PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Jun 21, 2020 14:02:08 GMT -7
[June 21, 2020 Moved to the Forum on behalf of Nikkie dodgerslist.boards.net/user/7809]Thank you for accepting me into your group. I come like most looking for advice. I wondered if this could be added as a post My girl Lexi is a 9 year old 9.2kg x breed [which?] who went down on 13th Jan with grade 3 ivdd and had surgery on 4 discs, unfortunately due to surgical haemorrhage and further disc material further impinging her spinal cord she underwent a 2nd surgery 9 days later. We are now 5 months later and she seems to have plateaued at a grade 2. Is this normal? Can I expect her to improve further or should I be ready to accept this is as good as she will get?
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Jun 21, 2020 14:08:43 GMT -7
Welcome Nikkie, glad you have joined us all here. Which breed is Lexie? There are several number scales, so best is if you would describe where Lexi's neuro functions are: Nerves heal typically in the reverse order of the damage to the spinal cord: 1. Deep Pain Sensation (Only correctly identified by a specialist.) 2. Tail wagging with joy at seeing you or getting a treat or meal. 3. Bladder and bowel control verified with 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 place the feet. 6. Ability to walk unassisted and perhaps even run. More info: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingnerves.htmCan she wobbly walk? Can she pee on her own? OR does she need expressing for her bladder? Do her paws knuckle under or slow to place the paw normally? No one would be able to tell you how much nerves can heal or give you a timetable. Only thing know is the usual order they return in. We have had dogs even at close to a year out still having return of nerve function. Look forward to learning more about your Lexie
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Nikkie & Lexi
New Member
FEMALE - Dox/corgie/staffie mix
Posts: 1
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Post by Nikkie & Lexi on Jun 27, 2020 14:29:47 GMT -7
Hi Paula. Lexi is a 10kg [22.05 lbs] mix of corgie, dach and staffie 💕 originally she was a 2 but after her 2nd surgery was a 3/4
She is now back to a 2. If she trots (using a back sling) she skips/ hops but scrapes both hind legs when walking. Her legs continually shake.
Before surgery she RAN everywhere. In the house, out on a walk, and 10 miles was nothing!
Her surgeon thinks she's plateaued due to spinal cord scaring? I've no idea if this is normal, something that will/can improve. She was [?] full use of her bladder/bowl
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Jun 27, 2020 16:51:52 GMT -7
It would help to avoid using numbers, as we do not know for example what "2" means on any of the several grading scales in use by veterinarians. When using the back sling, what do her back legs do? -- Can she move them in a walking motion? --Does she attempt to move the back legs such as trying to scratch an ear? -- Or use the back legs to try and reposition herself on her bed? Does she currently have full bladder control? Can she do a happy tail wag for you specifically when you do some happy talk to her? What is the last date the surgeon saw Lexi? On that date did he say she has deep pain sensation (DPS) or has no DPS? It is a normal thing to seemingly see no improvement in neuro functions. During that time nerves may well be regenerating to at some point reconnect. There could still be growth going on. No one can really tell you Lexi is done self healing her nerves. What at home exercise to you do? Or do you take her to a rehab clinic for PT. Have you tried booties so she is not damaging herself when using the back leg sling? Here's a member discussion that includes footwear for protection. dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/1564/footwear-harnesses-scooting-garments?page=1&scrollTo=50555Here's Barbara Techel's innovative use of gloves for booties:
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