Abbie, welcome to the Forum. First thing to know if a surgery is not an option for whatever reason (financial, health of dog, etc), then conservative treatment is the best option.
EMERGENCY
IF Oscar is currently displaying all the pain signs you checked off, then the meds are not right. CALL asap and have the Ortho (ACVS) or the vet on duty adjust those meds to get Oscar help right away today.
PAIN
Resolution of spinal cord inflammation/swelling provides the relief from pain. It can take an anti-inflammatory (steroid or a non-steriodal NSAID) a range of 7 to 30 days before all swelling is gone.
The best pain medications control is using more than one approach to address pain from multiple fronts
__ traMADol-general analgesic
__ methocarbamol- muscle spasm pain
√ gabapentin-nerve pain.
All three pain meds need to be prescribed three times a day.
traZODone is not a pain reliever, but a calmer
Adjusting meds by phone avoids a risky-to-the disc car transport. Describe the pain that you're seeing.
STOMACH PROTECTION
Advocate for the three pain meds plus a stomach protector such as Pepcid AC (Famotidine) to protect against the side effects of the anti-inflammatory Metacam.
MONITORING NEURO FUNCTIONS
As damage to the spinal cord increases, there can be a predictable stepwise deterioration of functions if excessive back/neck movement for example was allowed during STRICT crate rest.
Nerves do heal in the exact opposite order nerve damage occured.
1.
10/1 Pain with initial tear of disc and ensuing swelling
2. __Wobbly walking
__legs cross
3. __Nails/toes scuffing floor
4. __Paws knuckle under. Dog is slow to correct or can't right the paw(s) at all
5. __Weak/little leg movement,
__can't move up into a stand
6. __Legs do not work at all (paralysis, dog is down)
7.
10/3 Bladder control is lost. Leaks on you when lifted.
Can no longer sniff and then pee on that old urine spot outdoors.
8. _
?_
Tail wagging with joy is lost. Can he still do a happy wag if you do happy talk?9. __
Deep pain sensation, the last neuro function, a
critical indicator for nerves to be able to self heal after surgery or with conservative treatment.
If surgery is not an option (for whatever reason) then the best option is conservative therapy.
Surgery can still be successful in the window of 12-24 hours after loss of deep pain sensation. Even after that window of time, there can still be a good outcome. Each hour that passes decreases that chance.
🚩 A quick overview of conservative treatment vs. a surgery:
dodgerslist.com/surgery-vs-conservative/ 🚩Dr. Isaacs indepth Interview on surgery and conservative treatment:
dodgerslist.com/dr-isaacs-surgery-answersCONSERVATIVE TREATMENT
🚩Disc healingIf you choose conservative treatment, then expect the Ortho (ACVS) or any vet who knows their IVDD to prescribe along with very STRICT rest for 8 weeks to allow the disc to heal. Details of how to carry out STRICT limited movement, set up the mattress system and much, much more:
1) Browse through the tried and true ways to provide Effective STRICT Rest Recovery for your dog:
==>
dodgerslist.com/strict-rest-recovery-process/2) Avoid dangerous detours, follow the "Roadmap"
VIEW, DOWNLOAD and print a copy for your fridge from here:
==>
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdf🚩Nerve healing- think in terms of months rather than day's week's.
🚩Pain typically requires all three sources of pain to be covered:
__ traMADol- general analgesic
__ methocarbamol- muscle spasm pain
√ gabapentin-nerve pain.
The
non-steroid anti-inflammatory Metacam can take 7-30 days before all the painful inflammation/swelling is gone. Til then pain meds need to be on board.
NOTE: Many will switch over to the most powerful of the anti-inflammatories to the
STEROID class such as prednisone when there has been leg nerve damage. Something to discuss with the neuro tonight. Hours matter.
🚩Stomach protection, Pepcid AC (famotidine) needs to be on board with the not eating and vomiting already going on!
BLADDER EXPRESSING LESSON
You need a hands- on top of your hands type of expressing lesson tonight. Oscar may already have a bladder infection (urinary tract infection) as fast as in a day or two if he has not been expressed and has lost bladder control. View so you know more about expressing to get more out of the lesson: ==>
dodgerslist.com/bladder-bowel-care/Please update us as soon as you are able. It is not fair that Oscar is in so much pain, he was WAY under medicated for pain based on the med list you provided.
We support you in your choice: surgery or conservative. Remember to think about going too much into debt, if that that would be detrimental to caring for your family and Oscar in the future. Not everyone can afford a Corvette!
