Hello my name is Chris and I was wondering if yall could help me get an idea on recovery for my 2 yr old filly. I just picked her up last week from Iowa! Monday morning when my husband went out to feed he noticed that "Te" could not walk on her left front leg. It was totally inoperable. Well after getting two opinions from our vets we decided to take her to a specialist in MD. $850 later, here come to find out she some how damaged her radial nerve. Out of all the years I've been around horses I have fortunately never experienced this before. So I have no idea what to expect. The outcome is 50/50 whether or not she will recover. The vet said that if she shows no signs of improvement with in a week that we should seriously consider putting her down. Can someone give me some advice on this ordeal? How long of a recovery time is it, if she does recover? Any tips in speeding it along besides bute/steroids/anti-inflamitories? Since she's a 2 yr old she obviously hates to be kooped up in her stall. Poor thing! She was supposed to be my barrel mare for next year. I am so upset! THANKS SO MUCH! Chris

-- Chris Kale (cstover@utzsnacks.com), March 14, 2002

Answers

Not much on the internet, that I found, but maybe this one will be of benefit to you: Radial Nerve Paralysis Treatment, http://www.paper-horse.com/askthevet/radialnerve.htm How long it will take for the nerve damage to resolve and the mare to regain use of the leg depends on the severity of the damage. If the nerve was simply bruised or crushed, you should see return of function within 2-3 weeks. If the nerve was severely crushed, stretched, torn, or severed such that the nerve fibers which conduct the impulse to the muscles are no longer intact, it may take 6 months or more for function to be restored. In some cases, function may not fully return.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), March 14, 2002.

Seriously consider getting an opinion from a good horse chiropractor as well. There may be adjustments that he/she can do to aid in recovery. We had a barrel horse that could hardly walk either and after one adjustment, she was back to normal and just needed strengthening before racing her again. We keep the barrel horses in top shape by having them adjusted at least a couple times a season - more if they have fallen or been injured. I could give you lots of stories of the difference in a horse by having a chiropractor work on it.

Just a personal opinion, but a 3 y/o is much too young to handle the rigors of a full barrel racing season. I know the futurity people do it, but it ruins good horses.

-- beckie (none@this.time), March 14, 2002.

My only experience with radial nerve injuries is with humans (I'm an occupational therapist). Peripheral nerves do regenerate with therapy and time. I'm not familiar with the anatomy of a horse, so I don't know the exact muscles and sensory distribution affected on your horse, but am I correct in guessing it is along the back of the front legs? Also, do you know what may have caused it? Did something bang into her leg or was she cut?

Therapy for humans with peripheral nerve injuries normally includes a combination of gentle passive and active range of motion at least 2x day (passive = a person moves the joints through full range), splinting to prevent deformity from lack of active motion, strengthening exercises, and sensory re-education. Re: sensory re- education, you can cut little pieces from varied textures, such as cotton, light sandpaper, velcro, and any other texture from soft to rough, and rub it gently over the distribution of the radial nerve on her affected left leg. I'd imagine, even through her hair, she would feel the sensory input. Application of varied textures can "re- educate" the nerve because you are giving it sensory input and making the nerve "work." This works very well with humans, so if you can manage it with you horse by all means try it. You have to do it at least 2x a day for good results.

good luck!

-- amy (acook@in4web.com), March 14, 2002.

Wow, $850. I appreciate my vet more now. Our gelding did the same thing.When I called our vet to tell her he had to have broke something because he couldn't move his leg ,she said to swing that leg about a foot forward from the others and keep it there. If he brought the other legs to it,it was the radial nerve and would take about three weeks for discomfort to go away and a while to completely heal.She told me over the phone ,no charge and said of course if he got worse she'd be out.He healed compltely.I don't remember how long,but it wasn't more than 4 months. He's returned to showing (successfully) and chasing cows for fun .I wouldn't put her down after only a week.I would find a track vet, or take her to a university veterinary hospital first.Good luck.

-- Cheri (cmv@netnitco.net.), March 14, 2002.

I have dealt with radial nerve damage in a number of species. 1 week before euthanasia - "Poppycock" I say!!! I have seen radial nerve damage take up to four weeks to even start to see improvement. I depends on the initial cause of the nerve damage - crush versus total cutting etc Admittedly some nerve damage never repairs - but I would certainly give it more than a week as long as the animal was not in pain and able to get around etc.

-- Cowvet (cowvet_nz@hotmail.com), March 15, 2002.

For nerve injuries wherever or injuries to the spine, it is always good to give homeopathic Hypericum perfolatum. Order it in 30c potency in alcohol dilution (liquid), from Homeopathy Overnight(they're on the web.) Put a drop in about 4 oz of distilled water, shake it up good, and shoot a dropperful of that into the horse's mouth, maybe 3 times a day. When she starts to improve, leave off giving it. (If you use any kind of liniment which has peppermint or eucalyptus or tiger balm-ish Vick's kind of ingredients, the homeopathic remedy will not do anything. So decide which route you want to try.)

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), March 16, 2002.