shock wave therapy for tendon tears has anyone used it

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cellie

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I have been given a few choices for treating tendon tear .Shock wave therapy is one of my alternatives along with stem cell and adequan.
Re shock wave
1.do you have to go to surgery for treatment or is it a portable machine
2.anyone have any positive results.
3. does it shorten treatment or is it a case of better tissue repair.
4.any idea of cost ( horse in question has already cost me small fortune)
5.Why would you recommend over other options.
6. How many treatments do you need
Injury is 2 months old so maybe this could affect choice of treament .
Thanks
 
There has been some research to indicate that it works to accelerate healing and strengthen the fibers.

You would probably have to go to the surgery for it as the machine is pretty heavy. My vets' machine can't be traveled.

Yes, I know a few horses who have had shockwave for tendon and ligament problems and they've all come back sound. Whether they would have done with rest only, who knows!

My vets usually recommend three treatments 6-9 days apart, although they might do five for severe tears.

Cost: I'm not sure, but I think it came to around £500 for three treatments plus scans for my friend's mare.
 
1. Portable machine but the horse is sedated
2. I've had positive results with hind suspensory injury, unsure about the results when we used it on collateral ligament injury
3. I *think* it encourages quicker repair but it doesn't shorten the necessary rest period (can't honestly remember, it was a few years ago)
4. Sorry insurance paid for it
5. It's less invasive than other options but I'd use alongside adequan and if that works great. I'd say stem cell is later down the line due to expense.
6. I had three treatments.
Hope that is some help. Which tendon is it?
 
I've used it on ligaments not tendons. I have a feeling it is most appropriately used when there is bone involvement therefore might depend on the actual tendon damage, your vet will have a better idea.

I've had really good results with it, especailly with a problematic splint. Also used on hind suspensory, sesamoid ligament and navicular area.
Usually 3-4 treatments given 10 days (ish) apart.
My vet has a portable machine, but not all vets do, sometimes you have to go to the surgery.
Cost in the region of £100 per session, plus transport, call out and possibly sedation if required, think mine came in at around £180 a session
 
I have to check which tendon it is the vet should be ringing me back.We werent investigating tendon at the time but were doing coffin joint blocks so it was a bit of a shock and I forgot to ask which tendon.I would assume its the sdft(?) quite high behind the knee.
Im waiting for conformation that we can start treatment from Insurance company.
Knowing it could be portable is helpful and its definitely less invasive than stem cell.Hes having adequan for coffin joint ,he has soft tissue damage, at some stage so Im hoping he can have the tendon which is front right same leg at the same time.
Hes definitely more comfortable now hes had heartbar and gel pads as these were the main areas of discomfort.The tendon heat and inflammation went about 7 weeks ago.Original vet thought he had tweaked tendon and declined scan .Fortunately I was resting for splint and he was supported and restricted in early part of injury.Its a 50 percent tear but obviously we are dealing with other issues with coffin/ soft tissue damage the same time.
Thanks for info
 
Your horse needs Dr Grass - ie stick in field for upto 2 years for a complete rebuild. Shockwave has to be done every day for weeks and even then it still needs time for the scar tissue to build, break and re heal. I have used shockwave for my international showjumpers and have found it competely useless until Rodrigo's vet told me the above. Don't waste your money unless you have to jump a world cup qualifier next spring. My mare did a very similar injury to Peppermill, we chucked her out in the field and after 18 months we brought her back for work. She is now the 1,500 highest ranking horse on the FEI rankings. Dr Grass did the trick. Nuff said.
 
He did his tendon in the field having time off.So many different opinions on treatment .Shame is hes had dr grass for last 18 mths for spavin op then splints.I actually feel alot of his problems are hoof related.His toes were to long and heels low.Ive been saying this to vet and farrier ie think the problem is in the hoof.The extra strain must have caused tendon weakness. I dont care if he never jumps again as long as I get him back .Ill be a happy hacker or do a bit of dressage .We have a show jumper for my daughter so I can do without .Good to hear a positive story on tendons Ive already said Ill give him 6 months off .Probably monitor progress and start walking out after several months if at all possible. I dont like complete box rest so hes in restricted paddocks.Shame he isnt a mare he would at lest have a purpose for breeding.
 
Hi Cellie, I have just read your latest post when I read it before and replyed telling you about my experience with stem cell treatment I didnt mention that we had shock wave as well I do think all these treatments just keep up-ing the bill! I am now inclined to go with the Dr Green theory cos the other leg that went after we started jumping him again has had no treatment just 3 months box rest and field ,it looks just the same at this stage as the other one did with an operation stem cell adiquan and shock wave and a £12,000 vet bill. The ammount of other things you say yours has had and got wrong I really think you ought to save yourself any more upset and expensence and call it a day sorry
 
When you say call it a day do you mean pts or retire .Thats a huge decision either way.
I have spoken to insurance company and they offered me 60 % of his insurance value which is only £1400 so I would be better of going for treatment.I know where you are coming from Ive had a horrendous couple of years with him and will have to make proper decision if the 6 months off doesnt work.
Im moving yards on saturday to get away from poor ground he has to walk over hardcore on the way to his paddock .If nothing else that should make him more comfortable when the gel pads come out.Hes having adequan for coffin joint so that will help tendon at the same time then I will have to finish with treatment and expense.
 
Im sorry I didnt mean pts I meant retire, your obviously a very caring person who loves the horse very much but sometimes I think we all need someone not involved to point out the obvious and it just seems he has so many problems I cant see how he will ever be sound and rideable. I do hope it works out for you and you have a nice xmas, you have really tried your best for the horse!
wink.gif
 
My mare did her SDFT tendon along with an annular ligament in November last year. She had 2 months box rest, then 8 months of "Dr Grass" and small paddock rest - no change to the tendon injury on the scan.

Last resort my vet suggested a course of shock wave therapy. It was a course of 4 treatments, each 10 - 14 days apart, carried out on the yard, with the horse under mild sedation. Absolutely no stress to the horse what so ever.

She was then re-scanned 14 days after the last treatment and the change in the scan was amazing in such a short period of time. The scan in August pre-treatment showed the SDFT with a significant hole and black area still, post treatment beginning October, even I could see the hole had filled in and there were now definite signs of tendon strands going across.

Pre treatment the horse was still lame, post treatment the horse was significantly better, to the point where she just has a very slight gait abnormality, which my vet feels is not the tendon injury, but possibly a touch of arthritis.

The mare is now on about week 9 of a rehab programme and *touch wood* doing well. Early days, she's due back for a rescan in January, but for her the shock wave therapy really was the difference between coming back into work and some kind of repair on the tendon injury and not, as she had already received time off etc.

I have to say though that my vet was sceptical on whether it would work on her injury - we were obviously delighted it did, but it doesn't work on all types of injury and like someone said above, I think it works better on ones that are near to where they join bones etc (my mare's is right on the branches of the SDFT in her pastern area). If the injury is middle of the tendon/injury, it doesn't have such a high success rate I believe.

Cost wise - I can't remember, but with the sedation I think it was about £300 a treatment, but I really can't say without looking up the invoices.
 
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