Tendon injury - help

[BridledObsession]

We raced approximately 2 1/2 weeks ago. He finished third and came back lame in his front right leg. There was mild swelling and a little heat. He's been primarily on stall rest and now progressed to being walked. He thinks he's fine. No more lameness but there's still some "filling" on the inside of the leg along the tendons. The vet looked at it a week ago and said he thought it was minor and just needed some time off. Fast forward to today -- there's still some filling-- some days worse than others. I should add that of course many "old-timers" have given their advice -- I think everything from icing to poultices and wraps has been done. It seems to me that icing was the most effective.

I guess I should add that we don't know how/why this happened. After the race a pony girl we know (who didn't know yet that he was injured) said she saw the jockey warm him up right through the only "hole" in the track. So, we're thinking it was a bad step/twist right before the race that started the problem, with the race just completely aggravating it. Watching him on the screen though prior to the race, you'd never know it.

At any rate, another vet was in the barn today doing a sonogram on another horse so we had him check out Champ. He apparently (I wasn't there) found alot of tearing in the tendon (I think small tears in different spots) and said that he'd need at least 8 months off, starting with stall rest to prevent re-injury.

We feel so bad for him because I am not exaggerating when I say this --- he LOVES the track. We stopped bringing him home for what we thought were nice breaks at the farm because he got depressed. But, we want him to have a long, full life after racing so we're not going to take any chances. He's done and coming home and will have to just deal . But, what I want to know is -- does anyone have any advice to aid in the healing/recovery? Anyone else have any experience with something like this? I want him out of the stall and being ridden next spring asap. He's going to be so depressed after daily rides and attention -- now it seems as if he's at the point where he won't even be going on the trail rides.

The most bizarre part of this story to me, is that he's the toughest, soundest little horse we've known. We always joke that he's part pony. It really hammers the point home that anything can and will happen to your race horse at any time.

[zinn21]

Bridled, you need to ultrasound the tendon to determine how bad the tear is. Then you have several choices from stall rest and progressive physical activity to shockwave therapy and stem cell therapy.

Don't feel like you did anything wrong with him physically. I had one who was sound as a brass bell, win a race on the grass by five lengths and come out of the race with a slight tear.

I opted for shockwave therapy and a recuperation program that allows for daily movement with a gradual increase in activity. The key is to keep the tendon flexing but not to the point of re tearing it.

There are two types of stem cell therapies currently available. Vet Stem is a process where stem cells are harvested, the material is sent to their lab where it is prepared for your vet to be reinjected into the area of injury.

A Cell Vet uses material from a pig's blatter that for whatever reason attracts the horse's own stem cells to locate and platform the area of injury. Their material is injected into the area of injury and the previous mentioned occurs.

Vet Stem is about a $2000 project. A Cell Vet is a lot less expensive because they do not harvest.

[zinn21]

Bridle, somehow I missed your sonogram sentence. Sorry..Hope the rest of my post is helpful.

[BridledObsession]

Zinn -- absolutely, it was very helpful. I appreciate it. We're trying to gather as much as info as possible to help him recover. It was also informative to hear how you handled the gradual increase in activity. We were wondering about that. I don't want him "standing still" for any longer than is necessary, but I don't want to re-injure him either.

I'm going to get a magnetic wrap for him and see how that works too. Can't hurt right?

[Gallop58]

I'd recommend a tens or ems unit for your guy. It will gently twitch the muscle attached to the tendon and promote blood flow/reduce edemia while discouraging scar tissue from forming. The tears need to heal though, so it will take some time, but it shouldn't take nearly the 8 months if exercise is gradually introduced and controlled. Monitor with another ultrasound to check.

PM if you need sources to buy. (they're pretty cheap)

KH

[zinn21]

Gallop, have you tried an EMS unit? If so, did you find healing occured faster?

My understanding is the tendon needs at least ten months to be strong enough to handle serious stress regardless of how fast it healed.

[ireneinwa]

When one of mine bowed a few years ago he came home from the track about a week after injury . Trainer had put cold cast on right after tear at the track. Then 5 days after he was home I took cast off and started cold hot therapy. I'd do this 4-5 times a day. Hot mix was something I mixed my self . Well 4 months latter ultrasound solid heal minimal scare tissue.
Vet said to start him back slow I left him turned out for a year started lunging him slow and now hes jumping 3 1/2 ft with ease never had any problems with his leg since. Actually my dad wants to put him back in training I dont think so.

One of my broodmares has an old bow and you can tell by looking at it no one tended to it properly. The best thing is to heat and cool after the 1st stage.
Just my option and exp.

[Sylvie Hebert]

The Bowed Tendon Book..by Tom Ivers used to be sold tru Equine racing system..