 |
Re: [RC] Lameness - PENS?? - Susan Garlinghouse, DVMRead my earlier post re PENS. If you can find an equine vet that has their veterinary acupuncture certification (which takes about 150 hours of additional training and a bunch of exams, I just finished mine last month), then they'll be familiar with electroacupuncture. I know a lot of people consider acupuncture to be 'unicorn medicine' and I also remain unconvinced about some of the systemic benefits touted. But, the physiology of the EA/PENS is pretty straightforward---you're introducing a mild electrical current into a muscle group or alongside a peripheral nerve tract that stimulates repetitive contraction and relaxation, and that sort of 'exhausts' the muscle so that it's much looser afterwards, allowing better blood flow, removal of waste products, relief of pain, etc. Not very different from a good massage. Most horses love it once they get used to the weird sensation, mine get all droopy-lipped and sleepy. IMO, chiropractic manipulation only works long-term if the soft tissue issues have also been addressed, and if you can get the muscles to relax and stop yanking things around and hurting, you've solved 90% of the problem. Colorado State has been using EA/PENS as an adjunctive therapy in a double-blind study in dogs undergoing orthopedic surgery and is consistently finding that the dogs that got the additional therapy need less post-op pain meds to remain comfortable. As I commented above, I remain unconvinced about some of the benefits claimed for acupuncture in general. But, with high intensity, low frequency current, the right needles and a good knowledge of neuroanatomy, wow, it's a *very* powerful tool for musculoskeletal issues and pain management. Susan G, DVM ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jena Williams" <equus_blue@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 2:17 PM Subject: [RC] Lameness - PENS?? ok, I have been following this thread and am very interested in the responses. What is PENS? I have a horse that has done some funky things under saddle, and I thought it was saddle/back issues. That is the current track of treatment anyway. The stories of the other two people sound so familiar, with the exception of the runny nose thing. I would be very interesting in what Susan G was talking about with the PENS thing. I would be very interested in input from others. Age: ~5-8 Source: Auction Breed: Arab, or Arab X (Andalusian? Quarter? or just a well bred Polish?) Height: 15+ (sorry, no stick) Weight: 900 Physical symptoms: *Right scapula was "dropped" *The muscle that goes over the top of the scapula near the withers on the left side was over developed and bulgy (made for a serious asymmetrical confirmation!) *Wither/shoulder area reactive to pressure *Slight mechanical (blocked to above fetlock) lameness on the left in small circles (20' diameter) Other possible symptoms: * Blind panics, dangerously defensive behavior (not aggressive, just flight) This could be due to mal-treatment before we got him. Did not have to be saddle related. Being led, in his stall, during ground training, etc. * crow-hops at the canter, even though he has been used to a saddle for over a year now and has been ridden on long rides (15+ miles) Only done it twice with a rider, both in panic/fear situations. (not bucking with back legs, just kind of goes normal in back, but slams don in front instead of following through with normal gait. Kind of like doing the front half of a buck but not the back??) * Rushes down hills. Very unbalanced. Will bounce a rider out of the saddle even walking down a hill. Kind of throws his legs out like the ground is level then drop on to them. Seems a bit better, over the last year. * Rarely seen laying down. (1x in a year) * Never seen to roll * Pins ears, tries to nip when rider positions to mount, even when pretending with no saddle * Pretty lazy for an Arab his age. * VERY spooky Current actions for treatment: * Full vet exam, and lameness check. Inconclusive. Indicators of shoulder/back pain (yeah, really?), but no obvious injury or damage to spine or withers. No obvious indicators of neurological. * 2 chiropractor visits (didn't think the first one did any good, called in a different one). Seen some improvement in overall shoulder and wither symmetry, but no improvement in discomfort symptoms. (lameness, saddling, rider positioning to mount, no rolling, etc) * Switched from western treed saddle to stonewall, to dressage, to Mackinder, then to Bob Marshall treeless. Fit is better, but still does the buck thing, and the nipping when a person positions to mount. Ok, I have just made him sound like a lost cause nut case! But he is the sweetest horse, and has tried so hard, and made such mental/emotional progress for me over the last year. He has really responded to someone caring for him and trying to listen to him. I just want to get out and enjoy the trails with him! I just want to make sure we are not missing some possible treatment or diagnostic tool. Thanks for any help. Jena & Temba _________________________________________________________________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|