SI injections

ktj1891

ktj1891

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I have decided to take my boy to get an SI injection. Since I have had him he has toe dragged which is not ideal as well as now we are moving up with our flatwork and he is struggling to use himself behind especially on his right side.

Has anyone had their horses SI injected? If so, why and what was the outcome, did it help, do nothing etc?

Many Thanks
 
My WB was diagnosed with chronic sacro illiac dysfunction by Sue Dyson at Newmarket. He had an SI injection, but it did nothing as my horse's condition was chronic.
I sent my horse to Donna Blinman at Higham who is veterinary trained and also an osteopath and acupunturist. She 'mobilised' my horse's SI and he moved so much better instantly. I had to turn him away for several months on her recommendation. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

http://www.donnablinman.co.uk/
 
YasandCrystal said:
My WB was diagnosed with chronic sacro illiac dysfunction by Sue Dyson at Newmarket. He had an SI injection, but it did nothing as my horse's condition was chronic.
I sent my horse to Donna Blinman at Higham who is veterinary trained and also an osteopath and acupunturist. She 'mobilised' my horse's SI and he moved so much better instantly. I had to turn him away for several months on her recommendation. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

http://www.donnablinman.co.uk/
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Yes I was looking into accupunture, I think first step will be injection and if not response then look into accupunture as I think you need to get vets referral anyway.
 
YasandCrystal said:
I sent my horse to Donna Blinman at Higham who is veterinary trained and also an osteopath and acupunturist. She 'mobilised' my horse's SI and he moved so much better instantly.
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What does 'mobilised' actually mean in this context? My horse has recently (two weeks ago) been injected into the SI joints (both sides) and the way the vet explained it to me was that the SI joint is unique in that is does not move, it is fixed. I'm not trying to start up an alternative vs conventional medicine debate, but I just wondered the rationale is for acupuncture or even osteopathic manipulation in this area?

Excuse my ignorance, was blissfully unaware of the complex world of SI until a few months ago!
 
OP I would go with the holistic vet assessment first if it were me. It could be that your horse needs some manipulation and can go forward from there. If ligaments have been damaged, some manipulation and rehab exercises may be required. Donna made the difference for me - Newmarket wrote off my horse and I got LOU for him.
 
amycamycamyc said:
What does 'mobilised' actually mean in this context? My horse has recently (two weeks ago) been injected into the SI joints (both sides) and the way the vet explained it to me was that the SI joint is unique in that is does not move, it is fixed. I'm not trying to start up an alternative vs conventional medicine debate, but I just wondered the rationale is for acupuncture or even osteopathic manipulation in this area?

Excuse my ignorance, was blissfully unaware of the complex world of SI until a few months ago!
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Good question OP and Sue Dyson would certainly scoff at any talk of an SI joint being mobilised - well it was mobilisation of the sacrum actually. But this is the term Donna used and yes my horse moved differently on his return from her. She has built up a fantastic reputation so she must be doing it right. I now use a straightness trainer who is re-educating my horse to move correctly and the results are quite profound.
 
I have spoken to a lady regarding accupunture and at this moment in time I have to be financially bias in that the injection is going to cost me less with the 'benefit' that if it doesnt work, it will not be of any damage to him.
I
He has regular physio and this has not made any difference but I understand accupuncture is a completely different ball game and the next step if cortisone injections do not work.
 
ktj1891 said:
I have spoken to a lady regarding accupunture and at this moment in time I have to be financially bias in that the injection is going to cost me less with the 'benefit' that if it doesnt work, it will not be of any damage to him.
I
He has regular physio and this has not made any difference but I understand accupuncture is a completely different ball game and the next step if cortisone injections do not work.
Click to expand...

I was not suggesting acupuncture, but osteopathy via Donna. If you send your horse to her for treatment for a week or two the cost is surprisingly low in comparison to a single treatment.
 
YasandCrystal said:
I was not suggesting acupuncture, but osteopathy via Donna. If you send your horse to her for treatment for a week or two the cost is surprisingly low in comparison to a single treatment.
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I think she would be quite a bit too far for me, Newmarket is about 4 hours drive for me.
 
I have a 16yo Tb who had his SI injected last year and has been transformed :) He'd previously had his hocks injected which had improved his action but never cured his inability to strike of correctly in canter on the right rein. He would always improve after accupuncture to his back but this would only last 8-10 weeks which is why we tried the injections in the hope it would be a longer term solution.

We did change his management at the same time on my vets advice, he is now kept out 24/7 and only came in a few nights over winter when the weather was horrific. His field is on a hill and he's encouraged to move as much as possible. If he's kept in he definitley stiffens up, though he's never been as bad as he was before the injections. The canter transitions are now 99% correct under saddle and on the lunge, however we have had a very specific program to build him up. Whilst the injections have allowed us to help him strike off correctly it wasnt automatic. He is, however, sounder than he's been in all the time we've had him.

Re the acupuncture, I'd say that it's a complimentary therapy, not a cure. I have both my geldings done and have seen great results but you do need to look at it as something that makes the horse more comfortable to enable you to put the work in to support the horse when the effects of the acupuncture wears off. It's not the acupuncture alone that makes the difference.

Feel free to PM me if you want to ask anything more about our experiences.
 
Thank you so much that's interesting. My boy has never been lame or stiff and he had pretty good flexion in his hocks when tested by vet hence the belief the toe drag is stemming from his SI. His only symptoms are he toe drags (the main one), struggles to step through and under especially in lateral work and can be backwards- not necessarily down to this issue, may just be him! The vet told me recovery period would be quick and a case of few days off then week walking and then continue as normal and see if there has been any changes.
 
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