Keystone State Thread

Gave my Taco a much needed wash yesterday and was also able to ride. Looks like 3 more days of riding. Oh yes, Good Morning to All!

 

Knee surgery scheduled for the 11th of April.

 

Good luck.

 

Wish you and your knee a good recovery

 

seconded!

 

Third that.

 

I had 2 scopes (on each knee at separate times) during my military career due to torn medial meniscus...I was 10% rated for Service Connected Disability when I retired.

What happened in my situation is, the doctors removed too much meniscus on both knees and caused my situation to accelerate meniscal deterioration to the point of bone-on-bone in the right knee.

I eventually saw a Orthopedic Doctor who suggested total knee replacement for the right knee (even though I was only 51 at the time).

Since one knee was getting replaced, that meant the other would be affected...you must know this...I was severely bow-legged.

So, it only made sense to have them both done but the focus initially was for the right knee to be done.

Four weeks later, I had the left knee done...which ended up being a good thing for me...you see, I needed that left knee to be flexible for daily activities which my right knee was limited.

I know I'm going into a different realm of knee pain but I did want to tell you, I had gone through many preventative measures that were temporary pain relief before my Bilateral Knee Replacements.

Your situation may be different and I hope you recoup without having to go through what I went through.

All the best in your recovery and getting back to the way your knee was before the tear.

 

So, did you all miss me?

What a horrible month this has been. About 5 weeks ago, our 8 year old Lab, Sunny, suddenly stopped running and jumping. We watched her for a few days and then took her to the Vet. With no other symptoms, she was treated for a possibly muscle strain or pinched nerve in her back. A week later, with no improvement, our Vet shot an x-ray of her back that showed a potential slipped disc. She referred us to a neurologist in Allentown (Dr Tracy at Eastern PA Veterinary Medical Center in Fogelsville). I drove Sunny down the next morning and went through their ER process to get to see the neurologist. He set Sunny up for a CT Scan the following Tuesday with follow-on back surgery, if needed.

Monday night our 13 year old Lab suddenly vomited and had trouble walking/maintaining her balance. The next morning, she refused to eat. I left the house at 6AM to get Sunny to her CT scan. I waited and finally, at about 4 that afternoon the neurologist came out to get me. He took me into a private room - I knew this would not be good news. The CT scan showed a mass surrounding her spinal cord. His diagnosis was the rarest form of a rare spinal tumor along with some form of lymphoma. He had done a spinal tap but needed to wait for the lab results which would take a few days. I took Sunny home, arrived about 9 PM that night and slept with her on the laundry room floor as she struggled to come out of the anesthesia.

We took our 13 year old to the Vet the next day where she was diagnosed with Old Dog Vestibular Syndrome. Fortunately, it generally fixes itself in a period of days to weeks. Duffy would rarely eat anything, sometimes a piece of lunch meat but always knew when I hid any medication in it and would spit it out. So, I had to shove the meds down her throat. She went for almost two weeks eating just a bit of lunchmeat each day, turning her nose up at any type of dog food.

In the meantime, Sunny ate anything I put in front of her - thanks to the steroids and gabapentin she was on. Then both dogs developed explosive diarrhea. I slept on the floor in the laundry room for a week, getting up hourly to take them out. We got new meds and finally stopping (literally) the stream.

The next week we got the test results confirming the tumor and cancer. It had spread to at least one lymph node. I scheduled a phone consult with a radiation oncologist in Malvern for Thursday (of last week). In the meantime, we noticed Sunny slowing down day by day, having more and more trouble with standing up and walking - the results of the tumor pressing on her spine. Still she was happy and eating/drinking - and seemed to be without any pain. The consult was promising but dependent on the size of the tumor, it's actual location and how far the cancer spread. We set up a new CT scan for today with 5 follow-on radiation treatments along with a chemo consult. Sunny got to the point where I could set an alarm for 3 to 4 hours during the night and then take her out for a walk. She got good sleep, I didn't.

The day after the consult, we noticed Sunny's eyes were different, one pupil opened completely. Again, she showed no signs of pain but would rub her muzzle as if that side of her head itched. Over the next two days she lost more and more control of her back legs and stopped walking except when she had to go out. She slept, ate and went to the bathroom. That is not a good life for any dog and so we knew we needed to let her go. On Sunday night before we let her go, my wife and I along with Sunny and Duffy slept on the laundry room floor. We spread out blankets and dog beds and had a potato chip[ and dip party. Both our dogs love(d) chips.

On Monday morning we took her to our Vet and helped her cross the Rainbow Bridge, stroking her ears and looking into her eyes as she went.

In one month Sunny went from a happy, running and jumping 8 year old lab to a plodding, unsteady terminally ill girl. Crushing. Two days later I'm still shedding some tears. Fortunately, Duffy is doing really well, putting on weight and running more than she has in years.

Hugs your fur babies. Life can change in an instant.

 

Heck yea we missed you ! Sorry for your loss , sure sounds like you guys made the right decision, a very difficult one to make but best for the dog. Glad to hear Duffy is on the mend and keeping you on ur feet ! Hope the hips are doing better. Take care Mark

 

Sorry for your loss Mark. Always a tough decision to make. Glad Duffy is doing well.

 

@Devious6

So very sorry for your loss. I like how you all slept with Sunny and did what will always be cherished.

We lost our pup in August 2019 and her ashes are in the foyer on a little dedicated table. (2006-2019)

Glad you're back with us again. Thanks for sharing your story.

 

Sorry for your loss Mark. It's always tough putting down your furr babies.

 

Sorry for your loss.

 

My condolences Mark.

 

Honestly, I got it from a prosthetic doctor... Ortho sent me there to get me fitted for it. It is specifically made for Chondromalisa of the Patella.. so I'm not sure if it would work for you. It holds my kneecap in place

 

I bought the one I posted. Seems to help alot with making sure I don't twist my knee or bend it, straighten it too far.

 

70 degrees. Thank you Punxy Phil.

 

I still had my hoodie on on the way home from work...

 

After my first car the hoodie came off.