Wednesday, 9 May 2012

Physio report

The update today is not good. He is moving better, but the physio has just been and is totally convinced that the back pain is referred and muscle spasm. From the tests she did on his neck he is able to bend the top and the bottom but he has a piece in the middle that he cannot bend, which stays as straight as a board, particularly in the direction of his weaker hind leg. This is the classic area for wobbler syndrome and I could see it clearly myself. She wasn't prepared to do anything else with him until we see the xrays, for fear of causing more problems.

She's left me with stuff to do with him, as often as I can, which will stop his proprioceptors dying off if we can keep the nerves stimulated. They include fixing curb chain round his ankle for half an hour and then moving it over to the other foot, which I'm about to go and do. Whilst she was filling out her forms his neck cracked like a gunshot. Not good :(

She says there is a lot we can do to get him better, but I am not holding out any hopes. I certainly wouldn't be prepared to ride a horse as big and powerful as Jazz if there was any chance that bending his neck slightly wrongly could bring him down one day

So, we are now holding on for the neck xrays, which she has already warned me may be inconclusive.

C
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13 comments:

  1. Jean9 May 2012 at 15:36

    This is upsetting. Still, I am rather surprised that Jazz would have been able to progress as far as he has if he had wobblers.

    But, a newer neck injury could cause the same symptoms.

    Still keeping hopes alive and sending good wishes your way.

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    1. cptrayes9 May 2012 at 15:47

      The trouble is Jean that if we think back to all the times that we assumed Jazz was having a little trouble with his hocks - when at the time we wondered why on earth flexion tests did not make him lame - then we have to question whether this has actually been building up progressively for years. If I check back my blog he was refusing to walk downhill away from home five years ago, and that is a symptom. So, unfortunately, is a very elevated trot. Apparently wobblers very often have a spectacular trot in the early stages.

      I'm pretty certain now that he is a wobbler. There are just too many things in his past 5 years that add up to him having a neurological problem.

      What would actually be a relief is bad xrays on Friday, because good xrays will not mean that he is not a wobbler, it just means a lot more worry and work to find out where his problem is.

      C

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  2. Nic Barker9 May 2012 at 15:39

    Will be thinking of you, and keeping everything crossed for the x-rays giving some answers...

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    1. cptrayes9 May 2012 at 15:48

      Thanks Nic, I know you are a pragmatist like me. Something clearly wrong would actually be a relief. Then we can work out what the hell we are going to do about it.

      C

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  3. cptrayes9 May 2012 at 15:50

    Just to say also that this physio is enormously experienced. She runs a rehab yard and has three permanent staff who are physio qualified. Luckily for us she is only a couple of miles away. At the moment the plan is to get the xrays done and then take him to her yard for intensive treatment while I am on holiday for a week.

    C

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  4. Anonymous9 May 2012 at 17:50

    Jean , my friend had a 10 year old Dutch Warmblood who developed wobblers. I too thought it always showed in early life but apparently 10 is a common age for it to really show. Maybe there are little signs earlier that are not tied together. Vet said my friend's horse had been working ok till then because he was fit and well muscled ( competing advanced medium ) so " holding himself together "
    Come on Jazz, we are thinking of you. X

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    1. cptrayes9 May 2012 at 18:17

      Suzanne this is exactly what the physio said. Ten is a common age where it begins to really show and it is more common in big heavy warmbloods. Did your friend have hers put down? If this isn't "just" an injury then I'm having difficulty seeing how he will ever be safe to ride again. And I really don't think Jazz will do "paddock ornament" very well. He won't manage our hillside field, I'm sure, but he would be a terrible companion horse.

      Roll on Friday.

      C

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  5. English Rider9 May 2012 at 18:23

    My most positive thoughts are with you. What a nightmare! Are steroids indicated to reduce any swelling?

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  6. Neets Human9 May 2012 at 21:51

    Heavens your roller coaster continues.. everything crossed .. Friday obviously cannot come quickly enough.

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  7. Anonymous10 May 2012 at 07:59

    Yes, she had him put down. So sad.
    His problems first really showed in training with piaffe when he didn't seem to know where his feet were and he got very out of rhythm.

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  8. cptrayes10 May 2012 at 10:22

    Oh that sound so familiar. He lost the tempi changes when he just could not coordinate the left right change. Then he went to only being able to do left right when he was at the edge of the arena, where I guess the boards helped him understand where his feet were. And then last week he was either not doing them at all, or doing a huge leap into them.

    This isn't an accident, I know in my heart, it's been coming on for months.

    C

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  9. Anonymous10 May 2012 at 12:42

    We can only try to do our very best for our horses and enjoy every day we have with them. XX

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  10. Nic Barker10 May 2012 at 15:17

    Reading all this it does sound as if the pieces of the jigsaw were there, albeit only visible in hindsight :-( Uncertainty is the worst thing, in many ways, so roll on Friday and I hope some answers for you...FWIW, I can't see Jazz making a career of being a companion horse either.

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