Arthritis and IRAP treatment

[Buswankeress]

My 15 yo gelding has just been diagnosed with quite advanced arthritis in both his hocks, and the vet has prescribed bute for 10 days and IRAP treatment which starts a week tomorrow.
For now I'm glad he's comfortable and pain/discomfort free. Does anyone have any experience of IRAP treatment good or bad? It's quite expensive but he's insured so worth a shot, and I'm not bothered if he needs to retire completely even, he's been more of a happy hacker in the last couple of years anyway so I'd be happy with that, but I wouldn't be heartbroken if he had to retire completely, I just want him comfortable and pain free.
Also has anyone got any recommendations for supplements? The choice is utterly mind boggling!

Ive not much useful to add, but am following this as I'm in a similar position.

I use synaquin as a supplement. My vet says it's one of two supplements worth feeding (can't remember the other one). It's expensive, but one tub lasts five months for my two big ISH, so it doesn't work out as much as you think.

My vet did cartrophen injections on my mare for her arthiritis. The same injection worked superbly well on my gelding, who has a tiny bone chip in his foot. However it hasn't made much difference on her BUT she had it done just before all the snow and storms, then she got a nail in her foot, meaning an operation and box rest - which didn't do the hocks any good, so under normal circumstances it may have worked..

May I ask roughly what you've been quoted? I don't have insurance, it would be nice to know what other options may cost.. I'm actually wondering whether to not bother with anything and keep her on Danilon (she's still on one a day at the moment post operation).

Thanks for the reply, vet said around £600 for the course of irap, that's obviously without the xrays and everything diagnostic as well. I'll look into the synaquin, my vet was a bit well..... Some supplements work for some horses.... And quite non committal about it. Danilon has not been offered as an alternative, but that may be because we're at the beginning and starting the irap.