Steriod injections into joints?

LaurenBay

LaurenBay

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I was wondering if anyone had any experience in this? My mare has just had to have steriod injections into her stifle to help "activate" the joint. I'm praying that this will work and the vet will give me the all clear to bring her back into work.

Any stories?
 
LaurenBay said:
I was wondering if anyone had any experience in this? My mare has just had to have steriod injections into her stifle to help "activate" the joint. I'm praying that this will work and the vet will give me the all clear to bring her back into work.

Any stories?
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Yep its quite a common thing, my horse has had steroids into his hocks and recently into his coffin joint. Very effective treatment for an awful lot of
horses.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/search.php?searchid=4527474
 
My 6 year old had steroid injections in her hock in February for a suspected bone spavin, she has come back into full work. I have also put her on extra flex HA.
 
I've just had my 9 year olds hocks done and he is much happier doing lateral work and extensions than he was before. It's pretty routine, I would just do it if you can afford it or are insured, there isn't much risk involved.
 
Sorry cptrayes but I beg to differ! My lad had steroid injections for bone spavin and ended up with a nr fatal joint infection. He ended up in hospital on a drip for 9 days, but thankfully pulled through.

Yes joint injections are 'routine' and can make a huge difference, but more often than not need to be repeated at regular intervals, and there are risks.

Good luck!
 
My cob has just been diagnosed with bone spavin and my vet said the 'next step' is steroid injections, however I am not even tempted to explore this route. I have made my feelings clear to the vet and despite him continually saying 'i do them everyday,' I don't want this for my 19 year old happy hacker. A friend's horse with arthritic hocks had them injected and she said don't even bother as they wore off pretty quick and you have to regularly repeat the process. It's personal preference and I have nothing against people who opt for them!
 
I've had them done twice now but in the coffin joints, second one only worked for a short time. I know have a very lame horse even in walk. Vet is coming out tomorrow but I think it's not going to be good news :-(
 
It's a very individual situation - what works well for some might not work as well for others. A vet who does a lot of performance horses might be able to predict success rates with some accuracy depending on the type and amount of damage but quite often it's just a case of trying it and seeing. There does seem to be a general feeling though, that if it's done sooner rather than later it's likely to be more successful and you'll get a longer period between treatments.

There are also other medication options, of which steroid treatment is probably the oldest. Generally, steroid treatment will be ongoing and there in often a diminishing return but that's not the same thing as it "not working", after all, often all you are doing is managing an ongoing situation and making the horse more comfortable. I've also seen steroids used with/as and "internal blister" particularly for stifles . . .I don't know, that makes me a bit nervous and I always wonder whether the "success" has more to do with laying the horse off and a gradual, organised return to work, but some people swear by it.

Also, the level of success can depend a great deal on the other management strategies, such as shoeing, amount and type of work, attention to footing etc. My personal experience is this sort of attention to detail can make a HUGE difference to the period between treatments. Yes, for some horses it's quite a short term "solution" but for others, they get years added to their careers.

As far as the risks, there is a relatively low incidence of problems BUT when they do occur they can be severe. But then all intervention carries a risk, it's just weighing it up in the individual case. I would say it pays to get an experienced vet as theoretically it's not a difficult procedure but, like everything else, practice makes perfect.
 
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Hi my mare has had exactly the same in her stifle!! what is actually wrong with yours because all i got told was it was just swollen but not alot actually wrong as such just inflamed etc so we gave her steroid injection vet at time when quizzed said don't worry there is no reason for her to go wrong again as it's been medicated brought her back into work slowly got back to proper work ie just started jumping again and was ready to start going out to partys again and bam LAME!
spoke to vet who then told me that (obviously we are assuming at mo it's same thing looks like it) he wasn't at all surprised as sometimes steroid injections last a long time but mostly when they have been back in work for 2-3 months they wear off!! so we are now back to vets on monday to (make sure it is stifle again) and give adequan injections now :(
i just wish i had been told in the beginning not to be surprised if she went lame again etc
 
as said..it is a very individual treatment..some it works for and some it doesnt.
my mare had them in her hock - a course of two - there was the option of the third but we kept that back just in case..she was on springs! we did the strongest version of steroid injection straight off...and even my vet was ver pleased with how she reacted and the affect it had on her...she was marvellous! yet, I know it hasnt worked for others...
also this included discussion with my farrier and she had remedial shoes on her backs to lift her heels...wedges! she has been on a supplement ever since which works very well for her.
It gave us 3 more years of doing everything tbh...i gradually retired her after she had an accident but she is still bucking and racing round the field when she feels like it!
Discuss with your vet...I asked lots of questions and dont be afraid to get a second opinion if you want...
 
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