Birker2020
Well-Known Member
My horse had a sprain to the lateral branch of the suspensory ligament 2 years ago in June 2011. He received PRP in around Dec 2011 thus began a slow recovery over many months and in August 2012 was jumping 1.05m without problem. Here he is 3 months after the initial injury and as you can see he is hopping on the leg slightly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8VtwhyY6kk
Scans said it wasn’t improving so he had PRP in the Nov/Dec of 2011 and then fusion by ethanol in his hocks in January 2012 as he was overcompensating on the near fore due to spavin in the off hind.
Yesterday my horse got stuck in the frame of a wheelbarrow and dragged the wheelbarrow about 20ft. He was very lucky to escape serious harm in the form of a broken leg and has cut the inside of his cannon bone slightly but the main worry was his suspensory ligament. As soon as I got to the yard after receiving the call at work I cold hosed. Luckily my friend who was nearby when the accident happened had cold hosed the injury and placed an ice boot on the injury site, seeing that it was inflamed over his suspensory ligament. She had already done a great deal of work on this leg when he first did his suspensory, helping to break down the fibrosis with LW ultrasound (she is a veterinary physiotherapist) so she knew how crucial it was to treat the injury immediately.
I put an ice cup on the leg (polystyrene filled with water, frozen, and then placed open end on leg in a circular movement peeling down the polystyrene as the ice melts). This kind of cold treatment is very beneficial as it is instant ice cold therapy, and unlike cold hosing the water is at an ambient temperature so does not vary with weather conditions.
I also placed his leg in a tub of water and splashed it for about 15 minutes and then applied another ice boot. I went home to ring the vet and he said there was nothing he could do that I hadn’t already done so was pointless ringing him but to let him know how Bailey was the following day. Yesterday I repeated the cold hosing, ice booting, ice cupping and tubbing another twice and did the same this morning before work. I also bandaged both front legs to give support.
This morning the leg has gone down amazingly. He had a sachet of bute last night but I don’t think that would have made all the difference. I plan to let him have in hand grass tonight, and tomorrow morning and re ice it tonight and tomorrow morning and then turn out for a couple of hours Sunday. It looks like he may have got away with it, but I won't know until I start riding him again.
I really feel that ice in the first 24 – 48 hours makes a considerable difference to the outcome of any tendon strain/sprain.
Just thought I would let people know the benefits of ice cups stored in your freezer at the yard.
I have bought some more polystyrene cups and will fill them tonight and freeze them so if anyone ever needs one they are there.
Scans said it wasn’t improving so he had PRP in the Nov/Dec of 2011 and then fusion by ethanol in his hocks in January 2012 as he was overcompensating on the near fore due to spavin in the off hind.
Yesterday my horse got stuck in the frame of a wheelbarrow and dragged the wheelbarrow about 20ft. He was very lucky to escape serious harm in the form of a broken leg and has cut the inside of his cannon bone slightly but the main worry was his suspensory ligament. As soon as I got to the yard after receiving the call at work I cold hosed. Luckily my friend who was nearby when the accident happened had cold hosed the injury and placed an ice boot on the injury site, seeing that it was inflamed over his suspensory ligament. She had already done a great deal of work on this leg when he first did his suspensory, helping to break down the fibrosis with LW ultrasound (she is a veterinary physiotherapist) so she knew how crucial it was to treat the injury immediately.
I put an ice cup on the leg (polystyrene filled with water, frozen, and then placed open end on leg in a circular movement peeling down the polystyrene as the ice melts). This kind of cold treatment is very beneficial as it is instant ice cold therapy, and unlike cold hosing the water is at an ambient temperature so does not vary with weather conditions.
I also placed his leg in a tub of water and splashed it for about 15 minutes and then applied another ice boot. I went home to ring the vet and he said there was nothing he could do that I hadn’t already done so was pointless ringing him but to let him know how Bailey was the following day. Yesterday I repeated the cold hosing, ice booting, ice cupping and tubbing another twice and did the same this morning before work. I also bandaged both front legs to give support.
This morning the leg has gone down amazingly. He had a sachet of bute last night but I don’t think that would have made all the difference. I plan to let him have in hand grass tonight, and tomorrow morning and re ice it tonight and tomorrow morning and then turn out for a couple of hours Sunday. It looks like he may have got away with it, but I won't know until I start riding him again.
I really feel that ice in the first 24 – 48 hours makes a considerable difference to the outcome of any tendon strain/sprain.
Just thought I would let people know the benefits of ice cups stored in your freezer at the yard.
I have bought some more polystyrene cups and will fill them tonight and freeze them so if anyone ever needs one they are there.
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