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Thread: Mojo for Asher

  1. #61
    Senior Dog SamsonsMom's Avatar
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    We made it back home. Poor little guy was out of it. All he did on the way home was...fart! He is passed out in his crate now. Figure he's out for the day.

    The exam: Surgeon is surprised at how quickly Asher began to back step in recovery. He examined the left front - Asher was clearly agitated and jerked way from from him. Exam on the right (leg he is currently limping on) - no reaction and great range of motion. This baffled the doctor. It was obvious though that Asher didn't mind the manipulation on the right side while on the left, he was very unhappy. We walked around and the limp on the right side was pronounced. Doctor said he didn't think he was going to see much on x-rays but agreed there is warrant for taking new x-rays. He walked through options --- if he finds nothing or progression of arthritis he suggested hyaluronic acid injections. Injections every 3 weeks for 3 rounds. If no improvement, injections would stop. If there is improvement, injections will be continued. He stated he would start those today if the x-rays were OK and if the joint fluid was clear. He wanted to take a joint tap for each side due to the fluid build up. He wanted to rule out an infection. He said there is a possibility on the right that the way the joint is set that Asher is limping because of the weight being on the inside (or maybe it's reversed, outside?). He said that worst case, he would recommend a surgery that would realign the way the joint is angled (cutting bone, realigning, etc.) if we are not able to address with conservative management. Made me nauseated to just think about it. Kissed my boy bye and off they went.

    X-rays: Dr. started off by saying "Well, nothing unimpressive." He said the left showed arthritis but nothing that was concerning in terms of progression. Said the right leg, well, he couldn't offer the reasons for the limp because the joint looks clear. Didn't show signs of arthritis progression. He said the fluid from the left joint was clear but the fluid from the right joint was not as clear signaling that something was going on in the joint. He said there was no infection. He injected each joint with the hyaluronic acid. Told me to keep up the hydrotherapy and to try to exercise him by walking. He is very hopeful the hyaluronic acid is successful.

    So -- I really didn't get any answers on why he is limping on the right leg. I was right there when he performed the range of motion exercises on Asher. He was twisting the right leg all around, worked his shoulder, his neck, no reaction. He did the left leg first and when he started the first rotation of the upper leg, Asher jerked and twisted away from him. It clear he did not want anything to do with it. The right, didn't even fight. Now how odd is that?

    Thanks for all the positive mojo. Please keep it coming!

  2. #62
    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
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    Can you upload a video?

    I'm really sorry you didn't get any straightforward answers. How did they rule out an infection if the fluid wasn't clear?

    I hope the medication will do the trick and that he won't need another surgery (yikes!). Sending more mojo.
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  4. #63
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    Sorry you got no definitive answers. Sure wish the Dr. could point to the xray and say 'there it is'!!!

    Sending arms full of MOJO for your boy and for you.
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  6. #64
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    When you say limping ON the right leg, you mean a quick shift of weight from the left to the right (when weight is put on the left leg), right? That would stand to reason that the left one is the one sore to the touch. Do you mean limping WITH the right leg (weight being put fast on the left one)? If he's been limping WITH the right leg, there's a good chance that he's tweaked something in the left leg with that unnatural movement/weight.

    I know what I mean, I'm not sure that's a clear wording, though.

    Say your left leg hurts. When you step on the left, you quickly shift your weight to the right leg. That's limping ON your right. If you step on the right and need to quickly shift to your left, that's limping WITH your right. And I have the hips to prove that you can kick in a problem on the originally OK side by accommodating a limp.

    I would think the vet would have picked up which side was giving the problem when he walked...but our Hershey got a misdiagnosis from a well respected ortho, so I'm always doubtful.

    The fluid and Asher's reaction sure seem to support the left being the bad leg.

  7. #65
    Senior Dog SamsonsMom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SunDance View Post
    When you say limping ON the right leg, you mean a quick shift of weight from the left to the right (when weight is put on the left leg), right? That would stand to reason that the left one is the one sore to the touch. Do you mean limping WITH the right leg (weight being put fast on the left one)? If he's been limping WITH the right leg, there's a good chance that he's tweaked something in the left leg with that unnatural movement/weight.

    I know what I mean, I'm not sure that's a clear wording, though.

    Say your left leg hurts. When you step on the left, you quickly shift your weight to the right leg. That's limping ON your right. If you step on the right and need to quickly shift to your left, that's limping WITH your right. And I have the hips to prove that you can kick in a problem on the originally OK side by accommodating a limp.

    I would think the vet would have picked up which side was giving the problem when he walked...but our Hershey got a misdiagnosis from a well respected ortho, so I'm always doubtful.

    The fluid and Asher's reaction sure seem to support the left being the bad leg.
    Well, when they pointed out the right leg was the leg he was limping on a few weeks ago, I shifted my focus from the left (it was the clinical leg, not the right) to the right leg. I never considered it was the right leg. Anyways, I began to notice him shifting his weight to the left leg when he stands and when he sits. Like when he is sitting, he will put all pressure on his left side - his paw is flat with toes out (I learned to watch for flat toes when Samson had his TTA). His right leg is not fully planted on the ground and somewhat raised up (like bent at the joint above the paw). He is quickly shifting to his left when he stands. Again, left paw and toes are spread out and the right is not. When he walks, he quickly puts his weight to his left....almost looks like his right paw barely touches the ground when takes a step. I think that makes sense.

    I will take a video tomorrow for you and Berna. And Berna - on the fluid -- the surgeon said it was clear of any infection and honestly, I didn't question him beyond that. He said the fluid was cloudy because of arthritis. I need to do a better job at taking notes when I go for appointments like this!

    I am anxious to see how this injection works.
    Last edited by SamsonsMom; 08-08-2018 at 06:25 PM.

  8. #66
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    Yikes. As you said before, it doesn't really add up. I hope the injection works. It's hard to imagine arthritis in such a young dog.

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  10. #67
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    We had a similar problem with Nikki a few months ago and it turned out to be something in her neck. Acupuncture took care of it.

    Not the same thing but just thinking that it might be something in a completely different area.

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  12. #68
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    Quote Originally Posted by janedoe View Post
    We had a similar problem with Nikki a few months ago and it turned out to be something in her neck. Acupuncture took care of it.

    Not the same thing but just thinking that it might be something in a completely different area.
    You know...that makes so much sense it's not even funny.

    I'd at least run that by the doc you saw (not wait for the injections to prove anything). Perhaps it's time for a second opinion, depending on what he says.

    I've had things "not add up" before...both with myself and with Hershey...and the initial diagnosis turned out to be wrong. The two with me were (in my opinion) the result of arrogance clouding judgement with two different orthopedic surgeons. Seriously. The one with Hersh...I just don't know. All three times just seemed so stupid after the actual cause became known. I figured out one of mine, the vet eventually figured out Hersh's, and a chiropractor figured out the other one of mine (after it was too late to avoid complications). You want to avoid any of the aftermaths I/Hersh experienced...things just got worse.

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  14. #69
    Senior Dog SamsonsMom's Avatar
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    When he did the exam, he checked the shoulder and neck. He did mention other areas but when he did the exam, he said he felt nothing and Asher gave him no indication of pain (except on his left side elbow). I couldn't watch actually. He was twisting his leg, shoulder, and head in ways that made me cringe. I felt so bad for Asher. He did four views for the x-rays as well (the entire front half). It was more expensive but he needed to check.. I have decided that after the 3 series of hyaluronic acid injections if nothing improves, I will be getting a 2nd opinion from OSU. There is no way I will jump into such a major surgery for this boy without getting him into OSU. He walked a little better this morning but I'm waiting until the day progresses before I get hopeful. Maybe it's just me imagining he's walking better. And oh boy, he had a seriously wet/weird bowel movement last night! Poor guy. And not that he was overweight to start but since March he has lost 10 pounds. He's down from 89 to 79. The surgeon said he would be extremely happy if I could get him to 70-75 pounds. He's on Life's Abundance weight management. I switched him over back in March. Same food Samson eats.

    Thanks for all the thoughts and suggestions. So far it seems the surgeon is covering all....but I will get that 2nd opinion if needed.

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  16. #70
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    Hope that's not your imagination (walking better)...mojo continues.

    I hear you about not looking when they're being manipulated...especially the more sensitive pups...you do feel so awful and wait for the first whimper.

 



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