Sacroiliac Joint Quesions..??

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GeorgieD

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I have a horse beginning to show symptoms of some sort of discomfort in the Sacroiliac area.

There are other posibilites as to why hes unsound ATM, but this is the issue I have the least understanding of..

If it is the case..

how do you know what the problem with the joint is?

what treatment is available?

how long would it take to return to work?

will he ever be able to compete again? (currently BSJA 1.15+ and Novice dressage)

Thanks :)
 
From my own experience of this:-

how do you know what the problem with the joint is? - very hard to tell, all I knew was that there was a problem indicated in his movement in canter and then diagnosed via a bone scan but didn't know what the actual problem was.

what treatment is available? - often steroid injections into the SI joint. In my case these weren't very effective - will depend what the problem might be, chiropractic treatment can be very effective.

how long would it take to return to work? - very much varies and depends how severe the problem is? - my horses was maanged successfully for some time with Physio.

will he ever be able to compete again? (currently BSJA 1.15+ and Novice dressage) - mine wasn't but I know of a horse with SI problems eventing at novice level successfully!

It's a tricky area to diagnose, and you might get conflicting advice about rehab/return to work. PM me if I can help with anything else - learnt a lot about this last year, good luck!
 
Im 2 weeks into treatment just had injections and second lot of shockwave is due next week.Physio is absolute must my horse is young so not much topline and exercises physio has recommended are already helping. I have been told to start riding in another 2 weeks . I first noticed a problem when he couldnt pick up correct lead in canter and rushed on one rein instructor thought it was baby thing I wish I had listened to my gut feeling.Im bit worried as my niece(in law)has just retired her 6 yr old with same condition .
 
Hi, my horse was diagnosed last year with sacroiliac issue. He could barely more forward in trot, bucked and reared and refused to jump (something he never does). He never went lame in the hind but did go lame on his front due to doing his suspensory which we believe was caused by the sacroiliac back pain. My vet blamed it on my riding and that he was a lazy horse which he isn't. Finally got another rider on him and he agreed to bone scan him where we found issue in his back,hocks and arthritis in his neck and he was about 9/10yo at the time. He had stem cell in his sacroiliac then over 7 months off. He had steroid injection in his neck and then in his back every 6 weeks as he was getting no better. We used the equi ami after his 4th injection and was got the all clear that his back was fine now!

He does get tired after about 30 minutes as he isn't strong enough yet, but he's like a different horse. He no longer makes a huge fuss and actually mores forward! It has taken a long time to strengthen the left side as that was his worse. Instructors and vets have no doubt that he wont go on to do much higher level dressage than he was before. He is finding lateral work alot easier now!

I have been told that water treadmill is fantastic for horses with this issue. At first we have physio every 2-3 weeks to make, but now have it every 6 weeks. We also have the saddler every 6 weeks while hes building muscle.
 
In the last couple of years I have come to know the SI region very well. I had my TB PTS in March last year. Following a reaction to sedalin and his jabs, he ceased up completely. We thought he had broken his back. Actually, what had happened was that we had attempted to shoe him under sedation - always problems with his back feet, which with hindsight 20:20 should have screamed 'BIG ISSUE' - and the sedalin never hit his brain although it got his muscles. As a consequence, he pratted about big time with very little motor control and aggravated an existing issue in the SI region. Whilst he was immobile he had his back x-rayed and we found mild kissing spines. Started a rehab programme but with all the lunging the horse only produced large shoulders, no topline and developed an enormous amount of aggression. Prior to the KS diagnosis, he had been a bucking bronco act that frightened the life out of me so we had started to investigate possible causes - it just so happened these investigations coincided with the sedalin incident. Put this act down to the KS. 6 months down the line the rear end action was nothing if not mechanical and the horse became dangerous. By this point, the subluxation of what should have been a fixed joint was over 4 inches. A post mortem revealed the SI joint was held together by mere threads.

My next horse is now a big ginger lawnmower. He has 'crushed' his lumbosacral joint, which sits under the tuber sacrale (jumping bump). He did this doing a sit down skid in the field, and at the same time tore his left hind suspensory ligament. He didn't present lame at all until flexion tests at the AHT. He just couldn't canter - his hind legs bunny hopped - and he found turning corners in any pace a struggle. At first we thought he had pulled a muscle. He was diagnosed at the AHT under Sue Dyson. Because of both injuries, she was not prepared to treat either. She had suggested operating on the suspensory if it was just that. Or injecting the lumbosacral joint if it was just that. She didn't hold out much hope for the latter as the joint itself is so very deep. He is currently on 9 months of rest and doing nothing but grazing for 12 hours a day and coming in at night. I am hoping to use an ArcEquine unit from next week although every time I raise the £££ something comes up that needs them. He was given a less than 50% chance of being ridden again and probably won't jump again. The only reason he has this chance of trying is because he's a lovely horse and the pain has not, unlike with my TB, caused a change in behaviour at all.

Sorry to be a harbinger of bad news.
 
My horse had a SJ problem. Only way i knew was when he went through his jumps rather then over. My vet came out and popped it back in and then 5 months later it was out again. This happened 3 or 4 times, then i found a physio that uses heat pads and magnets etc and she told me after her one treatment it wouldnt happen again and it didnt. I would seriously find someone that can manipulate your horses leg and put it back if it is out and a good physio. My horse is out of work now with a Proximal susp ligament injury i am gutted.
 
My boy got arthritis in his, shown by struggling to get back legs underneath him. Bute made him sound and able to enjoy his last summer and he was PTS last august. He was nearly thirty though and had a full and active life with five or six years retirement.
 
Had the vet out and she seemed very sure it wasnt that joint in the end. more likely so his hocks have caused a discomfort in his back!

thanks for the replies! :)
 
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