Compressed Lumbar

[Debbie&Mark]

We have a 6 year old Rottie, Dutchie, who has 2 compressed lumbars, in her lower and upper spine. We had the lower one fixed in November '04, as the Cat scan showed it to be worst. Now we are debating the upper. The vet wants to operate, but it was so hard on her before and this is supposed to be a harder recovery. Even though she walks in little baby steps and has a hard time getting up on smooth floors, she seems to be happy, eats well, and still gets frisky. We give her suppliments for bone and joint. We also discovered she had kidney failure that has been controlled with a special diet.

Has anyone been through this with their dog? Was it worth the suffering of the dog? Was the quality of life good? As it is, she will continue to get worse and we will have to put her down if we do nothing.

Any advise you give will be appreciated.
Debbie

[StmprKB]

I can only give you experience on MY personal spine. I have 4 compressed discs, actually in the cervical area. And there is nothing worse then the pain. I was told IF I chose surgery, that the likelihood of another disc rupturing above or below the original injury was so high, that it could happen before I left the hospital!

So, I think I would ask some pertinent questions of the vet:

Likelyhood of re injury?
Would weight loss help? (Not sure if your dog is even heavy?"
Pain meds for bad days?
Accupuncture or alternative methods of pain relief?

I have good days, and bad days.... on the bad days, I take whatever med is appropriate for the pain, and wait it out.

I am not sure I would put the dog through surgery again.... but you are the best judge.

StmprKB

[BostonRott]

Do you mean disks? Lumbar refers to a certain area of the spine, specifically that area just below the rib area (ribs = thoracic vertebrae). When you say high in the spine, are you talking cervical vertebrae (neck) ?

I personally wouldn't put a dog through it. I'd rather give them a gift of peace via euthanasia than risk neck surgery.

[StmprKB]

Let me clarify.... "I" have the disk issues in the neck C3-7, not the dog, Dutchie. I was comparing the pain and treatment options....which can be similar in the lumbar region as well.

Disk issues are hard to treat in canine and human....and I agree that surgery would be my last option personally for me, as well as for Dutchie, if I were the owner.

StmprKB

[Debbie&Mark]

The way our Nuerologist explained the compressed lumbar to us is that the casing of the spine is compressing in on the disks. In the Cat Scan, you can see her spine going from, for example, 2 inch thick to only 1 inch. It's not the disks that are compressing on each other, it's what is enclosing the actual spine pushing down on the contents.

At this point, we just can't see putting our angel through this, and when the time is right, we will put her down. But if there is anyone who has had any experience with this type of surgery, we desperately want to know what the outcome was.

I myself have had a bulged disk and know the pain involved. I know that eventually, mine healed. Her's will not without surgery. Mark and I will not let her suffer, but if we can get it fixed surgically and she will not be in pain and she can continue to live the comfortable and happy life she deserves, we will do it.

Thanks so much for your postings!

Dutchies Mom,
Debbie

[BostonRott]

The thing that is confusing me is the term "compressed lumbar." Lumbar is not a thing, it is an area of the body, just like your torso is an area of your body. Lumbar refers to the area roughly of the small of the back.....the spine between the ribs and the pelvis. I was just wondering if she had 2 compressed lumbar disks, or if it was one lumbar disk and one higher, since you said "high in the spine."

Disks don't touch, so they couldn't compress each other. They are a cushion between each vertebrae. The spinal cord itself is not capable of compressing anything, it has the consistancy of jelly. It is encased in a fibrous "sac" called the meninges (spinal meningitis being an inflamation of the meninges......).

I think your decision is very humane. Not an easy one to make, but truly compassionate and I commend you for that.