Suspensory desmitis treatment experiences

[Morgan123]

Hey everyone, just wondering if people could share their experiences with dealing with susp desmitis? I know every case is different, but I'm really interested to hear what treatments people had and how they felt these worked long term and so on.

My arab has a fairly typical case in one hind, plus two kissing spines whihc I understand is fairly common along with PDP. He's not a surgery candidate and the desmitis is in both the origin and branch of suspensory (though the origin is driving most of the lameness). We tried six months in the field with physio but had no change, so we've just done a month of box rest to stabilise it, and now had his back and SI injected and started shockwave and PDP on the back leg. I'll also use ice boots and am in two minds about getting an ARC equine perhaps too. And a back massage pad. I've got a great physio, vet and farrier who all know eachother and work well, but yeh. Looks like a long road ahead! The vet gave a guarded prognosis but is aiming for us to get him sound enough to be a general hacking/fun ride type horse but I'm prepared that might not be possible.

My biggest issue in the long term is that our turnout is like horse heaven - 15 acres of lovely interesting welsh hilldside and our herd LOVE galloping around it and playing and jumping the gorse etc, basically everything that is bad for ligaments. ARGH. Anyway this is irrelevant I'm yabbering on.

THANKS!!

 

[scats]

Mare was diagnosed with mild PSD in right hind, mild hock arthritis and SI joint disease. Not a candidate for surgery and vet did say if I was looking for her to be a riding horse, he’d advise put to sleep as it would likely never happen. I took her home and chucked her out. She had 12 months off altogether but she came in at night in the winter. Wasn’t sensible in the field at all but I was prepared to take the risk as I had no expectations for her.
She now does 3-4 days a week, mix of long-reining, hacking and one school session. We don’t canter (well, not intentionally!) anymore. I’m happy to do whatever she feels capable of doing that day and I just go by her. She loves her hacking. She’s still an idiot out in the field, but that’s fine by me. If she does herself a mischief one day and it’s game over, then the decision is made. But while she is happy and enjoying life, I treat her as normally as I can.

She sees her vet chiro every 6 months (initially she had monthly sessions) and if I ever feel she is a bit off, she gets a few days rest. It happens every now and then. A few weeks ago she stumbled on a stone walking to the ménage and seemed off behind, I took her straight back to her stable and chucked her out in the field for a week and she was sound again within three days. She’s not my main riding horse though so I don’t have that pressure to put on her.

 

[Morgan123]

Thank you, this is great to hear. If I can just hack a few times a week that will be fine to keep him happy and me too, good to hear you got to that point just with rest and chiro. Thanks!

 

[SEL]

Mine is my main riding horse (well, was - got a little project recently) & also had PSSM so I'm muddling through trying to see if I can get her to the stage of light hacking.

She had gel injections into her hocks which made a huge difference. Steroid into SI which only lasted about 6 weeks sadly - she moved like a different horse after having it done.

It's left hind suspensory which is the issue and i think was originally caused by her being silly on a deep surface. She got worse out of work which I think is the PSSM and tight muscles. Vet thinks return to any level of work is "guarded"

 

[ForeverBroke_]

Mine damaged his hind suspensory last year. He immediately did 4 months box rest/ pen rest, and whilst doing so he had a course of shockwave, PRP and I hired an Arc Equine also. Last scan showed no damage, and fingers crossed he has stayed sound. He still didn't feel 100%, so we medicated his SI and he's being rehabbed for both. All I've done for the last 6 months is hack, mostly in walk but I am hoping to up his work load gradually to include a bit of school work over the next few months.

He also has an enormous field and lives as a herd, so I feel your pain on the slightly less than 'ideal,' field antics!

 

[AlDestoor]

Mine is a similar case to yours. Mild PSD and also 2 spinous processes that are touching however, mine went for both surgeries. He had the Neu and fas bilateral first and then 6 weeks later, he had the ligament snip.

We've had 3 weekly vet physio, remedial farriery as well as long lining every single day over poles. He had his SI injected 6 weeks into the rehab. He had a massage pad on every night for 5 months and a heat pad before riding.

We're now 35 weeks post op for the PSD op and 29 weeks post op for his KS and slowly coming out the other side. My boy doesn't enjoy hacking that much so we stick to the school and work on building him up. I didn't really do much in terms of rehab for his legs as the vet said just crack on with it but I do try and stay away from lunging and circles as much as i can. My boy has to be lunged for 5 minutes before I get on due to him being cold back still (Sensitive boy he is) however, this is all we do and we keep our sessions short and sweet.