PSD Neurectomy - cost and experiences

[Wizpop]

Please! As above. My rising 8 yo has just had diagnosis and I’m looking at surgery as an option.
TIA

 

[AlpacaTeddySJ]

My horse had the operation yesterday morning after getting PSD from Bone Spavin. Nerve blocks confirmed they were the issue. Cost was £2,000 + work up fees etc, my bill is currently over £4K.
Will update on his progress, but my vet feels the surgery has an excellent prognosis.

 

[Sprogladite01]

I would do some serious thought about whether there is any possibility the PSD is secondary to another issue (as this is frequently the case). My boy had N&F surgery and it's not been great - in hindsight I wish I had tried non surgical options first and/or looked at potential sites of primary issues first - back, hocks, SI, coffin joints etc. We are currently facing him being PTS unfortunately and he looks much worse now than he did before he had the surgery, despite the absolute best rehab/aftercare and being treated by one of the top vets in Europe specialising in PSD.

Edit to add: I paid £1250 for a consult from the specialist vet, and an additional £2967.94 for the surgery itself plus aftercare - he had to stay at the vets for 4 days after his surgery so there were some livery fees in there too.

 

[sbloom]

I would do some serious thought about whether there is any possibility the PSD is secondary to another issue (as this is frequently the case). My boy had N&F surgery and it's not been great - in hindsight I wish I had tried non surgical options first and/or looked at potential sites of primary issues first - back, hocks, SI, coffin joints etc.

My gut is that it's impossible to really pick out in so many cases what is primary and what secondary, and instead start to unpick all the threads. Fix the feet, bodywork and then groundwork to lift the TS and get the posture and biomechanics working. We're learning more and more about how this is at the bottom of so many of these "injuries" which instead are the result of compensatory movement patterns, the triggers for which may never be known.

 

[Sprogladite01]

My gut is that it's impossible to really pick out in so many cases what is primary and what secondary, and instead start to unpick all the threads. Fix the feet, bodywork and then groundwork to lift the TS and get the posture and biomechanics working. We're learning more and more about how this is at the bottom of so many of these "injuries" which instead are the result of compensatory movement patterns, the triggers for which may never be known.

Yes absolutely, I completely agree. I would be more reluctant to go straight to surgery before doing anything else a second time around myself. There is so much to wrap your head around with PSD, it can be daunting, and of course when you trust your vet who says you need surgery PDQ, you tend not to question it. Or at least I didn't!

 

[Wizpop]

Thank you all so much for your replies and advice.
I’m coming to realise what a minefield this actually is and am looking at root causes.
I’m planning to have an in depth discussion with my vet before committing to the surgery. There do indeed seem to be a number of recognised, primary causes which I’d like to rule out.
Sprogladite01. I’m so very sorry to hear what is going on for you and your boy-it can often Be so hard to know what to do for the best….it sounds as though you’ve done everything possible for your boy.

Sbloom, I’ve got my physio working with me too- she is a great support and will be able to advise - what you are saying makes really good sense to me. Thank. You

 

[Wizpop]

Yes absolutely, I completely agree. I would be more reluctant to go straight to surgery before doing anything else a second time around myself. There is so much to wrap your head around with PSD, it can be daunting, and of course when you trust your vet who says you need surgery PDQ, you tend not to question it. Or at least I didn't!

I totally agree! What is working in my favour is that I’m on holiday so won’t be doing anything till I get back which is giving me time to research and plan what to do next.