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Post by sophiesmommy on Aug 9, 2013 8:33:18 GMT -7
Hi! My name is Trista and my little dappled dog is Sophie!! I'm not sure this is where I need to be but I'm seriously freaking out right now and need some advice!! My 6 year old daschund had an episode with IVDD Sept. 2012 and we did 8 weeks of crate rest and she was great for a long time!! About three weeks ago she started having another episode and my vet wanted her crated again but she continued to deteriorate so I took her to a university hospital closest to my home!! They did the surgery an she showed signs of improvement the first day! The next day she had lost deep pain sensation and they thought it coul just be due to inflammation! Her surgery was on Wednesday and they just called me and told me that they removed about 50% of the cord matter and since she has lost deep pain sensation they gave me the option of doing another surgery to remove more! They said that they certainly cannot guarantee that it will do any good but that don't think it will hurt either! They did say that she is at an increased risk of developing myelomalacia(not sure if that's right or not) and if that happens she will definitely have to be euthanized! I'm scared to death!! I'm perfectly fine with getting her a cart but I would really like to give her the best chance of walking again!! The surgeon also said that it is possible that she will improve without another surgery but it is hard to say!! They did do another scan this morning and there was no other disks affected! Her problem was at T11! Can anyone help? I have a call into my regular vet I get her opinion but she's on vacation! The substitute vet is going to call me asap!!! Also ? pinniculus? Test as of yesterday showed signs of improvement! She could feel skin on her back closer to her tail than prior to surgery! Please if anyone can give me any advice I would be forever grateful! I'm supposed to call them back in about an hour!!!
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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 9, 2013 9:03:28 GMT -7
Trista, welcome to Dodgerslist. I'm a little confused, what was the date of the surgery? Three weeks ago (7/19) or just this last Wednesday 8/7? Often there are temporary neuro setbacks due to the surgical procedure itself. It takes about 2 weeks for the post op swelling/inflammation to subside and have a better idea of the direction of healing. So if the surgery was just on 8/7, I believe I would give her time. Nerve healing may or may not happen within that two week period as they are the slowest part of the body to heal…think in terms of months even a year. What needs to be healed is her pain…if that is under control then the body can get on with the business of healing. If pain is can't be brought under control by the surgeon, then it is time to consider maybe another surgery, etc. You can read more about surgery and what to expect post op here www.dodgerslist.com/literature/surgery.htm |
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Post by sophiesmommy on Aug 9, 2013 9:10:34 GMT -7
Yes the surgery was done on 8/7 I'm not sure how the 7/19 got there!! Thanks so much for your response!! I was leaning toward waiting to see how she does!! The surgeon made it sound like the surgery was a now or never thing! I think I will just bring her home and see how it goes!! Thank you so much!! This site has helped me in so many ways I can't even begin to express my appreciation!!!
I just spoke with the surgeon and she told me that my little Sophie is not in any pain and she's eating like a champ!! We have decided to wait for a couple of weeks to see how she responds to the surgery instead of going in a second time! She's going to be receiving acupuncture therapy and rehab and will be staying for an additional week! So in that time I will be getting my house set up for her homecoming!! I am just curious to know if anyone out there has had any experiences with having a second surgery done so close to the first? And if so what was the outcome?
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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 9, 2013 12:46:20 GMT -7
There have been cases where a 2nd surgery was required because pain could not be controlled. My Clark had a surgery within in 4 days of a previous one. There just are no guarantees with either the non-invasive conservative or the invasive surgery. The goal is to be out of pain or under control while the post op swelling subsides. Surgery does not help nerves to heal, it relieves compression on the spinal cord. Nerves will and can heal on their own with time. Acupuncture can kick start energy production in nerve cells to sprout nerve endings. Clark's outcome is he is paralyzed since 2007 and he IS a success story because he is back fully enjoying life with the assist of a wheelchair. You can read other stories all successes whether the dog walked or not. www.dodgerslist.com/monthstory.htmSounds like Sophie is doing well post op and ready to come home. You might like to add your own questions to this starter list…so everything gets answered in the excitement of discharge day. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/dischargequestions.htmLet us know when she comes home and how she is doing this coming week. |
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Post by sophiesmommy on Aug 9, 2013 13:13:52 GMT -7
Thanks so much for the reply and and tips!! I read Clark's story and he truly is amazing!! I am totally prepared to get Soph some wheels if need be!! The surgeon just called again and I am so confused because now they want her to come home for a week and rest before rehab because there is still some disk material in her spinal column!! So I will get to pick her up tomorrow and take her back in one week to start rehab! I will certainly be spending a lot of time here in the coming weeks and I look forward to meeting all if you and hearing your kiddos stories!!
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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 9, 2013 13:26:18 GMT -7
The hope with conservative treatment is that with time the body will reabsorb that escaped disc material and the nerves will learn to function around it. Only time will tell if the body can be pain free once off post-op meds with that piece of disc material still there. More on surgery vs. conservative www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsurgery.htmOh my, change in plans…coming home tomorrow. No problem you have many things already around your home to help get her recovery suite ready. Here's a very good list of tips and supplies in setting up her suite: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cratesupplies.htmLet us know the surgeon's directives for any home range of motion & massage PT and for crate rest. Any meds sent home with their names, dose in mg and how often you are to give it. |
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Post by sophiesmommy on Aug 10, 2013 12:36:57 GMT -7
We just got Sophie home about an hour ago! I got to see the ct scan from prior to surgery and also post surgery!! It didn't look like much difference to me but they said it looked better!! They did keep saying "when" she starts walking again when they were explaining things to me so I'm glad they are thinking positive!! They said that she did stand for a couple seconds this morning. And I just expressed her bladder so YAY!!! That was what I was the most worried about!!
Her medications are as follows:
Tramadol 50 mg. give 1/2 tab every 8 hrs.
Cephalexin 250 mg/5ml. Give 2.5ml every 12 hrs.
Rimadyl 25 mg. give 1/2 tab every 12 hrs.
Her exercises are to be performed 2 times a day.
Step-1: For the first 3 weeks and until she is trying to stand on her own.
1). Gently massage the muscles of back and hind legs for
10 minutes.
2). Gently move limbs through a passive range of motion
for 15 reps.
3). Perfom balancing exercises by placing Sophie in a
standing position in solid ground and push gently from
side to side.
4). Allow her to sling walk for 10-15 minutes.
I will take her back on Aug.19th to have stitches removed and for her to start rehab and acupuncture therapy!! In the meantime I will be spending my time sitting on the floor by her suite!! FYI, i was just reading through her post op papers and they recommended I check out Dodgers list!
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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 10, 2013 14:08:35 GMT -7
How wonderful Sophie is back home!!! Let us know that she does stay dry in between expressing sessions which might be every 3-4 hours to start with as you are learning. Here is Dodgerlist we are very conservative about protection of the stomach. The FDA and manufacturer pkg insert indicate gastrointestinal problems are side effects of using NSAIDs. The natural defenses of the stomach to shield against stomach acid is hindered when taking NSAIDs. Serious gastrointestinal toxicity such as bleeding, ulceration, and perforation, can occur at any time, with or without warning symptoms. Phrase the question to your vet this particular way:" Is there a medical/health reason for my dog not to take Pepcid?" If there is no reason, we follow vets who are proactive in stomach protection by giving doxies 5mg Pepcid (famotidine) 30 minutes before the NSAID. This directory is in alpha order making it easy to learn about each of Sophie's meds: www.marvistavet.com/html/pharmacy_center.htmWow, their discharge papers say checkout Dodgerslist?! Super! what is the name of the hospital? |
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Post by sophiesmommy on Aug 10, 2013 15:35:43 GMT -7
The name of the hospital is University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Veterinary Teaching Hospital! We are going to start Sophie on Pepcid AC! Thanks so much and I will continue to post updates on Sophie's recovery!
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Post by sophiesmommy on Aug 10, 2013 20:43:21 GMT -7
Okay! I've been reading all evening and I am really confused!! Since Sophie still has disk material present shouldn't we be keeping her on strict crate rest with no exercise like we would have if she hadnt had the surgery? I know I'm probably being paranoid but in just really afraid of doing something wrong!
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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 10:44:00 GMT -7
I would discuss with the surgeon Sophie's particular situation. With surgery, likely he did remove most of the escaped disc pieces…the piece that was missed may be able over time to be reabsorbed/shrink back enough that the nerves will learn to function around it… with no pain and with nerves able to self-repair.
Since disc material did escape from inside the disc there likely is not the worry that movement pressure will cause disc material to escape….that already happened. I guess technically unless you know all the disc material had escaped the disc, you would want to limit vertebrae from pressuring this disc by being on 100% STRICT rest. Again do discuss with the surgeon so you know what is true for Sophie's case… the surgeon is the one who saw the advanced imaging and saw the spinal cord and the disc.
Let us know what your surgeon says.
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Post by sophiesmommy on Aug 17, 2013 19:18:48 GMT -7
Sophie still seems to have no feeling in hind legs!! We are still doing all the post-op exercises that the surgeon prescribed! She's still taking the NSAID and Tramadol. I have decreased the Tramadol since she seems to have no pain! When I lift her hind legs for the exercises she does out some weight on her right back leg and can stand for about ten seconds with me helping her only with balance!! I'm scared to hope that this is a good sign because she has shown absolutely no other signs if improvement!! Does anyone know I this is a good sign or just wishful thinking?
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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 7:43:52 GMT -7
Trista, bearing weight and holding the stand position is a good thing as is helps the bones maintain strength and may cause muscles to work in effort to maintain balance…you will be able to work her from seconds to being able to stand for a minute or so over time.
I can hear your stress…. but there is simply lots of time for nerves to heal…. rather than thinking in terms of weeks think in terms of months as nerves are the slowest part of the body to heal. The important goal right now is to be fully out of pain. This will allow after crate rest is over for Sophie to get back to all the family activities and enjoying life even if she needs to wait on more nerve healing to take place.
Let us know when the surgeon or the vet say she can come off of Rimadyl too.
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Post by sophiesmommy on Aug 22, 2013 18:57:42 GMT -7
Hi everyone!!! My little Sophie went back to the University on Tuesday of this week for 3 days of accupuncture! I picked her up this evening and there is really no change! Still no deep pain sensation! I'm kinda bummed because when she was discharged after surgery I was told to do 10 minutes of sling walking with her 2 times a day! The PT called while Sophie was there this time and said she wasn't sure how I ended up with those discharge instructions but I WAS NOT supposed to be sling walking her! She was to be treated as if we were doing conservative treatment so strict crate rest except for range of motion exercises and only out to potty! It's very upsetting to find that I have been doing something that could have possibly caused more damage! It's even worse since I had questioned them about this shortly after bringing her home and was told to follow the discharge instructions!! I feel absolutely sick about it but I'm trying to stay positive! She's not in pain at all and is not on any meds! I was also wondering if they usually stop all meds between 2-3 weeks after surgery! We will be taking her back for the next 2 weeks for accupuncture. I'm still hoping like crazy that she will start to regain some feeling!!
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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 22, 2013 20:35:05 GMT -7
Trista, as long has you have not found Sophie to be in more pain and she is not on any meds, I do not think you have done any damage. So strict rest then like conservative treatment… so I have moved Sophie's thread to our conservative board. Did the surgeon want the strict rest for 6 weeks for for 8 weeks? Stopping pain meds is individual as to when all the post op pain is gone. And now in Sophie's when all the pain in the spinal cord due to that piece of disc material still there. The hope is that the nerves would learn to live with that piece with no pain and as the piece shrinks back the nerves would be able to function again. All that will take time to see how it goes. The important thing is she is off all meds and out of pain!!! Think in terms of months for nerve repair… you just can rush mother nature she works on her own time schedule. All anyone can tell you is the order that nerves come back in more here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingnerves.htm |
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