Very lame following tendon surgery - to be expected?

[dressage_diva]

My horse had arthroscopy on his off fore last Monday to remove a flap of damaged DDFT (along with stem cells injected under GA that day and them more the next under local - long story!) and they also had a look inside his near fore, but didn't remove anything.

He seemed quite happy when I picked him up on the Wednesday - not too sore and happily walked back to his box once he came off the lorry. However, the last couple of days he's seemed really quite lame even pottering around his stable (he's on box rest).

He's happy enough in himself and he's having his dressings and bandages changed on both front legs every other day as the vets requested (unless they're coming loose/getting too dirty).

Is this normal for them to be much more lame a few days following surgery? Just a bit worried as he seems to be worse than straight after the op (but he did have a 1.5hr lorry ride home although we tried to go very slowly)? Will ring my vets tomorrow if I'm still concerned, but thought I'd ask on here anyways.

Thanks

 

[AmyMay]

My partner has just had the same procedure on his knee and is in a lot of pain.....

What did your vet tell you to expect, and have you been given any pain relief for the horse?

 

[dressage_diva]

My partner has just had the same procedure on his knee and is in a lot of pain.....

What did your vet tell you to expect, and have you been given any pain relief for the horse?

Vet didn't advise whether he'd be in any pain or not - I was told the surgery went well and he recovered well from the GA and they were happy to send him home. Have been given a detailed rehab plan, but no information about how much pain he was likely to be in. Unfortunately we picked him up very late on Wed night (9pm) and all the vets were involved in emergency surgery at the time. He seemed happy as larry walking out of the box to the lorry, and then when he walked the several 100 yards when he came off the lorry back home.

We weren't given any pain relief for him - just told to change the bandages regularly for the next 3 weeks, and he can have the stitches out after 2 weeks.

 

[AmyMay]

Prob best to give them a buzz.

 

[dressage_diva]

Prob best to give them a buzz.

Thanks thought I'd ring them tomorrow (didn't want to bother them at the weekend), but was wondering if I was being silly! I'd imagine if I'd had surgery on a tendon in my leg I'd be in agony and dosing up on ibuprofen, so it's probably no wonder he's feeling a bit sore. But then perhaps it's best he is sore as it'll make sure he stays nice and quiet in the stable, whereas if it isn't sore at all he might start moving around!