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 Extreme Veteran
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Location: The Panhandle | I'm seeking information on results from anyone that's had experience with stifle surgery. Not sure what kind of damage we are dealing with yet, at least minor meniscus damage. Scheduled for arthroscope to debride and look for other damage Monday at Oakridge. He's had 6 months off but upon legging up became sore in the back and is dragging both back toes. Lameness exam showed less stifle tenderness than before the off time, but more overall soreness in back and hocks. Any experiences would be appreciated.
Edited by overthehillracer 2015-03-25 8:02 PM
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Regular
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| My mare had a severely torn meniscus. My vet did not feel that arthroscopic surgery would be helpful since it really is only useful for cleaning up debris. Since my mare did not have any debris that was visible, we opted to go right for the Stem Cell and PRP. She had this done 3 weeks ago and seems to already be showing improvement. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2013
Location: Piedmont, OK | I have not personally dealt with Stifle Surgery but have had other surgeries done at Oakridge and they are the best in my personal opinion. Your baby is in good hands :) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455
Location: The Panhandle | Thank you, we have xrays and ultrasound from the local vet so I guess they will review those and evaluate him before making a decision. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that he might never compete at his previous level ever again, I want to give him every chance possible.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455
Location: The Panhandle | GenuineGlamour - 2015-03-19 2:10 PM
My mare had a severely torn meniscus. My vet did not feel that arthroscopic surgery would be helpful since it really is only useful for cleaning up debris. Since my mare did not have any debris that was visible, we opted to go right for the Stem Cell and PRP. She had this done 3 weeks ago and seems to already be showing improvement.
Is PRP the same as I-Rap?
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 Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | overthehillracer - 2015-03-19 3:44 PM GenuineGlamour - 2015-03-19 2:10 PM My mare had a severely torn meniscus. My vet did not feel that arthroscopic surgery would be helpful since it really is only useful for cleaning up debris. Since my mare did not have any debris that was visible, we opted to go right for the Stem Cell and PRP. She had this done 3 weeks ago and seems to already be showing improvement. Is PRP the same as I-Rap?
No. They are both serum based, but you are producing different entities from the serum. |
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I Am a Snake Killer
Posts: 1927
Location: Golden Gulf Coast of Texas | I had it done back in the fall on my gelding. His X-rays and ultrasounds were clean but when we blocked he went sound so they did the arthroscopic surgery. He had damage to his cartilage but meniscus was fine. No flaps to clean up so they did PRP injection. Had to stall for 60 days then started riding and legging back up slowly. He feels really good but every time I have him about ready to work on barrels it starts raining! So frustrating. My vet told me if he does come back I better hit the road because he will have arthritis in that stifle in the future. And will require injections and possible more PRP just to keep him going. Good luck with yours. |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: The Panhandle | He did have his stifle injected 7 months ago when this all started. He's always turned the barrels on his own so when he didn't turn his first barrel we knew something was wrong, after the injection he went right back to turning the barrels but it only lasted about 2 months. Thats not long enough so we hoped the time off would fix it. I didn't get very far into legging him back up before it was obvious he wasn't okay. It seems like he's sore everywhere now and our vet thinks he's compensating for the stifle and has made everything else sore, plus he's lost muscle mass on that side hip. Dr didn't give us much hope that he'll ever run sound for any length of time going the injection route. We are not willing to just do that and cripple him for life, he's only 9. I'm praying they have better news with the options available at Oakridge. I'm hoping to hear of success stories cause this is about the most depressing thing I've dealt with.
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | Have you by any chance checked him for EPM? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455
Location: The Panhandle | jake16 - 2015-03-19 8:47 PM
Have you by any chance checked him for EPM?
No, and the vet hasn't suggested it. Why do you ask? I don't know much about EPM. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| overthehillracer - 2015-03-19 10:49 PM
jake16 - 2015-03-19 8:47 PM
Have you by any chance checked him for EPM?
No, and the vet hasn't suggested it. Why do you ask? I don't know much about EPM.
Body sore and lose of muscle mass are certainly symptoms of EPM. How about down his top line? That is where mine often show signs too. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| Epm will make them sore and drag toes. It cam be lo level chronic. Dr. Ellerson, pathogen in florida, has helped a lotmof horses and mine is one of them i spent 10k on stuff last year, he would run a pretty pattern but got in the end he would not push with his rear and started baulking going in the arena, even on ulcer meds. Her was sore in his si and othe places on his back. Vet did know what to tell me went to another vet he called it epm he uses uc davis that came back negative. I did reasearch and call dr. Ellerison, i pulled blood and sent to her, sent me meds cost me all of less than 300. For bloodwork and meds. Your dog vet will give you 2 red top tubes draw blood and fill out paperwork with 3/4 days you will know. Before imwould spend money on surgery, i would either block stifles or spend the 35.00 for bloodwork of epm. I had a bad bout with by asthma this winter so he had the winter off. I am takeing him to someone who had a indoor letting them put 2 weeks on him to see what i have. I watxh him walk and he spnaps his toes well in the back no more toe dragging. |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: The Panhandle | Thank you everyone for the replies, I think I'm going to cancel that appointment for now and explore the EPM first. My gut just tells me we're on the wrong track and you've all given me other avenues to explore. If it is the stifle it surely won't hurt to wait a couple of weeks, this just seems like a whole different problem. I wonder though should I go on to Oakridge and see if they can sort it out or just let my local vet test for the EPM and treat it? |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | Personally I would read above post bydaisycake again...and go the same route she did.also...there are several threads on EPM on here...go to search and read alot of them..I think you will be more comfortable after reading peoples experiances with that treatment and it will save you ALOT OF MONEY |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | I JUST BUMPED UP THE EPM THREAD FOR YOU. There are several other posts but this is a good one and I especially think dianequinn explains it really well on this thread as well as a few others. GOOD LUCK AND KEEP US UPDATED. |
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Expert
Posts: 1599
| overthehillracer - 2015-03-20 9:35 AM Thank you everyone for the replies, I think I'm going to cancel that appointment for now and explore the EPM first. My gut just tells me we're on the wrong track and you've all given me other avenues to explore. If it is the stifle it surely won't hurt to wait a couple of weeks, this just seems like a whole different problem. I wonder though should I go on to Oakridge and see if they can sort it out or just let my local vet test for the EPM and treat it?
Meniscus issues should be very obvious via ultrasound, you should be able to see a LARGE bubble of fluid and debri or tearing. If your vet isn't seeing that then I would questions why he/she thinks there is a need for surgery.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455
Location: The Panhandle | lopnaround - 2015-03-20 11:58 AM
overthehillracer - 2015-03-20 9:35 AM Thank you everyone for the replies, I think I'm going to cancel that appointment for now and explore the EPM first. My gut just tells me we're on the wrong track and you've all given me other avenues to explore. If it is the stifle it surely won't hurt to wait a couple of weeks, this just seems like a whole different problem. I wonder though should I go on to Oakridge and see if they can sort it out or just let my local vet test for the EPM and treat it?
Meniscus issues should be very obvious via ultrasound, you should be able to see a LARGE bubble of fluid and debri or tearing.  If your vet isn't seeing that then I would questions why he/she thinks there is a need for surgery.
Â
The ultra sound showed sort of a bumpy top line, not the smooth sharp line you should see. However, she's not that comfortably with her own ultrasound skills, hence the referral to Oakridge. |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | overthehillracer - 2015-03-20 2:38 PM lopnaround - 2015-03-20 11:58 AM overthehillracer - 2015-03-20 9:35 AM Thank you everyone for the replies, I think I'm going to cancel that appointment for now and explore the EPM first. My gut just tells me we're on the wrong track and you've all given me other avenues to explore. If it is the stifle it surely won't hurt to wait a couple of weeks, this just seems like a whole different problem. I wonder though should I go on to Oakridge and see if they can sort it out or just let my local vet test for the EPM and treat it? Meniscus issues should be very obvious via ultrasound, you should be able to see a LARGE bubble of fluid and debri or tearing. If your vet isn't seeing that then I would questions why he/she thinks there is a need for surgery.
The ultra sound showed sort of a bumpy top line, not the smooth sharp line you should see. However, she's not that comfortably with her own ultrasound skills, hence the referral to Oakridge.
i sent you a PM |
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Expert
Posts: 1599
| overthehillracer - 2015-03-20 1:38 PM lopnaround - 2015-03-20 11:58 AM overthehillracer - 2015-03-20 9:35 AM Thank you everyone for the replies, I think I'm going to cancel that appointment for now and explore the EPM first. My gut just tells me we're on the wrong track and you've all given me other avenues to explore. If it is the stifle it surely won't hurt to wait a couple of weeks, this just seems like a whole different problem. I wonder though should I go on to Oakridge and see if they can sort it out or just let my local vet test for the EPM and treat it? Meniscus issues should be very obvious via ultrasound, you should be able to see a LARGE bubble of fluid and debri or tearing. If your vet isn't seeing that then I would questions why he/she thinks there is a need for surgery.
The ultra sound showed sort of a bumpy top line, not the smooth sharp line you should see. However, she's not that comfortably with her own ultrasound skills, hence the referral to Oakridge.
Ah, okay, yes a jagged line could indicate damage. I would be worth it to at least have Oakridge ultrasound her then, they are very good at what they do.
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I Am a Snake Killer
Posts: 1927
Location: Golden Gulf Coast of Texas | lopnaround - 2015-03-20 3:53 PM
overthehillracer - 2015-03-20 1:38 PM lopnaround - 2015-03-20 11:58 AM overthehillracer - 2015-03-20 9:35 AM Thank you everyone for the replies, I think I'm going to cancel that appointment for now and explore the EPM first. My gut just tells me we're on the wrong track and you've all given me other avenues to explore. If it is the stifle it surely won't hurt to wait a couple of weeks, this just seems like a whole different problem. I wonder though should I go on to Oakridge and see if they can sort it out or just let my local vet test for the EPM and treat it? Meniscus issues should be very obvious via ultrasound, you should be able to see a LARGE bubble of fluid and debri or tearing.  If your vet isn't seeing that then I would questions why he/she thinks there is a need for surgery.
 The ultra sound showed sort of a bumpy top line, not the smooth sharp line you should see. However, she's not that comfortably with her own ultrasound skills, hence the referral to Oakridge.
Â
You can have meniscus issues and also damaged cartilage that cannot be seen on xrays and ultrasound. The sooner these are treated the better chance of recovery. My gelding was totally clean on xrays and US. Did your horse fall or slip in a run? Or just gradually sore up? |
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