Cindy's Milo 3/29 Surgery - Cat

I have been frustrated with the lack of information for cats with IVDD, so relying on canine info for help and support! Even more frustrating is the fact that I live in Wal-Mart country and you'd think there would be animal rehab center within a 25 mile radius, but sadly the closest one is over 100 miles away.  

Milo is a 2-yr old rescue cat that was fine one minute and one leg dragging the next.  Took him to emergency clinic right away on a Saturday evening where they took x-rays and said nothing was broken.  Sent him home with pain meds.  Next day (Sunday) both legs dragging.  Took him to general vet on Monday and vet treated him for a blood clot for 4 days and suggested that if he wasn't better by Thursday or Friday that we should think about having him put down.  I researched like crazy (and cried and prayed a lot) on internet and found a little article that IVDD is rare in cats but can happen. I sent the link to vet and asked if he had MRI, CT, or ultrasound capabilities or where we could go to get one.  He wasn't optimistic but said he would hook us up with Dr. Dew in Russellville, AR.  It was a whole WEEK now since the episode!  We took the 75 mile road trip to see Dr. Dew and Milo's CT scan did indeed confirm IVDD T11-13 and although he was paralyzed, he had some deep pain sensation.  Surgery was done and an hour after surgery, we took Milo home because clinic does not have staff on weekend to monitor post op pets. 

Milo was on crate rest for 6 weeks with at home PT (basically only consisted of the "air bike" and a tail stand or two and attempts at tail walking) I have researched hours looking for underwater treadmill, acupuncture, laser therapy, slings, carts, etc... I finally found someone who did laser therapy 30 miles away and Milo will have his 8th session tomorrow.  Haven't seen any significant improvement since laser therapy, but maybe it is helping with pain.  He is a cat and cats just do not complain when they are in pain. So today it has been 7 weeks since surgery and Milo hasn't made a come-back like any of the stories I've read on your site, or any one else's.  I know I am supposed to have faith and be patient, but I admit I am discouraged.  I think the major source of my discouragment is because I do not have access to a rehab clinic...especially an underwater treadmill; which according to every mention I found on the internet, has had such positive results. It's frustrating when I know there is more that can be done to help Milo, but travelling 2 hrs up and 2 hrs back three times a week is not feasable when my husband and I both work fulltime.

I still have to express Milo's bladder 4 times a day.  Maybe he can go on his own but since he can't squat (even if I try to assist him) he is not confident and is now a bit scared of the litter box.  Even tried putting litter in a large shoe tray (stands about 1" high) and he said "no way!"

NO SIGNS of any tail wagging - swaying in the case of being a cat! On occasion he will push himself up to a standing position, but his legs are crossed and after a second or two he twists and falls. We use the Gingerlead sling a couple time a day for the last couple of weeks and his legs go through the movements but can only master a step or two before relying on the sling.  When we put him in a tail stand, he can hold it for several seconds....30 secs on a good one.  We truly thought he'd be walking by now....a wobble walk, but walking :-(

Has anyone out there had slow results with positive out come!?!