|
|
Post by easychoice on May 3, 2008 23:14:19 GMT -5
Has anyone had any experience with this? My 5 yr old OTTB had a bone chip removed from his knee last summer and we just took a set of x-rays and found arthritis. Long story short, I adopted him from a rescue that had the arthriscopic surgery done but didn't do the joint injections to prevent arthritis from developing. My vet has done the HA w/cortizone joint injections twice since Nov. I broke MY leg last Jan and was stuck at home for 8 weeks and couldn't monitor his recovery until recently. Anyways, my vet thinks the IRAP is the best solution.
IRAP is a fairly new stem cell therapy where they take blood form the horse, process it over night and prepare up to 6 syringes to inject back into the knee over a 6 week period. It stops the progression of arthritis and assists with pain. It's expensive but I love my guy like crazy and want to make him as comfortable as possible. Please respond with anything you know or have heard.
Thanks
|
|
|
|
Post by jenarby on May 4, 2008 20:21:29 GMT -5
My best friend has done a lot of research on IRAP because she was considering doing it to her OTTB who had a sesmoid fracture and an ulcer in the joint with cartilidge degeneration. I think she said it was supposed to help cushion the joint by allowing regrowth of the cartilidge. She waited a while doing research and weighing her options. Well over that time the horse has come sound so she opted not to do it. I know there have been a few threads on IRAP on COTH as well. If you do a search there it might turn up some good info. If you'd like to get in touch with my friend to see if she can help you out, PM me and I'll give you her email address.
|
|
|
|
Post by TeachU2Ride on May 7, 2008 7:40:55 GMT -5
I considered IRAP for one of my older geldings with arthritic knees. Unfortunately, he didn't fit the profile of the type of problem it can help. It might be a good idea to get a second vet opinion on your horse's condition and the likelyhood of IRAP helping before you spend the money on the treatment. It's definitely NOT a solution for all types of arthritis, including arthritis which is not actively inflamed.
|
|
|
|
Post by easychoice on May 8, 2008 20:52:18 GMT -5
Thank you for the responses. I'm still looking for anyone who has had this done (or knows of someone who did) and what the outcome was.
|
|
|
|
Post by TeachU2Ride on May 9, 2008 17:50:38 GMT -5
From a thread on COTH... ------------------------------------------------------------------ IRAP can be used for any inflammation in the joint, I'd think. Here's a good article on it: www.thoroughbredtimes.com/hor...s-therapy.aspxWe used it for my mare after pulling some chips and depo deposits out of her fetlock. She was still very sore on the joint after surgery, so we injected with HA, which lasted a couple months, and then she was very sore again. The joint was also carrying quite a bit of effusion. The entire thing--from pulling the blood, to preparing the injections to the sedation we used when we injected the joint--was right about $1000. Blush had to be completely off of work for three weeks during the series. It was one injection a week for three weeks. Frankly, I really expected her to be lame again by now. She was VERY sore on the joint prior to IRAP. She looks very good now. |
|
|
|
Post by easychoice on Jun 18, 2008 23:43:11 GMT -5
;DHe's moving sound after 3 injections ;D ;D ;D I highly recomend it.
|
|
|
|
Post by buckets on Jun 23, 2008 21:50:16 GMT -5
That is so exciting! I kept checking in on this thread because I thought it sounded like an interesting, new therapy. Does that mean we can see pictures/video of your boy in the near future?
|
|
|
|
Post by easychoice on Jun 25, 2008 22:48:20 GMT -5
Until I invest in a new computer (hopefully late July) I can't post pix. This one locks up on me at least 5 times a day  I will post some in Aug for sure. I know I love to see everybodys babys and I can't wait to share pix of mine. Easy has another IRAP injection tomorrow. However, I have been riding him lately and boy are his gaits nice. He's 16'2 so his strides are long. I've only cantered him once (and that was by accident - it was his first time in the outdoor arena and his trot got faster, and faster...). I'm hoping my trainer can start working with him again next month. He's very 'green' to everything except racing. It's been 40 years since my last horse so I guess you could say I'm pretty 'green' myself. I know what to do but my body dosen't seem to remember  and I don't want to screw him up. I'm also taking lessons and I know it'll be a few years before we're ready to start showing. Baby steps |
|
and I don't want to screw him up. I'm also taking lessons and I know it'll be a few years before we're ready to start showing. Baby steps 