Suspensory Ligament desmitis - so many options

A

Amber...

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 February 2011
Messages
100
Visit site
To cut a long story short my horse has recently been diagnosed with suspensory ligament desmitis in his hind leg. Although he hasnt shown much lameness there is quite a lot of scarring on the upper part of his ligament. He is currently away having hydrotherapy at a fantastic rehab centre following 3 months of box rest/pen rest, in hand walking and bute.

He is due to be re scanned in a week and obviously I will be speaking to my vet about all of my options but I'm just forward thinking.

I'm just wondering if anyone has had a horse with a similar injury and if anyone has had success with either low level laser therapy, ultrasound or PEMF?

We are also just starting with the Rambo Ice Vibe boots under recommendation from the vet. So far (touch wood) everything is looking promising just wanting to know other peoples experiences.

Thank you!
 
Mine had a mild suspensory injury in a fore leg, he has shockwave and PRP, along with an Arc Equine. He was also taken barefoot and walked in hand a lot, starting from 100 yds and working up from there. He did come completely sound, but TBH I am not sure it wasn't the rest and controlled return to work that did it. The first set of scans after the vet treatment were disappointing, but after rest and controlled work it was all fixed.

Having said that, once we bought him the ArcEquine we used it on ourselves and did notice our various injuries improve...

I decided against surgery, as it would mean he was banned BE, BD and BS forever. I may have considered it if he had not come sound and it was the only way he could retire comfortably.
 
I have heard lots of things about ArcEquine and i have done a lot of research in to it. Think it will definitely be worth asking the vets about also. Thank you :)
 
My mare had suspensory inflammation, I used the ARC equine religiously, she had the ice vibe boots on daily before and after controlled exercise, I worked her in Acavello gel bandages.
She did go to a water treadmill at the end of the rehab work too, unfortunately the strenuous exercise on that bought SIJ pain, I am sure the SI had been niggling before but was bought to the forefront by being made to use herself so much more on the treadmill.
I also bought an activo med rug, I want the PEMF boots but I just can't afford them right now after all the other expense.
 
Awh thats fantastic thank you. I'm going to do a bit more research in to the ArcEquine. He is having hydrotherapy at the rehab place but it's just a spa so no strenuous exercise. It has helped massively too and we've seen some fab results.

I was going to look in to some good bandages for our controlled walking so that's great that you've recommended some.

Other than the hydrotherapy he's also modelling some EquStreamz bands which seem to be working, we now have our icevibe boots, we are turning out in our small pen every day for a few hours and we are in hand walking for 10 minuets twice a day. If anyone has any other experience please let me know :)

Thank you xxxx
 
Good luck, it sounds like you are already doing everything you can.
Just as a side note for the arc, you can use it on you and the dogs too - mine has assisted in the mending of a smashed wrist, a ruptured tendon that was repaired, a severely torn kidney, that was just me in one fail! So whilst they are expensive, they have so many uses.
 
Thank you that's great I'm currently doing some research in to ArcEquine. I have looked in to them before but with so many options of treatment out there I've been a little unsure.

He's home from the rehab place tonight and his leg is looking fantastic although slightly warm after travelling. Cooled down nicely after using the Ice Vibe boots. Wish I could leave him at the rehabilitation place until he's totally better and then I know he's safe haha! I never imagined myself worrying so much over a leg... Hey ho, only a week to go and then it's scan day so at least we will have answers.

In the mean time I'm going to plan the purchase of my new ArcEquine device :D
 
Check Facebook and ask on there, there are lots of agents who will be only too willing to ram a discount down your throat!
(said tongue in cheek because they fall over themselves to reply to EVERY thread that ever mentions the ARC) I think its around £80 discount with an agent code - better than nothing!

Best of luck with the scan!
 
Thats great thank you I will have an ask now.

Tonight after evaluating the bad leg for a good 40 minuets I've convinced myself that there's slight swelling and heat. Although the other leg is also warm... As is the majority of the horse due to it being a warm day here haha. Actually think I am going insane and beginning to imagine things. Only a few more days until we find out... if i haven't had a mental break down before then that is lol
 
Horses who have had surgery for PSD, neurectomy and fasciotomy, can still compete affiliated. It is a highly selective neurectomy, they are not running around with numb legs.
 
Regandal said:
Horses who have had surgery for PSD, neurectomy and fasciotomy, can still compete affiliated. It is a highly selective neurectomy, they are not running around with numb legs.
Click to expand...

I would be very careful advising this to people without having it in writing. You can imagine if someone went ahead with the operation instead of a long rest, and was not aware their horse is now only an unaffiliated horse.

I contacted BE when I was considering the operartion for my horse, as my vet said he would be ineligible for BE, BD and BS. He was a senior partner at an equine hospital, but I still got it from the horse's mouth as I wanted to be sure. The vet did also say it is a very small area that is numbed, but they are the rules. I got it straight from BE HQ.

A few months ago someone on facebook was advising someone to have a suspensory nurectomy on a hind leg, and they were insistent that a hind leg was different than a fore leg. I did not want the poor lady to unintentionally make her horse unable to compete, as a rest would likely cure it too, so I wrote to BS, and got written confirmation that it is NOT allowed.

To compete a horse affilliated after the operation would be against the rules, to do it knowingly is cheating. You could be fined, and the horse would be banned forever.

If the horse needs the operation to be comfortable then of course he should have it, but the owner should then know the limitations.
 
Under fei rules, any horse showing limb hyper or hyposensitivity will be pulled. A psd neurectomy does not reduce skin sensitivity.
 
We did the faciotomy without the neurectomy and had instant result. We didnt agree with the neurectomy especially on such a young horse. However the faciotomy released the pressure and instantly made him more comfortable.
 
Thanks for everyone's comments regarding surgery. I told my vets from the onset that surgery wasn't really an option for him unless it was the only and final option to keep him comfortable and happy. He's 16 now so I dont feel like it would benefit him knowing his temperament and how he deals with recovery :)
 
Oh and also on the back of that we've done our fair share of competitions so even if the surgery was the route we did go down I wouldn't be planning on continuing his competitive career. I would be happy for him to be a happy hacker and he's done me proud over the years so it's the least he deserves. :)
 
I would really welcome some advice my pony injured her hind suspensory ligament in May, low down, initially she was on box rest and hosing and bute, she has been on post rest now for nearly 4 months. She has been fitted with remedial shoes, and has now access to a small yard in front of her stable. But there has been no improvement , in fact I think there seems more swelling than when she injured it. I am at a loss what to do next.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top