Reaction to shockwave

[2bayboys]

Anybody have a horse that had an inflammatory response to shockwave?

My horse was recently diagnosed with bilateral hind suspensory tears. It’s been a struggle getting to this diagnosis as his symptoms were so vague, primarily reduced performance. No swelling or heat ever, and very very mild lameness on RH. Ultrasound confirms that the RH suspensory is slightly thickened in addition to the lesion.

He had his first shockwave treatment and both legs blew up. I’ve been icing, standing wraps, etc and the swelling has reduced but is still present locally at the site of the treatment.

I reached out to vet and he said he’s seen that happen and I should continue to follow the protocol.

Next treatment is scheduled for Tuesday next week. Anybody had this happen?

I’ve been chasing shadows with this horse’s diagnosis for almost a year and it’s just so frustrating.

[alisa]

I have not had an inflammatory experience after shockwave as you describe, but have heard it can happen. My understanding is it’s not indicative of a “negative” reaction per se, and if your vet says to forge ahead, I would do so confidently (though in my experience it’s multiple treatments, 2 weeks apart… not sure when you got your first treatment). My understanding is you can also space out the shockwave another week or so - so if it’s still really inflamed, perhaps that is an option? Did vet recommend some NSAIDs at all?

I’m mostly commenting to commiserate, as my horse was just diagnosed with proximal suspensory desmitis (luckily, no apparent lesions), after what I can retrospectively see as symptoms that have been ongoing for at least 1.5 years, if not two. We went down the kissing spines route (which may also be real, but I don’t think are a primary issue), some farrier/shoeing issues (primarily NPA in the hind feet), but I see now that this suspensory desmitis has been an underlying issue for a long, long time. I’m relieved to have a diagnosis, but devastated by what I’ve put my horse through for 18-24 months chasing other diagnoses, putting her back to work, having her still not be right, etc. So I totally empathize.

[2bayboys]

Oh I’m right there with you. My horse forged ahead despite not feeling 100% and I hate that. I can point to a number of things that were probably signs of brewing suspensory problems. Kicking myself now.

[hybriseris]

Add me to the kicking myself crew. Nothing overt, always NQR. But I’m sinking myself in to do the rehab as well as possible to “make up for it” even though in reality, hindsight is 20/20 and we’re just doing our best.

I did the three rounds of shockwave two weeks apart, and was told by my vet that there was potential for swelling. I did notice quite a bit of puffiness around the area the day after, but it makes sense with the mechanism of shockwave, so unless it didn’t subside by the next treatment I wouldn’t be immediately concerned. (And I am always immediately concerned.) I did not notice any inflammation on the second or third treatment, and there was noticeable improvement afterwards on a recheck ultrasound.

[2bayboys]

Thanks. The local swelling is significantly better today. Next treatment is Tuesday, 12 days after the first, then another scheduled 14 days after that. Then two weeks again for another ultrasound. My horse is young so I’m really hoping all goes well and we get to the other side. Best of luck with yours too!

[IPEsq]

Only minor swelling in the lower limb and only where there was already some obvious inflammation we were treating. It did make my horse’s soft tissue edema blow up even worse when we were doing shockwave on the scapula fracture. But only lasted a couple days and didn’t seem to bother him.