After Stifle surgery- did it get worse before it got better?

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After Stifle surgery- did it get worse before it got better? Moderators: luluwhit, gotothewhip, cindyt, crossspur, ForumAdmin Jump to page :	Last activity 2013-12-15 10:05 PM 8 replies, 4312 views View previous thread :: View next thread
General Discussion -> Barrel Talk


oatie Reg. May 2005	Posted 2013-12-15 11:20 AM Subject: After Stifle surgery- did it get worse before it got better?
Expert Posts: 1281 Location: Oologah OK	I desperately need some help from bb's who dealt with stifle injuries & had surgery and what was the outcome (usable/not-usable) before my husband has a melt down. We had stifle surgery 5 weeks ago on a nice 7yr old mare my husband was starting to heel on then we were going to put her on barrels next year. One day this summer she was acting like a Rip (that is also her name) & was kicking the stall then went lame. She hasn't kicked the wall or anything since and she still rode & roped good. She got better but you could feel she was just a "little bit off" so had her examined and we found out that she had a chip in her stifle that needed surgery. She was a little tender after surgery but would walk & put weight on it. She was supposed to be on stall rest for 2 months but she throws a fit wanting out. Surgery was 5 weeks ago & the last couple weeks some days she would be stiffer than others but I charged it off to the fact it has been colder than normal. But it seems like this week she had a big setback as she is not wanting to put any weight on it at all. I know when I had foot surgery I would have good days & bad days and still have issues from time to time 8 months later. My husband is going nuts & stressing thinking she may be ruined. Just trying to see if anyone else experienced some ups & downs and whether the horse got better & came back usable at end of treatment or if the horse got worse & was never back to normal/usable.
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kwanatha Reg. Dec 2003	Posted 2013-12-15 12:10 PM Subject: RE: After Stifle surgery- did it get worse before it got better?
Meanest Teacher!!! Posts: 8555 Location: sunny california	after my horses surgery right about the same time he was getting a little froggy in the stall. I sent him to rehab for aquatred/eurocisor therapy. they took it very easy at first until the vet cleared for real work. the water level was low at first and he just walked fast or light jogged the euarocisor, he also did the vibrating plate. he healed up pretty good but he still has problems with it sticking but that is another issue the surgery was a complete success it is possible that with the lack of condition the horse is catching her ligamint when she kicks and it is cauing inflamation.
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oatie Reg. May 2005	Posted 2013-12-15 3:27 PM Subject: RE: After Stifle surgery- did it get worse before it got better?
Expert Posts: 1281 Location: Oologah OK	Thanks but unfortunately we are not at the point doing therapy which has us worried that she hurt it when she gets ****y & wants out. We just don't know if it goes through this stage of healing (I know that as soon as I thought my foot was wonderful after surgery there was a stage when nerves were trying to re-connect & it was killing me & couldn't stand the pain. Lasted for about a week before started getting better again. ) I guess we will just have to call the surgery center to see if they need to ultrasound again to see if everything is still ok inside there.
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casualdust07 Reg. Mar 2005	Posted 2013-12-15 4:36 PM Subject: RE: After Stifle surgery- did it get worse before it got better?
You get what you give Posts: 13030 Location: Texas	It takes about 10 weeks. We had ours in a stall for a month and in a round pen for 6 weeks. If they over do it too soon they can get sore. If she won't take it easy on her own you might talk to your vet about getting her sedated. Mine escaped a few times and got out in a pasture but she never really acted like a fool...
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ColdWaterCreek Reg. Aug 2012	Posted 2013-12-15 5:31 PM Subject: RE: After Stifle surgery- did it get worse before it got better?
Regular Posts: 79	oatie - 2013-12-15 11:20 AM I desperately need some help from bb's who dealt with stifle injuries & had surgery and what was the outcome (usable/not-usable) before my husband has a melt down. We had stifle surgery 5 weeks ago on a nice 7yr old mare my husband was starting to heel on then we were going to put her on barrels next year. One day this summer she was acting like a Rip (that is also her name) & was kicking the stall then went lame. She hasn't kicked the wall or anything since and she still rode & roped good. She got better but you could feel she was just a "little bit off" so had her examined and we found out that she had a chip in her stifle that needed surgery. She was a little tender after surgery but would walk & put weight on it. She was supposed to be on stall rest for 2 months but she throws a fit wanting out. Surgery was 5 weeks ago & the last couple weeks some days she would be stiffer than others but I charged it off to the fact it has been colder than normal. But it seems like this week she had a big setback as she is not wanting to put any weight on it at all. I know when I had foot surgery I would have good days & bad days and still have issues from time to time 8 months later. My husband is going nuts & stressing thinking she may be ruined. Just trying to see if anyone else experienced some ups & downs and whether the horse got better & came back usable at end of treatment or if the horse got worse & was never back to normal/usable. Have you thought about putting another horse in the barn with her to keep her company?
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annemarea Reg. May 2006	Posted 2013-12-15 7:08 PM Subject: RE: After Stifle surgery- did it get worse before it got better?
"Drank the Kool Aid" Posts: 5496 Location: Iowa, LA	My guy had surgery on an OCD lesion and "chip" in his stifle at about the same age. He came back and ran top of the 1D for me. We had no issues, but he's a naturally lazy, quiet horse. You could ask about some type of long term sedation if your vet feels she will overdo it. I know I was so happy to finally be able to turn my guy loose! Of course, you never know how much internal damage was done before the chip was removed, but my guy never has fluid on that joint and no reason to inject. The vet did say he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't need to injected, though.
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Honeymoney Reg. Apr 2012	Posted 2013-12-15 7:22 PM Subject: RE: After Stifle surgery- did it get worse before it got better?
Fire Ant Peddler Posts: 2881	I think another horse in the barn maybe one with a really quiet disposition and a lot of patience. Call the vet if it will help your feelings but I think a lot of patience is in order.
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rockinas Reg. Sep 2003	Posted 2013-12-15 7:56 PM Subject: RE: After Stifle surgery- did it get worse before it got better?
Best of the Badlands Location: You never know where I will show up......	I just had stifle surgery done on my good mare about 3.5 weeks ago. Surgeon said 6 weeks in a small pen (I've got her in a 30 x 30 run with another lame horse in the run next to her.) So she hasn't been too silly. Surgeon said I needed to have her injected 4 weeks post surgery which will be the end of this week. After 6 weeks she can go swim or be put into a larger turn out. So far she was only sore the very first day after the surgery. Which I expected because she is a horse that pretty much blows up anytime she has a small cut/scrape, ect. But she's been good so far. Hopefully her recovery will continue to go well.
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oatie Reg. May 2005	Posted 2013-12-15 10:05 PM Subject: RE: After Stifle surgery- did it get worse before it got better?
Expert Posts: 1281 Location: Oologah OK	Sorry I forgot to mention that yes we have been keeping other horses in there with her but I guess I would go stir crazy in a 12x12 room too & want out! We also get another horse out when we hand walk her for 5 minutes per day like they have on her treatment plan. But it's kinda like when you keep a kid in for a couple days because it's raining & then expect them not to go 90 to nothing on the first day out.
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