenruby. The last thing I want to do is cause my horse any pain. I will speak to the vet on tuesday about going ahead with the nerve blocks.
 
I'm not an expert but can share my experiences. Firstly a horse can have quite a significant injury with 2/10 lameness, in my case proximal suspensory ligament strain and arthritis in the same fetlock. I was concerned that the vet would not see any lameness, it was so slight.
Usually the vet will see your horse trotted up and down, lunged on a hard and soft surface. They then start injecting a nerve block from the foot upwards (higher % problems in the foot) and repeat the trot-ups. The number of nerve blocks depends on what he finds. My horse was in horsepital for 3 days because sometimes its necessary for one block to wear off to pinpoint the problem. Mine was a difficult case though. Once the area is pinpointed then the vet will use Xrays on bone or ultrasound on soft tissue to confirm the problem. They can have portable xrays but I'd take your horse to the clinic.
If in the foot, its harder to confirm without an MRI which is obviously very expensive.
I would get advice from your vet about costs. You could try a long period of box rest without diagnostics - I had nearly 5 months in total but other proactive treatments as well. My first bill was pretty high but you could set a budget with your vet. Good luck!!
 
I'm not an expert but can share my experiences. Firstly a horse can have quite a significant injury with 2/10 lameness, in my case proximal suspensory ligament strain and arthritis in the same fetlock. I was concerned that the vet would not see any lameness, it was so slight.
Usually the vet will see your horse trotted up and down, lunged on a hard and soft surface. They then start injecting a nerve block from the foot upwards (higher % problems in the foot) and repeat the trot-ups. The number of nerve blocks depends on what he finds. My horse was in horsepital for 3 days because sometimes its necessary for one block to wear off to pinpoint the problem. Mine was a difficult case though. Once the area is pinpointed then the vet will use Xrays on bone or ultrasound on soft tissue to confirm the problem.
If in the foot, its harder to confirm without an MRI which is obviously expensive.
I would get advice from your vet about costs. You could try a long period of box rest without diagnostics - I had nearly 5 months in total but other proactive treatments as well. My first bill was pretty high but you could set a budget with your vet. Good luck!!
 
In my case 2/10's was also enough for a very sad outcome. My boy had the other leg excluded due to a previous injury, so my vet was careful not to imply the current investigation had anything to do with the excluded leg. Please make your vet aware of the exclusion so they can do the same (obv not asking them to lie, just not list anything unless they are certain)

Also..... just to make the point that this new leg will also be excluded for future problems, once the nerve blocks are completed. I think blocking is their cut off point.
 
cavalo branco - Thanks very much for your reply, it was very helpful. I hope your horse is now well and your enjoying him.
 
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