Trapped sciatic nerve

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Bewitched

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Can anyone help me? I have a 14hh pony which the vet reckons has a trapped nerve in her back. She doesn't want to put her near hind down at all anf if I force her she tries to walk on the toe and drags the other leg through quickly wearing the toe on the ground. I have had a back man out twice who says each time he has released the nerve and to give her a few days but she is not any better. She is getting Danilone twice a day. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?
 
Hi Bewitched, so sorry to hear about your pony but please hang in there.

Not the same cause but a couple of years ago I had a mare who suffered serious nerve damage following the 'foaling from hell' when the foal had already died before birth and was totally jammed - never want to see anything like that again.
She couldn't lift herself of the floor as her backend was paralized but eventually managed to struggle up but her legs kept giving way. The attending vet (out of hours) told me to force her to walk about slowly the next day but I thought she was just plain wrong so asked for the very experienced senior vet first thing in the morning.
He disagreed with most of the other vet's instructions and put the mare on danilon full dose for 2 weeks (mainly to control inflammation) and antibiotics and said not to move her out of her stable until he said so - that was to be three weeks later. At the same time I was talking to the foaling bank about her as I was sure they would have experience of this and they agreed totally with him.
Very slowly she was better able to use her legs but used to wobble about a lot as they were so weak. Eventually she came right but it was a very long job before it all stabalised.

I do use the 'back man' when necessary and an equissage machine but in your case it may be worth speaking to a suitably experienced vet (they aren't all) and maybe trying our route.
May also be worth posting in Breeding as I'm sure there are some very knowledgeable people on there who may have come across similar issues with bad foalings.

Please do let us know how you get on.
 
Bewitched

You say you have had a back person to see your pony. Was the pony any better straight after he treated her or did he not check the pony the same day.

What kind of treatment did he do, manipulation etc. Have you tried using a magnetic pad or rug. Gentle massage will help, as will gentle stretching.

Where are you based I maybe able to put you in touch with a really good Equine Chiropractor.
 
Yes, an abcess was my first thought but the farrier checked and it's definitely not that. I am based near Perth in Scotland, there are a few "back peope" about - it's just finding someone who can really help!
 
It maybe worth getting a Equine Physio who will not manipulate the joint but work on soft tissues , they will also give you some exercises that will help.

Just a bit too far for me to come and help you.


Pauline
 
Just on the abscess subject - we recently had a horse who couldn't put foot to ground - blacksmith tested etc and said no abscess - vet thought it might be fractured pedal bone, xrayed and it turned out to be long very narrow infection/abscess from a piercing by a nail or similar - so blacksmith had missed it.
 
i would get your vet (or a better vet!!) out to get a diagnosis on this problem. f getting danelon 2x a day and still bad then sadly you havent got the diagnosis. yes it could be a high seated abcess but on 2 danelon a day should be comfortable. how long has this been going on?? i would get the vet back .. asap....
 
Mine had something similar - wouldn't put weight on near hind and wouldn't lift off hind - eventually turned out to be a fungal infection of the near hind frog and heel - it eventually peeled right off. Vets & trimmers diagnoses included thrush, abscess and stifle problems!
 
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