Several injections?

[juli]

Hi. I have a horse that is been lame for a month now. Were at the vet 2 weeks ago and he injected him with cortisone in the suspensory and patella on both front legs. 2 weeks off and he will be fine he said. Well it's now gone 2 weeks and the horse is still lame, no improvement. The vet wants to inject the same thing again in both front legs in the same places. I am reluctant since there were no improvement the first time. How common is it to have to inject several times for the lameness to go away?

 

[nagblagger]

What is the vets rationale to do the same procedure if there has been no change in his condition?
Seems very odd to me. Possibly time for a second opinion.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I assume xrays were done etc?
I agree with NB second opinion time ?

 

[Sossigpoker]

How was the lameness isolated to.the suspensories and knees?
Two weeks is too soon to re-inject with steroid in any case.
My cob didn't show real improvement until at least 3 weeks after his hock injections.
Personally I'd want the lameness blocked to that specific area and then the associated structures scanned or x-rayed.
If this hasn't been done- curious to know why.

 

[juli]

What is the vets rationale to do the same procedure if there has been no change in his condition?
Seems very odd to me. Possibly time for a second opinion.

Don't know, he just says it sometimes takes a few tries for horses to become sound again. I really want to use another vet but it is difficult in my situation.

I assume xrays were done etc?
I agree with NB second opinion time ?

Not x-rays, but he did scan him.

How was the lameness isolated to.the suspensories and knees?
Two weeks is too soon to re-inject with steroid in any case.
My cob didn't show real improvement until at least 3 weeks after his hock injections.
Personally I'd want the lameness blocked to that specific area and then the associated structures scanned or x-rayed.
If this hasn't been done- curious to know why.

He nerve blocked the place he injected and he got a lot better. He nerve blocked and injected cortisone at the same time (sounds a bit odd to me, I'm used to doing nerve blocks, wait 15 minutes and see if there is an improvement and treat accordingly). He did scan the proximal suspensory and the tendons in this area and that was clear he said. Did not take X-rays.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Don't know, he just says it sometimes takes a few tries for horses to become sound again. I really want to use another vet but it is difficult in my situation.


Not x-rays, but he did scan him.


He nerve blocked the place he injected and he got a lot better. He nerve blocked and injected cortisone at the same time (sounds a bit odd to me, I'm used to doing nerve blocks, wait 15 minutes and see if there is an improvement and treat accordingly). He did scan the proximal suspensory and the tendons in this area and that was clear he said. Did not take X-rays.

OK, I'm not a vet but I've had a lot of lame horses and this is not how any of mine have been examined.
The nerve block is to identify the source of the lameness. Once that's done , then you scan or x-ray depending on if it's thought to be bone or soft tissue.
Steroid injections are for arthritis and to diagnose that you need an x-ray.
I don't understand why he just decided to inject regardless.

In all honesty , I would get a different vet , get those joints x-rayed and take it from there.

Even if it was arthritis , 2 weeks is too soon to re-inject so the fact that this vet is suggesting that makes me think he doesn't know what he's doing.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Sossig is right, xrays need done asap before you can move forward ?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

2 weeks is too soon can take 4 to 6 weeks sometimes I was told by my vet.

I also agree they should have x rayed it's a normal procedure to x ray or and scan after a positive reaction to a nerve block.

Without an x ray how can the vet know what's wrong and to then start sticking steroid into joints Without a clue what's going on, bad practice in my view I would get a different vet.