A Dog's Story about "Radial Nerve Damage" and the treatment she got to try and help her recover.
A Happy Dog
Sunday 26th August 2007
Just a wee post to show you how happy Bracken seems to be with the decision not to remove her leg just now.
3 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Craig, I have to agree with Tom. If there's no pain and no abraisions to the foot then why not keep it? I have been going to a rehab specialist who has told me that no one fully understands nerves and no one can tell you, unequivocally, that something won't come back. Nerves are so complicated and complex!
I'm not asking you to rely on blind faith or to give you false hope but Bracken seems so happy and adjusted that if things were to remain the same, why bother putting her through such invasive (and expensive) surgery? There are many happy tripods out there and they have had amputations because of cancer or other issues that make such a decision inevitable. There's no denying that Bracken would flourish as a 3-legged dog. But I'm not so sure Bracken is through with her recovery yet. And, should things remain as they are, is there really any problem with keeping the leg?
Trust your instincts and you'll know what's best for your dog.
Hi my Rott Buddy was hit by a car Friday the vet said he has nerve damage in his shoulder and he currently hopping on 3 legs Have you heard of carpal arthrodesis. I'm pasting the article below. --
Hi. My dog Teddy was hit by a car last year and suffered a radial nerve injury. She could not use her front right leg. We took her to every vet we could find, about 15 in total, including 2 neurologists, and everyone told us to wait 4 to 6 months to see if the nerve would heal. If not, we would have to amputate.
No one gave us any hope. Nor did they give us good information about physical therapy. But having had some orhopedic problems myself, I knew it was crucial to keep moving Teddy's shoulder, wrist and toes to maintain her range of motion in case the nerve came back. Despite our best efforts, including bringing her to hydrotherapy 3 times a week, we were losing the battle. Her paw and leg had atrophied terribly, and we could not get her paw to bend sufficiently so that she would be able to put it flat on the floor if she even tried to walk on it.
Five months after the accident, and totally by chance, we found another vet, Dr. Jason Fusco at the Animal Medical Center in NY, who recommended a carpal arthrodesis, or fusion of the wrist Teddy could not move. Teddy's wrist was fused into a flexed position. She was casted for 8 weeks or so, and now, 5 months post-op, she's running and playing on 4 legs again, even though the nerve injury did not heal.
The irony is that this is not a new procedure. Its been around since the 1960s, and not one single vet, besides Dr. Fusco, even mentioned it as an option. The only reason that Teddy was a candidate for the surgery 5 months after the accident, was that her shoulder, leg and wrist were not yet completely "frozen," thanks to the physical therapy.
I urge anyone in this position to not accept that amputation is inevitable. Physical therapy is crucial and a solution may be possible, even if the nerve does not heal.
Hi Craig, I completely agree with the other comments left.what is the point in putting Bracken through invasive surgery, its more hassle and expense as the other ppl have said.Vets seem too eager to amputate for some reason, we are against it unless it's absolutely unavoidable.so yes go with your instincts, if Bracken is happy keep the leg...look at Lulu no sign of any movement until Jan 08...8 months after her accident...so there is always hope, however without the leg there of course there is no hope. this site has brilliant braces and splints
3 comments:
Craig, I have to agree with Tom. If there's no pain and no abraisions to the foot then why not keep it? I have been going to a rehab specialist who has told me that no one fully understands nerves and no one can tell you, unequivocally, that something won't come back. Nerves are so complicated and complex!
I'm not asking you to rely on blind faith or to give you false hope but Bracken seems so happy and adjusted that if things were to remain the same, why bother putting her through such invasive (and expensive) surgery? There are many happy tripods out there and they have had amputations because of cancer or other issues that make such a decision inevitable. There's no denying that Bracken would flourish as a 3-legged dog. But I'm not so sure Bracken is through with her recovery yet. And, should things remain as they are, is there really any problem with keeping the leg?
Trust your instincts and you'll know what's best for your dog.
Sheena
Hi my Rott Buddy was hit by a car Friday the vet said he has nerve damage in his shoulder and he currently hopping on 3 legs Have you heard of carpal arthrodesis. I'm pasting the article below.
--
Hi. My dog Teddy was hit by a car last year and suffered a radial nerve injury. She could not use her front right leg. We took her to every vet we could find, about 15 in total, including 2 neurologists, and everyone told us to wait 4 to 6 months to see if the nerve would heal. If not, we would have to amputate.
No one gave us any hope. Nor did they give us good information about physical therapy. But having had some orhopedic problems myself, I knew it was crucial to keep moving Teddy's shoulder, wrist and toes to maintain her range of motion in case the nerve came back. Despite our best efforts, including bringing her to hydrotherapy 3 times a week, we were losing the battle. Her paw and leg had atrophied terribly, and we could not get her paw to bend sufficiently so that she would be able to put it flat on the floor if she even tried to walk on it.
Five months after the accident, and totally by chance, we found another vet, Dr. Jason Fusco at the Animal Medical Center in NY, who recommended a carpal arthrodesis, or fusion of the wrist Teddy could not move. Teddy's wrist was fused into a flexed position. She was casted for 8 weeks or so, and now, 5 months post-op, she's running and playing on 4 legs again, even though the nerve injury did not heal.
The irony is that this is not a new procedure. Its been around since the 1960s, and not one single vet, besides Dr. Fusco, even mentioned it as an option. The only reason that Teddy was a candidate for the surgery 5 months after the accident, was that her shoulder, leg and wrist were not yet completely "frozen," thanks to the physical therapy.
I urge anyone in this position to not accept that amputation is inevitable. Physical therapy is crucial and a solution may be possible, even if the nerve does not heal.
Hi Craig, I completely agree with the other comments left.what is the point in putting Bracken through invasive surgery, its more hassle and expense as the other ppl have said.Vets seem too eager to amputate for some reason, we are against it unless it's absolutely unavoidable.so yes go with your instincts, if Bracken is happy keep the leg...look at Lulu no sign of any movement until Jan 08...8 months after her accident...so there is always hope, however without the leg there of course there is no hope.
this site has brilliant braces and splints
http://www.orthopets.com/photo/carpus_paw.html
good luck, keep intouch.love to Bracken
Post a Comment