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Signs of Back Pain?
Mesotherapy may work for you.
By Dr. Helen Hughes
It is that time of year again, the trails are dry and the show
season is in full swing but there is something different with
your trusty steed. Regardless of your discipline and whether
your riding consist of a couple of times a year or multiple times
a week it is important to be in tune to your horse noting subtle
changes in behavior and willingness under saddle. Maybe he is
not picking up a lead as well as he once did, or it seems like
he is swishing his tail more frequently when asked to collect,
or has exhibited discomfort when being saddled or mounted etc.
If these symptoms sound familiar, your horse may be exhibiting
signs of back pain.
Many equine athletes suffer from back soreness that ultimately
results in impaired performance and in some cases behavioral
issues. Factors that may contribute to this condition are:
poor saddle fit, lameness, confirmation issues, or simply the
physical demands of the horses’ discipline. Saddle fit
is a crucial component to optimal performance. Regular checks
for appropriate fit are important because changes can occur as
the horse’s body shape alters with weight loss/gain and changes
of musculature. Lameness frequently leads to some degree of back
pain. Lameness can alter the way a horse carries itself – attempting
to distribute weight away from the sore area. In doing
so, this requires the musculature of the back to compensate for
the subtle change in gait. A complete lameness exam is warranted
to determine if there is an underlying lameness component causing
secondary back soreness, and to elicit the specific area of back
pain. Confirmation should not be overlooked however, there are
many equine athletes that have a far from ideal build. There
are many conformational varieties that will predispose a horse
to back soreness including; prominent withers, swayback, an underdeveloped
top-line, etc.
There are numerous treatment options for indirectly and directly treating back
soreness. Sometimes by alleviating the discomfort from a lameness issue,
the back soreness may also dissipate indirectly. Direct therapies include; shockwave
therapy, veterinary spinal manipulation therapy, back injections, acupuncture,
or simply prolonged rest with judicious use of anti-inflammatories. More recently
the benefits of mesotherapy have become evident for conditions that may not have
responded well to other treatment modalities. Mesotherapy consists of injecting
a small amount of medication into the dermis (skin) over the affected area. Though
these injections are very superficial, they have been shown to reduce symptoms
by stimulating the mesoderm of the skin inhibiting the transmission of pain.
The area to be treated is thoroughly cleaned and the procedure is performed under
standing sedation; medication is injected via 5mm needles in sequential rows
over the area that is most significantly affected. The horse is typically not
exercised for three days, to allow the solution to adequately diffuse without
discomfort of tack contacting the area, with return to full work in one week. Improvements
can be noticed within 7-10 days and may last from a couple of months to a year.
However, depending on the severity of the condition it may need to be initially
repeated on a more frequent basis. Responses to therapy vary so be sure to consult
your veterinarian to decide if mesotherapy is the right choice for your equine
athlete. |
