Sacroiliac questions....

[clairel]

I know there are quite a few posts on sacroiliac injuries on here, but I am looking for a few suggestions please?

My horse has been off work since Feb. He was diagnosed with having damaged his sacroiliac sheath and I was given a course of lunging and exercises as 'rehab' for him.

Last time out Physio said she was pleased with the progress and to up his work load, with the aim of having him back in full work in 1 months time.... that was 6 weeks ago!

Vet saw him 2 weeks ago and said there was significant damage and would expect him to be lame, he isn't and never has been. When she saw him trot on a circle, she said there didn't appear to be anything obviously painful.

He is still impossible to ride and maybe even worse than at the start, incredibly heavy in the hand and will not turn right.

I guess what I am asking is, are these symptoms of a sacroiliac injury and if so is this an average recovery time. Physio implied it wasn't serious but vet suggested 6 months field rest.

I am so confused as to what is right to do, and am at the stage of giving up with the horse!

Any help welcome?!

[PapaFrita]

I would be astounded if any horse, having been off work for 4 months WASN'T a heavy on the hand and stiff. Antifaz gets like that after a week off!
I don't have any close hand experience of sacroiliac injury, but I would've thought that there would be more stiffness behind and obvious discomfort. If your horse isn't lame, then that's good, isn't it?
I hope you get some more helpful answers than mine!

[TayloredEq]

Have you checked the suspensories? So often the two injuries goes hand in hand.

And sorry to be negative but the fact that your horse is not lame means nothing. - My own horse was sound when diagnosed with hindlimb suspensory problems.

Hope you manage to sort the problem out.

[clairel]

PF- He has been worked in an outline on the lunge, and has been built up to 4 times a week.
Maybe I should have explained better, it isn't just like normal when you bring a horse back into work. He is so crooked and refuses to turn right without a major fuss!
I would be willing to try and work him through it with a bit of re-schooling, but I don't want to cause any more damage!

I thought it was good that he wasn't lame... a sign that it wasn't that bad.....

TE- I just mentioned it as everytime I look up old saroiliac posts on here it starts 'my horse was lame and vet says....'
Haven't had anything in the leg checked, but will!

What was the prognosis for your horse?

[CBAnglo]

As TE has said, a sacroiliac injury commonly goes hand in hand with another injury.

It is very difficult to diagnose - sometimes it is clear from trotting the horse up, or watching the horse in work or its obvious from the horse's stance (dropped pelvis etc). At other times it is only diagnosable from xray or scintigraphy.

I have a horse with a very old SI injury. You couldnt tell at all from watching him work but you could tell when he jumps.

If it really is the sacroiliac ligament or joint, then yes I would expect the horse to be lame on a flexion test and to test postive to pressure on the sacral area.

[Marchtime]

Agree with the above posters, SI normally goes hand in hand with another problem. Mine injured his hind suspensories and later developed SI as a secondary condition because he was working incorrectly due to the hind suspensory issues. I can't help with prognosis/treatment as we decided to retire Jesper (he had an endless list of issues).
Hind suspensory damage doesn't often show as lameness. Maybe worth getting your vet out to see if nerve blocks have any impact. Have you tried a bute trial?

[TayloredEq]

My horse had the all clear after 3 months spa treatment for the suspensory. He then suffered from a sore back. That has just been given the all clear after 2 weeks just on the walker and with a bit of laser plus using the back on track rugs and he is now allowed to be ridden again.

Have discussed the sore back with vet, physio, chiro and saddler and all think it is just soreness from horse having to use himself properly again rather than anything more sinister.

My boys suspensories was picked up due to not performing as well as he could. We nerve blocked which gave slight improvement and then went on to scan which showed the damage.

[Janetterose]

Julian Gaze, my EMRT man is great with these. He can tell you where its coming from and treat it. Dont know where you are but he is in Worcester. If he cant come out that far then just search EMRT website for practitioners

[sussexbythesea]

New to forum except for reading posts but not new to sacro-iliac injury unfortunately. Sorry for long post but my pet subject!
I have been managing my horse with SI injury for about 4 years which I think was present before I got him he also has close spinal processes although they are not actually kissing. We hack and have competed successfully up to Unaff Elementary and also have done the odd hunter trial and sponsored ride so there is hope.

If the injury is in the acute stage then restricted turn-out and excercise is recommended. Mine was investigated at the AHT and he had steroid injections to SI and spinal processes. After that the only way to bring them back to fitness after any pain and inflammation has subsided is to strengthen the muscles and ligaments that surround the SI "joint" to stabilise it by controlled excercise. Rest is then bad for them (my vet and physio both say so) because then they soon become weak again. Typically the horse wants to work on the forehand as his backend is weak and it can feel as if the hand-brake is on. Mine typically doesn't want to go to the left. Pessoa lunging, working over poles to stretch down but encourage use of hind legs, gradually building up strength by schooling in sympathetic classical way, regular physio. I also use a small battery operated muscle stimulator at times recommended by physio and carrot stretches etc. Tried a bute trial but did not make any difference so think it is weakness not pain although I still do worry. Took more like 6 months to get to reasonable level of fitness and strength and we still have ups and downs but have managed really well for 3 years until recently when we have had a few set backs but every horse has its problems. Mine has a character and presence to die for so I just didn't want to give up but really understand how you feel - last week he had a loon on the lunge and fell over I thought I can't go through this again but physio said yes sore but give a few days and back to work..........

[mle22]

I am the OP's mum - and her horse is an eventer who had been competing at 2*level. I suppose the question for us at the moment is will he ever be able to compete like that again or is it a matter of adjusting our ambitions for him. Do horses with this kind of injury ever get back to the level they were at? Do we accept that he will only be capable of a lower level of work, even with all the rehab and tlc. It's just not knowing that is the worst.