PEMF: Is it just snake oil? Yes or No: Back Pain Stories and Solutions--EPM, Neuro, Bone Chips in necks and more

[Renn_aissance]

I’m not your veterinarian and this post is worth exactly what you paid for my opinion. However, I have rehabbed an SI injury (trailering out every week, then two weeks, then month, then 6 weeks to a specialist vet/chiropractor… it was a complicated confluence of multiple injuries all sort of secondary to each other.) I will say that my experience, and that of the above vet, is that horses with active SI pain tend to be more comfortable at the canter than at the trot. If the horse is happy at the trot but uncomfortable at the canter, I start looking at the stifle or the hocks. I mention this specifically because you came from a program that injected first and asked questions later. If the problem is in the hocks, your horse is a little young for arthritis in that joint, but it is not out of the realm for a horse who has had a history and this may actually offer him significant relief. (So would Legend, oral HA, MSM, and all kinds of other things you can try first.)

All that is to say- it sounds like you’ve found a much better situation for him, I’m glad you have the vet on the way, I’m really glad that your vet travels to your farm so you don’t have to schlep the horse an hour each way as long as I did and keep an open mind about what you hear!

[joiedevie99]

@middleton.the.grey

I have heard it is more painful and quite loud, have you used it before and for what reason

Yes, it’s loud. Some horses need mild sedation, some don’t. I’ve used it for a bunch of things - neck arthritis, kissing spines, SI arthritis, hind suspensory sprains and tears, etc.

@middleton.the.grey

Do you have experience with SI injections or injections in general?

Lots, over many years and many, many horses. I’ve injected fetlocks, coffin joints, navicular bursas, hocks, stifles, SIs, necks, and backs - and probably something else I’m forgetting. I’ve never injected a knee, but I’ve owned hunters, jumpers, eventers, and dressage horses. I know those are common in the reining world.

[middleton.the.grey]

Thanks for the insight! Did you find the injections effective and good for the horse long term even after competition? I don’t want it to provide cushion just so he feels comfortable doing something his body/joint overall couldn’t handle. If you can’t or don’t feel comfortable answering, I totally get it and I will ask my vet anyway! Thanks again!

[SMK]

Yup, that’s about what I found…

“The effect of PEMF on back pain and range of induced back movement could not be proven in this study”

[Jealoushe]

The mastersons method works better than PEMF or Bemer in my opinion.

[Texarkana]

I had really good results with it for SI pain in my horse. Also had good short term results for some sort of shoulder issue in another horse.

When it first started gaining popularity several years ago, a lot of the science in the promotional materials seemed completely junky. But, there have been peer-reviewed studies in humans that it does offer healing and pain relief in some instances. I think a lot of the data is inconsistent, though.

I think the biggest problem is that the technology is now in the hands of everyone. It was one thing when you had people with a background in bodywork hanging a shingle saying they now offer PEMF… at least those folks had a general understanding of body mechanics. Now you have everyone and their brother buying Bemers and units for personal use. People on the whole are notoriously dumb about these things (we live in a world where people think TikTok is a better source of medical information than actual doctors and scientists), so it kind of muddies the water on the effectiveness of the technology when there is a lot of uneducated use.

I think the bottom line with most of these therapies is that they are going to work in some instances and not others. I don’t think PEMF can offer more than temporary relief at best if you are dealing with something like kissing spines or a congenital malformation of vertebrae. That kind of pain is going to keep coming back. But if the horse has an acute injury, it can offer relief and maybe even speed the healing process along.

[ABookworm]

This x100! I have a Bemer that I got for cheap off a friend who got out of horses. I use it 2-3x a week on my whole herd and while they enjoy it I think I get more consistent results using my back on track blankets/wraps and the mastersons method. The horses most likely enjoy their Bemer time because it’s one-on-one with me and they’re getting asked to just stand quietly while enjoying a hay bag.

When I researched full priced Bemers they were around $5,000 which to me wasn’t worth it for the lower level PEMF they produce. At that price I would rather properly learn how to use a full PEMF or send my horse to a rehab center.

[kaya842]

Having used both Bemer and Magnawave (a PEMF machine), I would strongly suggest the Magnawave, or other machine, vs Bemer. The horses seemed to relax with the Bemer and take a nap but that seemed to be it for therapeutic effect. The Magnawave left a noticeable difference in the way my horse (with no issues at the time) moved and jumped.

I have since bought OMI PEMF boots to use on the same horse, now, for hoof issues which seem to help but that is anecdotal at best.

It seems you have a good plan starting with the sport horse vet and going from there, as well as him getting more turnout now.

One thing to note (and maybe you already know this), Vit B injections aren’t typically grouped with steroidal/ HA injections (meaning when someone says they had their horse injected they are usually referring to steroids) and, AFAIK, aren’t detrimental to the horse’s body like steroids are. If the vet were to recommend the Vit B injections for whatever issue they end up diagnosing, I would not be hesitant to use them. If they recommend steroids, you can always start with alternatives such as Adequan and Pentosan as someone mentioned up thread.

[joiedevie99]

@middleton.the.grey

Did you find the injections effective and good for the horse long term even after competition?

Yes. At one time, joint injections were definitely harmful. Older steroids caused cartilage to break down - but that is not true any longer.

[Xctrygirl]

Full Disclosure… I work alongside some of the best vets in the country BUT I am not a vet. I do not play one on TV and I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

When Cudo arrived in the USA he had a VERY sore Poll. He’d had to travel for 7 days total and it made sense that he could be VERY out of whack physically.

So we contacted a friend and she recommended a lovely woman who is now a friend, who is a licensed massage therapist for humans and animals. She has done therapy with various modalities for years. She worked for Michael Matz not long after I did and she has made this her life. She uses the Pulse PEMF systems and after our initial work of once a week for a month when Cudo was becoming used to life in the USA, I have usually continued to bring her in about 1x a month on average, more frequently if there was an issue.

I can see a LOT of changes since his first session. She can too.

We have known areas and past areas. Now we can pick up on new areas quicker and my horse absolutely LOVES his therapist. She gets nickered at. I do not. Ha ha. She has done my other horses at times as well.

Here’s a clip from the first time we worked on his poll.

Cudo pulse 4. 2/13/18

Em

[middleton.the.grey]

Thanks for the insight! I’m so glad your boy is feeling so much better, he’s so handsome!

[Spudsmyguy]

I was experiencing some pretty severe back pain and the PEMF person happened to be at the barn when I was there. I used it on my back for 20 minutes and felt enormous relief. Pain went away and stayed away for quite some time. Not hours or days, but weeks. The one that I use, on occasion, is very experienced with the equipment and is constantly taking continuing education on physiology and other classes on how to better treat her equine and canine clients.

[Dr_Doolittle]

That’s very interesting, how much did the treatment cost?

[Spudsmyguy]

I think she charged me only $25 or some nominal amount. It was definitely worth it to me!

[Dr_Doolittle]

Wow, That’s quite reasonable! We have some practitioners in my area, not sure how good they are or whether they work on humans though. Worth looking into, thanks!

[joiedevie99]

I pay $125/session for PEMF from a lay person with a background in bodywork.

[MapleBreeze]

I haven’t seen amazing results with it. I was having issues but it boiled down to training and needing a better coach… I would be interested in using a combination plate that does the feet instead of the the rings on the back.

When I have sat on the rings myself I was super emotional the next day. Weird.

[spotnnotfarm]

I had the same result.

[Limerick2017]

I was quoted $2500 for the blanket.

[S1969]

@middleton.the.grey

Very true, that is my first step and I am having a sport horse vet come out that has worked with my trainer for years and does a lot with the FEI.

Did you have the vet out yet? Curious for an update.