Geri
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Post by Geri on Mar 24, 2013 12:47:04 GMT -7
Charlie our 4 year old mini doxie is five weeks post surgery. Charlie's hind legs were paralyzed and he had no deep pain sensation, prior to surgery. He has regained deep pain sensation and now wags his tail, but his hind legs are still paralyzed. We have been excercising and massaging three time a day with water therapy before bedtime. We do have the rear harness and have to use his leash, when he is outdoors he wants to run. He can pee a little on his own, he is used to walking, sniffing and peeing it is hard for him. His bowels move with support of his hind end. I do express to make sure his bladder empties as I am afraid of UTI setting in. He has good reflexes in his rear legs when you tickle between his toes, and when he is tired of excercising he makes the rear leg you are working on stiff.
We are very optimistic that he will walk again, but wonder what others have to say about what they noticed about their paralyzed dogs right before they stood or took the first step?
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Post by natureluva on Mar 24, 2013 13:19:08 GMT -7
Hi Geri, my name is Lisa - welcome to Dodger's List. We're glad you found us. Sounds like Charlie is doing very well this soon in his recovery! Already has DPS back, tail wagging, and some bladder control. Good idea to express after he gets out what he can on his own to ensure his bladder empties fully each time. When damage to the spinal cord occurs, there is a predictable course of neurological deterioration. When nerve healing occurs, often it follows in the reverse order: 1. Pain 2. Wobbly walking, legs cross 3. Nails scuffing floor4. Paws knuckle 5. Legs do not work (paralysis, dog is down) 6. Bladder control is lost 7. Tail wagging with joy is lost 8. Deep pain sensation, the last neuro function, is lost. Therefore, since Charlie has DPS, tail wagging, and some bladder control, leg movement may be coming soon! If you are not already getting it, we highly recommend acupuncture and laser light therapy for IVDD. They both stimulate the nerves to heal and reduce pain and inflammation, and acupuncture has the additional bonus of relaxing the dog. I firmly believe acupuncture helped my Goosie regain his bladder control more quickly, and his movements were stronger after his treatments. These treatments can begin asap, as long as you can safely transport your dog to and from the appointments (crated). You can ask your vet for a referral to a holistic vet that does acupuncture and laser light therapy, or you can search for one in your area here: www.holisticvetlist.com/ Regarding what others have noticed about their paralyzed pups right before they first stand or step, read through some of our Success Stories here: www.monthstory.htm You will see that each pup recovers at a different rate and to a different degree. Some dogs stand up a week after surgery, and some dogs, like my Goosie (his story is there, too) take much longer. We have an excellent IVDD dvd available for only $3 including shipping. It's great to have on hand to show to family/friends/petsitters so they will know what they can and cannot do with your dog and how they can help: www.dodgerslist.com/store/DVDorder.htm Please keep in touch and let us know how you and Charlie are doing! Best wishes, ~Lisa |
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Geri
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Post by Geri on Mar 24, 2013 14:18:46 GMT -7
Thank you Lisa for your quick response. We are taking one day at a time and giving it all we got. This web site and success stories truly give us hope beyond hope.
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Geri
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Post by Geri on Apr 19, 2013 2:58:38 GMT -7
Charlie is now 8 weeks post surgery. He has normal tail wagging and good leg reflexes, but still cannot stand for longer then 10 seconds. He moves his rear legs, as if walking, when suported by the rear harness. The Doctor was surprised he is not walking yet and thinks because he gets around so well by scooting he probably doesn't feel the need to walk.
Today we tried ball chasing, with a large soft ball we positioned ourselves each at one end of a 9X12 carpet, we threw the ball from one to another and Charlie chased the ball each time getting up on both back legs and using them to run a few steps. He was always a dog that ran and never really walked, so this is the challenge.
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PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 19, 2013 8:56:35 GMT -7
Very exciting to witness nerves healing!!! If the weather is warm enough in your area, try using a $10 child's wadding pool from K-mart, etc. The buoyancy of the water can be an aid for Charlie to practice moving his legs and strengthen the muscles. Underwater treadmill at a rehab clinic would also be a very excellent therapy too. More on at home water therapy: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/watertherapy.htm |
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StevieLuv
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Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
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Post by StevieLuv on Apr 19, 2013 10:21:33 GMT -7
That is wonderful news! When Stevie was at that point she was fitted for a rented wheelchair for land based rehab ( not a big fan of water is our Stevie!) The chair allowed her run about and encouraged her to use her back legs more, while supporting that long body  Good luck with your rehab - we'll be cheering you on from here! Maureen and Stevie |
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Geri
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Post by Geri on Apr 21, 2013 9:04:50 GMT -7
Can anyone give me feedback on use of a K9 cart. The Doctor is very optimistic Charlie will walk, but he skoots so well, does he really care if he walks or not? We don't want to get him used to a cart but we thought with his hind end up it may give him more of incentive to use his rear legs. Has anyone tried a cart prior to their dog walking?
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Geri
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Post by Geri on Apr 21, 2013 9:18:01 GMT -7
I read your post on Stevie's land rehab and have looked up K9 rentals, thank you. How often did you allow Stevie in the cart and how long before he was walking on his own?  |
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PaulaM
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 21, 2013 9:52:08 GMT -7
Geri, the cart can be a wonderful tool not just to give Charlie back his independence to run and enjoy the outdoors, but it can be a tool to help with walking. Carts come in all prices ranges, but the important thing is the fit for an IVDD dog. You can get the details here: www.dodgerslist.com/links/cart.htm Carts are only used for a couple of hours at a time and he would always have to be supervised...as all carts have the possibility to tip over when turning tight corners fast, and other rambunctious activity. Because Charlie can move his legs, you might consider looking into one of the Dogs to Go carts as the cart may end up being a short term PT aid. I think really the best approach is to invest your $$$ in underwater treadmill as that PT really expedites learning to walk and strengthening muscles. |
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Geri
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Post by Geri on Apr 22, 2013 18:31:31 GMT -7
We have ordered a walking cart for therapy for Charlie and also he will be getting water therapy. We know that with a class 5 disc injury it will take time. Right now Charlie is happy and playing with his toys and just loving to snuggle.
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StevieLuv
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Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
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Post by StevieLuv on Apr 24, 2013 6:10:42 GMT -7
Great update! Stevie liked her cart once she figured out what it was all about. She used it for a month, the rental from her rehab specialist was $30.00 for the month |
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Geri
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Post by Geri on May 4, 2013 12:03:25 GMT -7
May 4th, 2013 brings great news for our Charlie boy, this morning during his ball scoot across the carpet Charlie took six good steps, he proceeded to do this several more times. It takes time and much patience but it happens and when it does it is pretty amazing. Wow, a great Saturday for sure!!!
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Post by Pauliana on May 4, 2013 14:05:18 GMT -7
Congratulations Geri!! Charlie boy can walk!!!
Celebrating!!!!
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Post by Linda Stowe on May 4, 2013 16:49:54 GMT -7
Way to go Charlie.
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Post by fixurpet on May 19, 2013 9:44:40 GMT -7
Geri and Charlie Boy,
Did you order the walking cart and if so, which one did you get and how did Charlie do?
Our cat was IVDD stage 4, T11-13 and had surgery March 29th. He is also slow to recover with only a step and a half by himself under his belt. We still express bladder. There is no rehab clinics near us so we've been doing the GingerLead sling but thinking about a cart.
Cindy and Milo
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Ticker Marie & Daphne
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New problem - uncontrollable kicking of back legs when walking
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Post by Ticker Marie & Daphne on May 19, 2013 13:48:00 GMT -7
Way to go Charlie!!! So happy for you both. I remember when Daphne (who is almost 4) took her first few steps the day after Valentines. She had her surgery 1-11-2013, but also ended up having to have another one 4-15-2013, but she was still wobbly walking before it and did shortly afterwards. She is still wobbly walking when taking her out to eliminate. I will be glad to see regular walking whenever that happens and hopefully it will. We just take one day at a time, she just wants to run sometimes. Seeing her surgeon tomorrow, crossing our fingers for PT that he will let us do to strengthen her back legs via kiddie pool. We have no access to licensed Physical Therapy where we live. She has been on crate rest since 1-11-2013!!  I feel bad for her, she probably wonders what she did to be in a playpen or crate almost all of the time. Wishing you more steps Charlie boy. Hugs and prayers from Daphne and I.  |
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Geri
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Post by Geri on May 19, 2013 15:32:11 GMT -7
We purchased Charlie's cart from Dogs to Go. The problem we had with the cart was Charlie is a runner not a walker and he was just a little too fast. They sent us two sets of wheels with the cart, excercise wheels and walking wheels, the excercise wheels allowed Charlie's paws to touch the ground.
We decided it was not right for him and sent it back. It is 12 weeks since Charlie had his surgery, he continues to take steps (running), but cannot stand on his hind legs for longer than 60 seconds, if that. He also was in stage 4 IVDD with no deep pain sensation before surgery. He did get deep pain sensation back a few days post surgery, and continues to have it up until now.
The Doctor continues to say he should be walking, but from reading different post and stories all over the internet it is a long process for some dogs as well as cats. We continue to remain optimistic and we are doing his excercises three time daily. Charlie resists by lying down and rolling, pulling forward and trying anyway not to have it done. We forge ahead!!!
We walk him twice a day with the rear harness which is a great tool we received from the Doctor who did the surgery, we see his hind legs moving, we just need him to support them.
The best I can say is we see him slowly coming back, he now pees and poops on his walks like he used to. He sometimes leaks indoors when he gets excited but he did that before his surgery.
I know Eddie's wheel's ( eddies wheels.com )has cat carts and also literature and video's on this subject. Their cart's for cats seem a better fit then the cart we received from Dog's to go.
Keep doing the excercises to keep the limbs in shape and have patience it will come. Just keep the faith. Milo is in my prayers.
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Post by fixurpet on May 19, 2013 20:44:58 GMT -7
Charlie and Milo are two peas in a pod! Milo tries to run too...with his front legs, but of course falls. His front legs want to boogie, but the back ones need time to think. Milo hates PT and we fight to get what we can for each day...he sits up and twists to get away....man our cat is one fast scooter! Like Charlie, Milo's hind legs go through the motion when we have him in the sling, he just doesn't seem to have muscle. Since there isn't a rehab clinic with an underwater treadmill, we thought the wheels might help him gain some strength. Charlie pooing and peeing outside is awesome. That's a huge hurdle! I think if Milo had more strength and could crouch, he would be more confident to use litterbox. I try to help him get in his stance in the box...but he goes into 100% cat mode. Cats can be so bullheaded! (he takes after me I'm afraid!)
Anxious to hear Charlie's progress since Milo is only a couple strides behind Charlie in recovery time!
As I type, Milo just stood up and took 3 steps...not perfect of course, but it was beautiful !
God bless all creatures great and small.
Cindy
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Geri
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Post by Geri on May 26, 2013 11:59:54 GMT -7
Sometimes it feels like a step forward and 5 steps back. Charlie has days where he shows such progress and others where it seems he is back where he started. We continue to excercise three time a day, water therapy in a large spa tub, four times a week. He has two long, long walks daily with his rear harness. We see the steps he makes but they are usually running steps. We only hope he can regain strength to hold up his hind legs for more then 10 seconds. Great thing is he pees and poops are back to normal. Sometimes he leaks when excited.
We are thirteen weeks post surgery, still hopeful, still giving it a 110%.
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Geri
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Post by Geri on Jun 11, 2013 5:45:38 GMT -7
Charlie Boy will soon be 4 months post surgery. Charlie does take steps, but still cannot stand for longer than 5 to 10 seconds. The water therapy I think is helping the most. We have noticed for the past several days that he is holding his tail straight out and straight up while walking. He continues to wag it on a regular basis but never has walked with his harness with his tail standing straight up. This seems strange and we wonder if anyone else saw this when their dog was recovering.
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PaulaM
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Post by PaulaM on Jun 11, 2013 10:01:53 GMT -7
Taking steps IS huge, what good news! Water therapy is a very effective PT as we have seen with so many dogs. Hard to say what is going on with the tail…. just have patience to see what further develops.
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Geri
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Post by Geri on Jun 24, 2013 10:32:03 GMT -7
Update on Charlie. Not up and walking as of yet, but takes steps everyday. He can stand on hind legs for up to 2 minutes, but won't walk. His steps are usually taken when running. We continue water therapy daily, and do all his routine excercises. It's a long road but we haven't given up.
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Post by Pauliana on Jun 24, 2013 18:58:14 GMT -7
Charlie knows never to give up and I am glad you know that too! He is taking steps even though he is not walking, that's a good start and with continuing therapy he has every chance..  |
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I feel bad for her, she probably wonders what she did to be in a playpen or crate almost all of the time. Wishing you more steps Charlie boy. Hugs and prayers from Daphne and I. 
