sore over back but scans show nothing

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UKa

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Hi,
just thought I'd post on here to get some other thoughts, experiences maybe. My horse was x-rayed and bone scanned last week as she has had ongoing soreness of her back (saddle area over the spine) and also came out lame after flexion test performed by vet when to check her. Both scans showed nothing abnormal, they did back and also back legs. Have been advised to turn her out in a field for 4-6 weeks and then get vet up again and possibly try her on bute to see if it makes a difference (we already did a painkiller try before she went to be scanned so not sure how this would show anything new but have to speak to my normal vet first to see what he thinks).
Whatelse could she have wrong though? When I first got her she was quite neglected and kitted out with bad tack (including a broken tree!!) - what sort of damage may have come from this if it stems from there? Does she have a nerve problem or a muscular one? I have all these questions now maybe someone on here has any similar experiences.
Thanks for reading.
 
they did a lameness workup but not sure they checked feet tbh and being no vet myself I sort of trusted they would do what they assumed right. Also, she is prone to tying up not sure if this has anything to do with this condition but just thought to give full picture
 
If the lameness work up included nerve books that should have covered feet - there is a reason they have to work upwards...

Lack of changes to bone, combined with tying up/iffy saddle would tend to hint towards a muscular problem - tying up affects the muscles and might leave her a bit tighter anyway. Given that bone problems have been eliminated, might be working asking for a referral for a physio to help with muscle issues - keep an eye on the tying up symptoms as well medically though.
 
have you had any remedial massage done with her - now bone issues are eliminated?
i also got my horse with a bad back from saddes and still has the scars to prove it - she had all sorts of remideal work done and the massages really helped. also - as she'd never worked correctly and up through her back before she did get some tension where you mentioned as she began to work well - her back lady said it was to be expected as she was using the muscles for the first time really (she was v upsidedown before) so she has 3monthly back treatments and she loosens that area off quikt frequently...

other than that.... are you 100% sure it's not the saddle? i had a saddler swearing blind my saddle fitted and me swearing blind the horse did not like it - nothing major came up as pain accross her back but i could tell something was niggling her - sure enough another saddler and a different shaped tree and she's fine...

ETA - i'm 99% sure my horse would not have passed flexion tests when her back was bad - i never bothered to have her vetted for that reason ;)
 
I would ask them about the lameness workup - did it include nerve blocks and x-rays?

I spent two years treating my horse's bad back. Turned out to be the feet all the time, and now they are sorted, so is he.
 
Thanks, lots of areas to assess thank you!

saddle - got it checked on regular basis but will do again and more often/ using different saddler...thanks she does change shape each seasons.

feet - a possibility, she is barefoot behind but I think they have a slightly uneven wear inside and out... also used to be unshod perhaps another reason for sore back as she used to get foot sore (I recognised problem but not until a while in of having her, sorry, a "if only I had done something sooner but didn't know better" issues... have seen her resting hind legs a lot during the years I have had her, never thought this could be hinting at an issue!

muscles - would be keen to look into physio option to relieve symptoms definately. see if vet can make referral guess they may want to find exactly the cause first...
 
amymay said:
I would ask them about the lameness workup - did it include nerve blocks and x-rays?

I spent two years treating my horse's bad back. Turned out to be the feet all the time, and now they are sorted, so is he.
Click to expand...

Thanks! No, she wasn't that lame so they said nerve blocking wasn't working - if that makes sense... one to discuss with my usual vet...
 
aaaah now - barefoot behind = if she is at all sore on her feet (and i'm not anti barefoot - i'm very much for it - my mare was barefoot for ages until i needed studs ;)) then this could be translating up to her back - my trimmer actually advised whilst my horse was transitioning to have her back checked- as even if she's only doing a few missteps a day could be causing her to tense and could cause a tense back... ie not coming up as a lameness but her bracing a bit... worth a thought....

ETA - typed this before i saw your reply re; her being footy and barefoot all round before - how long ago was that? this could be a throw back from then maybe?
 
two years ago she was noticeably sore. That's when I put shoes on and had a back person up to help the symptoms - he was the one to now say have her checked over as she was getting worse again after we seemingly had got her better ( I had two babies in the last 3 years so she had lots of light work only for a long period). always thought in the past she was "cold backed" as that is what the symptoms were like so never thought anything else to it... so really it could have been forever and ever... my poor girlie I just didn't know better...She has been with me now for 7 years altogether
 
oh poor you!
good luck finding something... if i think of anything else i'll let you know!

ooh - jsut thought....mare... overies?!?
 
Thank you! Many good directions to look into. I have the feeling it could all be a combination of factors but she has got very sore on the back so think while finding a solution I also need to relieve symptoms but will let my vet guide me...I just want to be able to have some more fun with my girl. She is a one in a million horse and I feel I have been letting her down all along :(
 
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