SI diagnosis, among other findings

[Encourage]

Since google is turning up nothing helpful for me, I thought I would turn to the COTH collective and see if someone has any experiences or information to offer!

My mare had a bit of a baffling lameness issue and recently went for a bone scan which found a couple things.

Main discovery was a bilateral (worse on right side) sacroiliac disease. We injected her SI and are on a very regimented 3 month rehab at the end of which will be our assessment, with a guarded prognosis about her return to work. I’m feeling cautiously optimistic about this, from what I’ve read it is something workable, but time will tell what my specific case will be.

There was also linear uptake around her left front splint bone- though she has no splint.

The part that has me a little more worried is the linear uptake around her left front radius growth plates and right hind tibia growth plates- essentially they are still open. This is worrying because she’s 8, and while she is part hanoverian (other half is TB), the vets are calling this abnormal and they are not clear what the clinical significance could be. My own vet is unsure and I’m waiting on clarification from her hospital vet.

So COTH- has any had any experience with what I’m calling delayed growth plates? Also any tips and tricks in addition to slow and steady SI rehab would be very welcome!

[IPEsq]

Wow…no idea on the growth plates! But for the SI rehab, I’ve been liking the Equicore Concepts saddle pad/bands system. Especially when you have asymmetry. I’ve used it on a couple horses, and the other trainer at my barn has been using it as well on vet recommendation for a few other rehab and reconditioning cases, and to the extent things are going to get better, I think the system does help them stop dumping weight on the front end, and I’ve noticed proprioceptive improvement in my horse’s weaker side.

[Encourage]

I have heard about Equicore, but I believe it was difficult or a little obscenely priced to get to Canada. I’m going to shoot off an email to them to check for myself though. I do have the pessoa which I heard can be beneficial, I’ve sent of an e-mail to my vet asking if and when I should use that.

I’m at that slightly overwhelmed stage where I’m trying to get my ducks in a row. They strongly recommended getting chiro and acupuncture done while rehabbing, so I’m finding someone for that, arranging her turn out, and starting her lunging. I’ve been very lucky to not deal with an SI injury before, so it’s a whole new world to me!

[IPEsq]

20+ years ago I did a SI rehab without any fancy knowledge, equipment or things like shockwave. I treated it similar to a stifle injury. Lots of straight lines. Lots of long and low, forward trot sets. Took a very, very long time because the horse was on the hotter side and re-strained things doing the tuck tail, invert and scoot move a few times. Because that was her nature, I rode in draw reins a lot. Not to make her head go down but loose until she really went to invert and scoot. Made that move not so severe on the lower back and SI.

Current horse is lazy, so none of the above worked for him. The bands do seem to help some, and my vets like them. It is stupid expensive even in the US IMO, but after around 2 years of putting it off after the vets recommended it, I got a set and haven’t regretted it.

Chiro and acupuncture definitely help during the rehab phase.

[CanteringCarrot]

I know that Equibands are a specific brand and come with a special saddle pad (I think) and all that. But you can basically buy an elastic band for like 14€ here in Germany. You can attach it to a surcingle and your saddle/girth.

Search for Elastisches Körperband, hinterhandbandage kaufen, hinterhandaktivator or longieren band and you should see results. Use Chrome to translate if needed. Not sure if this will serve a purpose for you, but a more affordable selection. Even with shipping to the US I imagine. Not sure of they have plain bands such as these in the US?

[IPEsq]

We have Therabands in the US, and I’ve had just about all the colors/strengths of them for my own physiotherapy, and the Equicore ones are thicker and also seem to be safer with the clips.

[Encourage]

The price makes me want to stick to the pessoa rig I already have and invest that money into other therapies for her, but I do quite like the idea and will probably come back to it.

3 days post injection! She’s been hand walking daily and went outside today, tomorrow or Monday she’ll start on the lunge, as per vet. I’ll speak to him Monday about when I should add the pessoa.

I haven’t dealt with any sort of SI injury before, so I appreciate all your suggestions! IPEsq- she is hotter but thankfully reasonable and very “workmanlike”. I worry more about her kicking up her heels when left to her own devices, but if she is to spook she does the tuck and scoot too. I’ll have to keep an eye on her but good to know about the draw reins on your mare helping with that random burst of energy.

I was also reading that weighted hind boots can help them activate the hing end more for the rehab, it’s a question I’ll pose to my vet as well.

[findeight]

Find the open growth plates at 8 concerning. Never heard of that before. Will be following this.