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  Discussion on Acupuncture for shoulder nerve and muscle damage
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 28, 2000 - 1:52 pm:

Have you ever heard of using acupuncture or equimassage for shoulder nerve and muscle damage? If so, please explain the details. Thanks.

Posted on Monday, Oct 30, 2000 - 8:17 am:

Hello Barbara,
I presume we are talking about shoulder sweeny. Though I do not know of any research conducted on accupuncture or massage for sweeny, any tissue that increased circulation would benefit will improve with massage. Considering that the pathogenesis for the neural damage is trauma (pressure) I would be careful about applying pressure over the neck of the scapula: it may further damage the nerve. Is the muscle actually damaged or do you figure that it is neurogenic atrophy from the damaged nerve?
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 1, 2000 - 11:27 pm:

Thanks for answering. Yes, we are talking about my 9yo QH with Sweeny due to blunt trauma of unknown origin 6 weeks ago. My vet diagnosed Sweeny and thinks it is muscle atrophy due to nerve damage. The horse has been in the stall 5 weeks as the vet recommended and is now in a fenced area around the barn. He is much happier outside, but is still unstable on that leg. His shoulder pops in and out of place and his lack of stability is very obvious He will not let me pick up his other hoof to clean it and the farrier refused to shoe him due to instability. A friend recommended a faradic machine for nerve or muscle stimulation. What do you recommend for treatment as well as shoeing? I am getting very worried as he hasn't improved and the shoulder bone is much more pronounced on the injured side due to muscle loss. We haven't done an xray of the shoulder. There is another vet in town that uses a nerve stimulator and there is a massage therapist in the area. Thanks so much for your input. Barbara

Posted on Thursday, Nov 2, 2000 - 9:56 am:

Because we have had a lot of questions on Sweeny lately I have written an article on Sweeny and you will find it at: Diseases: Neurological: Shoulder Sweeny, hope it helps. I do not know of any research on the above treatments you list and so cannot evaluate them but the article lists the recommended treatments and prognosis.
DrO
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