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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
  
| Battling pretty bad lameness problems after pastern injection on 3/21/18. We were NOT dealing with major lameness issues before injection. Temp is good, no swelling, but severely lame on the right front (where we did the pastern injection). Bute is helping some, but NOT much. My question is, how do I figure out if the vet hit a nerve close by or something of that sort? Ultrasound, radiograph? She had a tough time giving it, because in the past we always had a helper (so three people total, me, vet and another person). This time it was only us 2, and she had a tough time finding the joint, because she had to hold his foot, and was not at the angle to give the injection as she usually was. Took an x-ray and there is plenty of joint space left to inject, and once she found it the solution got sucked in like a vacuum, but she spent some time before that digging around with the needle..I've been racking my brain trying to figure out what happened, and what caused this, and I think it stems from the injection. It was on a Wednesday morning, stall rest after that for the rest of the day. Turned out Thursday, and was given until Sun off, when I tried to ride at a walk/trot and he has been very lame since.
Edited by emricmacy 2018-04-20 12:57 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 277
| did she include antibiotics in the injection? I'd be afraid of a joint infection, especially with her "digging around" |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| Meep.Meep - 2018-04-07 3:51 PM
did she include antibiotics in the injection? I'd be afraid of a joint infection, especially with her "digging around"
As far as I know, no antibiotics. He doesn't have a temp, no swelling, but he's very lame even with bute 2x a day. I think it stems from the injection! |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| I had had one dead lame after having his pastern injected but after a few days he was no longer lame. If he had became lame directly after the injection and it has not gotten better by now I soykd be suspect ofthe injection too. I don’t know how you find nerve damage other than maybe blocking that nerve and seeing if he goes sound.
Edited by rodeomom3 2018-04-07 6:36 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| rodeomom3 - 2018-04-07 6:35 PM
I had had one dead lame after having his pastern injected but after a few days he was no longer lame. If he had became lame directly after the injection and it has not gotten better by now I soykd be suspect ofthe injection too. I don’t know how you find nerve damage other than maybe blocking that nerve and seeing if he goes sound.
Thank you..Had it injected 3/21 and still very lame, even with bute twice a day. A few days after the injection vet had me take his temp and it's normal, and the injection site looks good. |
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 It Goes On
Posts: 2262
Location: Muskogee, OK | Has your veterinarian been back out to assess? Anytime there is a severe lameness that comes up post joint injection you always worry about an infected joint. Hopefully that is not the case here (although, if I had to choose a joint to become infected the pastern would be it because this is a joint that can go on to be fused and the horse come out sound).
Usually with an infected joint you will see swelling surrounding the joint. However, the pastern is a very low motion joint with not very much space so therefore you may not necessarily see full blown swelling. Although this far out with a true infection you would expect there to be swelling by now.
Regardless I think further examination is warranted- whether you seek a second opinion or involve the vet that originally injected is your decision. I think at the very least joint fluid should be sampled from this joint to try and figure out if infection is a possibility. It would also be beneficial to block out the lameness and figure out where it is coming from.
Edited by barrelracingchick16 2018-04-07 7:58 PM
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I feel so sorry for that boy.  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| Southtxponygirl - 2018-04-07 8:44 PM
I feel so sorry for that boy.
Me too, I love him so much! I've tried to make him as comfortable and happy as I can! I had a good routine going with him before this injection. Heartbreaking to see him in pain.
Edited by emricmacy 2018-04-07 8:59 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| barrelracingchick16 - 2018-04-07 7:56 PM
Has your veterinarian been back out to assess? Anytime there is a severe lameness that comes up post joint injection you always worry about an infected joint. Hopefully that is not the case here (although, if I had to choose a joint to become infected the pastern would be it because this is a joint that can go on to be fused and the horse come out sound).
Usually with an infected joint you will see swelling surrounding the joint. However, the pastern is a very low motion joint with not very much space so therefore you may not necessarily see full blown swelling. Although this far out with a true infection you would expect there to be swelling by now.
Regardless I think further examination is warranted- whether you seek a second opinion or involve the vet that originally injected is your decision. I think at the very least joint fluid should be sampled from this joint to try and figure out if infection is a possibility. It would also be beneficial to block out the lameness and figure out where it is coming from.
Yes, she has been back out since the injection. We have been in contact almost every day. I email her videos of him on the lunge line. She thinks it could possibly be a hot nail. We took X-rays of his feet and pastern last week and things looked pretty good. His high ringbone hasn't changed much since X-rays we took back in September. He also has a decent amount of space to continue injections in the future if needed. |
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It Goes On
Posts: 2262
Location: Muskogee, OK | emricmacy - 2018-04-07 9:01 PM
barrelracingchick16 - 2018-04-07 7:56 PM
Has your veterinarian been back out to assess? Anytime there is a severe lameness that comes up post joint injection you always worry about an infected joint. Hopefully that is not the case here (although, if I had to choose a joint to become infected the pastern would be it because this is a joint that can go on to be fused and the horse come out sound).
Usually with an infected joint you will see swelling surrounding the joint. However, the pastern is a very low motion joint with not very much space so therefore you may not necessarily see full blown swelling. Although this far out with a true infection you would expect there to be swelling by now.
Regardless I think further examination is warranted- whether you seek a second opinion or involve the vet that originally injected is your decision. I think at the very least joint fluid should be sampled from this joint to try and figure out if infection is a possibility. It would also be beneficial to block out the lameness and figure out where it is coming from.
Yes, she has been back out since the injection. We have been in contact almost every day. I email her videos of him on the lunge line. She thinks it could possibly be a hot nail. We took X-rays of his feet and pastern last week and things looked pretty good. His high ringbone hasn't changed much since X-rays we took back in September. He also has a decent amount of space to continue injections in the future if needed.
Did she attempt to get a fluid sample from the pastern joint?
How lame is he? Head bobbing at the walk? Or only noticeable at a trot? Would you be able to post the radiographs? I am a veterinarian so just trying to gather info to be able to help you decide where to go next :)
If you would prefer to private message me that would be fine. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Get the farrier back out to the barn ASAP and have him check for a hot nail tomorrow I would be calling him to come out. Or check the nails yourself, that poor boy is so miserable and needs relief. And IF its not a hot nail dont be letting this Vet stick anymore needles into this horse please. 
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2018-04-07 10:51 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| barrelracingchick16 - 2018-04-07 9:38 PM
emricmacy - 2018-04-07 9:01 PM
barrelracingchick16 - 2018-04-07 7:56 PM
Has your veterinarian been back out to assess? Anytime there is a severe lameness that comes up post joint injection you always worry about an infected joint. Hopefully that is not the case here (although, if I had to choose a joint to become infected the pastern would be it because this is a joint that can go on to be fused and the horse come out sound).
Usually with an infected joint you will see swelling surrounding the joint. However, the pastern is a very low motion joint with not very much space so therefore you may not necessarily see full blown swelling. Although this far out with a true infection you would expect there to be swelling by now.
Regardless I think further examination is warranted- whether you seek a second opinion or involve the vet that originally injected is your decision. I think at the very least joint fluid should be sampled from this joint to try and figure out if infection is a possibility. It would also be beneficial to block out the lameness and figure out where it is coming from.
Yes, she has been back out since the injection. We have been in contact almost every day. I email her videos of him on the lunge line. She thinks it could possibly be a hot nail. We took X-rays of his feet and pastern last week and things looked pretty good. His high ringbone hasn't changed much since X-rays we took back in September. He also has a decent amount of space to continue injections in the future if needed.
Did she attempt to get a fluid sample from the pastern joint?
How lame is he? Head bobbing at the walk? Or only noticeable at a trot? Would you be able to post the radiographs? I am a veterinarian so just trying to gather info to be able to help you decide where to go next : )
If you would prefer to private message me that would be fine.
I just sent you an email with his x-rays! |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | Wasn't the injection done before the farrier was out? I'm guessing this is stemming from the injection itself in some way. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| total performance - 2018-04-08 1:02 PM
Wasn't the injection done before the farrier was out? I'm guessing this is stemming from the injection itself in some way.
Yes, injection was done 3/21/18 and farrier was out 4/4/18. |
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Veteran
Posts: 277
| Sometimes the cure is worse than the condition |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| Meep.Meep - 2018-04-08 1:48 PM
Sometimes the cure is worse than the condition
I know, I just feel like I've failed him |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Meep.Meep - 2018-04-08 1:48 PM Sometimes the cure is worse than the condition
Boy your right on about the cure being worst then the condition. And the injections are'nt even a cure thats the sad part.. Its makes me sick to think about how this vet was digging around for a spot to inject, this poor horse.. I know he was on a supplement befor you bought him but was he getting injections too from the pervious owner? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| Southtxponygirl - 2018-04-08 2:24 PM
Meep.Meep - 2018-04-08 1:48 PM Sometimes the cure is worse than the condition
Boy your right on about the cure being worst then the condition. And the injections are'nt even a cure thats the sad part.. Its makes me sick to think about how this vet was digging around for a spot to inject, this poor horse.. I know he was on a supplement befor you bought him but was he getting injections too from the pervious owner?
No injections from previous owner |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | I'm opening myself up here for y'all to know how dumb I am about all this---but how many people does it take to do this type injection? Since OP said usually 3 did it but just had 2 this time, I was wondering why do it if there's not enough people for the procedure? Please don't be too harsh with me  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| Chandler's Mom - 2018-04-08 10:18 PM
I'm opening myself up here for y'all to know how dumb I am about all this---but how many people does it take to do this type injection? Since OP said usually 3 did it but just had 2 this time, I was wondering why do it if there's not enough people for the procedure? Please don't be too harsh with me
Last time we injected, I was at his head holding the lead rope, another person holding his hoof and the vet didn't have to hold onto anything she just gave the injection. I asked her before we started this time if we should reschedule because we didn't have a helper and she said no. |
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