u/ZiggyLittlefin

My nine year old male, 100 pound, neutered lab/Staffordshire mix has been diagnosed with arthritis, hip displasia, ivdd and rear paralysis.

May 2024, suddenly stopped walking and was in unmanageable pain. MRI showed herniated fragments through the spine. Severe case but very successful surgery. Did physical therapy for six weeks after the initial recovery weeks.

He was 90% recovered within 12 weeks. We could not meet our goals with walking though. He could go about three houses down the street and then began limping, crying. Tried pregablin instead of gabapentin with no difference. Finally stopped pushing him, stopped rehab, and gabapentin. Put a pool in the yard with ramp for some light swimming and let him just enjoy the backyard.

May 2025 we had company. He was excited and following them. Trying to play. Started acting sore, stiff. Was confined to rest and put on carprofen to try. That did seem to help his comfort. In August he lost the ability to defacate. It just fell out randomly, him unaware. Started strict rest, gabapentin, could not afford another MRI .

Mobility declined through October. Tried steroids but both times got severe bloody diarrhea. Was determined to be paralyzed in the rear. Through out all of this, he has attempted to use one leg. Occasionally gets himself standing and puts weight on it, cries. Will roll onto back and stretch the leg, then cries. He gets inflamed feet from something environmental and when trying to treat the foot will pull it away. Licks the foot when inflamed. Does not want anything from the waist down touched, tries to cover the foot with his head, barks, cries. He can feel when he needs to go to the bathroom and gets distressed. He goes by himself and will not allow us to express, covers the leg and barks. Or tries to get away.

We have been told it's phantom pain, he is paralyzed and it likely won't get better. Pregablin and amantadine did nothing for it. A ketamine injection did help temporarily. He is most comfortable on gabapentin. I got upset and demanded an X-ray because it seems like pressure and moving the foot hurt. I was told there was nothing. Then two days later the X-ray was read and said he had a knee tear and bone spur in foot. But they say he does not feel it, he is paralyzed.

I don't believe it's phantom pain because he uses this leg to move himself, tries to stand. After both times he has had ivdd events. After many months of rest, this foot pain has disappeared unless he does a lot of walking. It seems like injury pain. I feel like I see swelling but have been told there isn't.

We finally got him through this pain and have been able to put him in a wagon to go outside where he scoots and plays. And then a wheelchair. If he uses the foot too much or there is vigorous jiggling in the wheelchair it hurts again and he needs to rest again until it stops

I don't know how to help him and don't feel the pain is being addressed. I would love for him to be able to use his wheelchair daily to go potty, a short walk . Instead we use it for a few days then he has pain again in the leg/foot. Goes back to protecting the leg/foot and we rest until the next time he feels better. Still currently on gabapentin.

Any thoughts on a way to help him appreciated. We have an appt with our local vet coming up and I intend to have blood work, possibly urine checked again. I don't have more funds for imaging or surgeries unfortunately. I just want what time we have left to be comfortable.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Thinking of growing buckwheat in my terrible clay soil to break it up. I have a few flowerbed areas where nothing but weeds grow. Would this help?

Our boy has been almost entirely rear paralyzed since October. We recently were able to start using a wheelchair but he would get tired and had some pain in one foot with some feeling. We tried switching his meds from gabapentin to pregablin. It seemed to set him back and there were some brief leg tremors with movement.

We have been back on gabapentin for about two weeks now. Just now, he moved around a bit and now his leg is trembling. It's been nearly ten minutes. He is falling asleep so it doesn't seem to be bothering him. I'm bothered though! Has anyone had this happen? Taking video and calling the vet now. Just curious if anyone has experience with it.