Degenerative disc operation info please

[vickyb]

Just had the result of Maddies MRI from the specialist

She has degeneration and protrusion of the disc and there appears to be a drop on the roof of the spine above creating a pinch point with a narrowing of the space where the nerves run It's the last disc before her tail.

He wants her to have a months mainly on lead exercise, she can potter off lead but not run, hmm, not sure how that works on lead it is then, and pain relief.

If there's no improvement he thinks that as she's young and her mobility isn't really affected it would be worth seriously considering surgery to remove the disc. She has what we assumed to be spay incontinence but it could be related to her spine.

Has anyone got any experience of the op please?

[Flaperoo]

Sorry no experience of this but wanted to wish you and Maddie good luck.

Maryxx

[andywillow]

Lots of good thoughts for Maddie

[gilli176]

No advice but loads of love and good thoughts for you and her

[mrhoads]

Poor Maddie How horrid for her.

I am afraid that when the question came up for our Tigger, we felt that at 12 1/5, and not tolerating anaesthetics, she wasn't fit even for the MRI.

The specialist gave her 6 weeks, and she made it another year with pain relief.

It would have been a different story if she had been younger and fitter.

X Mary

[kizzeysmum]

Sorry, Vicky, can't offer any advice but just wanted to send loads of good thoughts to you and Maddie

[vickyb]

May 14, 2012 15:00:50 GMT -5 mrhoads said:

Poor Maddie How horrid for her.

I am afraid that when the question came up for our Tigger, we felt that at 12 1/5, and not tolerating anaesthetics, she wasn't fit even for the MRI.

The specialist gave her 6 weeks, and she made it another year with pain relief.

It would have been a different story if she had been younger and fitter.

X Mary

Maddie's only just over 4 so if the specialist thinks it's best then we will have it done - with great trepidation
It will be a hard decision as we'll be doing it to make her comfortable/hopefully remove the pain and increase the chance of a good outcome rather than feeding her painkillers and waiting until her mobility is affected when the chance of a good outcome will be reduced.
It's just hitting me tbh

[mrhoads]

Any big op is really hard to contemplate, especially for those we love.

for Maddie that rest and pain relief help her feel more comfortable.

to you for the hard decision you are making.

X Mary

[vickyb]

It seems so unfair esp after poor Gracie loosing her leg but as we see on here so often fair doesn't seem to exist does it
Just keep thinking that she's only 4

This is becoming the house of invalids

[Rachel and Daisy]

Big to you and Maddie My heart goes out to you having to make such decisions - I am sure I would be in bits

[julies]

Only sort of experience is that this is what happened to my Tigger after vets moved her without supporting her head and neck properly during an op and she had two knacked discs .. I wasn't going to go for the op cos she was 10 1/2 and I was told she would have to have over 6months crate rest afterwards so I took her to my homeopathic vet who with chiropractic, lasers and accupuncture as well as remedies got her back off lead without pain killers within about 8 weeks You could always try him whilst you're doing the on-lead stuff ? Tig needed tweaking by Chris about every couple of months but that was probably because she did do hour walks in the woods and had the ocassional zoom about as well as up and down stairs and she happily trotted about as an older lady should

All crossed that Maddie imporves without you having to choose an op .. sending you all hugs - it's not easy when they're poorly

Julie xxxx

[elmuervo]

Oh Vicky

Jo
x