PSD in hind legs, recovery plan after shockwave

[Leanne1980]

My horse has been diagnosed today with bilateral psd and breakdown of fibres in inside branches. He is not suitable for surgery due to the damage being in two places. He has his first treatment today of shock wave, then back for more in two weeks and two weeks after that. Could any share their experience with me of hindleg psd, the recovery plan and whether they found it a success? Thanks a worried mum!

 

[Auslander]

My horse has been diagnosed today with bilateral psd and breakdown of fibres in inside branches. He is not suitable for surgery due to the damage being in two places. He has his first treatment today of shock wave, then back for more in two weeks and two weeks after that. Could any share their experience with me of hindleg psd, the recovery plan and whether they found it a success? Thanks a worried mum!

Hi Leanne. My favourite (not through choice!) subject!

My horse was diagnosed with bilateral psd in June last year, and had shockwave in the first instance, followed by a long period of field rest. He was rescanned in March, and showed a great improvement in the size of the suspensories, and reduction in the diameter of the dodgy areas. There was one area that hadn't really changed, so he had PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injected into that bit, followed by a months box rest, then controlled turnout, before re-scanning after 6 weeks. All is looking good at the moment, and he is back in work - 30 mins straight line walking on the road for 12 weeks.
The breakthrough for me was having him shod in sports bars behind, which support the frog and heels. He went from 3/10 lame to sound immediately - fantastic moment!
There's a great PSD support group on Facebook - search for PSD discussion group

 

[georgiegirl]

Auslander do you have a link you could share that details the sports bars shoes your using?

Is the plan for you to use them indefinitely?

 

[Auslander]

Auslander do you have a link you could share that details the sports bars shoes your using?

Is the plan for you to use them indefinitely?

These are the ones http://www.jimblurton.co.uk/hind-sports-bar/

He's had them on for 7 weeks now, and is having them refitted next week. We will have a very careful look at his frogs and heels when they come off to make sure there isn't anything nasty going on underneath, but hopefully all will be welll. Plan is to use them throughout the rehab process, and then to see if he can be weaned onto normal shoes, but with extended flared heels to keep him well supported.

I strongly recommend getting a jackhammer hoofpick (you have to order them from the US) if you have these shoes fitted. It's a complete pita picking out his feet with them on!! I've broken/bent 6 hoof picks!

 

[Auslander]

Sports bars fitted to my boy.

 

[Leanne1980]

Thanks for your replies. Bet suggested heartbar shoes so intend to get them sorted as soon as. We have to have full box rest for 7 days which he will hate, then another 8 weeks box rest with increased hand waking every two weeks by 5 minutes. If he can at least hack after I will be happy cause at least he will have some variety than just stuck in a field. Poor little horses x

 

[Auslander]

Thanks for your replies. Bet suggested heartbar shoes so intend to get them sorted as soon as. We have to have full box rest for 7 days which he will hate, then another 8 weeks box rest with increased hand waking every two weeks by 5 minutes. If he can at least hack after I will be happy cause at least he will have some variety than just stuck in a field. Poor little horses x

I opted for pen turnout (with sedation where required) rather than box rest, and found him far happier and easier to deal with. Pen was about 15x15, so he couldn't charge around, but felt that he was turned out, rather than trapped in the stable.

 

[Leanne1980]

I would prefer to do that but not sure my livery yard owners would let me fence am area off. My horse is also arthritic in hocks so worried bout him getting stiff as well.

 

[Holly Hocks]

My horse was diagnosed with hind limb PSLD in October 2011. At the same time she was also diagnosed with navicular, bilateral spavin and arthritis in one hind fetlock (so on one back leg she had PSLD, spavin and fetlock arthritis!). She had 3 sessions of shockwave but I couldn't keep her on box rest as it was too dangerous for her and me. She was turned out for about an hour a day up to half a day depending on weather and this helped keep her sane - no limits, just let out with the other mares.

I had the shoes taken off about 3 weeks after diagnosis, got a good trimmer and started long-reining her in straight lines on the road in about April 2012. We progressed to hacking and did that all summer. She then got a stubborn abscess in about October 2012 which lasted four months as it was diagnosed as navicular deteriorating and far worse things. It was just an abscess which couldn't find it's way out! She is now back in work and better than ever. We are hacking still and light schooling and have a physio every 6-8 weeks but I hoping that eventually I will be able to do some dressage with her.

 

[Leanne1980]

Today is the first day I have left him alone in his stable. He seemed ok this morning but he had loads of hay and toys. Hoping the yard allows me to make him a small pen in the winter field. Once we can start walking in hand for 20 mind I will prob turn him out for a hour, i feel so mean

 

[mjcssjw2]

I am another that opted for no shoes, I am paranoid about having the chiro out as his SI area was also another hotspot on the scan, I did lots and lots of straightline walking, oh and I did the small pen turnout instead of the stable, as he used to be a nutter left on his own. Tried the shockwave and ended uo with surgery.