Nerve Damage after kising spine op?

[emjhastings]

Hi

My mare was diagnosed with Kiss spine in March and after trying steriod injections we then went back for the surgury. She had the new treatment of ligaments being cut and a small bit of bone removal. This new treatment has a lot less recovery time. She had 3 weeks box rest and then was turned out for small periods and lunged again for increasing periods for the next 3 weeks, until after 6 weeks she was back out in the field.

I noticed while lunging her that she was draging her hind feet in trot, I can only say that I noticed this during the 3rd week of the lunging but it could have well been there in the previous 2 but I was so concentrating on her action that I might not have noticed. Anyway to cut a long story short she has now had two months off in the field and I tried lunging again today, unfortunatly she is still draging her feet. I am now convinced it is nerve damage from after the op, I have also noticed that she stamps her hind leg repeatedly sometimes as if annoyed by it. Again might be a sign of nerve iritation.

So my questions are has anyone else had any experience of this? I have spoken to a friend who is a Doctor and he said it can take 4 months for nerve damage to heal and after the 4 months what ever damage is left is permanent. I plan to call the vets next week to get advice but I am also worried they are going to want me to take her there again. She has been there 5 times now over the last 6 months as we have also had to sort out Arthritis in the hocks and sacro-iliac problems. So I really don't want to put her through anymore. I am not sure if to give her another 2 months off or to start walking her to bring her back to work, if the damage is permanent I may have to go down a corrective shoeing route or boots to be able to ride her so she doesnt damage her hoof.
Sorry for the length. Any help appreciated.

[Digger123]

It could be a combination of all 3 issues she has.
Really the only person in a position to advise you properly is your vet.

[seabiscuit]

That is definately the hock arthritis- not nerve damage in any way! She needs h wave therapy and ultra sound for a while - say regular treatments for about six months and she must be kept working- do lots over poles - dont worry about the draggng feet cos once under saddle she will be more up and together. Also assume she is on a vet strength joint supplement, has an excellent farrier who is keeping the heels right up and toes v short ? And i also assume shes had HCL and cortisone injected into the hocks?

[emjhastings]

She has had a very new treatment done on her hocks which killed all the nerves where she had the arthritis, only 25 horses have had this treatment done before and it has been proving very successful, so I really hope it is not the hocks but i will also mention this to my vet. Thanks for advice.

[Llwyncwn]

Hi Emzz. I would be very interested to know what this new treatment is that your mare has had on her hocks as I am desperately searching for ideas, my big boy has advanced ocd and spavin in all 4 joints. What is it called and do you have a link?

[emjhastings]

Hi Llwyncwn, I am afriad I don't know the name of it or have a link. It was just what the vet suggested at the time. It only worked because they could inject the fluid into a cavity in her hocks (last metatarsal) and it would not leak anywhere else. As it kills all the nerves there is no more pain but she has also now lost any feeling from that area, there is only 2% movement in that area so it should not affect her. ( she was dragging her toes before this treatment and is still dragging them after but she was no longer lame the next day)
Sorry I can't be anymore help, good luck with your boy.