Old injury causing scabby scar tissue...

[Mandzanita]

So Biggs sustained some injuries probably about 5 years back that resulted in some scarring on his hind legs, particularly around his fetlocks..on and a little above. I was told he had casted himself a few times, causing them. They are circular bumps of scar tissue that almost have a flaky, rough, scabby look and feel to them. It's almost like they are still healing. Some are directly on the the side bulb of the fetlock and some are above...possibly on top of some tendons.

My questions are, can scar tissue around these tendons cause him to be stiff, off, or uncomfortable? Is it normal for them to be flaky and scabby? Can they cause Arthritis? Is there anything I can do to break the tissue up...like massaging?

I know pics would probably help my cause and I plan to add some to this post ASAP. If I had photoshop I'd just grab a horse leg from google and circle the locations but I'm not that talented. He's not uncomfortable with me touching, pushing or rubbing them but I just noticed he seemed a bit stiff in the hind, particularly on the right hind (where they are more prevalent)

Any comments, suggestions, insight would be awesome :)

Here is a pic I found that shows one of the main one's I'm concerned about, check out his back right hind right above that fetlock you can see a lump and right in the center is the scar....

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=37&pictureid=240

[WashingtonBay]

No real tips, except I had a mare with some old wire scars around her pastern that would continue to become kindof raised and flaky and dry. For show I'd pick it off and rub all the loose dead skin off, and then rub a bit of lotion or oil on it (not too much so it's oily and would attract dirt, just enough to moisturize) so that it would be dark like the rest of her skin and not show up so much.

[SedonaThunder]

Hey Mandi - Dynamite makes a product called Wound Balm that does an amazing job at breaking down old scar tissue... but it takes commitment and time. I bought it because Sedona has very close to what you describe on Biggs and I thought I'd give it a try. The people who have had success swear by the product but they used it EVERY DAY (OK maybe they miss one or two) for months - rubbing it in and some even wrap it (saran wrap) for a few hours each week. I wasn't that dedicated. I did see the flakiness go away and I started to see hair growth but I am really bad about things like this and wasn't regular with it nor did I do it longer than maybe a few weeks.

HOWEVER, I did keep a tub of it in the bathroom next to my face lotion and applied it to an old, bad scar on my ankle every day for about three months and there was a HUGE difference! It used to be a hard bump under the skin and it was sensitive... you know the kind of scar that kind of gives you the willies when you touch it? Anyway - you can still see it but it is no longer hard underneath the skin nor is it sensitive and dark like it was. If you think you'd be dedicated and use it, and would let us know if you see any improvement, I would be happy to scoop some out of my tub into a container of some sort and send it down to you. Send me an email if you want to give it a shot and I'll get it in the mail this week!

[Mandzanita]

Sedona, you are so sweet :) After reading about it it sounds EXACTLY like what I need. I don't want to take any of yours (though that was very generous!) it looks somewhat expensive. I'd probably need a lot of it if I am to use it everyday for a couple of months. I'm having a hard time finding it online other than on the Dynamite site. Where did you get yours?

[SedonaThunder]

It's $27 for a 6oz. tub of it and it lasts FOREVER! Hellooo - I bought my first tub when I signed up to become a distributor in '03 and had it for TWO YEARS! My second tub went quicker because hubby's "tennis elbow" (I think it's arthritis) started acting up so he would apply the wound balm every night, then wrap it in saran wrap and put an old tube sock around it. He swore it helped, but like everything... you get lazy and stop bothering. I also had a farrier that massaged a little into all of his clients coronet bands when he finished them... he swore it stimulated growth - made them look pretty.:)

I swear I would be HAPPY to scoop some of my tub out and send you some and then if you think you'll keep it up I can get you your own tub. Unless you have a lot of big spots you're using it on it will last quite a while as you don't use much. Besides - I just want to see if it helps at all.

Ooohhh - it looks and feels like ear wax and smells like something you'd treat your car engine with.:( LOVED it when hubby came to bed with it ever night!:eek:

[Mandzanita]

Really? I saw it on the site for $100 and some change...maybe I was looking at the wrong thing? I didn't know you were a distributer!? If it wouldn't be a problem I'd love to try some out then and if it works you can lead me to the place to get my own tub :) Thanks girl, you're so helpful!

[NJrider]

Huh, this thread is really interesting to me too because my mare has some serious scarring on her hind legs. I suspect it was also from barbed wire way before I got her. But, I board her and do not get to see her every day so I don't think it would be worth it for me to try the wound balm :(

[Mandzanita]

Once I get the stuff I will make a seperate thread about it and you guys can follow the process and see if it works and helps. I'm mostly worried about the scarring over the tendons inhibiting his movement...:(

[SedonaThunder]

Really? I saw it on the site for $100 and some change...maybe I was looking at the wrong thing? I didn't know you were a distributer!? If it wouldn't be a problem I'd love to try some out then and if it works you can lead me to the place to get my own tub :) Thanks girl, you're so helpful!

Yes - you must have been looking at something else... the price for a whole case is $167! Here is the link to the product on the corporate website http://dynamitemarketing.com/Wound_Balm.htm and here it is on the webpage they set up for us distributors http://www.dynamiteonline.com/newcat.nsf/(Catalog+Lookup)/Dynamite+Wound+Balm++-+MISCELLANEOUS+PRODUCTS?OpenDocument I'll find some old med bottle or something to put some in tonight and try to get to the mailbox store tomorrow.

[Mandzanita]

I was probably looking at case price, lol, woops. Thank you so much for letting met ry some. if it becomes too much of a hassle don't worry about it, I'll just buy a jar. Could I buy one through you or do I order from that site?