What happens when if it was an SI Problem all along?

[Suncat]

Hi all,

I’m a long-time lurker, first-time poster of a new subject

Please would you help me get prepared by sharing some of your experiences? It's a very long story I’m sorry! The horse I’ve had on loan for a few years is having a bone scan in a couple of days for a suspected SI Joint problem. He went very lame about a month ago and when it didn’t resolve in short order the vet was pretty convinced it was an SI problem, given the lameness and a clear kink/bend in his spine ahead of the joint. My physio also got a pain response palpating (as much as is possible) around the joint. So a scan was the best next step (cue insurance, referrals, etc).

I think I’d be more relaxed if that was the only history, but we fear it's a long standing problem. A couple of years ago he tried to jump a fence in the field, and got hog-tied (hind legs stuck out behind in the fencing when he fell), luckily only for a minute or so, due to some real heroics by his owner in getting him free. Barring cuts and bruises he seemed to escape (miraculously) unscathed; so we thought.

He was very green so was only beginning gentle work, but about 5-6months later he went lame and was diagnosed (ultrasound) with a ligament tear in his stifle. Paddock and box rest followed and about 5 months later he was sound and coming very slowly back to work. He’d always been on the forehand, not really using his back end - but compensating for the stifle issue left him sound, but unlevel through his hips. So we got a good physio and a good instructor (working together) and went really, really slowly, focusing on building his core muscles, improving his movement and use of himself. This was successful and he went level, hind movement massively improved and he was showing good basic engagement, BUT every couple of months he’s go lame, stiff in his hind legs and tight through his back - but it would resolve within 2-4 days with rest. We began to worry there was an underlying issue high up in his hind end, but he was always sound by the time we were calling the vet... but then this time he was worse and here we are. So in hindsight, maybe an issue that’s been aggravated now and then to varying degrees?

So I’ve read lots of threads and it seems the quicker the issue is diagnosed and treated the better... Has anyone had experience with an SI problem that rumbled on at a low level for a long time before diagnosis? Should I prepare for bad news or hold my nerve? Any things I should be looking out for in the vet results/feedback?

If there’s a good chance of him coming back to work with rest, treatment and rehab that’s fine. It might seem odd to some to have persevered this long already on a loan horse, but he’s an absolute gem of a horse and a joy to look after. His owners are great to and very supportive. And I’ve actually learn tons and got a lot of satisfaction out of the rehab and training so far, he’s achieved so much and I never thought you could do/learn so much in mostly walk
He’s (hopefully) a riding club horse, aimed at doing prelim/novice dressage and a bit of jumping, trec, etc. So being able to do some or all in the end would be a great outcome.

All good advice, negative or positive gratefully received – and thank you for reading my essay x

 

[5bs]

Hi, my horse whom I bought last May and passed a five stage vetting, started doing odd things within the first two weeks of owning him, the list gradually got longer until he went chronically lame and had to be pushed out of the field.

I had, had the vet out, teeth, saddle , farrier and chiro (not a fan of 'having the back person out' ) as from my experience, if you need them reguarly then there is something going on, that shouldn't be.

So ended up going to Cambridge vet school about three months ago, bone scanned etc, and he has a pretty bad sacroiliac problems, the vet said it was an old injury that he would have done as a youngster before I got him over in Ireland, and has been niggling away, probably for two or three years. He is only six, a maxi cob, and she said it is very rare to see this type of injury on a horse like him, it's your more athletic types usually.

So treatment, PRP into the sacroiliac seven weeks barn rest, he was then injected two weeks ago with steroid, she was very pleased with his reduced lamness, although he is still 3/10ths lame.

He is out in the field now, was supposed to be a small paddock, that didn't work.

For the next month he has to be ridden twenty minutes a day, on the road. Then the next month, twenty minutes a day on the road and starting gentle trot work to build him up. He is not allowed in a school, or on the bridleways, as the road is a good support for his joints, tendons etc. Vet to reassess in two months.

What the future brings we shall see, he has arthritic changes in the joint already at his young age.

He is barefoot, as he did not like being shod behind, that was my first indicater all was not right. Was dreading them telling me he had to be shod, but far from it they said he has excellent feet, and does not need shoes, good job with all the trotting on the roads he will be doing.

If he doesn't come right he will be pts, and the vet agrees, he prefers the hard ground, to the deep muddy ground.

 

[coffeeandabagel]

My boy is 8 now, 17.hh ISH - done a lot of BE before I got him and was going to be my school master. Had him a year now

Does he dislike going up and down hills / ramps etc? That was one of the main indicators that my boys SI was bad. he was also v sore on back and chest , unequally muscled as he compensated for the inability to move his joints properly. Didnt hold his own hind feet - getting studs in was a nightmare! Didnt carry his tail and poorly muscled quarters.

After a summer of niggles and seeing local vet he went to Rossdales and they found significant osteoarthritis in his SI and some in his neck so he had them injected. I did start their rehab programme similar to 5bs but he was so anxious and sore I took him to Donna Blinamn who said his sacrum was sunken and fixed. Any work I was doing was not helping him but contribuiting to more of the wrong muscles developing. He is physically unable to work properly through his back.

He has not been ridden since November and is has been out 24/7 for a month. He has lost all the muscle and has put on weight - feels happier in himself I think with no pressure.

He goes to Donna on 6th May for a months rehab - she wanted him for 3 but my insurance has a low limit for complementary therapy which is what they class her as giving, even though she is a vet.

Best outcome is low level dressage and hacking - he wont event again. I also need to ride him proeprly every day and work hard to keep the way of going correct - thats going to be a big ask for me and I have a lot to learn! I have decied to give him until Septmebr following Donna's regime and then just before his insurance runs out get him injected again. If he isnt back in some kind of work it will be PTS or application to go to the blood bank since I cant afford to keep him. Makes me cry to think about that though - so ploughing on for now.

At the time I was scared it was KS but now I wish it had been - there seems to be better prognsois for those caes.

 

[Suncat]

Thanks for the answers so far; 5bS I really hope your boy comes good.

CoffeeAndBagel – He’s not objected to hacking on hills or ramps as yet, but he has struggled to have his back feet trimmed (he’s barefoot anyhow) since the stifle injury and all the box rest. A lot of the physio work has been to address the uneven muscles and lack of development around his behind. He did hold his tail to one side a bit initially but that’s happened again badly since the last bout.
I wonder if he’d been able to compensate when he was fit, but loosing muscle when on box rest made things much worse for him?
I’ve been warned that if it's SI he’ll need regular specific work to stay stable...
lots of luck to you too!