RachelB
Well-Known Member
Got Maiden back from the vet this afternoon. The short of it is that we still have no idea of the cause of this lameness!
The long of it is that the vet did the three nerve blocks used to diagnose navicular as he was almost certain it was that - she has all the predisposing factors to indicate navi. Apparently if one or more of these blocks come back positive, it is likely to be navi - and all three were negative and she was as lame as ever. So in a way I'm relieved, but then we still have no idea of what's causing her discomfort (apparently she wanted to have a buck on the lunge but was in too much pain
)
Vet also attempted a tendon sheath block which made her sound on the left fore (but lame on the right), but admitted that he is almost certain he missed the sheath and the anaesthetic leaked and got a nerve running higher up, hence why she went sound (she is sound on both forelegs when they are blocked at the pastern joint). So it's not navi, not in the lower foot at all, and not above the pastern joint (all confirmed by multiple different blocks, x-rays and ultrasounds that were all very consistent and pointing towards possible pastern area pain). Vet thinks that whatever is wrong with the left (worse) leg is wrong with the right as they are very similar in clinical signs, but the left is far more upright (in vet's words, "almost vertical"
).
So anyway, although we still don't have a cause, we have a plan. Vet is sending a recommendation report off to insurance to say that she should go off to have MRI and scintigraphy. So pending the insurance people's verdict (which hangs in the balance a bit as I've only had her 10 months, but even if they don't pay or don't pay all, I'll scrape my bank clean if I have to) she will be off hopefully sometime soon and then we may be able to get a clearer picture of where exactly it may be.
Vet seemed pretty positive though, which must be a good sign! I think he was relieved although puzzled that it wasn't navi (as was I after reading through the H&H archives) but we're all pleased to have a plan of action again.
Everyone on my yard is back from RC camp now, and next year's is booked in for 14th April. As long as Maiden is sound enough to go next year I will be happy!
Sorry if bits of this don't make sense, it's all in a jumble in my head!
And thank you to everyone who replied to my navicular post, you were all really helpful!
The long of it is that the vet did the three nerve blocks used to diagnose navicular as he was almost certain it was that - she has all the predisposing factors to indicate navi. Apparently if one or more of these blocks come back positive, it is likely to be navi - and all three were negative and she was as lame as ever. So in a way I'm relieved, but then we still have no idea of what's causing her discomfort (apparently she wanted to have a buck on the lunge but was in too much pain
Vet also attempted a tendon sheath block which made her sound on the left fore (but lame on the right), but admitted that he is almost certain he missed the sheath and the anaesthetic leaked and got a nerve running higher up, hence why she went sound (she is sound on both forelegs when they are blocked at the pastern joint). So it's not navi, not in the lower foot at all, and not above the pastern joint (all confirmed by multiple different blocks, x-rays and ultrasounds that were all very consistent and pointing towards possible pastern area pain). Vet thinks that whatever is wrong with the left (worse) leg is wrong with the right as they are very similar in clinical signs, but the left is far more upright (in vet's words, "almost vertical"
So anyway, although we still don't have a cause, we have a plan. Vet is sending a recommendation report off to insurance to say that she should go off to have MRI and scintigraphy. So pending the insurance people's verdict (which hangs in the balance a bit as I've only had her 10 months, but even if they don't pay or don't pay all, I'll scrape my bank clean if I have to) she will be off hopefully sometime soon and then we may be able to get a clearer picture of where exactly it may be.
Vet seemed pretty positive though, which must be a good sign! I think he was relieved although puzzled that it wasn't navi (as was I after reading through the H&H archives) but we're all pleased to have a plan of action again.
Everyone on my yard is back from RC camp now, and next year's is booked in for 14th April. As long as Maiden is sound enough to go next year I will be happy!
Sorry if bits of this don't make sense, it's all in a jumble in my head!
And thank you to everyone who replied to my navicular post, you were all really helpful!
