Soft Tissue Injuries - Neck/Shoulder *May Update*

[FjordBCRF]

As far as I can tell, my guy got roughed up pretty good during turnout. Here’s the timeline:

2/13 - Tuesday - I wasn’t feeling well so I did a bareback ride with our neck rope. Stayed mostly at the walk, trotted a wee bit but that was all.

2/14 - Wednesday - groundwork

2/15 - Thursday - bareback neck rope again. A little more trotting in which I noticed him really stretching his neck down. Out of the ordinary, but first thoughts were things felt different without a saddle AND a bridle for him.

2/16 - Friday - bareback neck rope again right before his body worker came out. He didn’t want to pick up a canter either direction that day which is out of character for him. Body worker definitely found tightness/tension in the neck and worked on it but he was agreeable.

2/17 Saturday- gave him a day off. When grooming, he REALLY was asking me to dig in in those areas which I did

2/18 Sunday - rode again with saddle this time and bridle plus the neck rope. Mainly used the neck rope. I really noticed that his range of motion to take a treat from me while I was on him was diminished. To the left I got about 50% normal, to the right, 25%. He got gooped up with Sore No More.

Sunday I was riding with the resident vet (retired) that boards her horse there so we did a few checks, no fever, didn’t appear to show lameness at the trot to her. When I asked for the trot, I did pick the reins up and he started over flexing which is out of character, but my assumption was he didn’t want his neck moved and was trying to hold it very straight and stay away from the bit.

Retired vet knows him pretty well and agreed a fjord not reaching around for a treat is definitely an indication something’s off. He was pretty subdued too and very nappish and would move away if you put your hand in his neck which he normally wouldn’t care about.

Visibly, he had a very light spot of hair that was scuffed off (size of my thumbnail) on the left side of his neck that looked like it might have been a bite, but otherwise doesn’t have any obvious boo boos.

I brought my PEMF mat out this Monday and had our MagnaWave girl out yesterday. That was his first experience with that and he LOVED it. The way he felt to her, she wondered if maybe he went down somehow in turnout. His mobility wasn’t much better after that.

I’m going to talk to the vet friend tonight and see what she thinks. This is my first go with anything like this with him. He’s still on turnout and I figure I’ll hand walk/groundwork and keep working on the neck rope stuff at the walk to try and keep him as loose as possible. I will keep using my PEMF mat on him, he’s going to have the Magnawave again and then see the chiropractor March 9. We’re in no rush to do anything other than feel better so he will get as much time and treatment as he needs.

Any insight is appreciated.

[pryme_thyme]

I don’t have a ton of experience diagnosing lameness however, I would highly recommend Dorning Therapy and Red light. My Dorning specialist is phenomenal, the way she can pinpoint the sore spots and realign the body to help the muscles and tendons is game changing.

I had a gelding who I was trying to bring back into work with shoulder region lameness. She did a wonderful job with him. It was gentle, he loved every moment and she sold me a red light therapy wand and pad. I used it a few times a week and the difference was uncanny. (Note: you can buy the Wands off Amazon and they are great for people injuries as well)

Good luck!

[FjordBCRF]

Thank you for the suggestion! I had looked into those for me a while back but went with the PEMF mats. Seems like a good time to add to my collection. This pad looks like it would work well for us both, and is HSA eligible at that!

Amazon.com: Comfytemp Red Light Therapy Belt, FSA HSA Eligible Infrared Red...

[FjordBCRF]

Happy pony!!

I used the IR band today on my shoulders/neck and I felt a noticeable decrease in my normal tension. I hope it felt as good for him! His mobility has improved quite a bit. Still some stiffness but hopefully that will continue to improve.

[TWH_Girl]

May try one of these! I have the hand held red light but that’s ineffective for larger areas.

[Warmblood1]

Posture prep grooming tool if you haven’t done so already. Just used this on a horse with some shoulder soreness after returning to work. Significant improvement after one session. Just started using the tool and I love it. May not be your cure if something bigger is going on but it may help if it’s just mild soreness from spunk in the pasture. I would also take a good look at the front feet to ensure that heel soreness or the like isn’t causing soreness in the upper limb. Just a thought.

[FjordBCRF]

We got one end of last year and have been using it regularly since. He loves it!

fee7cddd593b4265abb7a835975a6c3a

We’ve definitely had some great improvements in the last week with the IR/PEMF treatments every day. I use the posture prep to rub in Sore No More afterwards which he loves. Sunday, he felt really good trotting, canter to the left was easier for him to pick up, the right he still was struggling. Yesterday his neck and shoulder stretches had great range of motion and he was more comfortable picking up the canter to the right. So we’re getting there.

I’m really considering one of the PEMF/IR blankets!

[Warmblood1]

So adorable! Love the sore no more posture prep combo. Sounds like you will have him in tip top shape in no time.

[FjordBCRF]

After coming out of whatever our issue was…I think we’re back at it again. Yesterday we went trail riding and found a boggy spot that didn’t look muddy but was. It wasnt the worst, but he sunk in about halfway up his cannon bones. We stopped, and slowly got turned around…didn’t lose any hoof boots or pastern straps in the process (scoot boots) and meandered our way back. It was in the back of my mine he might be sore from that the next day.

This morning I got him out of his stall to go driving and sure enough he was not moving soundly. He was better once he loosened up a bit, but was still clearly not comfortable.

• No heat or swelling in all four legs
• No tenderness with the hoof testers on all four
  hooves
• I trim myself and his last trim was last Sunday

His schedule this past week was:

• Monday Massage
• Tuesday training ride
• Wednesday 2 mile drive
• Thursday training ride
• Friday bareback ride around the farm
• Saturday muddy trail ride

Here’s a couple videos:

IMG_2698

IMG_2693

Any advice on next steps? I’m inclined to have his body worker out to see what she feels. The chiro is coming out this next Saturday. I have the BEMER horse set so I can use that as much as needed.

I didn’t get the vet out earlier this year but am more inclined to do so now. If this is coming from whatever our issue was early this year maybe that’s something they could help pinpoint it. My retired vet friend was helping me out this afternoon and his videos and the diagnostics didn’t scream anything obvious.

He’s in fine spirits at least! Bright eyed and bushy tailed. He’s got solo turnout on a dry lot now with everyone being on grass so he will get his normal turnout unless something gets much worse.

[TWH_Girl]

Awww poor bug. He looks foot sore in the outdoor arena. Is he barefoot? You’d almost have to block and see what he reacts to. Not sure it’s necessarily neck or shoulder. I would have vet out vs bodyworker myself.

[FjordBCRF]

@TWH_Girl He is barefoot. I put his boots on to walk back to the barn and those didn’t seem to help which makes me think less foot and something further up.

For what it’s worth, when he had full blown laminitis in spring of 2021, he didn’t show any response to the hoof testers then either.

More sensitive on a downhill slope as well.

There also was very tall grass that he had a few mouthfuls of as a grab and go but it was so little and so tall it’s practically hay so I wasn’t too worried. But lord only knows.

I’ve not personally had a horse that’s had blocks done but I was just saying to DH that could be helpful; how far up can that help to isolate?

[TWH_Girl]

Poor Charlie! The vet usually starts low- navicular bursa- and then they keep blocking their way up and checking soundness after each block. Nerve blocks do block an area though so it’s often not going to pinpoint the exact area. But you can X-ray or ultrasound for further information once you’ve narrowed it down. They can go up to the shoulder.

If he’s had prior issues with laminitis I would definitely rule that out.

[FjordBCRF]

I went out first thing this morning and he was much worse. Just waiting for the vet to open to see how quick someone can come out.

So I have the BEMER horse set, and usually run that on him before we go for a ride/drive which I did yesterday. He wasn’t great yesterday but he was significantly worse this morning. I wonder if that BEMER time really helped. I have him on stall rest until the vet gets out at least.

He’s in good spirits and is eating so good news there. He was significantly more comfortable on the concrete than in the indoor footing if that is indicative of anything.

Here’s to hoping he can see the vet today even if it’s an emergency call after hours later.

[GraceLikeRain]

@FjordBCRF

He was significantly more comfortable on the concrete than in the indoor footing if that is indicative of anything

Not 100% but that can mean soft tissue. I wonder if you could be dealing with a small tear like suspensory or ddft that got restrained. I definitely think blocking is a rational next step to get answers. Poor guy

[FjordBCRF]

@GraceLikeRain

Not 100% but that can mean soft tissue. I wonder if you could be dealing with a small tear like suspensory or ddft that got restrained. I definitely think blocking is a rational next step to get answers. Poor guy

My retired vet friend said that too about the soft tissue and that’s what I thought was our issue earlier this year. I probably assumed it was resolved since he’s been doing well and in work now since the beginning of March, but Im guessing it probably was on the mend and I aggravated it.

His big tell in February was his carrot stretch mobility was significantly limited. I checked that this morning and it was close to normal which is making me think its not quite in the same spot/maybe not the same issue but could still be related.

Im prepared for having blocking done and I also want to do rads and make sure his feet are still fine. He had no rotation when he had the laminitis but Id like to confirm we are still good there even with him being dry lotted.

[OzarksRider]

@FjordBCRF

he had full blown laminitis in spring of 2021

@FjordBCRF, have you checked digital pulses? It wouldn’t hurt to treat this as a laminitis attack until you can definitively rule it out. It’s that time of year, and you can’t be too careful.

[FjordBCRF]

@OzarksRider I didn’t feel any but I’m not a pro at finding them either.

The vet will be here in about 20 mins thankfully.

I’m a bit inclined to think laminitis based on how similar the presentation is. With that said, he is treated like an IR horse. Strict diet, weighed hay bags, limestone drylot. All that to say there have been no diet/environment changes. He’s actually lost a good 50-60 pounds this year which was intentional and has been in solid moderate work.

I’m almost wondering if his workload pushed him over the edge.

I’ll keep this updated.

[FjordBCRF]

Im going to update here and then more any further updates into our laminitis thread because that seems to be where we’re at again. After I posted my last response I tried to feel the pulses again and did notice it.

Vet checked for any indication of tendon/ligament issues and gave him an all clear on that. He got some feedback from the hoof testers and felt digital pulses in both legs that was pronounced more after a trot up the aisle.

Bute for 5 days and we started Thyo-L

Diet wise not much to fiddle with. I had a 40 bale load for him delivered to hold us over until we get new first cut this year, and didn’t have that tested but am going to even though Im halfway through it just to see and were going to soak his hay at least until his metabolic panel comes back.

Couple days of stall rest with extra bedding as well.

I need to revisit the ECIR group and their material. Ugh.

[candyappy]

I know he is a Fjord but he looks quite heavy( heavier than he has been in previous pictures) I wonder if he is having issues since he is prone to laminitis? Hard to manage these ultra easy keepers.
I have one I know.

[FjordBCRF]

He’s pretty svelte these days, this was him going last week

He’s taping at 1065 and gets 2% of his ideal weight on food. Vet is happy with his weight/fitness