Sacrillian Joint - Any Thoughts/Experience/Knowledge?

MrsMozart

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Little Cob had a bone scan today.

There was some take up on the sacrilliac joint (sorry, miss-spelt the title).

Further investigation tomorrow.


This is the same area as Dizz has a problem, but the presentation is different.

I am stressing, but D1 isn't aware.

Any thoughts/experience/knowlege? I can't remember the user name of the nice lady who helped me when I was going through it with Dizz.


I'm off to stick my head under a pillow and I won't be coming out for some time :(
 
Sue Dyson diagnosed my horse with broken pelvis and sacroilliac joint problem 6/7 years ago, stated that the horse would never be ridden again and recommended that he be PTS.

I can see said horse from my window as we speak - he is now 23, has been back in work for 5 years is riden regularly and and has won many many championships since then.

Can't do too many circles and I have not bothered trying to jump him since though.

This is not always the end of the road - take your time - think about what you want to do.

Good luck
 
Increased uptake on a bone scan can mean anything from a bit of inflamation to full blown arthritis or even cancer (but this is rare)... but it's not diagnostic of any one condition. Chat to your vet about the likelihood of what the diagnosis is likely to be. Just cos one horse was disabled because of this doesn't mean another will be.

Blitz (human dr not a vet)
 
Thank you CM.

He is with Sue now.

We already have one retired pony, no idea how we're going to cope with another one when D1 wants to ride; she works hard and it would be lovely to see her out and having fun. She loves this pony so much.

I've been Googling and looking at the treatment options. Fairly daft as I don't have the exact info. yet, but...
 
there was a chance prince had a problem here but from what i can tell its not a joint as such, the sacroliac is a short dense ligament but has a wide surface area so if it is damamged it can take some time to heal as it has a poor blood supply. prince had his nerve blocked with no change so he had bone scans last week then a radiograph. if they nerve block it he will be sedated as it is the biggest needle you have ever seen! at least 10 inches long! good luck!
mind you that could all be barf haha.
the pink but in between the blue and yellow is the ligament
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...page=1&ndsp=13&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0&tx=53&ty=51
 
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No experience or anything helpful to say apart from that you know where I am when you need a rant.

*Hugs and Hot Chocolate*
 
Thank you China. Fingers crossed for your lad.

I've looked up the joint before, due to Dizzy's issue, and have been Googling like mad this evening since hearing that it was a possibility. There's the two bone plates, then the ligament that joins them, so it's something going on around there.

Tomorrow seems a long way away.
 
Increased uptake on a bone scan can mean anything from a bit of inflamation to full blown arthritis or even cancer (but this is rare)... but it's not diagnostic of any one condition. Chat to your vet about the likelihood of what the diagnosis is likely to be. Just cos one horse was disabled because of this doesn't mean another will be.

Blitz (human dr not a vet)

Thank you Blitz. I've been researching; dangerous I know(!), but all his symptoms point to it being a sacrilliac joint issue.

I asked Sue what it could be, but she won't be drawn; probably quite rightly at this stage, she needs to investigate further.
 
Oh dear Mrs M, this is fast turning into a bad year for many of us. All I can offer is all good vibes and hugs and hope you have a firm prognosis soon so that you can decide who best to proceed. The unknown is always harder to deal with than the reality when it comes to it, try not to google and stress too much? All good wishes x
 
do you know what they are doing 2moro. its a rather difficult area to do things to. i was semi lucky in that prince had dye uptake to his hocks, spine and naviculars so areas that can be easily tested on. i hope you get some more answers 2moro. i know exactly how your feeling, i had the same thing last thursday then had to wait till monday for more tests. longest weekend of my life!!
 
Thank you all.

Um. My mind has just gone blank as to what it is Sue is doing tomorrow! Blast. It's been a pants day and my brain cell is losing it. It's something to do with the results of the bone scan today.

China - hugs hun. Many hugs.
 
Thank you Blitz. I've been researching; dangerous I know(!), but all his symptoms point to it being a sacrilliac joint issue.

I asked Sue what it could be, but she won't be drawn; probably quite rightly at this stage, she needs to investigate further.


A joint can be sprained, arthritic or ligament damaged or have a small fracture in it or have cartilage damage etc etc... all would look the same on a bone scan... all have different prognoses -so the reason she won't be drawn is cos she doesn't know..

Blitz
 
dont stress to much. i burst into tears with p's bone scan results, more because it was a case of what hasnt he got wrong with him! but just chill out and dont clock watch waiting for that phonecall coz time goes extra slow!
good luck! big gentle hug!
 
Make sure you take care of yourself too hun, you're still healing & being tense won't help the pain in the back - easier said than done i know :(
Hope you get more answers tomorrow
xxxxx
 
Wait and see what the prognosis is before you start to worry and then speak to your vet.

Gin had a hematoma on top of her sacroiliac joint just over 2 years ago which was caused by an impact injury.My vet was certain she would come back to normal. She had loads of treatment but needed to have more time off during which she had a foal. She had a steroid injection which worked for 6 weeks (they can last longer) but I wasnt prepared for her to have one that often. I am going to try bringing her back into work next month and see how things go.

From what I have heard there seems to be a 50:50 chance eitherway which is why you need to speak with your vet before you panic.
 
Thank you B :)

I went through this with Dizz, so sadly it's old ground now (Dizz has bony irregularities on her pelvis, probably from a fall when she was a youngster). She is sound now and has been, on the whole, since she came back from Newmarket eighteen months ago.

Like most people, I just hate not knowing! I need to prepare myself mentally for what it will mean for the pony, for D1, and lastly for me. I need to have some understanding of what it could be; as your post shows, it could be more than possibly I have the brain capacity to cope with!
 
As per our discussion earlier if the uptake is purely in the SI joint think inflammation rather than anything else. Now that could run the spectrum from sprain to arthritis but, at the moment, and with everything thats gone on I wouldn't jump to conclusions.
Remember (to quote you) it is the dance and your passion for it that matters
 
Even if it is SI there is hope.

My horse was diagnosed with Chronic SI strain and almost kissing spine (very close but not touching) nearly five years ago at 10 years old by Sue Dyson at AHT - prognosis was guarded. I thought it was a death sentence at the time and was really depressed (had lost my previous horse a year earlier to wobblers and my mum had just died).

He has gone on to do really well at Prelim and Novice unaff dressage also placed at elementary. Qualified SE Regional finals, Hickstead finals, Oldencraig finals, Riding Club teams. Also has been placed at small novice hunter trials and eventers challenges. Has been up and down a bit over the years and been constant work to keep him fit - but worth it. Now slowing up a little - had two months off for bone chip from a kick earlier this year so has lost all muscle tone (rest is worst thing for SI except in acute stages as muscles keep the "joint" stable)
I'm seeing if he will come back now to dressage (did Ride for life at weekend and he was so exuberant I nearly needed my pink fairy wings :o ) but may be developing other issues now so looking at other less physically demanding past-times like horse agility (he was very agile when he saw blue arrow marker and leapt sideways nearly depositing me out the side door) or Le Trec (not sure if he is too spooky for this). Treatments he has had - two lots of steroids in spine and SI once at AHT and once since. Wedges on hind as common for foot to have a negative sole plane increasing strain on SI. Shock-wave therapy on his spine. Lots of physio and excercises given by physio. Dedication and love.

Good luck - happy to try to help if you want to PM me at any time.
 
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