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Post by debandmolly1 on Nov 20, 2008 20:56:43 GMT 1
hi, mollys had her last lot of shock wave treatment tonight, when i massaged her the other day her back was still sore in my opinion,, but dad said its just me again making excuses not to get back on!!! when she went in tonight the vet asked me how she was so i told him my opinion her back was still sore and guess what i was right he pressed her back and you could see it hurt, there was a lot of muscle spasm there,i might not know much but i know every inch of my ponies bodys and i could tell that was still sore, his words were oh dear!, not quite sure what to make of that baring in mind this was a different vet, i asked him what was next and he said 3 months rest including 6 weeks box rest?, this through me a bit as her normal vet wanted her lightly ridden last week and she is turned out in the day , i told him i was going to start lunging her a bit after xmas and he said that was fine, i work her in a pessoa and thats good too apparantley it will build up her back muscles, its worked before so im hoping it will work again, not sure about the pain in her back though it seems the same to me as it was before we started but she is moving out a lot better when she is charging round the field bucking andleaping like a mad man, not sure what to make of it all really i surpose time will tell, glad i didnt get on though
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Post by mandal on Nov 20, 2008 23:10:29 GMT 1
Oh Deb, I can really feel deflation and a hint of exhaustion in your post. Are you going to speak to Mollys usual vet? You must focus on what you feel is right and try to let unhelpful comments flow over you...as you say you know Molly well now. I'm glad to hear she is moving better...has she got a diagnosis?? (((((((((debandmolly)))))))) Oh just to add...if Molly is still sore to hand pressure on her back then she will still be sore with a saddle and rider wont she.
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Post by tomrabbit on Nov 20, 2008 23:27:34 GMT 1
6 weeks box rest . That sounds very extreme, and tortuous for Molly, given what she's already been through, and the fact that she's doing a rodeo show in the field. That's exactly what our boy was like when his back was so sore that he couldn't be ridden, and like you, we saw it as a good sign (can't be too painful, or he wouldn't do that!). Do you think your vet has exhausted all his/her ideas, and is moving on to clutching at straws? I'm certainly no expert, and we have to rely on the advice of professionals, but I'm having treatment on my lower back with a chiropracter, and he has always told me that if you don't use it, you lose it - in other words, keep moving as normally as possible, don't try to rest. You had an equine massage therapist out at the start, didn't you? Has she been back since Molly has got worse? My riding instructor is also an equine massage therapist, and she was fantastic in helping us to get our boy back to strength. 3 months of rest doesn't sound such a bad idea though, especially given its winter now. Maybe she could just do with a break from all this intervention, and time to chill? I was wondering last time you posted whether it might be worth turning her away over winter, and starting afresh in the spring- for your emotional wellbeing as well as hers. You could still give her TLC, but just forget work. If you do decide to keep working her, I personally would avoid lungeing until she isn't so sore, because tight circles could be uncomfortable for her. It might be better if you could build up strength by doing straight work to start with - long lining perhaps, and maybe return to the massage routine you were doing before? I'm sorry to hear there's no real progress, and I wish I could offer you some wonderful advice to make her better, but like you said, only time will tell. If she is going to have 3 months off work, it would be a great time to work on any behaviour issues which are hanging on from her days in the garage, and perhaps get an RA out to support you in this. Keep us updated with her progress. You deserve a medal for sticking in there!
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Post by debandmolly1 on Nov 21, 2008 15:52:51 GMT 1
hi mandal, i will speak to tom in a couple of weeks when she has rested again and see what he has to say, i agree with you in the fact that hand pressure malkes her buckle so there is no way im going to put a saddle on her that would be cruel and im not that desperate to ride her till she can carry me happily, the diagnosis was inflamation of the suspensery ligaments and in all fairness she isnt lame now, dad says she went across the field this morning like a race horse so she must feel better in some respects. The massage therapist comes every six weeks and she is due again the middle of december but i know what she will say, she is a very sore girl in the one area on her back just where the saddle sits at the back, i think thet are running out of ideas now as to what to do with her i cant see me ever getting back on, they did say there is a pain medication other than bute thats stops muscle spasms so maybe thats the way to go, im not sure now, ive missed the summer riding her so the missing the winter wont make much difference now, the gentle lunging last time did help a lot to strenghten her back so maybe it will again, she has stopped kicking the walls down now so thats a start i surpose, good job i love her so much i bet she ends up another lawnmower!!!!!!!!! as if i need anymore good job ive5 acres of grass lol, ive got to laugh now i cant cry no more bring it on now thats all i can say xxxxxxxxxxx
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Post by Cameo on Nov 23, 2008 22:24:00 GMT 1
Hi Debs, You truly deserve a medal for being so patient - and do you know (you wont be the only person who hasn't ridden much this summer - look at all the rain we had!) I think a thorough rest over the winter is a good idea. You can guarantee that when ever you try to get back on - it will rain or be getting dark... Personally, I am not a fan of lunging either - too much work on small circles, remember back to any lunging lessons you may have had - you feel dizzy - think what a much larger horse feels! Plus with her suspensory ligament issues - I wouldn't want to be stressing them on circles... Long lining is a great way of really working your horse effectively, it is like riding form the ground and can be easy on the horse whilst still engaging their brain and teaching/reminding them manners. It isn't difficult to do either (I learnt!) - Kelly Marks has written a good little book on it. You can also spend time just being with her in a way that is nothing to do with vets and injections etc...just watch her and see how she behaves... It may be that she will settle with a good regular routine (winter often brings that I think) - what does your regular vet think?
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Post by debandmolly1 on Nov 30, 2008 17:58:36 GMT 1
hi its me again, massaged molly last night and there was no pain in her back at all, i was on a high!!!!! went down at 8.30 this morning to let them both out and guess what, somebody has broke into my yard and pinched my generator, it cost me over £500.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!, that brought me down to earth with a bump again, i ask you why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, i rang the police and of course molly was now getting impatient because i hadnt let her straight out, when i did let her out only 10 mins later she went mad chaging round the field like something demented, i just stood and watched thinking your back doesnt hurt you, she came charging toward the fence and i could see what was going to happen, she was going so fast she couldnt stop, she skidded on her bum straight into the fence, ended up in another paddock skidded on her side with her legs all wrapped in the wire, god knows how but she kicked her way out got up and run off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, i just stood there in amazment and watched it, nothing really i could do, i just thought well i bet your back hurts now, ive checked her over and she is absolutley fine, i just turned round walked to my car and went home, talk about the icing on the cake, what makes it worse is i cant massge her anymore in the week because i dont finish work till its dark and i cant afford to replace it and whats the point they will only pinch it again, i must of done something wrong in another life and by god its coming back to haunt me now!!!!!!!
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Post by mandal on Nov 30, 2008 19:12:35 GMT 1
i must of done something wrong in another life and by god its coming back to haunt me now!!!!!!! Oh gosh Deb!!!!!!!!!!! Imo you're having a run of very terrible bad luck! Thank heavens Molly seems to be ok after her roll in the wire! I can't imagine how frustrated and upset you must be feeling, all this when Molly seems to be really responding to all your love and care!!! Unfortunately rotton luck seems to come in waves! Remember Molly had no pain when you last massaged her so not everything is bleak.(((((((((((((((((((Big hugs))))))))))))))))))))))
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Post by mandal on Dec 7, 2008 15:39:55 GMT 1
Thinking of you both and wondering how you're getting on???
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Post by debandmolly1 on Dec 7, 2008 16:32:50 GMT 1
hi mandal, we are both fine thank you, i lunged her for a bit yesterday for the first time since her treatment and she was fine, her back was a little sore when i first brought her in but i massaged it for a couple of minutes and it seemed to help, you would of laughed but when i put her bridle etc on she was very scared you could see it in her eyes and by the time i walked her up to the school she was shakin, even her head was dithering bless her its been so long now since she has done anything i dont think she new what to expect, you could see her shakin with fear bless her, i held her for a few minutes telling her she was ok and she stopped shaking, she was as good as gold, never put a foot wrong, listened to everything i said and hadnt forgotten anything we had done before, i was over the moon with her, when i think its nearly 12 months since i bought her and lunging her then was a nightmare she just used to run round with her head in the air like a demented idiot, i love my molly i just hope 2009 is better than 2008, but im not giving up xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Post by mandal on Dec 8, 2008 19:39:49 GMT 1
Gosh it's so nice to hear some more good news! Great that she is listening to you and is well enough for some exercise. Have you thought of longlining her? That would enable you to get her to move more 'correctly' and build strength and muscle as well as being great fun. If you haven't done it that's a great reason for an RA lesson for Xmas! ;D You're doing a great job Deb, Molly is a lucky horse.
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Post by debandmolly1 on Dec 15, 2008 18:55:49 GMT 1
hi everybody, just had the massage therapist out to molly again now her treatment has finished and its not good news im afraid, i new anyway that she was still in pain i could tell when i massaged her so it wasnt unexpected but she just confirmed my suspisions, she is still very sore in her back muscles!!!!!!!, she doesnt look lame to me which is a good thing but then i didnt realise she was lame before so i think the treatment has helped her legs but definatley not her back, she said that she was not rideable which i already new and was going to report back to the vet in the next couple of days then ill get in touch with him, dads my main problem he is so blinkered he thinks shes just out to cost me money and that because molly was rideable when we bought her and was ridden at the vets, and the fact that she charges round the field she is fine!!!!!ive told him to get on her and lets see how she reacts but he wont do that lol, he seems to be obsessed with me riding her again because every body else is out riding i should be, believe me if i could ride her again id be there in the blink of an eye but he wont look after me if i end up seriously hurt if she chucks me off again, and she will ,and i dont blame her, when my backs hurting if my daughter or husband even touch me i get cross so a saddle and 14stone of me on her will end in disaster, never mind we'll see what the vets have to say and ill just try and ignore dad, its hard though because evrtime i go down to my girls he's always there, and he only lives four doors away!!!!, familys !!!!!! who needs em !!!!!!!!
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Post by tomrabbit on Dec 16, 2008 1:21:26 GMT 1
OK - time to think out of the box? It seems like you've exhausted every avenue, and there clearly isn't a quick fix solution. I have a bad back - I've had it for 4 years, and I've spent £1000s on chiropracters. The thing is, if I don't manage to strengthen the muscles which support it, it will always be bad. And it takes a LONG time and lots of dedication to strengthen back muscles. I am meant to be walking, swimming, doing pilates etc... I will always have a weak back, but I can do things to improve it. I just wondered if it might be the same for Molly. She has a bad back, and all the vet tests haven't revealed a cause or a cure, and you are pretty much resigned to not riding her. If you have the time, and your massage therapist is happy that it won't cause her discomfort, I would suggest walking her in hand as much as possible to strengthen her back muscles, mostly straight lines at first, and building up the distance gradually, then incorporating hills. If you can long line, all the better. It does take time, and once you start on this, you need to keep it up. As well as massaging, you can use heat, such as a hot water bottle, to help the muscles relax before she walks. If you don't feel up to this just now (and who could blame you), perhaps you could let Molly be a field ornament for a while until your battery is recharged, and you've had a bit of time to consider your options? You must be so exhausted with all this, and your dad's comments, though understandable, aren't helpful. Men, eh?! Good luck, Deb. I hope 2009 is a better year for you and Molly.
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Post by debandmolly1 on Dec 16, 2008 14:31:36 GMT 1
hi tomrabbit, i am going to start doing things gently with her if i cant ride her i might as well walk with her she is to sweet a pony to give up on and dad did actually say i should use a hot water bottle on her, i also have a bad back from an epidural i had giving birth to my dauhter so i know how she feels, ive bought a tens machine for me so ill use that on her too the masage lady said it wont do her any harm so ill try that, ill let you all know what the vet has to say , merry christmas everybody xxxxxxxxxxx
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Post by mandal on Dec 17, 2008 19:55:40 GMT 1
Deb, there are loads of great things to do without riding like the walks. I really don't know what to say about your Dad but as Tomrabbit says he's not being helpful. Actually you're Dad can be a great help...he could buy you a session with an RA for Christmas (make sure he's there at some point too!). Sorry if I sound like a stuck record and a nag but I really feel you will benefit greatly from the advice and support. Christams (((((((hugs))))))) to you and Molly.
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Post by debandmolly1 on Dec 18, 2008 14:52:26 GMT 1
hi ya mandal,i was hoping to hear from you, dads a real pain!, ive got the vet coming to see molly again on monday, he rang me last night and he has spoken to a top man at a university somewhere who has developed the new drug for muscle spasms, my vet doesnt want to use them on molly as they apparantley work on the brain and hes not happy with that and neither am i, he says he thinks weve got to treat her as though she has a sore muscle just like a human gets a bad back because there is nothing wrong techinally with her,i e pain killers gentle massage, heat therapy and maybe acupuncture, he assures me i will get a rideable horse at the end of it and the fact that i only want her as a gentle hack is the best thing for her, ill keep you updated on monday, merry christmas mandal x
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