Sacroliliac injuries, signs?

[kiwifruit]

My horse has been acting off for the last two weeks and I think it might be localized to the back. He is very stiff going to the left and refuses to do his changes from right to left unless he hops into trot first. Under saddle going to the left he likes to have a four beat canter. While standing he will constantly shift his weight back and forth on both legs and will often point his right front foot while resting the left hind. Palpating his back he is extremely reactive to the right side right behind the saddle area. He does not flex off but when you do flex him he is very agitated when you flex him to the right. I'm planning to have him seen by my vet but my initial thoughts are back? He also does not quite track up on the left hind. Very frustrating!

[JellyBeanQueen]

Did he fall or trip or slip to cause twisting or high stress" THe Sacroilliac joint is not supposed to be movable. Sings are variable. Stiffness, pain via palpation of the area, not wanting to work off the hind end (lack of impulsion)Rectal palpation examination by putting pressure on the area may show pain response. Pain from muscle spasms, movable tuber sacral either unilateral or bilateral can be a sign and is not suposed to hapen. Jumping horses dont want to jump or are performing less than par when aksed to jump.

The best thing I can tell you to do is to get out the Vet. This (if it is the problem) can become chronic. I learned of this problem at a Hunter Jumper barn I worked at several years ago. The affected mare showed drop in perfomance pain when rectal palpated and top. The Vet thinks she slipped or tripped out in the pasture. It was unsure how it happened.

[harr754]

Wow Kiwi, your description sounds a lot like my horse! My horse battled with an SI injury for 2 years. Massage, chiro and acupuncture seem to be working.

If your horse ends up not having an SI injury, please let me know what is wrong. Like I said, you just described my horse in many ways.

[kiwifruit]

He came off of a years rest for a foot related injury. I put him back to work late January but was never really able to gain a topline or muscle development in the hindquarters although I really did not focus too much on it (hindsight I problably should have) A couple of people have observed while riding that he just does not want to use his back. When pushed into a frame and required to engage his hindquarters, he becomes very tense. He love to go long and low and school like a hunter but anything that requires lots of engagement gets him upset. The more I read the board and the Internet, it sounds like SI injury and they seem like a PIA to deal with. It seems like there are many treatments from injections, rest, massage, accupuncture or just plain retirement. Any one out there dealing with this type of injury or had a horse with an SI injury? Any hope?

[Dune]

He came off of a years rest for a foot related injury. I put him back to work late January but was never really able to gain a topline or muscle development in the hindquarters although I really did not focus too much on it (hindsight I problably should have)

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, is it not? :winkgrin: Whenever I bring a horse back from lay-up, it's always slowly and carefully, with MUCH emphasis paid to the development of the top line including hindquarters...regardless of their eventual discipline. :yes:



A couple of people have observed while riding that he just does not want to use his back. When pushed into a frame and required to engage his hindquarters, he becomes very tense. He love to go long and low and school like a hunter but anything that requires lots of engagement gets him upset. The more I read the board and the Internet, it sounds like SI injury and they seem like a PIA to deal with. It seems like there are many treatments from injections, rest, massage, accupuncture or just plain retirement. Any one out there dealing with this type of injury or had a horse with an SI injury? Any hope?


Here's my most recent story: I had a young mare that wasn't quite right behind. Via bone scan and rectal palpation with u/s an issue was diagnosed with the SI joint. The prognosis was not good and the vet recommended injecting the joint. So I did but there was NO improvement. So then I called my chiro, who is also a vet and very good, and she did an adjustment (after reaming me for letting the other vet do the injection :rolleyes:). I also had the massage therapist work on the mare. After about a month (she had been on lay-up for 4months and my chiro vet said she'd never get better unless I could strengthen her topline), I *carefully* started her back under saddle first just walking and then a bit of trot. I rode her "on the bit" (i know, i know) and just a nice slow controlled trot until she gained more strength. As she felt stronger I added a bit more, it was just a day to day thing. I continued with the chiro and massage, gradually increasing the time between adjustments but I've always kept up the massage every 4-6 weeks. She's gotten better and better and is now schooling all the 2nd/3rd level dressage work and jumps small fences. During all this I left her barefoot behind, shod in front, but during certain periods she has been totally barefoot...another situation where I just let her "tell me" what was/is best. There is always hope, it just depends on what we're dealing with here. Do you have access to a GOOD chiropractor and massage therapist?


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[kiwifruit]

Yeah Dune...I know, hindsight is 20/20. Now if I can only go back and relive my 20s.......

I guess I'm torn between seeing my vet and going to my chiropractor for this. He was worked on early on when I started to ride him in January but has not seen him since. My guy is insured so if I need to go and do tests, things will be covered but I'm sure the injections will not. I guess I'm concerned since he still looks the same muscle wise since I brought him back in January. He should have something developing on his topline but I guess if he is in pain, he will not be using himself correctly to develop those muscles. I'm also wondering if he is getting enough food to help him build muscle and gain weight. Currently he is getting beet pulp and rice bran but I'm wondering if that is enough. This sucks! I bought the horse last year, clean prepurchase, came up with a foot injury, set him back a year and now this. I think it might be time to take up golf!

[lstevenson]

kiwifruit, see the thread on SI joint injections.

[Dune]

Yeah Dune...I know, hindsight is 20/20. Now if I can only go back and relive my 20s.......

Yeah, you and me both. :winkgrin::uhoh:


I guess I'm torn between seeing my vet and going to my chiropractor for this. He was worked on early on when I started to ride him in January but has not seen him since. My guy is insured so if I need to go and do tests, things will be covered but I'm sure the injections will not. I guess I'm concerned since he still looks the same muscle wise since I brought him back in January. He should have something developing on his topline but I guess if he is in pain, he will not be using himself correctly to develop those muscles. I'm also wondering if he is getting enough food to help him build muscle and gain weight. Currently he is getting beet pulp and rice bran but I'm wondering if that is enough. This sucks! I bought the horse last year, clean prepurchase, came up with a foot injury, set him back a year and now this. I think it might be time to take up golf!


Guppy breeding has been suggested by my DH at times. ;) In any case, personally I would try the chiro/massage/conditioning route first. BUT, I say this because after $4000.00 worth of diagnostics, it all boiled down to injecting the SI which didn't work and then I went the other way. Like another poster said, the vets just don't emphasize enough how important the riding/conditioning is in these cases and some owners/riders (not you, I'm sure) are just not up to the task. Of course, if you're not totally sure the SI is the problem, then of course you'd want to have the vet out to figure out the source. Good luck!:)


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[Roxx]

Very interesting thread for me as my mare has a problem with her right SI. I've had the chiro out and he confirms that the right SI is rotated down. I understand the whole conditioning and building up of the muscles around the joint but wasn't sure how slow to go. She doesn't seem to be in pain when trotting or even cantering but you can see she's not 100% so I wasn't sure what to keep doing with her??
I'm definately sticking with the Chiro to see if there's an improvement. Saddle has been refitted to her as well.

[kiwifruit]

I'll let you know tomorrow. I have an appointment with vet to see what is going on. I hope it is something that can be "managed"! Keeping my fingers crossed!

[ImJumpin]

With long term stall rest/time off, they can also have loose stiffles. Ouchy stiffles could lead to moving a bit differently which in turn could lead to back pain.

[MintHillFarm]

I rode a mare many years ago for a friend. After a couple of light hacks, I suggested she contact the vet as it was obvious there was an issue; beyond just not being strong enough going in one direction. She could not hold the right lead canter and it was eventually attributed to a Sacroliliac injury. She was never right, sad to say...

[Roxx]

any news Kiwi?? My vet is coming out next Tuesday to look at it...hoping for good news too!!

[kiwifruit]

Well...not what I expected. I trotted him out and vet zeroed in on front feet. Flexed both feet, horse was off. Blocked first foot, really lame on the other. Blocked second foot horse is perfectly sound, striding out, back swinging, a much happier look overall! So yeah...not the back per say. Vet thinks he is sore in the back from protecting his feet. So we took x-rays, saw nothing significant and then we decided to inject his coffin joints. Vet thinks his heels are sore and suggested bar shoes for awhile and see what we get. So I guess the moral of the story, expect the unexpected with horses. Best of luck with your guy!

[Roxx]

Thanks for posting Kiwi. I guess I was a step ahead of you, my mare was lame in March and blocked out sound on her front feet as well, exactly as you described!! We did x-rays and it turns out she has extremely thin soles and has now had equi pak on her feet ever since. She was sound for 5 weeks and now has been off for 4 weeks...so hopefully I'll have some news on Tuesday on what to do now!!

[kiwifruit]

Wow Roxx...you are one step ahead of me! Please keep me posted on what you find out with your guy. Right now I'm resting my horse for about a week to let his whole body settle and adjust to the new shoe changes. My blacksmith decided to go with a wideweb bar shoe set extra full. I asked about pads but both he and the blacksmith disagree on it. Vet is leaning towards pedal ostitas and wants my guy to develop more depth in the hoof capsule, if that is possible. Anyway, let me know what you find! Good luck!

[Roxx]

Sooo Kiwi looks like maybe I'm not a step ahead of you!! Vet was out and my mare was great in her back end and of course he zeroes in on front left...I feel like a ping pong ball. Chiro says right SI (which was rotated down when he saw her). You could clearly see and feel that the right SI wasn't sitting properly but I have worked on her doing the butt tucks and back lifts and yesterday the right SI moved a little and I can actually feel it now. So imagine my surprise when the vet says her back end is great and she's tracking up evenly. Vet thinks an MRI is in order as this has been on/off for 6 months...and the saga continues! How's your guy doing?

[Ltc4h]

I use my Vet who specializes in Chiro/Accu to do preliminary diagnostic work, for those hard to diagnose issues.
He seems to be able to pinpoint where the underlying issue is with the accupunture then we do follow up normal veterinary procedures from there.
Am I the only one who uses accupunture this way.

[Roxx]

So Kiwi we had the MRI and the result is small/mild tear in the medial collateral ligament in the left foot. Also had some bruising and edema in other areas. So at least I know and we can proceed with an action plan!!! Hope your guy is doing better!!

[kiwifruit]

Well Roxx at least you have an answer. I wish you all the best with you and your horse in recovery. Knock on wood, the injections and change of shoes has improved my guy a lot. My next step will be the MRI if he goes unsound again. What's the prognosis for you guy? Sending lots of well wishes your way.

[ivy62]

Kiwi- With all the changes I would still have a chiro/massage therapist see him. If he has been protecting his front feet he may be sore from that too! How is KIWI?

[Roxx]

Thanks Kiwi! The prognosis is really good as it's only a mild case thank god!
So after the stall rest (with hand walking) is over we'll see. My mare is a princess so for her to be slightly off it doesn't take much ;). I'm so glad we did the MRI and got some concrete answers...especially since the x-rays were clean.

[Roxx]

I second having the chiro out as well. Horses definately compensate with their low backs and SI's when they have foot pain.