Nerve damage-experiences?

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Elvis

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So the vet came out today and gave elvis the all clear to start exercise again. However she mentioned that he severed the nerve in his fetlock and therefore has no feeling on the back of the left side of his fetlock joint on his right front leg. And therefore things will feel different for him, ie he may not feel very balanced. She's suggested taking things very slowly (fingers crossed elvis let's me take things slowly) and only sticking to straight lines for a while. Does anyone have any experience of this, either if the nerve was severed accidentally or purposefully?

My plan for the moment is to get his shoe back on tomorrow and then walk him for 5-10mins each day for a week then up it 10-15 mins the following week and then hopefully up to 25mins in the 3rd week, and then slowly add trot work and see how he goes, does this sound okay?
 
Only as a human :D My experience is that in my case the nerve damage eventually healed and the feeling came back. But by god does it feel funny when you cant feel anything! Even when your used to it, it can catch you out. So not much use, but theres a chance it will heal :)
 
FrankieCob said:
Only as a human :D My experience is that in my case the nerve damage eventually healed and the feeling came back. But by god does it feel funny when you cant feel anything! Even when your used to it, it can catch you out. So not much use, but theres a chance it will heal :)
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The vet did mention there was a remote chance his nerves might heal, but she suggested it wouldn't be for a very long time (at least a year) so fingers crossed that might happen.
 
Tnavas said:
I've had no problem adapting to the nerves to two toes being severed in an operation to remove a tumour.

I have two toes totally numb.
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Well that's promising, I did think he must be adapting okay since he was having a proper hoon around the field, surely if he felt too unbalanced or insecure he would have tumbled over or at least looked a bit off!
 
Nerves can and do regenerate which is why a neurectomy isn't always a lasting solution.

For rehab, I would start your boy in hand or long reining walking over as many different surfaces as possible......tarmac, sand, gravel, wood chip, rubber etc etc. I suggest in hand to start with as then he only has to worry about himself and his own balance rather than the added concern of a jockey on top!

I would also get him a couple of physio sessions booked in as it is almost inevitable that he will start to compensate for the strange 'feeling' in the early days and set up some muscle strain/tension in other parts of his body.
 
gunnergundog said:
Nerves can and do regenerate which is why a neurectomy isn't always a lasting solution.

For rehab, I would start your boy in hand or long reining walking over as many different surfaces as possible......tarmac, sand, gravel, wood chip, rubber etc etc. I suggest in hand to start with as then he only has to worry about himself and his own balance rather than the added concern of a jockey on top!

I would also get him a couple of physio sessions booked in as it is almost inevitable that he will start to compensate for the strange 'feeling' in the early days and set up some muscle strain/tension in other parts of his body.
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Thank you very much, I've been doing some in hand stuff with him so will continue before I get on his back. And I had the vet check his back to make sure he didn't need a physio before starting work again and she said his back is fine at the moment. He has the physio every 6 weeks anyway but I'll probably get the physio out a few more times whilst he gets used to things and whilst he builds up his fitness. Thank you :)
 
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