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Post by exleyfam11 on Jul 19, 2013 15:13:42 GMT -7
Our baby girl, Susie, had IVDD surgery on Monday July 15th and just came home today. On Sunday evening around 9:30 we rushed her to the emergency vet because she was paralyzed. She had been on strict cage rest with meds since Friday. When we were finally seen around 10:30 she still had deep pain sensation. The vet advised that surgery was probably necessary and that we needed to make a decision. He said he wouldnt be able to get ahold of anyone til the morning so we should call him at 8am to let him know. We immediately left and went to another emergency clinic for a second opinion since he didnt seem to be in much of a rush. We were told that the vet had just gone into surgery and wouldnt be available for at least 3 hours and that we should just come back in the morning. I told them we would be back in 3 hours and that I refused to wait til morning. By the time we were seen at the second place it was about 3:00am. By this time Susie had lost deep pain and we were told she needed surgery NOW. The vet offered to call a neurosurgeon at home if we were ready to make that call. She came back in about half an hour later saying the surgeon agreed and gave us his address letting us know he was getting up and was going to meet us there asap. His office is inside a 24 hour vet hospital in another city about 30 minutes away. Surgery started at 7:30 ( by the time they got there, got her sedated, did a myelogram). We were told that her chances of recovery were less than 50%. We never hesitated. Tuesday when they called to update they said she still had no bladder control nor deep pain and they recommended Hyberbaric Therapy to which we agreed. They started Hyperbaric on Wednesday. She received 2 treatments Wednesday, 2 on Thursday and 1 today before she was released. Still no improvement.
Here are my questions:
1) Has anyone had success with Hyperbaric returning deep pain? Should we continue with another 5 treatments?
2) We are considering Acupuncture, just waiting to hear back from the vet that does that in our area- Should that help her?
3) They showed my wife how to express her bladder when she picked her up but they forgot to show her what physical therapy things to do. What is recommended?
We are willing to do whatever is necessary to help her out but we have already spent about $7,000 and dont want to spend money on things that arent likely to help
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Post by Pauliana on Jul 19, 2013 20:41:13 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist Mark! Please let Susie know with your utmost confidence that things are going to be ok…because they will. With this disease self education is critical not just so you make sure the right things are being done for the best recovery but for your own emotions. The unknown is simply a scary place. Get ready to fight this disease now and in the future by knowing all things IVDD. There is no better place to start than on our main web page with "Overview: the essentials" and then read all you can as soon as possible. Here's the link www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm Add this comprehensive "must-have" $3 DVD on IVDD to your arsenal of educational resources. Friends, family and those who will be caring for your dog should also watch this DVD; plus don't forget to order one DVD for your vet www.dodgerslist.com/store/DVDorder.htm Here is some info on massage and passive therapy excercises: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/massagepassiveexercises.htmIn order to help you more, could you please answer these questions? What breed is Susie? Happy to hear you are committed to 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty for 6 weeks. No laps, no couch, no sleeping in bed with you, no meandering, scooting or dragging around during potty times. No chiro (aka VOM)? -- Is there still currently pain - shivering, shaking, crying when picked up or moved? -- What are the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and frequencies? Please include the all important stomach protector such as Pepcid AC. -- Can your dog move the legs at all or wag the tail if you do some happy talk? -- Can your dog sniff and squat and then release urine or do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up? Helpful videos with tips on expressing both urine and poop: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm -- Eating and drinking OK? -- Poops OK - normal color and firmness no dark or bright red blood? Haven't had any experience with Hyberbaric Therapy for IVDD, that doesn't mean it's bad though. Perhaps some of our members have and can advise you. We have more experience with Laser light therapy and Acupuncture as being very helpful to dogs with IVDD. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingacupuncture.htmLaser light therapy, acupuncture and electroacupuncture which sends a microcurrent of electricity to and from acupuncture points (which are really big nerve bundles), can be very beneficial at helping to re-establish the nerve connections in the body. Any one of these therapies can be started right away if in your budget... they not only help relieve pain and inflammation but will kick start nerves to begin regeneration. Find a holistic vet here: ahvma.org/Widgets/FindVet.html www.serenityvetacupuncture.com/index.php/faq_/ [one vet's overview/prices] NOTE: Chiropractic is not recommended for IVDD dogs. I am sure Susie is very happy to be home to heal in comfort with her family that loves her.. Sending healing prayers over the miles.. |
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Post by exleyfam11 on Jul 19, 2013 21:59:13 GMT -7
Thanks for all the info!
Susie is a 3 year old miniature Dachshund. She was sent home on 10 mg famotadine 1/2 tablet every twelve hours, tramadol 50 mg 1/4 tablet every 8 hours, sucralfate 1mg 1/2 tablet dissolved in water 1 hour before eating, and prednisone 5 mg 1/2 tablet every twelve hours for 3 days then step down.
She shows no signs of pain whatsoever and for the most part is her normal self as far as perkiness and personality except for being sad because she can't be with us.
My wife and I have both tried to express her bladder and failed miserably. I am going to have my wife take Susie back to the clinic so they can show her again how to do it. They said she had no bladder control while she was in the hospital yet tonight she pottied in her crate 30 minutes after I tried to express her bladder and couldn't. Does that mean she could be regaining control? As far as pooping, she refused to eat the entire week at the hospital so they said it may be a couple days before se goes after getting home.
She still can't wag her tail or feel her legs at all.
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 20, 2013 10:36:02 GMT -7
Mark, it takes time for nerve healing to take place. The important thing is her pain is controlled so she can get on with the business of healing. It can take about 2 weeks for all the surgical swelling to subside and temporary neuro setbacks to reverse. Learning to express is a new skill. Most all of us have gone back to the clinic to express there and then have the vet tech check our work. Doesn't hurt to review the tips and video too: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm Urine release in bedding or when lifted is likely an overflowing bladder due to reflexes.The only way for us humans to know if there is bladder control is with the sniff and pee test. Carry outdoors, set on an old pee spot to sniff it. See if urine is then released. Make sure the sling or your hands are not on the tummy area as that can press on the bladder. If urine comes out after sniffing, bladder control is returning. You should do a quick express check to verify there is full voiding until you are certain it is consistently happening. There is no timetable anyone can give you when to expect nerve repair to happen. In fact, there is no time limit for nerves to heal...it can take weeks to more like a year or even longer. However, it is known that neurological function usually returns in the reverse order of the damage. The first big sign you want to look for is that wonderful tail wag! 1. Deep Pain Sensation (Only correctly identified by a specialist.) 2. Tail wagging with joy at seeing you, getting a treat or due to your happy talk. 3. Bladder and bowel control proved by passing the "sniff and pee" test. 4. Leg movement, and then ability to move up into a standing position, and then wobbly walking. 5. Being able to walk with more steadiness and properly placed paws. 6. Ability to walk unassisted and perhaps even run. |
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Post by exleyfam11 on Jul 21, 2013 19:30:09 GMT -7
Thanks again for all the info! After the trip back to the clinic my wife and I can both effectively express her bladder. Also, we got what we took as a glimmer of hope today. When I was expressing her bladder I held her tail out of the way (which I always do) but today she tugged back for just a second. I chalked it up to a reflex and continued but I let her tail drop. While I was still expressing her bladder her tail began to wag! She wagged her tail 3 different times but hasn't done it since for us.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 22, 2013 20:40:59 GMT -7
GReat news on being more confident on expressing!!! Leg and tail movements during potty times are most often a reflex. You will want to look for a tail wag after doing some happy talk to her to known that the brain did get a message through the cord to the tail. Lot more on neuro functions here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingnerves.htm |
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Post by exleyfam11 on Jul 22, 2013 20:53:30 GMT -7
I figured the potty time tail wag was a reflex but was still wishful thinking at the same time. My wife told me today that she was wagging her tail in her sleep, is that a reflex too?
On another not, we are starting acupuncture on Wednesday!
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 22, 2013 21:03:13 GMT -7
Dream wags are not reflex! A dream message when from her brain all the way down the cord to the tail. Be on the watch for the next neuro function to return which is bladder control.
The only way for us humans to know if there is bladder control is with the sniff and pee test. Carry outdoors, set on an old pee spot to sniff it. See if urine is then released. Make sure the sling or your hands are not on the tummy area as that can press on the bladder. If urine comes out after sniffing, bladder control is returning. You should do a quick express check to verify there is full voiding until you are certain it is consistently happening. Let us know what you observe.
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