At Home Rehab and Off Roading

Finally got in the tape measure, NMES unit and additional pads. Started at home rehab last night with core strengthening (side sit ups and reaches), proprioception (rubbing feet on rough surfaces to try to elicit kicking, gently pulling toes to stimulate withdrawal reflex) and strength/balance exercises (gently bouncing on hindlimbs while standing). Finished with EMS to gluteals, quadriceps and hamstrings. Carl did well tolerating an hour long session.

Today went out for an off road spin for the first time in Bonnie's modified cart.  A few more adjustments are needed but it definitely is a better fit and Carl appeared more stable, easily navigating tree roots and steps.

Rehabilitation Trial

My NMES unit arrived so today we went to the local rehab center to set it up and also to try Carl in the underwater treadmill.  The first item of business was to make some adjustments to Carl's new cart ... what had looked ok in the house during initial alterations turned out to be very off balance, tipping Carl backwards if he lifted his head up.  A quick alteration of the level of the front harness was thankfully all that was needed.

The e-stim went well - we got Carl's quads, hamstrings, gluteals and biceps contracting well.  The underwater treadmill not what we had hoped for.  After surgery in 2009, Carl had some motor function.  The neurologists at NC State had said he no longer had motor, but I still hoped that he may do something in the tank.  Carl had a great time in the water, talking and splashing around, but there was clearly no movement in his hindlimbs.

Adjusting Carts is Not A One Person Job

After throwing my back out last week I finally felt good enough to try adjusting Bonnie's "FCE Cart" to fit Carl.  Getting Carl into the cart was a challenge as he didn't need to front extension, but I needed to see if the cart would even be an option ... General consensus - the cart should work, if I can alter it, hold Carl still, and take photos at the same time .. LOL!!  

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Tonight I changed the cart back to the original setup.  I got Carl in easily but the set up is still very wrong.  I think the front harness needs to be higher on his shoulder, the cart may need to be longer (his back is very curved, which is exactly what we don't want), and potentially a bit higher (his legs seem very flexed). 

Photos have been sent to Doggon Wheels and hopefully we'll hear something in the next day or so.

It's Official, Carl Flunked Out of the Trial ....

Dr Olby told me today that Carl has shown no change during the start of the trial so has withdrawn him :-(  She can script out the drug that may have caused him to wag his tail a bit and has suggested that I try it for a couple of months to see if there are any changes in the longer term.  If we do, then she can re-enroll him in the trial.

Now ... I have Carl home and I am seeing some significant differences.  Carl is "standing" a lot more, and it seems to me more than just weight shifting, or at least is different to what I have seen before.  I am also seeing a lot of twitching/trembling in his hindlimbs, also something "new".  This could all be a result of his 4 day stay at the vet school, but I don't know that it isn't something more ....

Carl is really pleased to be home, currently sleeping at my feet - sleep being something he did not get much of at the vet school!

Disappointing Day

I had such high hopes for the drug trial, but today I was told that the researchers had seen no movement/improvement at all.  There is one drug left to try, but it doesn't look like Carl is responding which will mean he will not be in the rest of the trial...

I am slightly concerned as all other dogs in the trial have responded.  I wonder if it is because Carl had a tumor and not a disk injury?  What if it is because there is still something actively happening in Carl's spine that we just are not aware of because he is already paralyzed?

Recheck radiographs have been scheduled for May to check for ongoing changes.