Tendon injuries and Ice Tight...what to do?

[mrussell]

I was advised to apply ice tight to a recent tendon injury twice a day but when I unbandage, the clay is hot and wet.

How does Ice Tight work? I am nervous about letting the tendon get so warm.

 

[imafluffybunny]

I havent used ice tight but i use another brand of cool clay, I dont bandage on top of it and his legs are cool and tight after use. Could you be using too thick a bandage that is causing heat to build up?

 

[mrussell]

possibly...good point !

Will try something a bit thinner.

 

[ccooxxyy]

Are you wrapping something over the ice-tight between gamgee and bandage, like cling film or something waterproof? if so that may be why is is staying wet. Might be worth putting icetight on then covering it with a wet piece of brown paper(AKA cut up feed bag!) then gamgee and bandage on top. The wet papaer allows for the icetight to work for longer. That is - if you want to continue to bandage at the same time as using icetight.

 

[mrussell]

I wasnt sure what to do with it to be honest so I put it on under the bandages that the vet used when she first came out, ie ice tight, damp bit of brown feed bag paper, gamgee, stockinette and then stable bandage.

Ive just been out and to the stable bandage off so it can breathe a bit more.

Just scared that the heat will do more damage than good.

I have been cold hosing in between applications...and used ice for the first 48 hours without any ice tight involved at all.

 

[Britestar]

We have recently used something called Tensolvet. Apply 4 times daily, DON'T massage or rub in, and it really seemed to work.
Also Vet pointed out that shouldn't cold hose for more than 5 mins at a time, as vessels will over contract with extended cold, and when you finish, blood vessels will re engorge and over heat the area to compensate. Very logical if you think about it, but certainly in 30+ years no-one has ever mentioned it before.

 

[Maesfen]

You could try a Bonner Bandage, it was brilliant for a very bad tendon on a race mare and it helped Tophorse out when her horse did the same.
You soak it in water, squeeze out and put in the freezer for 15 min's, then apply to leg for no longer than 20 minutes; you can re use several times a day as long as there are a couple of hours between each one.
It worked far better than anything else we tried at the time, especially as mare had very sensitive skin so couldn't use clays etc.

 

[Madcow]

When one of mine had a tendon injury, I alternated between stable bandages and Cool sport boots, did the trick!

 

[Equetouch]

I'd second the use of the Bonner bandage.

Otherwise you can buy Ice leg wraps, which are velco boots with inserts to place frozen gel pads in and wrap around the leg. These need to be taken out of the freezer approx 1/2 hour before applying to the leg then left on for no more than 20 minutes at any one time.

The effect of cold is to restrict the blood vessel in the limb, which aids reduction of inflammation to the surrounding tissues and slightly numbs the nerve endings. When taken off the body's natural mechanism for restoring body temperature dilates the blood vessels and assists the lymphatic system in flushing the toxins from that area.

You are always better in my opinion to do this after some light exercise, eg walked in hand briefly etc depending on the severity of the injury.

A series of sports massage treatments, encompassing a stretching routine will also boost the circulatory system and keep the limbs supple.

 

[almorton]

im probably a cheapskate but we use frozen peas in small bags either side, bandaged over......! or if your really clever, a large brushing boot keeps them in place. just for 10 mins every hour. works wonders.

 

[Equetouch]

Great idea with the frozen peas, but make sure they do not have direct contact with the skin/coat as you can cause severe irritation to the skin & occasionally blisters or ice burns.

 

[JaneB]

I understood the opposite about the cold hosing. You have to do it for a minimum of 20mins for it to cool the underlying tissues. After the closing down of blood vessels and reduction in swelling, I also thought part of the point is the re-opening so the blood can clear fluids. Any vets out there who could clear this up?