Twisted/Sprained Knee

[Tia]

Has anyone had a horse diagnosed with this? I have a horse who after many nerve-blocks and investigative work has finally been diagnosed with a twisted/sprained knee.

If you have had a horse with this, or know of a horse who has had this, can you indicate how long the recovery period was and how you managed it please.

Many thanks.

 

[suestowford]

Not a knee but fetlock joint on a friend's horse was recently very badly sprained, to the point where the vet said "I dont THINK it's broken but it's too swollen to say". It wasn't broken, just very badly sprained. He had 2 weeks box rest, then more weeks in a very small area of paddock, bandages & icepacks etc. Also he was walked out in hand for short distances, then they were increased.
When he was allowed out in company it was in a small field where he could be watched throughout the day. I reckon it took about 6 weeks to get him back to his usual self.

I should add that the vet was very surprised that he was sound again so soon, she had said that it would probably take longer, but then he is a tough little so&so.

 

[mossy]

Not sure if it's the same, but my horse pulled the ligaments above his knee back in april. Initially he was put on box rest, (which i wasn't overly keen on!!) but after 4 weeks there was more swelling and heat than there had been at the start!!
So rightly or wrongly i decided to remove his shoes and turn him away for the summer, he's now been back in work for 8 weeks and ready to compete, theres been no hint of any problems since.
It seemed to take forever for the heat and swelling to go, and even when it had and he was sound i gave him an extra month off just to make sure.
Hopefully yours is just a tweak and will be right as rain in no time.

 

[Tia]

Well I thought it might be a bone chip - but it turns out it isn't. The horse has been sound for 3 weeks and then comes lame for the last week in the month - this has been going on for many many months now and is starting to irk now. He is in a small paddock but the beggar just will not walk around quietly, he likes to play constantly and this is how he keeps setting himself back.

Thank you both for your comment and perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel for this lad of mine. It all happened when I decided that I would sell him.....what's new eh?

 

[mossy]

Doesn't sound like he's doing himself any favours!! I was lucky with dan he was very quiet in the field just ate and ate and ate!!! Not sure what to suggest for a horse that likes to play tho!!!

 

[Tia]

Oh he's his own worst enemy. I have him in a small field with some of my very quiet horses who rarely run around or play wildly - well since putting him in there, he won't let up and constantly has them running around because most of the time I guess he feels fine - he only quietens when he goes lame again. Blooming nitwit.

When he first injured his knee last winter I did box rest him at night times and then put him out in a small paddock through the day - he was absolutely bouncing off the walls every morning, so I decided against putting him in a stable and left him out - but it really isn't working so not sure what to do now. I can't make a small paddock for him now as winter is upon us and the cost to put in a heated drinker is around $700 so definitely not doing that....

 

[mossy]

Well can't think of any constructive advice on that one, seems to be a no win situation. How about some concrete wellies that might stop him!!!!!!!

 

[Tia]

Oh that made me chuckle!

Thanks anyway - I'm just glad to see he is not alone with having this odd condition.