Shoulder Injury (In The Horse)

[LoveLongManes]

Hi everyone!
I am currently working with a horse who injured his shoulder approx. 2-3 years ago. The vet says this injury left a large band of scar tissue across his shoulder, and when he is being worked this scar tissue stretches and tears and the horse becomes lame. I don't know if there is anything I can do to help with this horse's lameness, or if it is just too late since it he was injured several years ago. Does anyone have any ideas of anything that can be done, any types of therapy, or anything I can do to help him? By the way, Bute does nothing for this particular type of injury (not that that is a long-term solution anyway).

Currently I have been lightly working this horse when he is sound and cold hosing/putting Absorbine on the affected area. I don't know if this is doing any good but it makes me feel like I am doing something to help!

I would appreciate everyone's opinion on the subject. I know this horse will probably never return to his previous level of competition but I would like to help him stay sound enough that he can be ridden for pleasure by his owner.

Thanks!

[JB]

Injury + scar tissue = massage therapy. Perhaps lots of it, several times a week. And correct stretching.

[monstrpony]

What are you doing inside my head? Did we end up with the same horse??

I have one who I suspect has the same issue. He has hairline scars across his shoulder, a soft lump near the point of his shoulder, and a chronically short stride on that side. Looks slightly asymmetric from above (when riding). Negative to hoof testers (done by my farrier, who agrees it is in the shoulder) and have a relatively clean xray of the foot, as well. Tendons are cool and tight. He will be sound for light-to-moderate work, but if worked in a way that challenges the shoulder, such as asking for more forward or longer stride, he will be a bit head-bobbing the next day, though he often works out of it. Bute does help when at its worst, so perhaps we are dealing with some arthritis, as well. He clearly has history of being ridden in a very crooked manner and learning to be straight in general has been a challenge; the shoulder makes it very chicken-egg.

My guy was a cheap, almost rescue case, so I'm reluctant to go for a full-blown diagnosis that will cost more than he did. I consider myself to be in the data-gathering stage so that I know the parameters as well as possible before we go for a diagnostic workup.

I agree that PT-type work, stretching, and some kind of massage are helpful, and that it is a long-term project. I don't ever intend to show my guy, so the slightly asymmetric stride is not a big deal, but I do try to keep him pain-free. I believe the asymmetry is mechanical and not painful per se, but there are things inside the shoulder that need to be released, remodeled, and rebuilt and that will take time, work and some discomfort in the process.

[LoveLongManes]

Thank you for you opinions! I will definitely have to look into some serious massage therapy and stretching. Does anyone know of any good online resources on the subject, just to give me some good background info?

monstrpony: We had a very difficult time finding the cause of this horse's lameness. He just came up lame one day under saddle, after never taking a lame step in his life. So naturally we gave him some time off work and tried working him under saddle again in a few weeks, same result. It went on like this for a long time. We ended up having to get opinions from two different vets, until one finally determined that the lameness did not stem from the hoof for sure (100% clean x-rays and everything) and did an ultrasound of his shoulder, which showed the band of scar tissue.

He has some days when he is pretty good under saddle, however he minds doing bending work in the direction of his bad shoulder, has a little more trouble with his left-lead canter, and prefers to travel long and low. (The vet says a long and low frame is more comfortable for his shoulder.)

If anyone has any other words of wisdom I would love to hear them! Thanks! :)

[JB]

massage (http://www.amazon.com/Equine-Massage-Jean-Pierre-Hourdebaigt/dp/1860540481/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250729617&sr=8-11)

myofascial therapy (http://www.amazon.com/Equine-Structural-Integration-Myofascial-Release/dp/0979053501/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250729678&sr=1-2)

[monstrpony]

He has some days when he is pretty good under saddle, however he minds doing bending work in the direction of his bad shoulder, has a little more trouble with his left-lead canter, and prefers to travel long and low. (The vet says a long and low frame is more comfortable for his shoulder.)

BINGO! Describes my guy to a T (except we're right shoulder).

Am just now trying to decide whether to consult w/ local vets and get a maybe this, maybe that diagnosis, or go for broke (ha!) with a big workup at a major clinic.

I will say that mine had been getting better over time until recently. My guy also has a lot of baggage and body tension that we've been working through and is finally starting to let loose over his back and swing a bit. I'm thinking that's making more demands on the shoulder and we're just in a tough piece of his long-term recovery, but I'd feel better if I had some big wigs saying I'm on a reasonable track.

JB, thanks for the resources. I have the message book already, why have I not gotten it out before this?? The MFR book looks wonderful!

[Watermark Farm]

Pick up a copy of "Beating Muscle Injuries for Horses" by Jack Meagher. Great book, use to use, and you can make a lot of headway with it!

[JB]

OMG, Watermark, how did I forget that book! Yes, invaluable!!!

The nice thing about the massage book I listed is that is has awesome pictures of all the parts of the horse - bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, all of it. It also has a section on the muscles involved in retraction/protraction/abduction/adduction of the limbs.

The thing about adhesions/scar tissue is that it can be "fine" for a long time, but then as you place extra demands on the structure - more weight-bearing, more extension, more push, etc, you can start to tear those adhesions. While that's necessary, it can be really painful, and can cause inflammation that can cause problems longer than just the moment it happens.

[monstrpony]

The thing about adhesions/scar tissue is that it can be "fine" for a long time, but then as you place extra demands on the structure - more weight-bearing, more extension, more push, etc, you can start to tear those adhesions. While that's necessary, it can be really painful, and can cause inflammation that can cause problems longer than just the moment it happens.

Okay, this is what I have been assuming is going on. I've been careful to give him time off whenever he gets a bit sore, with turnout, so he's still moving it and keeping blood flowing. Sometimes, I will get on and just do lots of active walk, lots of bending, but nothing more than that; always seems to loosen him up. A couple of times, I've given him a little Bute and that does seem to help him through it--it always makes him pretty sound, most times he then stays sound, but this last time he was sore as it wore off. This last time has been a bit worse, but then he did make a major breakthrough in terms of stretching and lengthening his stride in general, before he got gimpy.

I think I will carry on a bit longer, as long as he doesn't get any worse. Mostly, its a matter of just giving him some time, but that's frustrating just when you feel you've just made a major breakthrough!

[JSwan]

massage (http://www.amazon.com/Equine-Massage-Jean-Pierre-Hourdebaigt/dp/1860540481/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250729617&sr=8-11)
]

I'm so glad that book gets a thumbs up from you.:)

I recently bought it and have been working on my field hunter - something wonky with his r shoulder.

Not lame, vet checked, vet/chiro worked on him (now that was pretty interesting) - just a bit wonky.

That book is great. Horse drops his head, lower lip pooches out, heavy sigh. I'd offer him a cigarette when I'm done but I don't allow smoking in the barn. :winkgrin:

[JB]

Excellent! I know whatcha mean about the ciggy!