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  Discussion on DMSO/Aloe Massage for Fibrotic Myopathy
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New Member:
Smiles

Posted on Sunday, Jul 31, 2005 - 3:41 am:

Hello there-
My 18-year old Arab mare has been diagnosed with Fibrotic Myopathy. We came through colic surgery (strangulating lipoma) last summer, so we are not up for surgical treatment of this.
I am working with a vet who uses acupuncture who gave me some exercises to do but I notice that since I started walking her, giving her turnout (walking only) and doing the stretching, the pop-slap gait seems worse and her whole hip tighter. While we are taking it easy, I also am certain that keeping her moving is essential to her health....
The vet says that she is not surprised that this might get a little worse before it gets better, and suggested doing a 10:1 DMSO aloe vera rub on the calcified area... I've got the aloe, the DMSO, and the rubber gloves...and I'm wondering...how much DMSO to apply in one treatment? Can I rub the stuff on and leave it there, or do I need to rinse it off before I put her back in her stall? Do this every other day? Daily? As I see fit?
Also, does this condition really not hurt my horse?
Thank you for your advice.
Sarah
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jul 31, 2005 - 11:50 am:

Yes fibrotic myopathy is a mechanical problem, not one of pain. Once the scarring is established, as evident by the slapping gait, I don't see how DMSO and aloe are likely to help.
DrO
New Member:
Smiles

Posted on Sunday, Jul 31, 2005 - 12:31 pm:

Hi Dr. O-
Thanks for replying so quickly! I see your point. My vet says she has had success improving this condition in some cases (not all), and the slapping gait manifested quite suddenly and has only been happening for about a week and a half. So I suppose DMSO/aloe falls into the category, "couldn't hurt, but could be a waste of effort."
Perhaps I should post under DMSO for best practices?
S
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Aug 1, 2005 - 6:41 am:

No this is the perfect place to post such a discussion.
DrO
Member:
Cutting

Posted on Monday, Aug 1, 2005 - 8:19 am:

Current thinking for this condition in humans is low levels of serotonin, one of the chemicals that transmit messages throughout the brain and nervous system, thus making these people abnormally sensitive to pain-producing stimuli. Some long-standing psychological stresses have all been associated with the disease. Many people with this condition are deficient in magnesium.

The massaging you will be doing while administering the DSMO and aloe, may well be the best treatment. Essential oil of Lemon could be added because it will help support the immune system. Is your horse low in magnesium?
Member:
Helen123

Posted on Monday, Aug 1, 2005 - 10:02 am:

Might the DSMO help prevent further scarring of the muscle tissue, if the myopathy resulted from a traumatic injury? For my mare the disease process worsened little by little over time, as it seemed more and more tissue became involved.

Sarah, good luck in dealing with this. I tried most everything (stretching, acupunture, liniment), including the surgery (as written in previous discussions). I'll probably try another surgery in the fall.

The gait is better, but I'm concerned about pretty severe dragging of the toe on her bad leg. Acupunture seemed to help some, probably relieving compensational strains in the body. More recently she got a Legend injection that also seems to help her overall condition.

I am wondering about supplements that could provide some benefit, as well as exercises that could strengthen the muscles in what's left of the bad leg. Any suggestions?

Helen
New Member:
Smiles

Posted on Monday, Aug 1, 2005 - 1:07 pm:

Bonnie- I am perplexed by your mention of chemical changes, pain, and disease, my understanding of fibrotic myopathy is that it is a painless scarring and hardening of muscle and tendon most often caused by impact or injury...is it possible you are thinking of another condition like cystic fibrosis or something? Perhaps the massage is the most effective part, although those muscles seem as hard as rock and not likely to loosen up with a little amateur rubbing from me, and if that is true I would just as soon do away with the DMSO and latex gloves!
Both of you mentioned mineral or nutritional supplementation, and the vet/acupuncturist I am working with did mention that. I will ask her more about it next time I see her. She also did give some exercises, but I am really too new to this whole condition to do anything more than report back about our process...
Helen, I am curious, how long has your horse had this? what kind of exercise do you do with her? Do you still ride her? I will review your previous posts.
Meanwhile, I tried the DMSO aloe rub...hopefully I will not return to find a big bald patch! Am I right in thinking that DMSO absorbs quickly into the skin and thus does not need to be washed off or bandaged?
S
Member:
Canter

Posted on Monday, Aug 1, 2005 - 1:11 pm:

Sarah,
Some horses are more sensitive to DMSO than others and you will want to watch your horse to make sure the DMSO does not irritate the skin. I used it for months on an injured leg on my mare last summer, without any incident, but I do seem to remember someone else reporting that their horse reacted to it
Member:
Helen123

Posted on Monday, Aug 1, 2005 - 3:08 pm:

Sarah,

When I used DSMO the vet suggested I add Furazone to it, because as you said it absorbs quickly into the skin and may bring bacteria and such with it into the tissue.

I don't know that liniments help, it may only help me feel better.

I've been dealing with the myopathy now since last fall. I haven't worked her in riding since the surgery in April, after one vet consult recommended only walking for a couple of months post surgery. We have nice bareback walks. Now, I want to exercise her more but am wondering what and how to do it without causing anymore damage.

I really do think that both acupuncture and the legend has made some difference in the relaxation of the gait, as she does also have degenerative arthritis in that hock too.

Did some walking over poles to stretch the tendon, haven't for a while, but will start again. Looking for more information about any other exercise program that might help. It's the darn toe dragging that's most disturbing right now.

Wishing you and your mare the best. I can definitely relate.
Helen
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 2, 2005 - 7:07 am:

Bonnie does have this confused with another condition. This fibrosis is due to tearing and poor quality healing and I don't know of a mechanism where acupuncture or Legend could possibly help. The article we have on it discusses ways to prevent it but once formed surgery is the only practical solution.
DrO
Member:
Cutting

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 2, 2005 - 8:39 am:

My apologies to all. Confusion is a state of being for me and in this case that is exactly what has happened. I confused myopathy with myodynia. My bad, thanks for getting my head straight.

Sara: How did the DMSO/aloe work out? We did have scalding with DMSO/Furazone one time. Ours was a leg tendon that was treated then wrapped with plastic wrap. Have not used it since and the area ended up with white hairs on a sorrel horse. I did get the white hairs to turn back sorrel with Lavender oil.

Helen: I agree with you that treating with anything just seems more appropriate than treating with neglect. I know I feel better when doing something. It is so very interesting that your mare got worse over time. Not good, but great food for thought for Sara as she goes through this malady.

Clearly I have no experience in Fibrotic Myopathy. Thanks Dr. O for helping me to learn:

Whenever there is trauma to the large muscles of the rear of the rear leg, the possibility of developing FM should be considered. Whereas horses with this type injury may have been aggressively rested in the past, we now believe that 20 minutes of daily hand walking for several months afterward is an important component of proper healing. The walking will help prevent the formation of an inhibiting scar.
Member:
Paul303

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 2, 2005 - 10:52 am:

I've been using DMSO since the seventies. It's something I use very carefully and only in a few circumstances. Being an extremely powerful industrial solvent, if used incorrectly, it can cause great harm.

That said, it can offer a lot of help. The rule of thumb I've used is: don't use it in any case where there is any substance you would not want spread through the tissues.

I would never, ever, spend time massaging it in. DMSO penetrates almost immediately - I was using it once, and spilled a DrOp on my foot ( no shoes on ). I applied it quickly, then pulled off my navy blue sock to rinse my foot, and ended up with a blue spot on my skin for months.

Not only would I never massage, for fear of scalding, I've never heard of wrapping it except in cases long ago, when blistering was a very common technique. When I've used it as an anti-inflammatory, like on a tendon or knee injury, after wiping it on to a clean area, I give it up to a minute to penetrate, and then BLAST it with cold hosing for a few minutes to rinse it off. Now, you have to make sure you rinse well, because DMSO dampened with water and left, can burn.

However, after all these years, I will never be caught without it. Before using it, it is wise to read any and all literature you can find on it - pro, and con.
Member:
Helen123

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 2, 2005 - 8:29 pm:

DrO.,
Didn't mean to make it sound like the acupuncture and legend helped the fibrotic myopathy. Only to suggest it helped other problems, to improve what I could. Sorry to make it sound like it was related to the myopathy.
Member:
readjoe

Posted on Saturday, Aug 30, 2008 - 11:59 am:

Sarah,

How is your mare with the FM doing now? I am 3 mos post surgery on my Arab gelding.

Thanks
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