massage or accupuncture for a sore back?

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massage or accupuncture for a sore back?

Postby newbie » Sun Sep 25, 2005 1:23 pm

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Hi everyone!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#My coach noticed the other day that Silver has a sore back.  Atleast, that is our conclusion because he sort of flinches when we rub a certain spot on his back...#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#He has a saddle that was fitted to him not long ago, and I use a sheepskin pad beneath it.  He is lightly ridden (flatwork) atleast 5 X a week.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#My question is - which route would you take first to determine what the problem might be - would you try a massage or perhaps accupuncture?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Thanks!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
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Postby Jakesterd » Sun Sep 25, 2005 1:48 pm

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Just a dumb question but!!!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Why would your first response to a medical problem be to go to "outside of the norm" practicioner to find the reason for your problem. I suppose the acupuncture person could be a veterinarian with additional training but then it should be their option to suggest the alternative treatment. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#A very qualified FEI veteerinarian friend of mine one mused abut the fact that horses get problems that cant be found with xrays, ultrasound or even MRI (in vet colleges) but people believe that massage therapists and other "hands on" healers can cure the problem.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Just wondering#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Jake#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
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Postby Sodapoppers » Sun Sep 25, 2005 1:55 pm

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" color=#0060bf#ed_cl#There are problems in humans that cannot be found by MRI / ultrasounds/ xray etc. and it is my experience that the same holds true for horses.#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" color=#0060bf#ed_cl#Newbie my horse has a 'therapist' too - she does massage/accupressure/chiro and infa red. She's very good and has 'fixed' Dream up when vets scratched their head and thought a hock problem was really a unirary tract issue #ed_op#IMG src="/richedit/smileys/confused.gif"#ed_cl# My first step for anything muscular is to seek out the therapist. It becomes cause for a specialist in that certain area as opposed to a vet that is good at is all but not great usually at one specific thing. #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" color=#0060bf#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" color=#0060bf#ed_cl#However, having said all that - are you SURE Silver's back is sore? Horses often quiver or dip a little bit when you hit a 'sweet' spot so to say along the back. If his saddle is fitted properly he should not have a sore back for the type of work you describe (assume of course that you can ride and are not pounding on his back),  So the first step is to determine where this soreness came from. Too much too soon? Ill-fitting tack? Leg soreness? You can treat it over and over but if you don't find the real reason it will be re-occuring. Good luck :) #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
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Postby newbie » Sun Sep 25, 2005 2:18 pm

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Jake - I guess I should have given you more background info  - Silver has been seen by two veterinarians for a lameness issue this past summer - we have had 8 xrays done.  Nothing - not even a pimple showed up in the x-ray - the vets can not find a thing.  The horse is no longer lame - he must have either had an injury that the time off I gave him this summer resolved.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Poppers - you are absolutely right!  He may very well not have a sore back at all.  This is why I am not overly worried.  If you have read my past posts on this board Jake - you would know that I am an "overprotective mommy" who has no qualms with calling in a vet - but having said that, I agree with Poppers - alternate therapies can be helpful.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I just noticed him react to me touching his back - and wondered if he might benefit from some alternate therapy just as us humans do...#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
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Postby Piaffing » Sun Sep 25, 2005 5:01 pm

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#What are his feet like. Does he have shoes or barefoot?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
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Postby Patricia » Sun Sep 25, 2005 5:34 pm

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#If you still feel he has back issues....my thinking would be to call in a VET who specializes in chiropractics and acupuncture.  We trailered to a specialist for a lameness as she knew our new horse's case history.  While there for treatment she checked his back and adjusted him too. Based on her findings, we are now searching for a new saddle.  As he ages his back has more of a slope and his saddle is too big.  I really don't think massage is enough....I prefer a knowledgeable VET in those areas.  #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
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Postby newbie » Sun Sep 25, 2005 5:43 pm

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Thanks Patricia!  That is what I was wondering, which option to try...  My coach has recommended a vet that practices accupuncture, I just wasn't sure which direction to go.  I had a specialist in lameness issues come out and check him out a couple of months ago - he looked at the legs, the back - everything - he saw no obvious problems.  He had recommended to ride him and see if his lameness persisted.  He is fine now in that respect - I just thought he might be a little ouchy in his back area - but like I said - maybe its my overactive imagination...  #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
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Postby newbie » Sun Sep 25, 2005 5:45 pm

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Piaffing - Silver was barefoot up until a few weeks ago.  The farrier trimmed his front feet too short (he was trying to let him grow out his heels) and trimmed him too short.  He hurt on the fronts - and after waiting for over a week - we called the farrier back in and he put on pads and shoes on the front feet.  Silver marched back into his pasture and has been a very happy boy since.  I hope to be able to take the shoes off eventually, but he is doing so well with them I just may leave them on...#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
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