Subscapularis injury

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Lauren90

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Hi all

My mare suddenly came lame one day. After giving her 2 weeks off and checking for abscess/ laminitis( which it wasn't) I had the physio/chiro out who confirmed subscapularis muscle (much better than the pulled tendon I had in my head). However it's now been 4 weeks (5 this Friday) and she's still lame, does anyone have any experience with healing this muscle and how long it takes? She's now 18 so I realise it may take a little longer than if she was 5! It appears she caused it by having too much fin in that field of hers. Thanks :)
 
What has the physio said? they have diagnosed so should be best placed to give a prognosis.

I would think your vet should be brought in if the horse has not improved or responded to treatment given by the physio.
 
Physio said time would heal and there wasn't a time they could give to how long it takes. How long is a piece of string.... I asked if she needed to be treated again with him or if there was anything I could do but no's all round. He was very much a believer in the muscle healing itself, as we would do ourselves. Very open ended..
 
A vet is the only person that is legally allowed to diagnose. If your physio/chiro came out on a routine visit and found your horse to have gone suddenly lame, they should have referred you back immediately to your vet.

The subscapularis (as the name implies) is virtually totally covered by the scapula and not accessible for massage or other hands on therapies. I would have wanted anti-inflammatories from the vet, assuming a proper diagnosis involving blocks had confirmed the initial suspicion; also, probably initial box rest with controlled movement/stretches being introduced slowly plus anything else that the vet recommended.

TBH true shoulder injuries are very rare and damage to the subscapularis is likely to have involved injury to other soft tissue structures as well.

I would advise you to consult your vet asap, especially as the horse has shown no improvement after 4/5 weeks.

Good luck.
 
I did wonder why there was no need for me to follow anything up, seems very strange. That's one of the concerns I had is that it could affect other areas if she over compensates. She's probably 2/3 10ths lame but lame is lame regardless. I'm goig to call the vet today. It was in fact them who suggested farrier to check and a chiro first before they came out and to give her a few weeks. I just want her to be better, if I can't ride then that's just how it's going to be but I don't want her to be unconfortable. Stranger, I dont understand you're response, sorry! :-s
 
Lauren90 said:
I'm goig to call the vet today. It was in fact them who suggested farrier to check and a chiro first before they came out and to give her a few weeks....... Stranger, I dont understand you're response, sorry! :-s
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Ummm...........not wishing to criticise a professional, but if that was indeed the case then I personally would be looking to register with a different vet. However, have not been party to the conversations that took place, so should really reserve judgement.

Stranger is obviously a betting man/woman and offering you odds of 3-1 on that the problem lies not in the shoulder but in the foot somewhere! Personally, I would offer you even shorter odds! :D
 
Very strange for a vet to advise you to wait rather than come out and check. The words were unless there is heat or swelling or she gets worse then give her time off, which obviously was going to be the case when she's lame! I thought the foot but no heat, swelling, bruising, pulsing, entry/exit points or anything else. However when you test her shoulder for range of movement and you push it up under her she really isn't happy and tries to move away, after I saw that I went with shoulder too. Other ideas where chipped pedal bone (by the farrier as he's 100% it's not hoof related) :)
 
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