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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 396
 
Location: Iowa | My gelding was diagnosed with a stifle effusion this spring after seeing 3 different vets. Has anyone had luck with stifle injuries? What worked, what didn’t, what was a waste of money? Were they ever sounds to run again? My gelding is an 11-year-old who ran 1D local times for years, so I hate to see him waste away. He currently has been on rest for 7 months now and has been through one bag of Equi-Bone with no change. When we injected this spring, it only lasted about one week so we chose to not keep injecting. Below is his vet report from our initial diagnosis. I plan to give him another 5 months rest since we are going into winter here and re-evaluate him next spring. Is there any other supplements or treatments that have worked for stifle issues? The vet quoted me $3,000 for surgery to “attempt” to remove the bone spur that is rubbing the tendons, however he said there is no guarantee that he will ever be sound again especially since dealing with both bone and soft tissue issues. I used a cold laser for a few treatments, it defiantly made the swelling do down but only for about 36 hours then swelling and lameness were back. I have accepted the fact that he will most likely never run again but I would at least like to make him content in the pasture. He still limps around and has swelling and it is so sad to watch!
The things I have done to try to help him: Stall Rest, Equi-Bone supplement, Cold Laser Therapy, Massage Therapy, Magnetic Stifle Wraps, Sore No More, Previcoxx, Injections.
“Burner was examined for a lameness. He has an effusion in the right stifle. He was 3/5 lame in the right rear. I ultra-sounded the stifle. There was an enlargement on the distal medial femur and meniscus. I was concerned about the medial collateral ligament over the bone spur on the femur, but the ligament could be traced. I blocked the medial femoral tibial joint and he improved. Radiographs showed the enlargement on the distal medial femur, meniscus and bone spur on upper femur. We chose to inject the joint with HA/Vetalog/Amikacin. He should remain on stall rest and hand walking for 2 weeks then can be turned out for rest for several weeks.”
Kind words are appreciated! I would post his X-Ray but I do not know how to upload pictures :)
Edited by Rausch_Jessica 2018-10-29 1:47 PM
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
  
| The only thing I know to tell you is to look into Swedish horse minerals. I know several people who have had success with thes in dissolving chips. They make several different products so I really cannot tell you much more but compared to surgery it is way cheaper. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | Stifles are frustrating. :( I’m sorry |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | We used Osteon for a tendon injury, and we were pleased with it. Prayers for your boy, I know it's hard  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Mountains of VA | I HATE STIFLES.....do not waste your money on injections......and removing the bone spur is a huge gamble..........if you have money to burn that would be an option. Otherwise, I would not do the surgery as that can create more problems than it will solve. No amount of rest, supplements, alternative treatments etc., will make a bone spur go away. Save your money. No kind words, sorry, because I have dealt with this before. I know you are wanting to help and want the best for your horse but everyone else is making a living off of you wanting to help your horse and a bone spur will not go away with the treatments you have done.
I gave away a 3yo with a bone spur in his right stifle, trail riding was his only option other than going into the freezer or standing in the field for the rest of his life.
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | hotpaints - 2018-10-29 7:55 PM
I HATE STIFLES.....do not waste your money on injections......and removing the bone spur is a huge gamble..........if you have money to burn that would be an option. Otherwise, I would not do the surgery as that can create more problems than it will solve. No amount of rest, supplements, alternative treatments etc., will make a bone spur go away. Save your money. No kind words, sorry, because I have dealt with this before. I know you are wanting to help and want the best for your horse but everyone else is making a living off of you wanting to help your horse and a bone spur will not go away with the treatments you have done.
I gave away a 3yo with a bone spur in his right stifle, trail riding was his only option other than going into the freezer or standing in the field for the rest of his life.
So did you find anything that at least helped with his comfort? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Mountains of VA | Chandler's Mom - 2018-10-29 8:36 PM hotpaints - 2018-10-29 7:55 PM I HATE STIFLES.....do not waste your money on injections......and removing the bone spur is a huge gamble..........if you have money to burn that would be an option. Otherwise, I would not do the surgery as that can create more problems than it will solve. No amount of rest, supplements, alternative treatments etc., will make a bone spur go away. Save your money. No kind words, sorry, because I have dealt with this before. I know you are wanting to help and want the best for your horse but everyone else is making a living off of you wanting to help your horse and a bone spur will not go away with the treatments you have done.
I gave away a 3yo with a bone spur in his right stifle, trail riding was his only option other than going into the freezer or standing in the field for the rest of his life.
So did you find anything that at least helped with his comfort?
No, the vet did approve of him being a walking trail horse but would not be able to do more than that. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 396
Location: Iowa | Thanks everyone for your opinions! Unfortunately, I love this horse too much to give him away because I don’t think I could ever trust someone else to take care of him know he is pretty much a cripple! I just wish I could make him comfortable standing in the pasture…. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | I don't think I can give you any advice to help much performance level or anything. I would think good old traditional icing and regular cold lasering (since that seems to help some anyway) after every time you ride would be a good idea. They do sell ice boots for stifles. Previcox as well might be an option. I have heard some positive things about the anti-inflammatory properties, though they are minor but might increase his comfort, of turmeric/curcumin and CBD pellets. They might be a gamble you want to try. You can't really get rid of the spur without the surgery, so it seems like the best you can do is fight the inflammation. So anti-inflammatories via ice, cold laser, previcox, and maybe the curcumin or CBD seem your best bets. And stifle injections don't generally last very long anyway. I think someone mentioned a supplement that 'might' help break down the spur. I don't suppose it hurts to try. The only thing all this costs is money and time and you have to be the one ultimately to decide just how much you want to invest to keep him comfortable for light riding. |
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | Rausch_Jessica - 2018-10-30 8:33 AM
Thanks everyone for your opinions! Unfortunately, I love this horse too much to give him away because I don’t think I could ever trust someone else to take care of him know he is pretty much a cripple! I just wish I could make him comfortable standing in the pasture….
I had one with OCD lesions in the stifle and I chose to do the surgery and he came back running better than he was before the surgery. Honestly, I wouldn't waste my time w/supplements and alternative therapies because you'll end up spending in the long run what it would cost to do the surgery. If he was mine, I'd gamble on the surgery. As long as that bone spur is there, he will hurt. JMO |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 639
Location: God's country...aka TEXAS | Equiscope treatments. I've used it to successfully dissolve bone spurs in the hock and neck before. Hopefully there is someone in your area that has one! |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I would take my horse to a really good vet and just have the surgery done, it will save you money in the long run, buying supplements here and there and trying different treatments will cost you more money over the years, and if the surgery dont work will at least you have tryed but I'm betting the horse will feel better in the long run even if he going to be a pasture pet. |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Rausch_Jessica - 2018-10-30 8:33 AM
Thanks everyone for your opinions! Unfortunately, I love this horse too much to give him away because I don’t think I could ever trust someone else to take care of him know he is pretty much a cripple! I just wish I could make him comfortable standing in the pasture….
You sound like me---wishing you ALL the luck in the world making your baby feel as good as possible  |
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Stifle Effusion