Game Ready advice needed

[horse_crazyi]

Hi Game Ready people - need some help… I just rented a Game Ready machine with a utility wrap for horses front leg. Horse has a ligament injury which we are having a hard time cooling down.

I’ve read the manual and watched the video. I’ve set the machine to med pressure, med temp - 20 minutes. Temperature reads 38 degrees (machine is filled to the top with ice then water).

Problem 1 - The sleeve is barely getting cold - the horses leg was not cold at all after 20 minutes. Uh isn’t it supposed to get the leg pretty cold - that’s the reason I rented it.

Problem 2 - horse had a peanut size bump on her leg (front of cannon bone) after the treatment. Clearly it did something when I put it on. The bump went away after I put ice on her and walked her for 20 minutes.

What am I doing wrong??? The bump freaked me out more than anything - I do not want to cause any further damage. Help!!! TIA!

[EventerRN]

I use the game ready system regularly for a horse with hind leg cellulitis. For the temperature make sure you are first adding a good third of the container with ice. It doesn’t cool itself. There is also two buttons to control the temp I bring mine to 32 degrees. As for the bump, that has never happened to me. Maybe it was just wrapped to tight causing dependent swelling that will go down with walking/ time. So just make sure it’s not to tight. Good luck!

[pokesaladannie]

Op, be sure to use a clean, wet sponge to dampen leg before applying your GR wrap.

[horse_crazyi]

Thanks for the above - pokesaladannie - why do I need to dampen the leg does it help with the cold. I tried putting it to the coolest setting and still leg doesn’t get cold.

[Simkie]

Because the hair provides some pretty awesome insulation. Wetting it removes that effect.

You may also want to wrap yourself to confirm the pump is working.

[pokesaladannie]

A few more ideas to try Op - we use maximum compression, and minimum temp. You can also wet the wrap. IME this works well on a wet leg. YMMV so a test on your own leg is worthwhile. Good luck - wonderful machines when they work!

[horse_crazyi]

Thanks Pokesaladannie - that’s a good idea. I did wet her leg and tried 15 minutes medium pressure on coldest setting. How long do you run yours for???

Again - her leg was the same temp as when I put it on…sigh…I feel that I must be doing something wrong. I put the wrap on myself it was cold…not like putting a ice pack on my arm - you know the cold pack where you kind of wince cold…

I think wetting the wrap is a great idea!! Thanks!! I really do want this to work…it’s such a good idea in concept! I just need her leg to be at least “cool” when it’s done.

[pokesaladannie]

I don’t think you should expect to feel the same kind of freeze that you get from an icepack. After 20-25 min. the leg will feel cool but not the same as cold-hosing or ice tubs. It is the combination of compression and cold therapy that is helpful. Good luck.

[TullyMars]

Mine gets cold enough on my leg that I cannot handle it after a few minutes. On my horse it does get pretty cold, but the hair seems to keep a little extra insulation on it. But I feel that it is adequate. Have you called Game Ready to see what the troubleshooting options may be? Is it a rental? Do you own it? Advice from trainer, groom if it is the barns unit?

[bugsynskeeter]

Are you putting ICE in the machine or just water? You need to be adding as much ice as you can, then adding cold water.

[horse_crazyi]

They are sending me a new one. Rep said sleeve should be getting cold which it really is not. I’m filling ice to the top then putting water in (which is a pain in the tush doing daily…not going to lie). Hopefully the new one will work…