anniemac
Well-known member
I first want to thank everyone for their support and have received a lot of helpful information but of course I still need to think about things a little more now that I know some of the details. I of course brought reports from Dr. Rusbridge, Cavalier Health, what people said, and still managed not to ask all the things I meant to!
Here are her details:
I could do the surgery and then do some rehabilitation treatment.
All I know is at least I know more than what most people do when they first discover their dog has SM. It might not be what I want to hear but I am going to do everything for her. That is my other concern. This is for her and I need to factor in that surgery will require additional recovery etc. :sl*p:
I am just glad I have this information
Here are her details:
- In 6 months her syrinx size has grown from .32 (before surgery) to .51. That seems like a big difference in such a short time with surgery and being on (gabapentin, prilosec, and tramadol). One hard thing many people who first need to decide about treatment do not know is progression and how they will react to medication. I guess that question is answered. He was concerned with how fast it is progressing and about how medication is not helping.
- I read about one of the studies Dr. Rusbridge did (Karlin and Rod may be familiar with this). The size of the dogs syrinx in the studies were larger than Ella's. I think the mean was .7? I asked him why if hers is less is it so much worse. He told me that they have found it is not necessarily the size of the syrinx but the location. The location of Ella's is at the worst place. It is at the very top.
- I asked about alternative therapy. He turned this down even though he does give Ella accupuncture. He did not say in the exact words but I got the impression that this will not be a solution. This is when he talked about surgery.
- He mentioned doing another surgery. He said he would go in like the decompression surgery and remove the scar tissue.
- I asked him about how I read that if the tissue had attached this could lead to major damage and if the tissue was attached in Ella's case. He said he would not know if it was attached until he did the surgery. If it was they would carefully scrape or pull each piece in order to prevent nerve damage. Of course this causes more risk. I asked him exactly how much risk. I said is it a 50/50 chance? He can not tell me these things but said nothing like that but more risk than her previous surgery. There is a chance of swelling, bruising and hemeraging.
- On one forum someone said they heard that once the scar tissue was removed it does not come back. He said he does not know but dogs (people) can produce something that will cause the body to create scar tissue. So that would be why he would put a bone cement to cover up the space.
- Question? Does anyone know about this cement? I mentioned the titanium plate but I can not afford this. In fact her first surgery and MRI was denied by insurance which was not what I expected. Ella's neurologist will do the surgery for a low cost because he knows my situation and he does not want my decision to be based on the cost. He said he would work with me, however titanium is out because of the cost. He can wave his surgery fee but the actual cost of the plate is very expensive which he can not help me with.
- I read about post-surgery sound wave therapy. He told me that they do this at a hospital in Charlotte. I have seen the responses on the yahoo group with success stories, but I have to consider her progression. Doesn't that seem fast? Also it would be the same cost if not more. The benefit would be less risk.
I could do the surgery and then do some rehabilitation treatment.
All I know is at least I know more than what most people do when they first discover their dog has SM. It might not be what I want to hear but I am going to do everything for her. That is my other concern. This is for her and I need to factor in that surgery will require additional recovery etc. :sl*p:
I am just glad I have this information