Brackens Story

Jaxson's Journey

2012-02-10T22:11:00.000Z

Check out this little guy's story.
His owner found my blog and is now treating Jax in the same way I did Bracken.
My blog has also inspired her to record the events for future reference, please feel free to give your support as you did with myself and Bracken during our plight, click the link below.

http://jaxsonman.wordpress.com/

Hi Everyone!

2011-03-08T20:27:00.000Z

I really am getting lazy now when it comes to posting updates, can't believe it's nearly 2 years since! but then again there's not really much to update. Bracken is still doing well on her 3 legs. Yes, she still has the 4th, tucked up under her stomach out of the way. We still take her to ARC for hydrotherapy, however not as regular and often as we were, again laziness! She's getting old and slowing down, but hey aren't we all LOL!
AS for our family, we've had a new addition to the family! Yes, I now have a daughter, Connie, whom Bracken has taken well to. Connie's 9 weeks old now and arrived on the 31st Dec 2010. Bracken is loving it really as my wife goes walking daily for approx 4 to 5 miles a day out in the country and Bracken toddles up along with her. We reckon 3 legged bracken can still stick in a 10 mile daily treck!

So I guess that's all for me for now, take care everyone.

A Long Awaited Update

2009-04-27T21:43:00.004+01:00

Hi All,

Just a short update to let you know bracken is doing well on her 3 legs. She still has her paralysed one, we still haven't removed and to be honest, she is happy as Larry with.

I will not go over and over old ground, we still take her to the hydrotherapy pool at ARC every other week and will do for as long as she is with us, It keeps her supple.

Below are a few recent pictures of her:

I hope that for all of you who follow this blog, all is well and that you are of good health, Slim, Jaida, Dillon, Sheena, Pat and Mark to name but a few.

Nearly Christmas Again!

2008-12-07T20:19:00.002Z

Hello All,
Just thought I would take some time out to update the blog a little now that I never seem to have time. Bracken is doing great on her 3 legs. There's not stopping her at all, Lesley dad has now retired and is walking Bracken nearly every day for us and when I say Walking I mean Walking, a 3 hour hike seem nothing to him and Bracken is loving every minute of it. She hates it if I work from home as Lesley's Dad sees that as his day off and doesn't go for a walk with Bracken, Bracken then ignores me for the whole day and takes a strop. If I take her out for a walk, its never far enough for her.
We still take Bracken to Arthurshiels Rescue Centre every fortnight for her Hydrotherapy Treatment, She loves that and its good for her, quite often I hear Tom popping her good shoulder back into place, she's never in pain with it, but we feel she needs to go every fortnight and it keeps her supple and fit.
Nearly Christmas again, which means come February it will be 2 years since her accident, how time fly's. I am just glad she's still with us and she is as happy as can be.

Merry Christmas to you all and a Happy New Year.

Craig.

More Than A year Since......

2008-09-06T21:34:00.006+01:00

Saturday 6th Sep 2008

Oh my, does time fly!
Sorry folks, it's been a day and an age since I was last logged on here and actually has the time to sit and update my blog. As I said previously, my new job is taking me from one end of the UK to the other and finding the time to stop and take time to update the blog is getting harder every week, month.....

"Bracken" I hear you all say, Bracken is doing fine, she, sad to say, is still no further forward as to using her paralysed leg albeit confirmed that the feeling is back and that she can independently move it. Looks like she will never use the leg again, but, as you all now from the dilemma I previously had, she still has it, tucked up under her chest, just in case as I say!

We still take her swimming every 2 weeks, she needs the swim in the hydrotherapy pool to relax the stress being put on her good leg, She tends to keep popping her shoulder out which Tom at the pool relentlessly keeps popping back in for her.

I received an email this week from Betsy's mom, Hi Betsy's mom, I am so glad this blog has given you hope since Betsy's accident and is I suppose one of the main reasons I am sat her tonight updating it. It gives me great pleasure in writing this blog when I know it is reaching people in the same boat as I. Day by Day, this is ho0w it has been, the ups and the downs, sadly I as said earlier, it looks like Bracken will never regain the use of her leg, in the end the muscle wasted so bad in the shoulder etc. that it was going to be impossible to get it back.

Time is what is required, and god knows, had I had buckets of it, I would have worked on that leg every hour of every day, to keep the muscle from wasting away. It would have been worth it too knowing now that the nerves and feeling have regenerated, but, hey ho so the story goes.

If you find yourself in the unfortunate position that myself and Bracken were in, please like myself, never give up, keep all hope, we were just unfortunate that the nerve regeneration took a long long time, and by the time it had, the muscle had gone.

"Radial Nerve Paralysis" Now we know what it is and I sure hope this blog can help anyway out there with advice and treatment suggetions.

I'll be back with more updates as and when I can, take care all and good luck to anyone unfortuante enough to have to take my advise!

Craig

Nearly a year Since.....

2008-02-07T22:16:00.000Z

Thursday 7th Feb 2008 Wow,

I have 2 days off, a short break from work, and I suddenly realised the date. It’s almost a year since Brackens 'Bump' with our neighbour’s car. I didn't realise that so many people have been following our story, Thank you all for your kind emails and comment posts; I now know I have achieved what I set out to do and help others in the same predicament as us with advice and experiences.

I have been hanging off from posting our latest news, been hoping to try and getting some short video of it, but, Bracken can move her leg....! Yes, she can actually move her leg. I am however stemming my excitement as I am still not convinced she will begin to use it again fully.

Here's how it goes........

About 3 weeks ago I was sat on my couch watching TV relaxing after a hectic day, Bracken was lying on the floor in front of me, we had just been for a walk and she was tired and sound asleep. She started to dream as dogs do and was obviously running around in her dream chasing rabbits or pheasants.
All her legs and muscles were twitching back and forth and to my amazement, so was the paw of her paralysed leg. It lasted all of 30 seconds. I never at that point told anyone except Tom and Shona at ARC where we go for hydrotherapy.
I, like them was sceptic about it, there could be all sorts of reasons for it, muscle spasms etc......BUT. Just last Friday and for the first time ever, Bracken again was lying on the rug in front of me, Awake....! And was moving her paralysed paw back and forth quite freely and at her own will. I saw it, Lesley Saw it and my neighbour saw it.

It definitely was moving and it was no twitch, she was moving it. Were still keeping our excitement at bay though, I'm concerned, she may be able to move it a little, but I'm not sure she'll ever use it again. The muscle atrophy has been too great I fear and we will struggle to get it back to a condition that could sustain her weight.

The ligaments are all still in working order as you can see in my earlier posts where Tom got the leg movement back again. It’s just gone on too long, had she started to get slight movement 6 months ago, yes, she probably would have been able to get use of it again. There’s also the old Learnt behaviour, Bracken has learned to run, Walk and chase anything that moves on 3 legs and is happy with that. I think we would have trouble getting her to use the leg again.

Anyway, I do hope to get some video shots of the leg moving soon and will post it as soon as. I am still optimistic and ever hopeful that we may still see, well, what would be nothing short of a miracle and have Bracken back on all fours, but, my aim was, what may come, I hope this dairy has gone some way to helping others with the same problem or similar and can be used as a reference. I only wish I had been able to find similar information back in Feb 07, I know now if I had, I would have gave 1000% to keeping that muscle mass live.

Please remeber to read the comments left by others, there is also some real helpfull information contained in there comments.

Anyway, good luck to all, further posts too come soon, I promise.

Craig.

P.S. Good luck to Mark and Dillon in Colorado, Dillon is in the same boat as Bracken with radial nerve damage after a bump with a car. Also good luck to Susan and her 10 month old Lab, her pup had a bump just last Thursday and has nerve damage too. Please keep in touch and let me know how you get on.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-19T21:05:00.000Z

Wednesday 19th December 2007

Hi,
Its been a while, Bracken is doing really well, still un-phased by the whole "On 3 legs" thing. She is still receiving hydrotherapy / physio treatment, in fact, we have just returned from a session tonight. Bracken is lying sound asleep now on her bean bag.
Not sure the treatment is doing much other than relieving the pain and pressure of her joints from all the scooting about on 3 legs. The feeling is back completely in her leg, all the way to her tipy toes, she just ain't moving it, she has had almost complete muscle atrophy of the shoulder and I'm not sure it will ever be any use. The main thing is, as I said, she's un-phased and as happy as a dog in a bath full of butchers bones!
I'm happy, Shes happy, what more could be asked, and the man in the big red suit is almost here.

So,

Merry Christmas Everyone and a Very Happy New Year.

Thank you all so much for your kind words and support over the past 10 months, it has been very much appreciated.

Hope your well Slim and Jaida.

Craig.

All is Well

2007-10-30T18:52:00.000Z

Hi All,
It's been ages since my last post, Sorry,

I know that a lot of you have a genuine interest in bracken and it's unfair of me not to keep you posted more. Been very busy, had a job change. Anyway, there's not really a lot to tell, as they say no new is good news.

Bracken is still going for her hydrotherapy every week, we have managed to keep the ligaments from contracting although they did contract slightly whilst Tom was away in Australia. There was a gap of 4 weeks between her treatments when I last posted with the good news that we had managed to straighten the leg out.

Bracken still does not have complete feeling back in the leg, but, boy she feels it when Tom is giving her physio which is always a good sign, she fights with him in the pool, not literally but you know what I mean.

We are back at the pool again tomorrow night, it will be her 3rd session since Tom got back. He has started work on her wrist joint now to try and get it straightened out.

Sorry theres not a lot more to tell, I will keep posting as much as I can but its hard to post when not a lot has changed.

Times the healer I hope..........

;-)

Hydrotherapy session last night Unbelievable

2007-09-13T11:41:00.000+01:00

Thursday 13th Sept 2007

WOW!

I am just stunned and speechless.......

Took Bracken for her weekly Hydro session last night. Bracken's leg was still stuck at a 90 degree angle due to the ligament contraction, well, after last nights session, all that has changed, Take a look.

Below, Bracken's contracted right leg. This was her leg more or less fully stretched.

Now Look, for some reason the ligaments seemed to give last night. A Lot of it down to all the stretching and exercises, but, most of it due to the physiotherapy work Tom does in the warm water of the hydrotherapy pool.

And then.........

And a small video.......

Sorry about how short the video is, She was on her way out the pool and I had to run to the car for my mobile phone. I was present all through the session and I had no idea what Tom was about to show me. All he said was, "Now Craig, prepare yourself"........"Wait until you see this". He started to raise the hoist and I could see the difference right away, her leg was hanging a lot lower. It wasn't until he started to move her leg back and forth that I realised how much movement was back. There were 4 of us in the room including Tom, the other 2 are assistants and have helped with Bracken since Feb, I can't begin to type what they said when the saw the movement, I would be at risk of blogger deleting my blog.

I'm just stunned, not one to knock my vet, but, he had me believing we couldn't fix the contraction. Bracken is back on the protein powder every morning, we are going to give it our all now. Tom is off to Australia for 3 weeks so we have no Hydro until he is back. I hope when he does get back we have a surprise for him.

Good news all round with Bernie's leg and now Bracken's, our luck has changed and I'm off to get a lottery ticket!

Onwards and Upwards.

;-)

An Update At Last!

2007-09-12T13:03:00.000+01:00

Wednesday 12th Sept 2007

Sorry,
I should have been on here before now to update you all on our progress, but..... just what is it with my family and legs?
Mummy has a horse called Bernie and he had an accident about 3 weeks ago, he caught his leg on a piece of tin from on of the lean 2 sheds and cut it very badly.
The cut was through the Coronal band, and for any of you who know about horses, this is not a good place to cut. The Coronal band is basically what attaches a horses hoof to the leg and Bernie had almost cut 40% of the way through. Anyway, the vet came and did all he could but didn't give out much hope.

?????? now where have I heard that before?

As usual there was a lot of talk about putting to sleep etc, but mum and dad being mum and dad said no way, we have to try and fix this. So, lots of bute and new bandages every other day, oh and some help of the good old "Echinacea" and Bernie is well on the mend, his cut is healing very quickly and the vet is over the moon.

Now for me,
I am still going to the hydrotherapy every week, in fact I am off there tonight.
Tom is really giving it all he can to get my ligaments stretched out, every week we go dad can see my leg getting lower when the raise me out of the pool. Dad and Mum still have stretching exercises with me every day. Dad is now thinking about putting my old boot back on me. He has talked it through with Tom and we have all came to the conclusion that it may be a good idea to put some weight on the boot. This way my leg and ligaments will be under tension if you like, we think it may help in stretching out the ligaments. Dad thinks that because he took the boot off when I started to lift my leg and not drag it, this may be the reason the ligaments contracted and if he had left it on it would have help keep the leg straight, you can see how it used to be in the earlier video's dad took in the field.

Anyway, all is still well, I still love to go for long walks and have a good old rummage! I'm not in pain, and oh......I still haven't caught my leg on anything, touch wood!

Dad is going to take some new pictures and video's when were out an about, he will get them posted on soon.

A Happy Dog

2007-08-26T14:22:00.000+01:00

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.

??? I'm on a Roller Coaster right now

2007-08-22T21:39:00.000+01:00

Wednesday 22nd August 2007

We were at the Vet's last night and it was not good news. The Vet advised that he was of the opinion that the leg was beyond recovery. Gutted.....empty sinking feeling inside, whole lot of emotions going on, back to beating myself up for ever letting it happen, if only I had put that god damn lead on. Myself and Lesley spoke a lot last night about what we should do. By this morning we had almost convinced ourselves that we should bite the bullet and remove the leg.

Is it doing any good being there, not working?

What if she gets it caught out on a walk and does even more damage?

We almost called the insurance company this morning to request authorisation for the operation, but I thought no, I have an appointment tonight with Tom at ARC for Hydro, I need to discuss it all with him.

At the Hydro tonight I spoke to Tom, I explained to him what the vet had said about the ligaments etc. and he just nodded and carried on with the treatment. Then he asked me a few questions to get the whole situation into perspective.

Back in February when the Vet advised waiting 4 weeks and if there was no improvement remove the leg, did you take that advise?

No I replied.

Is Bracken in any pain or discomfort when she is out on here walks?

No I replied.

Has Bracken been rummaging through the undergrowth and woods jumping over fences and running like the clappers for the last 3 Months?

Yes I replied.

Then why the hell are you considering removing her leg?

Ooh I thought, not sure, a bit confused now, because your making sense here.

Tom then went on to say, Craig, a while back you said to me you were a bit concerned about the leg getting stiff and that you were worried the muscle lose was causing the leg to wither slightly, I told you then not to worry about it, Did I not? Tom then said, I'll show you and began to work on her leg again. Her appointment was to be for 30 mins but it over ran to 40.

I can't believe what's happened tonight, Bracken was raised on the hoist to get her out of the pool and Tom said "Look", Bracken's leg was hanging a good inch to 2 inches lower. Excuse my language folks, but I thought, Shit! Tom has shown me some new exercises for Bracken to try and get the leg to straighten out. I took Bracken to the field for a walk after we got home, I can visibly see the leg's position a lot lower than when we went to the hydro.

God, this bloody roller coaster seems like its going to go on for ever, I'm so confused. I think maybe I'm loosing a bit faith and need a bit of a kick up the arse.

Anyway, The decision has been made, she's not in any pain and the leg has never got caught in the past 3 months so were going to leave it where it is and carry on with the treatments and physio.

here we go..........the roller coaster seems to be on the way back up again.

;-)

Vet Appointment

2007-08-17T14:14:00.000+01:00

Friday 17th August 2007

Had another session of hydrotherapy on Wednesday, all went well, no visible changes to note.
Our appointment with the vet is on Tuesday next week. I have been stretching the leg daily as often as I can. I can feel a difference in the leg, it seems to be easing each time I stretch it. but I'm not sure if its of any use.

Anyway, the key is to see what the vet has to say about it all, I will keep you posted as soon as we have been to see him on Tuesday.

Were Home

2007-08-08T20:44:00.000+01:00

Wednesday 8th August 2007

Well were back again, all refreshed and tanned! We had a great holiday, so much so were desperate to go back. Bracken enjoyed her holiday too, she settled in well with frank and Margaret and I think she may have been spoiled a little. We got home a week past Friday and I picked her up on the Saturday morning. I was so nervous about collecting her, I was excited and apprehensive at the same time.

Would I see a difference?

Bracken came bounding over to me, on 3 legs! She looked great, she had been given a bath and her coat was gleaming, I think she had lost some weight too! She was staying close by to a farm and she had 3 walks a day, in the fields. Frank thinks she ran about 10 miles per day.

I have taken my time to post my latest blog as I have been looking for signs of improvement, unfortunately, I'm still looking. Bracken had Hydro both weeks we were away and I took her last Wednesday and Lesley took her tonight.

Lesley had a good discussion with Tom about where we are at with the treatment. We have taken bracken to a local river a couple of times since we got back and can see her trying to use her shoulder, it moves in sync with her left one in the doggy paddle motion. The problem we have though is I think her ligaments have contracted between her shoulder and elbow, her elbow joint seems locked, it has been slowly creeping up on us, we thought we could keep it at bay with regular physio, but I fear I have lost the battle. She has feeling in almost 90% of the leg and given that before we started the treatments there was none, I feel gutted, we were almost there.

We have decided tonight that we need a visit to our vet, the same veterinary company only not the one the wanted to remove the leg back in March. I'm taking her to see the vet who carried out the acupuncture, he seemed more open to her treatment and was keen for her to recover. Maybe there is some kind of operation they could perform on the ligaments, I'm almost certain she would start to put more weight on it if she could put it down.

Sorry this post is not as encouraging as I would have liked, I will keep you posted on the vets visit, in the meantime we carry on as usual, hydro and Physio.

You can see the contraction in her right leg in the picture below.

Fingers crossed. How's it going slim? hope your well pup pal.
;0)

Holiday Time!

2007-07-10T12:41:00.000+01:00

Tuesday 10th July 2007

Not a lot to add this week, this really is such a roller coaster. Full of hope and joy last week, then nothing. I don't want to sound down hearted because I'm not, I knew this would be a long, long process and journey.

Bracken was back yet again at ARC last week for Physio in the pool. Tom says she definitely has more movement in her leg.
On Thursday night last week, Lesley and Clark were sat on the sofa with Bracken, the big softy she is, and I know this sounds cruel....but, Lesley was sat with a pair of tweezers and she started to gently nip Bracken's leg. She started at the shoulder where back in Feb after the accident there was no feeling at all and Bracken felt it, she let our a slight whine. Gradually Lesley moved down her whole leg nipping every inch or two to see what reaction there was, Bracken can feel the sensation and pain all the way to the tip of her toes, She can even feel it on the pads of her feet. The nerve definitely seems to have re-generated allowing feeling and sensation back into her leg.

Now comes the job of learning her how to use the leg again, as I said last week, she did correct herself from falling by using the bad leg to stabilise herself, we have not seen it happen again, although Clark, my 5 year old son, let out a shout on Sunday that Bracken had stood on her bad leg, I have never doubted him before even at 5 and I'm not about to now, he has no reason to make it up.

Bracken is off on her holiday's on Thursday, out into the country. We are off to Tenerife on Friday morning for 2 weeks so she's off to Frank and Margaret's for a couple of weeks. They offered to look after her when they knew we were going abroad. They will take her for her treatment at ARC and I know she'll be well looked after, Frank adores her.

I'm quite looking forward to the 2 weeks away in decent weather! I am also looking forward to coming back, since the accident I have been with Bracken every day and I find it difficult to notice the differences in her that other people see week to week or month to month. If her movement is improving weekly, I should be able to see it for myself when we get back, who knows, maybe she'll be walking on all fours again!

Anyway, I'll update again when I get back, hope your all well.

Feliz Día de fiesta , Está Todo Bueno , Está Todo UN Espera Juego
Gracias

;0)

It's Good For Balance

2007-07-02T19:08:00.000+01:00

Monday 2nd July 2007

Since my last post we have been to ARC twice for Hydrotherapy. On our last visit, Wednesday last week, Bracken came out of the Hydrotherapy pool building and stumbled on her good leg, what do you think happened?

Well, rather than land flat on her face, she managed to catch herself on her paralysed leg!... I missed it as I was in the building but Tom and his assistant both saw it happen before their eyes.

Nearly a week has passed since and I have watched like a hawk, but never yet witnessed her use the leg. She has a lot more feeling back in the leg and to see her run you would put money on it that she was using it, but if you look closer, all she is doing is going through the motion, she never actually puts weight on it, but since last week, I now know she can.

I'll keep you posted, were back at ARC this Wednesday.

Fingers crossed folks, looks like we may be having some progress again.

Dog Walking.....on their own!

2007-06-15T09:10:00.000+01:00

Friday 15th June 2007

It's been 2 weeks now since we last posted, Bracken has still been getting tingles in her leg. We have been for 2 sessions at ARC hydro pool the last one on Wednesday past. The previous week, Tom was squeezing Bracken's wrist joint and it turns out that the feeling has returned to the joint. When he squeezed the joint she was whimpering and giving him dirty looks, she is definitely feeling some sensations in the lower part of the leg. It does seem to be on and off though, I have tried daily to replicate what Tom did and have only managed to get a reaction a couple of times, twice is better than none I tell myself.

We were at my mum's on Sunday and Bracken and her sister Bramble decided they were fed up playing in the garden and needed to go for a longer walk......by themselves! Off they went like a couple of greyhounds up the garden and over, yes over my mums 4 foot garden fence. I never in a month of Sunday's thought Bracken would make it, but she did.

The search was on, Bowhill is a rather large estate where my mum and dad live, its all woods and hills. Mum found them at the back of the house after about 10 mins, they came back to her shouts like they used to as pup's when she had them both, I sometimes wish I had left Bracken at mum's, she would still have 4 legs if I had, but we wouldn't be without her now, she's a big part of our wee family.
When mum brought them back, boy was she puffed, they must have been chasing rabbits, they love that. She just lay in the garden panting. We decided not to put Bramble away in her kennel as we thought, well, they have their wee run, they'll not go off again....! Ha....

45 mins later and off they went, out the gate this time. We shouted and we shouted and we shouted some more, no sign. I got onto my motorbike and took off to the hills. Through the woods and up the tracks, stopping to shout every couple of minutes, no sign or sound. I went back to the house to see if they had returned, no sign. Off I went again, this time even further into the woods and stopped. I shouted and whistled for about 10 mins, then I heard them, crashing through the under growth on there way to me. They both arrive at my feet and collapse into puffing, panting heaps.
The moral is, 3 legs or not, she's still a fit and healthy dog, nothing stopping her.

Monday, and Tuesday she was a bit stiff, I took her to the pool on Wednesday and Tom worked his magic on her, her shoulder was out slightly from her adventures at Bowhill, I heard it crack in whilst Tom gave her physio in the pool.

What worries me now is, Muscle atrophy and learnt behaviour. We pull and stretch her legs daily and still feed her the protein powder. Tom sees small improvements every week, but some of her joints in her paralysed leg are now getting stiff through not using them. She has been holding up her leg for so long she is starting to think this is how it should be. See the picture below, I think you'll see what i mean when you look at her right leg. We need the nerve to repair quickly and start sending signals to her brain that she needs to start using it, I still see little movements in the leg mainly the shoulder area when she is moving round the house, so something is going on. She's not had her boot or splint on for about 3 weeks now, I think this is helping as she can now feel that the leg is still there if you know what I mean, hopefully she will start to realise its there and it can be used if she puts her mind to it.

I hope all you regular readers are well, especially slim, any update on your progress pup pal?

"Its all good, its all a waiting game"

;0)

Brackens Progress

2007-05-31T21:02:00.000+01:00

Thursday 31st May 2007

Last day of May.......nearly June and its still P*ssing down with rain and only 12 degrees on a normal day.

Anyway enough about the crap Scottish weather. Sheena contacted me from Canada this week about Slim the whippet. Slim if you remember has the same injury as Bracken, paralysis due to a bump with a car. Anyway Slim has had some good progress lately, he has now started to put weight on his paralysed leg. This is great news for me and gives me hope. Slim was knocked over in Dec last year and is a couple of months in front of Bracken as progress goes, so here's hoping.

Were not putting the splint or boot onto bracken anymore, well not unless we are doing a lot of road work with her. Bracken is holding her leg up to the extent it is hardly dragging at all. Its not all Bracken though, due to lack of use in the leg the muscle is causing some of the lift, I asked Tom at the pool if it was anything to worry about, but he says no. The elbow joint is also getting a little more stiffer due to lack of use, but Tom did a lot of work tonight on her leg at the pool.

We were at the pool tonight for her weekly Physio and Hydro session, Tom is happy with the progress. She has more feeling in the leg and paw as well, She knows when your are tickling it when she can't see you, she feels it. All we need to do know is get the movement back. Muscle atrophy is our biggest worry, even if the leg recovers and feeling is completely restored, if the muscle has gone then the leg will still be more or less useless. The Key as Sheena said in her email is to keep working it, 5 or 10 minutes Physio each day should help to keep it at bay.

She's a bit restless tonight since the session at the pool, she gave out one almighty yelp earlier, I thought someone has trod on her good leg, but everyone swears they were no where near her. Since I started to type this post she's been up and down from her bean bag like a yo yo.........yelping on the odd occasion, not sure what to make of it, I'll just have to keep an eye on her, She did have a lot of work on her leg tonight, maybe she's feeling it all the more now.

Well That's it for this week, I hope the weather gets better in June.

Another Update

2007-05-24T21:31:00.000+01:00

Thursday 24th May 2007

Boy has this been one energetic week for us....
On Sunday past we did a sponsored walk, only 5 miles, but far enough when your on 3 leg's.
Me and Dad did it in 57 mins......yes 57 mins, Clark did it in 50 mins and Mum in 2 hours....no only joking, she did it in 1 hour and 15 mins. Boy were we tired on Sunday night.

Then on Tuesday night, mum has another brilliant idea, lets go for another hike, only this time she assures me its not far, Ha Ha Ha, If only she new where she was going, Our little walk, our not far little walk took us 1 hour and 45 mins,
boy oh boy was I tired on Tuesday Night, I slept all night and all day Wednesday but felt great for it, I really do enjoy my walks with my family.

Anyway, on to my progress, Just been to ARC for a session with Tom in the pool, and I sure did enjoy it after all my Walks this week. No problems with my shoulder, Tom thinks my shape and the way I hold my leg up is great. Tom says I'm getting stronger as well, I was pulling against him tonight just to see how strong he is.
Just going off to have another lie down as I'm a bit tired after the pool, and dad took me for a walk round the field on the way back, Have a look at the video below, you may not notice too much of a difference from the last video's, But I'm slowly getting there, were just taking each week as it comes now.

Bracken wins an award!

2007-05-21T18:50:00.000+01:00

Hi All,
Just thought I'd let you know, Bracken won an award yesterday! She was nominated as dog of the week by the admin team of group UK woofers at the website Dogster (Click to view).

I thought it was pretty cool myself, she was nominated for being "game little chap. Eager to play and bark and make the group a happy place for doggies to bark together".........they even made her an award picture -

Well after what she's been through, I thought she deserved it. It's made my day anyway.

;o)

This Week's Update

2007-05-15T21:45:00.000+01:00

Tuesday 15th May 2007

Hi All,
Not a lot to report this week, Bracken has just been for another session at the pool and is out for the count just now on her bean bag.

Her leg is slowly building strength, still feeding her the protein powder twice a day and we use the modified abs belt every other night. She's definitely holding her leg up more, I can tell from her boot, she was wearing a boot out every 2 weeks, this latest boot has lasted 3 1/2 and hardly has any wear on it. She walks more on the toe of the boot, like a ballet dancer! rather than drag it.

;o)

Bracken at the Pool....

2007-05-09T09:43:00.000+01:00

Tuesday 8th May 2007
Tom's home......!
I took Bracken back to Arthurshiel tonight, Tom's back and we had an appointment for a session in the Hydrotherapy pool. I wasn't sure, but I had an incling that there was something not quite right with Bracken, my incling was confirmed, her shoulder was out! Tom set to work with her Physio and soon had the shoulder back to rights, have a look............

At first I though her shoulder looked a weird shape, then I noticed her right pupil was a different size from the left. If you remember back in my older posts, different sized pupils was used by the Vet to confirm the damage to the nerve was in the neck, I remembered this which lead me to believe her shoulder was out and trapping the nerves in the neck. She never seemed to be in a lot of pain, but I had her over to the centre and in the Magnotherapy box twice last week to reduce any swelling or pain.

Back home now and she's full of beans, onwards and upwards as they say.

;0)

A Fluke? I Hope not

2007-05-03T21:26:00.000+01:00

Thursday 3rd May 2007

Just noticed today.....Bracken seems to have the feeling back in her toes and foot.
I tickled her hair between her toes and she seems to flinch, She nudges me with her noes and other leg, She knows I'm doing it. When I squeeze her toes she tries to nudge me away with her head. I'll try it all again tomorrow, hopefully its not a fluke!

Jaida's Blog

2007-05-02T21:51:00.000+01:00

Wednesday 2nd May 2007

Hi All,
Just a wee post to let you know Bracken has a new buddy.....Jaida a little pup with a club foot.
Check out Jaida's Story here

Jaida's Journey

The past week

2007-05-02T14:26:00.000+01:00

Wednesday 2nd May 2007

May already!

Not much to tell today, Tom is in Germany just now doing SAR training therefore bracken has not been for hydrotherapy since my last post. I did however take her over to the centre last night for a session in the Magnatherapy box. Bracken likes the box, it must be so relaxing. When Bracken gets back from a session in the box she could sleep for Scotland, not last night though, I dragged her for a walk round the field, she was not best pleased with me neither.

She is still going well, the muscle is steadily building with the protein supplement and the abs belt....oh.....had to get a new belt on eBay last week, my one packed in, cheap as chips too £5.49!

Were getting there, slowly but surely.

Cheers for now..... :o)

P.S Please sign the guest book.....it would be nice to know who you were and what you thought.

Quick Update

2007-04-25T10:36:00.000+01:00

Monday 23rd April 2007

Just a qucik update today.
I had bracken back at the hydrotherapy tonight. She did really well and Tom yet again is please with the progress. Bracken has got more of her shape back in her neck and shoulders. Tonight, before I took Bracken to the pool, she attempted to chase a dummy Cat......I know who the dummy is, you'd think she'd learn. She ran at a dummy Cat on a fence put there by the owner to deter other Cat's, anyway, I was really surprised at her movement tonight, hardly any dragging of the foot / leg at all, you could say she was more or less walking and running on it.

I have also recently had a post from someone in one of the dog forums. I post on these sites to link this blog and let other people in the same situation see the progress we are making. This particular site removed my links to the blog and said I had broken the forum rules! Now the links have been removed, people can't see the real content of my post. I have linked this post below as I would like you to see the reply from a very nice lady called Jake2006.......

Click on this link to read Jake's reply to my post

It's worth a read, please read the replies to the post on the same link. very reassuring for me.

Cheers for now.
:0)

A Walk in the Field

2007-04-20T20:49:00.000+01:00

Friday 20th April 2007

No misshaps last night, Bracken had a good night, I left her boot on just incase. However, today She was left alone for a little while and it looks as if she has nibbled at her claw a little, its been bleeding and there is some blood on her bed in her cage. I think we'll have to keep the boot on when we leave her on her on from now on.

Tonight I took some short video's on my mobile, see below.

Here's Bracken enjoying a walk in the Field

Then we bump into bracken's little buddy, Tia. They both love a play and roll in the grass!

This Weeks Progress

2007-04-19T21:33:00.000+01:00

Thursday 19th April 2007

Lesley had Bracken back to hydrotherapy last night. Tom is really pleased with the progress, he can feel the difference in the muscle strength. We are continuing daily, twice per day, with the protein supplement and we use the modified abs belt every night.

I have just used the belt on her tonight and I can actually see the muscle in her shoulder contracting. I have always known that it has been working because when we used it prior, Bracken got restless and licked at it.........now I can see it working.

Sorry folks, I know you can't see this but I had to stop typing her for a minute, I've been watching Bracken, she can't settle since I took off the belt, she's up and down and on and off her bean bag, my conclusion is she's got more tingling and feeling back in the leg, she will not stop licking at it. My only concern now is that it may annoy her during the night!

As in the case with the wild fox, the tingling feeling can annoy and stress the dog to the point they can self mutilate and chew at the foot, I think I will let her sleep with the boot on tonight to be on the safe side, don't want any disasters after all this work, think you've got me worried a bit Sheena since your email, best be safe though.

Just to let you know, Sheena contacted me through this site, she too has a dog in the same predicament, a Whippet called Slim. Slim was knocked over by a car in December last year in Toronto and has ended up with Radial Nerve Paralysis causing paralysis of hist front left leg. Sheena has also gone through all the stages I have with Bracken, She too was advised by the vet to amputate but like myself was reluctant to take this advise and now Slim too is on the road to recovery through the same types of treatment.

We were both advised to amputate due to small - Slim recovery rates.......

Q - Are the statistics for recovery so small because people don't wait it out and take their vets advise?

A - Only Time will tell..........

That's all for now folks.

;0)

Progress Update

2007-04-11T20:54:00.000+01:00

Wednesday April 11th 2007

We have been giving Bracken a protein supplement for a week now and already you can see the difference.

I have also been using the modified Abs belt on her for 30 minutes every night, Bracken has been completely un-phased by it all as you can see below.

I have started off the treatment on a fairly high setting, this in turn will boost the build up of the muscle, it works in exactly the same way as it does in humans using deep electrolysis to contract the muscle thereby stimulating and exercising the muscle.

Since we started using the belt, she seems to lick scratch at her foot as though she were getting pins and needles. Lesley took Bracken to the Hydrotherapy pool yesterday and asked Tom about the licking etc. Tom is reckons that she most likely is starting to feel tingling sensations down the leg as the electrolysis will not only be stimulating the muscle but the nerves too. Tom also noticed a big difference in the strength and build of her damaged leg, the protein and the belt are obviously doing their jobs and building the muscle mass as hoped.

I now I say this every time, but I can see change in the way Bracken moves, she uses her leg more and more every day. When I take her out first thing in the morning, she seems to make it further every day before her leg gets tired. She also seems to put more weight onto it and is flicking it forward further, almost hoping on it. I only wish I could explain it more.

Anyway, Protein Supplement 2 times per day and deep electrolysis for 30 minutes every day should get the muscle built up in no time.

Keep you posted...

;0)

Abs Belt...!

2007-04-04T20:51:00.000+01:00

Wednesday April 4th 2007

Took Bracken for more hydrotherapy tonight. Still working hard.
She has also started her Protein Supplement today, 2 tea spoons mixed in warm water and topped up with milk, mmmmmmmm delicious, well at least Bracken thought so, she wolfed it, pardon the pun!

Had a walk to the field, She's still going great no dislocations lately. Shes still working the leg hard. Tom advised us at the weekend to start getting her to give us a paw. We try it every night, She never used to give us a paw, so we have had to learn her what it is, not the paw! but giving it to us. We have taught her with the good leg, offering a treat if she gives us a paw, hopefully she will now attempt the same with the bad leg.

I have also tonight modified an old Abs belt, you know the ones you put round your waist to give you a six pack! why I've got one I'll never know so the only option was to modify it for Bracken's leg. It works, I squirt a little EC water based gel on to the pads and switch it on, you can feel it contracting the muscle, what muscle there is that is.

This is all more progress in getting the strength built up in the leg, Protein Supplement and Electrolysis in the muscle...........I'll keep you posted.

Session in the box

2007-03-31T15:56:00.000+01:00

Saturday 31st March 2007

Another session in the Magnotherapy box. More stimulation of the blood flow and nerves to the muscle, more pain relief since the dislocation, it all helps.

As previously explained "PULSED MAGNETIC FIELD THERAPY" (PMFT) to call it by its technical full name, used at low frequency, has a similar effect to the use of ice packs in reducing swelling and inflammation or at higher frequencies can increase circulation and the supply of oxygen to damaged areas, this is why bracken uses it at a setting of 9 or 10.

The Yelping!

2007-03-31T15:38:00.000+01:00

Thursday March 29th 2007

We were back at ARC tonight for Hydrotherapy. As soon as Bracken walked into the pool area Tom noticed something not quite right. Whilst bracken was being put into the sling for the pool, Shona noticed a little too much play on her leg..........her shoulder was dislocated!
This has been the reason for the yelping and discomfort, if only she could talk. I felt gutted, how long had it been like this?...... well at least since the yelping started.

Bracken is getting around so well that when she gets into any open space she's off at her usual 100mph pace, she's fast, 3 legs or not. Her leg, due to the muscle mass being wasted flops like a rag doll when she runs in the fields and through the woods, it seems a shame to stop her, after all, this is what she knows and has done since a pup. She was even racing Lesley on the horse on Saturday past........not again, I/we need to be more careful.

Tom popped her shoulder back in straight away and got cracking with the Physio. Again Bracken responded well. The minute I got home I could see, again, a big difference in her mobility. She really is trying, flicking the leg forward, putting weight on it, trying her hardest to use it. She comes to you on the sofa, jumps up with her good leg and then slowly but surely raises the other leg up onto your lap. It all stems round the muscle.

We are going to put her on a protein supplement, not too dissimilar to that of a body builder. This will strengthen what muscle there is there and allow her to start using it that little bit more.

As I said a few days ago........its all about patience and we have plenty of it.

Some Yelping this Week....!

2007-03-29T11:53:00.000+01:00

Monday March 26th 2007

The weekends been a funny weekend, I need remember to ask Tom about the yelps she gives out, I think its spasms of feeling coming back into the leg. I read on a page on the Internet about a wild fox with the same damage and a Vet used acupuncture to regenerate the nerve.

Click here to read the case study

They mentioned in the case study about spasms / tingling feelings coming back to the leg.

Nerve damage is said to heel itself from one end to the other, as it does and the heeling gets nearer to the end of the nerve, spasms and tingling can occur.

It all makes sense, this is why in some of the stories I have read that some animals with nerve damage can go to sleep one night with paralysis and no feeling and wake up the next with feeling and no paralysis...........here's hoping.

Protein Powder to Build the Muscle

2007-03-25T16:42:00.000+01:00

Wednesday March 21st 2007

Back at ARC today for Hydrotherapy. No significant changes other than the muscle mass is developing more. Bracken still working her leg in the pool.
Tom Says he would like to introduce her to a protein powder to help build up the muscle. I am keen for this to happen as every day I can see Bracken trying to use her leg. Every morning when she bounces out of her cage, she tries so hard to use her leg and put weight on it.

Every time we go for a walk, the first few hundred meters, she flicks her leg forward to walk on and does bare some, not much but some weight on it.

I really do think that she gets tired more than anything and this is when she starts to drag it, after all, that's what she is used to now and it is easier for her to drag than use as there is hardly any muscle mass there.

Were back at ARC on Thursday 29th March (My Birthday!) I'll ask Tom more about the protein powder then. It has to help and I feel were at a crucial point now, its more a learning game now, Bracken has to learn to use it again!......

Were getting there

2007-03-23T22:36:00.000Z

Thursday March 15th 2007

Bracken is still using her leg more than ever, still more dah dit, dah dit than drrrrrrrrr. In the house she is carrying it, it doesn't rattle off the stairs as much. I need to go across to Gala so I take Bracken with me and I pop into ARC. Tom has a couple of clients with him, but I get the chance to speak to him for 5 mins. Look at this I say, Bracken hops out the back of the car and dah dits it across to Tom, good good he says, When she was in the pool on Tuesday I did more work on her Neck, that's where the nerves trapped, Its coming good. I ask him if I can leave Bracken in the Magnotherapy box while I go to gala, not a problem, in she goes, setting 10 this time to boost the muscle now shes using it a bit more.

When I say using, She does still dah dit it along for a while, she soon tiers out and then starts to drag it again drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, but its getting better.

Saturday March 17th 2007

Again on the way to mums at Bowhill, we put her in the box at setting 10 again.

Session 5 in the Pool

2007-03-23T22:02:00.000Z

Tuesday March 13th 2007

Bracken is back at ARC for another session in the hydrotherapy. Tom tells Lesley that he relay can feel a difference, Bracken is trying so hard to use it but the muscle is very weak. Tom sets to work with the usual physio programme.

Tom says he can really feel her working her leg against him. This is major progress.

That night when I get home from work, I can see the difference straight away, She's not dragging so much now, she lifts the leg while hoping on the other.

I take her out for a walk later, what a difference, the best way for me to describe it is, instead of the leg being drag drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr its more of a dah dit, dah dit, dah dit She's flicking her leg forward and putting some, not much, but some of her weight on her leg. I can't stop watching it and she seems so pleased with herself, tail wagging frantically, she looks so pleased with herself and I tell her all the way along the road how clever she is, sounds daft but it gives her a boost.

;-)

Boot Wearing Out!

2007-03-23T21:41:00.000Z

Saturday March 10th 2007

Today I really can start to see a difference with Bracken, nothing major, just subtle movements in her leg. We continue the Physio at home, we need to as I can see the muscle wasting away. She's getting a bit lazy now and used to not using it, she's quite happy to drag it along, so much so she's wearing her new boot out.
I search the web for replacements and the only ones I can find are from a company called neo-paws based in Canada. They are very reasonably priced as its in Canadian dollars. I order them online.

I take Bracken to ARC for a session in the Magnotherapy box, this she seems to really enjoy the treatment and I have never seen her in any discomfort or pain since she started going in the box. I have my usual blether with Tom about this and that, mainly about dog's, Vet's and Bracken's treatment.

Bracken comes out the box, perky as ever. Tom is pleased with the progress, Rome was not built in a day, Its going to take time and patience.

Splint

2007-03-22T19:36:00.000Z

Thursday 8th March 2007

Not one for blowing my own trumpet, but boy am I good on a sewing machine! I've managed to make Bracken a splint for her leg in an attempt to stop her paw turning back.

Boy does it work, I made it from and old wrist splint we had......take a look.

Last Acupuncture

2007-03-22T19:19:00.000Z

Tuesday March 6th 2007

In the morning Lesley takes Bracken for her final acupuncture session today, Same routine. The Vet once again checks for sensation and is unsure, she may she may not be feeling below the elbow.

The Vet finishes his session then wishes us luck with Bracken's treatment and asks us to keep in touch and let him now how things progress.

I am impressed by this Vet and will be back to see him.

In the afternoon, Bracken is back to ARC for more Hydrotherapy. Tom is pleased with her progress. He can feel a difference in the muscle, he also says Bracken is attempting to work her leg in the pool.

Some Changes Noticed

2007-03-22T18:44:00.000Z

Friday March 2nd 2007

Lesley took Bracken for hydrotherapy today. She was able to report to Tom some significant changes. We have started to notice Bracken uses her leg slightly in the house, she's not putting weight on it but she does seem to be moving it a little at the shoulder, I'm also convinced she is feeling some sensation below here elbow but its hard to tell. You can nip Bracken's good leg and she doesn't flinch so its hard to tell.
Tom does his work on Bracken then gives Bracken a new boot, a neo-paws protective boot. Tom suggests we stop tying Bracken's leg up in a strap when we take her out and that we start putting the boot on. This is to try and get Bracken to start using the leg more and although she will still drag it, the muscle will be getting worked. You know how it is, if you strap your arm up long enough, the muscle will soon waste away, this is what we don't want.

That night i take Bracken for a short walk, what a difference, you can see the muscle working, even though the leg is being dragged on her paw, without the boot it would be damaging her paw yet she wouldn't know with no feeling there.

She bends her paw backwards when its being dragged, I need to make a splint of some sorts to stop the paw bending back.

Thinking Cap on!

;-)

2nd Acupuncture

2007-03-22T18:18:00.000Z

Tuesday February 27th 2007

Today Bracken had her 2nd treatment of acupuncture. The Vet checked her over again, nipping her leg to look for reaction. Bracken still only has feeling in the shoulder area to the elbow, or at least that's what we think.
While the Vet in inserting the needles, Bracken has a flinch when he puts the needle in between her toes, good sign.
All the needles are inserted to the same areas as the last time, only this time I know more about it as Tom gave me a loan of his acupuncture book. I read as much as I could about Ying and Yang, Meridians and Chi Energy and I was in a position to now ask the vet which meridians he used, he showed me on a piece of paper.
We then began discussing the treatment and he told me all about the course he had been on. This Vet is more open to the use of traditional Chinese medicines TCM and he then began to ask all about ARC and the treatment she was getting there.

10 minutes passed quickly and we were on our way home again. Bracken was in discomfort again, this was Ying and Yang......Good and Bad.

Good as it indicated that something was happening and the acupuncture was not a waste of time.
Bad as she was now in pain, and that I did not like.

Always a balance.

I decided to call Tom and was able to take Bracken over to ARC for a session in the Magnotherapy box. 20 minutes later and Bracken was relaxed again and pain free.

Magnotherapy

2007-03-22T14:17:00.000Z

Sunday February 25th 2007

We arrive at ARC to put Bracken in the Magnotherapy box, she still seems to be in a bit of pain and discomfort, yelping every now and then.

The Magnotherapy box is a large dog box with a magnetic coil in the floor connected to a control box with 10 settings. Bracken is loaded into the box on a setting 9.

The Magnotherapy is used to stimulate the blood flow and ease any discomfort and pain she may be in. She was in the box for about 20 minutes when she comes out Tom gives her a bit of physio. Tom asks us to let him know how she is when we get home.

On the way home she lets out one yelp in the car. We get home, and she crashes out on her bean bag. You can see how relaxed she now is and she certainly doesn't seem to be in any pain now. I call Tom and let him know. That night, Bracken slept for Scotland, never heard a peep out of her, I practically had to drag her out for her business!

Vet Checkup and 2nd Hydrotherapy

2007-03-22T11:49:00.000Z

Friday February 23rd 2007

Tonight we have a follow up visit with the our Vet. Same routine, prod here, pull there. Never once on the table and not checked for sensation in the leg.

I can't help but feel a little negative towards the Vet, after all, there advise was to wait 3 or 4 weeks and then amputate. Again, they ask about the acupuncture and hydrotherapy and we let them know how its going.

Bracken now has feeling from her shoulder to her elbow I say, the Vet at Kelso checked this prior to the acupuncture nipping her with forceps. Our Vet confirms that when Bracken left them, she had no feeling in the leg at all. They take my word for it and still don't check themselves!........ strange.

Consultation over we ask do we need to bring her back, no, carry on with the treatment as is, fine with me.

Back to ARC for 2nd Hydrotherapy Session.

Bracken is lowered back into the pool, Tom works on her legs, back and neck. Bracken seems to be enjoying this, tail wagging. Tom massages Bracken's neck, relieving the swelling and pain.

We discuss the fact that Bracken has feeling again in her shoulder and Tom advises that he can feel her working against him in the pool. Its now imperative that we try to keep the muscle mass in tact an working, regular physio is the trick, not just in the pool but at home too.
Tom asks us to bring Bracken in for a session in the Magnotherapy box at the weekend.

We arrive back home from ARC and Bracken flops into the bean bag, completely and utterly well and truly relaxed and contented, No Pain, No Yelps.

Acupunture at The Vets

2007-03-22T11:22:00.000Z

Thursday 22nd February 2007

We arrive at the Vets for Bracken's acupuncture. The Vet calls us in and we sit Bracken on the table. He asks the relevant questions about the accident, how it happened, where she was hit etc. He also asks how she got on at the hydrotherapy the previous night. I explain to him that Tom thinks the damage is not in the leg, but in the neck.

The Vet brings out his equipment for screening eyes and looks into Bracken's eyes, "Yes he Say's", "I can confirm the damage seems to be in the neck".
He then goes on to explain if the radial nerve is damaged in the neck area it will result in a difference in the dilation of the pupils and Bracken's right pupil was slightly smaller than the left.
Then the Vet gets out a pair of forceps and starts to nip Bracken's leg, first the toe's......nothing, then the limb below the elbow......nothing, then her shoulder area......ooh! Bracken gives the Vet a dirty look, by god she felt that I said, your not wrong there said the Vet.

I'm glad this was done before the session as it goes to prove that this improvement is down to Tom's physio in the hydrotherapy pool and the Vet agrees.

He then proceeds with the acupuncture treatment. He places 2 needles in Bracken's neck and shoulder, 1 above her elbow, 2 in her fore limb below the elbow and 1 in between her toes. These I am told area the meridian areas. I ask how the needles work as all this is new to me. He explains that there are several differing opinions, some say the needle vibrates, some think it's due to the transfer of energy from the person inserting the needles, all in all, no one can be absolutely certain.

The needles are left in place for 10 minutes.

After the first session of acupuncture I make our appointment for the second session the following Tuesday, the treatment is in 3 sessions.

Bracken seems to be in some discomfort, she yelps a couple of times at the Vet's and at least 3 times on the way home in the car, this concerns me so I call Tom at ARC the minute I get home.

Tom advises again that this can happen as acupuncture sometimes aggravates any pain she may have, its all to do with the energy passing through the body. We are back tomorrow night for a 2nd hydrotherapy session, Tom says that will help reduce the discomfort and pain.

1st Hydrotherapy session

2007-03-21T22:00:00.000Z

Wednesday 21st February 2007

Were all a bit excited, so much so that even Dad comes with us.

Arrive at Arthurshiels for Bracken's first treatment in the Hydrotherapy pool.

I let Tom know about the call from the Vet and ask his advise about her going for acupuncture, after all I wouldn't want the acupuncture to undo any good that the acupressure and hydrotherapy do. Tom advises that this will be OK, the more treatment the better. The acupressure that Tom gives Bracken is similar to the acupuncture only acupuncture can sometimes aggravate any pain she may be in. He asks me to call him tomorrow night once we have been to let him know how she is.

Bracken's a bit unsure about it all, Shona relaxes bracken and prepares her for the pool loading her into the sling on the hoist. As you can see in this picture, Bracken's right paw is turned inwards due to the Paralysis of the leg.

Tom then raised Bracken on the hoist and lowered her into the pool.

Tom asks us all the relevant questions about Bracken's accident to establish where the actual damage to the radial nerve has occurred. We always assumed based on the consultations at the Vets that the damage to the nerve was in her leg, How wrong to assume.....!

Tom got to work on Bracken, Stretching, Massaging and Pulling and very quickly established that the damage to the nerve was not actually in the leg but was more associated with her neck. She was able to turn her neck one way but had a more limited movement the other.

There was a lot of swelling to the neck and Tom advised that she has most probably pulled the muscles in her neck in turn trapping the nerve. He then went to work on the neck, massaging and stretching.

Here Tom works on the neck to release the trapped nerve and reduce the swelling using acupressure.

By the end of this session, Bracken seems more relaxed and pain free. Its sounds strange, but she seemed to have a bit of her personality back, she didn't look as sorry for herself and I think she knows we are trying to help her ;-)

Call From The Vet

2007-03-21T21:11:00.000Z

Wednesday 21st February 2007 5:00pm

We get a call from the Vet at Kelso tonight.

He has been asked to give us a call by our Vet with regards to Bracken and the possibility of acupuncture treatment. He knows all about the accident and the injury she has, obviously it has been discussed with my Vet in a bit of detail.

I am unsure what I should, in 1 hour we are off to see Tom at ARC for hydrotherapy. I advise the Vet at Kelso that we are taking her to ARC for treatment, great he says, and when do you want to come for acupuncture?

What should I do?

I make an appointment for the next night, it can't do any harm, the more treatments the better I think to myself.

Referral for Hydrotherapy

2007-03-21T15:07:00.000Z

Monday February 19th 2007 - one week on.

I call the Vet first thing and get to speak to a different Vet from our consultation on Friday. I start to tell him all about Tom at Arturshiel but I am astonished when he say "Yes, I know Tom, that's a great idea", "No Problem I would be happy to refer Bracken to Tom"

Excellent......more progress.......but, in the back of my mind I'm thinking, Communication?

I then call Tom and we arrange an appointment for Wednesday night.

More Hope

2007-03-21T14:45:00.000Z

Saturday February 17th 2007

Today myself and Clark bail out to Mum and Dad's at Bowhil. Mum and Dad are a bit concerned about Bracken too. Bracken used to belong to Mum and Dad.
While at Bowhill I get a call from Lesley that brightens my day up no end. She had been discussing Bracken's injury with her cousin and it turns out She knows where we can get Hydrotherapy for Bracken, Arthurshiel Rescue Centre.

ARC is just off the A68 on the way to St. Boswells, very close to home.
Lesley has already called them and spoke to Tom Middlemas. Lesley told Tom all about what has happened and Tom advised that as long as we get referral from our Vet (for insurance purpose) then he will see her. He says he would like to see her as soon as possible, the sooner he starts treatment, such as Hydrotherapy, Physio and Acupressure the better.

After the call with Lesley, I tell my Mum and Dad. Dad looks at me in awe......He knows Tom personally, he has worked with him at Bowhill. Dad gets out his book of numbers a phones Tom straight away. Tom tells him that he needs to get to work on Bracken as soon as he can and that we should phone him to make an appointment as soon as we get the go ahead from the Vet.

I discuss it all that night with Lesley, we decide it doesn't matter what the Vet Say's, Bracken is going to see Tom regardless.

Check up at the Vets

2007-03-21T12:48:00.000Z

Friday 16th February 2007

Today we took Bracken back to the Vet for a follow up consultation. This would be the first time I had been back to the Vets since I dropped her off the morning she had her accident.
We were called in.......
Bracken was pretty quickly looked over, a prod here a prod there. Now was my chance to get as much information from the Vet as possible about where we go from here and how we get her on the road to recovery.

Below is the conversation as I remember it.

Q - Will Bracken recover from this?
A - Not to sure, as we explained, damage to the radial nerve can result in the complete loss of use of the limb. Sometimes the nerve will regenerate and recover, we would normally see improvements in the sensations and movement to the limb in 3 to 4 weeks if the nerve is to recover. We will know better then, If there is no improvement we will need to consider amputating the limb.

Q - Have you seen other dogs recover?
A - No, not personally.

Q - I have read on the Internet that there are complimentary treatments that can be used to assist the recovery such as Acupuncture, Acupressure and Hydrotherapy etc. Should I take her for this type of treatment?
A - Yes, you could, it would all help, after all she is insured but I would check the small print of your policy, sometimes it does not cover this type of treatment.

As if I care about small print I thought to myself, I just want her well

Q - Where in the Borders can we get this type of treatment?
A - I'm not sure, I'm not from this area but I will make some calls over the weekend and get back to you on Monday.

As we were leaving one of the veterinary nurses who looked after Bracken came out to see her in the reception. She asked how she was and we told her about the consultation we had just had and that we were going to try and get her Acupuncture and Hydrotherapy etc.

I'm glad she spoke to us, according to her a Vet in Kelso does Acupuncture. She is now going to let our Vet know......great.....progress!

www. it's a mine field of information

2007-03-20T21:02:00.000Z

Thursday February 15th 2007

Spent most of today on the Internet checking out websites with reference to Radial Nerve Damage in Dogs.
Not very many in the UK but I did find a few in America, and god am I glad I did!
I was advised on one of the sites to seek advise about Acupuncture, Acupressure and Hydrotherapy. These types of treatment have been know to help re-generate nerve damage and may work for Bracken.
I also found a website that referred to a dog called Shadow, a Labrador who like Bracken had a tendency to chase things, in this case it was a crow on the opposite side of the road and like Bracken was knocked over by a car. Shadow too had Radial Nerve Damage and the same type of Paralysis as Bracken. A programme of Physio, acupuncture and Hydrotherapy was set in place for Shadow and several weeks later improvements were noticed to the extent that he is now walking again. Please look at the link below.
http://www.caninerehab.ca/shadow.htm

This I must say gave us hope and I was now ready for our visit to the vets as I knew what Radial Nerve Damage was and I could now seek there advise.

Happy Valentines

2007-03-20T16:59:00.000Z

Wednesday February 14th 2007

Lesley called the vet's and they are going to let Bracken come home, She has got her appetite back and is ready for some TLC.

Lesley and Jack collected her from the vet's at 4pm, the vet wants to see her again on Friday.

Here's Bracken relaxing on her bean bag after getting back from the Vets.

It was really good to see her again, just a bit weird to see her with only 3 working legs. Vet says we need to carry out physio on her leg to stimulate the muscle while we wait for the nerve to recover.
Its just going to be a waiting game now.

Visit to the Vet's

2007-03-20T16:53:00.000Z

Tuesday February 13th 2007

No change today, Bracken is not eating to well. Vets would like to keep her another night.
Lesley, Clark and Jack go to visit her.
She's feeling sorry for herself Lesley Say's.
The veterinary nurse tells Lesley that she has seen worse and that there's a chance her leg will recover.

Hoping to get Bracken home tomorrow.

The Vet Calls.........

2007-03-20T15:06:00.000Z

Monday February 12th 2007 1:00pm

The Vet calls.
Bracken is stable, she has been X-rayed and there is nothing broken........great, excellent, magic, she's OK I thought.
You know when you get that feeling way down deep when you just know there's going to be a "BUT"......we'll I had it.
"But" says the Vet, it may have been better had she broken something, Bracken has lost the use and feeling in her right leg. This is due to damage she has sustained when she hit / was hit by the car. She has damaged a nerve called the Radial which travels from the spine through her neck and down her leg. We will need to Keep her in overnight to monitor.

I can't remember exactly when and how, but it was during this call that the word "Amputation" was used and the phrase "Cut her Loses"

What does all this mean I ask.......?

Damage to the radial nerve in dog's can cause paralysis of the limbs, in Bracken's case her right leg. She has no feeling in it and she is unable to move it.

Will it get better I ask......?

Maybe, it all depends how severe the damage to the nerve is, sometimes it can heal sometimes not. Sometimes you need to "cut your loses" and "amputate" the limb.

Call us tomorrow and we'll take it from there, the Vet said.

Now I'm in Shock, still a little unsure what all this means, but at least Bracken's in the right place with the people who can help her.

To The Vets

2007-03-20T14:57:00.000Z

Monday February 12th 2007 8:30am

Bracken is taken straight to the vet at Gala. She is admitted for X-rays and monitoring. She has a cut above her right eye, scratches on her stomach and will not put any weight on her right leg.
The Vet seems to think she may have a fracture. She is admitted to the Vets and they advise me they will contact me later once she has been X-rayed and stabalised as she is now in shock.

On the way home, I can't beleive what I am seeing, just after taking my own dog into the vet as a result of a RTA, a collie is running around on the main A68 at Charlesfield road end and its attacking the moving traffic.........I slow down knowing whats just happened to my own dog only an hour ago.......the collie bites at my wheels then takes off after a car travelling north, I sure hope it was OK.

The Accident

2007-03-20T14:50:00.000Z

Monday February 12th 2007 8:15am.
This is the day that Bracken had her accident, an RTA with a neighbours car travelling at about 10 to 15 mph.
She was out for her morning walk and was on the way back to the house from the field. As she was walking back to the house on the pavement, she spied a cat on the other side of the road, Bracken being Bracken and dogs being dogs, she took off for it, across the road and straight into the front of an oncoming car.
She hit the car with momentum and landed at the side of the road by the kerb.

This is when all the panic sets in..............