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I need some advise on treatment and rehab of a muscle injury (horse). I'm
treating with anti-inflammatory, liniment and rest right now. My question
is, when to start exercise and how much.
Here's the scenario. At the Pawnee Grasslands last Sat., Buhni became
intermittently lame during the last loop @~ 32 miles. But, I could find no
evidence of tendon involvement which I was anticipating in the left
deep-digital. We were going slow all day as planned (my choice, not
her's). The reason I was taking it easy was to check our progress from
some tendon inflammation sustained at the Rocky Mountain Ride in August.
(Ultra sound had shown no tearing of the tendon, just fluid between the
tendon and the tendon sheath which was slight but palpable). We seemed to
have this condition under control. She had never been lame from the onset.
This ride we were giving it a slow 50-mile test.
The intermittent lameness did not seem like the prior tendon involvement
because it was on the right front not the left. So I thought back to the
prior week and remembered she had fallen in the pasture on Tuesday. After
a work-out she had rushed out to roll in her favorite spot. Was full of
herself, did a capriole, slipped on the grass and did the splits with her
front legs and went down. The left front had gone forward and the right
front went backward under her weight. She seemed fine afterwards, no
lameness --until 32 miles into a 50-miler.
The exact symptoms of the lameness were: 1)occasional stumble (about once
per mile) followed by 3-5 "off" trot strides, then, normal rhythm; 2)
markedly "off" 3-7 trot strides after standing; 3) markedly "off" 3-4 trot
strides after walk to trot transition; 4) markedly "off" 3-4 trot strides
after canter to trot transition; 5) slightly "off" 3-4 trot strides after
change of diagonal. --Each instance of "off" was followed by perfectly
normal trot rhythm.
At one point, I suspected a saddle problem. But, this suspicion was
dispelled at the final Vet exam, where she was "off" at the trot-out.
I have isolated the injury to the right biceps muscle. I don't know the
extent of the injury. There could be some facia and/or tendon involvement,
too. There is no heat in the area. She complains slightly when I massage
just below the point of the shoulder and the opposite end of the muscle
(just in front of the elbow).
I've never delt with this sort of muscle injury before. This horse had a
ham-string injury once. The vet said Bute for a week and don't ride her
for 3-weeks. I don't think I need to pay $50 for this advise again.
(Besides, I don't use Bute anymore unless absolutely necessary).
Anyone out there had experience with this sort of injury?
Linda Van Ceylon
lvanceylon@vines.colostate.edu
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