PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 5, 2013 12:33:41 GMT -7
I pray that the early healing disc's scar tissue will escape being torn. If that happens it will cause Brownie a lot of pain and could mean permanent paralysis. You did all you can if you showed him the video clip unless you think you can help to educate your mom. This disease is all about self education to understand the enemy and be able to win.
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Post by lovekelseylove on Aug 5, 2013 12:38:33 GMT -7
Thanks. Vet appointment soon.
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Post by lovekelseylove on Aug 5, 2013 20:56:27 GMT -7
Hello. We went to the vet today, and here is an update:
He said to remain in Tramadol and Methocarbomal with the same dosages. We returned the Metacam because he believes we don't need it due to the fact she is doing so well. He said to keep her in her pen for 5 more weeks (6 weeks total). He also said that any additional excercise other than for the bathroom is not recommended. (Haha Dad I told you) And, when examining her, with her meds worn off (we didn't give her the midday dose invade the doctor wanted something else medication wise) she did not show signs of pain where she did before. She was showing pain in the end of her back by her butt and her neck. On the X-ray, it showed some of the vertabrae fusing, so he said it is possible that her spine is fusing and causing pain, not that a disc in bulging or ruptured. (Is this good or bad news?)
So that's basically what he said. My dad is still very irritated that she has 5 more weeks, he thinks the few weeks of crate rest prior to this last major episode count, but they don't.
Brownie has been doing okay. She hasn't cried in pain for days, but cries because she gets lonely. She likes having people in the same room as her. Question: Can we set up pens in different rooms and carry her to each one so we can keep her calm? She gets very distressed about being alone. We have stairs in our house and my Dad works upstairs, and it would be helpful if she could stay up there with him so that she doesn't need my mom to take off work to watch her. (I'm trying to still maintain whatever social life I have left. Just kidding I don't have one. I have gymnastics and babysitting jobs I have set up in advance that I cannot cancel.)
So yeah. That's it. Wow that's long.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 6, 2013 8:40:11 GMT -7
Kelsey you have reportrf some VERY excellent news!!! She was off pain meds for the vet visit and she had no pain!! That is very big, important news. That showed the swelling in the spinal cord has been resolved. Thus there would be no need of pain medications. All meds carry with them some bad side effects…so why use them when there is no work for them to do. If you were to see pain, then that would mean there is still swelling in the spinal cord for an anti-inflammatory to work on and pain meds to give comfort from. September 22 will be Brownie's graduation date. Releasing her from her recovery suite earlier than that means you are doing so even though the disc has not finished making good secure scar tissue on the injured part of the disc. There is a good chance with weak scar tissue if movement is allowed, Brownie could easily tear the tissue and she'd be back at step #1. With disc disease discs age way too early in life. They harden, accumulate minerals…they calcifiy. On the xray that looks like bone…bones are made of calcium too. Also when a disc tears and either bulges out of shape or disc material actually escapes, it no longer maintains the normal distance from vertebrae to vertebrae. There will be a narrowing between the affected vertebrae. So am not sure exactly what your vet is saying about fusing. You can see some xrays and learn what calcification means in this article: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CalcifiedDiscs.htmKelsie see what you can do to retrain Brownie and to make her feel less isolated. Do bring her crate and put it in the middle of family activity. Put her crate on the coffee table evenings and pull it right up to the couch where you can touch her. In the daytime slide the crate where ever you are. Put a sheet under the crate to pull it around or get some of these inexpensive CASTERS you may be able to find locally at PetCo or on-line Be aware you might be inadvertently training for unwanted behavior. To dogs rewards are: food, looking at them, talking to them, eye contact, approaching the crate, petting. So anytime you see unwanted behavior ignore it, turn your back, leave the room if you have to. Anytime Brownie is sitting or lying down quietly, give a reward. Soon she will learn which of the behaviors receive a reward. Stay in touch, we are very elated over your good report on no pain and no meds for the vet visit. |
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Post by lovekelseylove on Aug 6, 2013 21:25:30 GMT -7
Brownie is still doing good. We tried to let her sleep with our other dog in the pen (we made it a little bigger), but she didn't like being alone still. Haha she is so needy. But, during the day, my dad was able to work upstairs while she slept downstairs.
The problem with keeping her in the middle of the family is that she is fine during the day, but at night she needs someone with her. I felt like I haven't slept for days because I have been sleeping on the couch for days and days. So, do you think if we set up another pen upstairs that it'd be okay to move her up there to sleep? She likes to sleep in my sisters room, which is upstairs. I'd like to sleep in my bed again.
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Post by Pauliana on Aug 6, 2013 22:14:25 GMT -7
Kelsey,
It is perfectly ok to carry her carefully upstairs supporting her front end and back end and keeping it straight.. How to lift and carry video:
Put a crate upstairs for her in your room or your sisters room. Our Tyler always sleeps in our bedroom in his crate that is right by our bed. He has a recovery suite in the living room and another crate in our den. They can still feel like part of the family while on crate rest.
You need to sleep in your bed, and get some quality sleep.. It makes it very hard to take care of Brownie and get everything else done, if you are exhausted, you need to take care of you too..
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Post by lovekelseylove on Aug 7, 2013 22:06:50 GMT -7
She slept in another pen upstairs in my sisters room, and as we took the pen upstairs to set it up, Brownie went crazy because she was so happy. A little change of scenery (: She still has shown no signs of pain, and the vet is wanting her to come back around August 26th (2 weeks) She has been like a completely normal dog the last few days. Eating normal, drinking by herself (she has graduated from me syringing water into her mouth!!!!), sleeping during the day without someone having to be in the same room, going to the bathroom normal, wagging her tail, and overall, being happy and excited and in no apparent pain.
All positive signs to report on! I got to sleep in my bed and it was divine! I didn't have to deal with her waking me up at all and I got to sleep in (til like 11 which was amazing!) She did fine through the night and all of today.
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Marjorie
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Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
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Post by Marjorie on Aug 8, 2013 4:23:45 GMT -7
Wonderful! So glad you had a good night's sleep, Kelsey, and that Brownie is doing well. Keep up the good work!  |
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Post by lovekelseylove on Aug 10, 2013 22:15:42 GMT -7
Okay. So I haven't posted for a few days, so I thought I'd give an update. So, my mom weighed Brownie and she now weighs 16 pounds exactly. She weighed about 17.5 when we went to the vet for the first episode around the end of June. When Brownie had her most recent one, she weighed 16.5, and is now down to 16 pounds! She looks so skinny. It probably takes a lot of stress off her back. It might only be 1.5 pounds, but that's a lot when you are like a foot tall.
Brownie hasn't squealed in pain at all for at least a week. We are still continuing the Tramadol and Methocarbomal. We have been able to leave her alone while we go somewhere (dinner, shopping, etc) and seems fine when we get back.
She is sleeping fine in another pen in my sisters room. She likes it up there so much better.
Not much else has gone on. It's been a waiting game really. We are just hoping and praying that she stays this stable.
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member 
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
Posts: 1,335
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Post by StevieLuv on Aug 11, 2013 10:07:01 GMT -7
Thanks for the update - please keep us posted |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 11, 2013 10:26:05 GMT -7
Kelsey, sounds like the remainder of crate rest will go smoothly. Sept 22 will be Brownie's graduation day. Let us know when the vet is prepared to test that all her pain is really gone by the stop of her two pain meds. Usually all meds have been stopped at least a 1-2 weeks before graduation day if not even earlier.
You are doing such a good job in her care…being committed to the 100% STRICT rest 24/7 is what is helping her body to self heal!!!!
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Post by lovekelseylove on Aug 18, 2013 18:43:39 GMT -7
Hi. Here is another update on Brownie:
She has been off her meds for days now. We have some extra Tramadol just in case, but she is not in any pain as far as I know. She has another checkup on Wednesday.
My parents are now starting to think she is fine. Which is a bad thing. Because, now they want to trim her nails and give her a bath and I'm trying to tell them NO and why not, but they think she is fine. And she is not fine.
She has eaten and gone to the bathroom normal. She has been enjoying just sitting outside in the sun (:
So that's basically all that has happened. Nothing crazy. School starts soon and I'm scared to leave her alone for so long, even though my dad works from home some days. Fingers crossed she sleeps all day. She probably will, she loves sleeping.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 18, 2013 19:29:31 GMT -7
Kelsey this is a wonderful report off meds and no pain!!!!
Please explain to your mom and dad. Brownie is like a chicken roasting in the oven. The chicken is browning on the outside and looking like it is done. But as any good cook knows, you simply can't take the chicken out until the full roasting time is completed. Taking the chicken out too early and you will find pink juices flowing. Brownie is looking VERY good on the outside but her disc is not fully healed.
Everyone has known someone with a broken arm… it needs to stay in a cast for 6 weeks. Bones have a very good blood supply to help speed healing time yet it still takes 6 weeks for the bones to fully knit back together. Discs are made of cartilage which has practically no blood supply…this is why healing takes so long… 8 weeks. The healing a disc does is to form good secure scar tissue. Like a scab trying to form on your knuckle if moved too much the scab will tear causing blood to flow and the need to start all over forming a scab. With a disc if the early healing scar tissue tears disc material can be forced out into the spinal cord canal. Nerves just can stand anything pressing on them. Pressure causes the nerve cells to die and loss of neuro functions such as bladder control and paralyzed legs.
Brownie is on such an excellent road to full recovery… stay the course with the 100% STRICT rest….graduation day is just around the corner on Sept 22. On graduation day will be time to consider things like trimming her nails and beginning a slow and gradual re-introduction to physical activity.
Keep up the good work of seeing that Brownie is not cheated out of her good chance of a full recovery
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