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by clc29 on 22 December 2012 - 17:12
After giving this a great deal of thought I decided to post about what I'm going through right now with my big sweet, beautiful boy. Some of you have been part of Cisco's life though the funny stories I've told, the training trials I've learned from, the pictures of him growing up and the accomplishments I've bragged about.
Please forgive me if I don't go into to much detail. My story is a very painful and one that is very hard for me to tell without crying.
About the first of Dec. Cisco hurt himself, at least at the time that's what I thought.
He exhibited signs of back pain and limping on his right rear leg, so I took him to the vet later that day. The vet examined him from head to toe and could not find anything definitively wrong because, of course, Cisco seemed to have walked himself out of it and was not exhibiting any clinical signs of lameness or pain. However, the vet gave him a shot of Dexamethazone based on my description of Cisco's earlier signs of pain and lameness and sent us home. He also told me that it would take about 72 hrs. for the dex to really "soak in" so give it some time and keep Cisco quiet for a week to give the "injury" time to heal. I gave it the week and Cisco seemed to get better, still a little ouchy but not limping.
About ten days go by and Cisco starts showing signs of pain again intermittently.
For example, he would cry out when turning to the right or would cry out when getting up.....So off we go to the vet again. Only this time I insist on X-rays of his back, hips and knees. The vet had him for the entire day and was a lot more thorough. The X-rays did not show anything out of the ordinary but he (the vet) decided to send them out to a specialist for interpretation. The specialist's report comes back and again, X-rays are normal, good hips, normal back, knees ok. My vet mentions Lumbrosacral Disease, Cauda Equina, or a bulging disk as possible causes for the pain but that these are not detected by X-ray and can only be seen through MRI.
Now I'm starting to get really worried, as this could be something a lot more serious than a pinched nerve or sore muscle.
My vet sent us to see an Orthopedic Surgeon who then referred us to a Neurologist for an MRI.
The Neurologist examines Cisco and finds "severe painful response to bilateral compression of the wings of the ilium (hip bones) localized to the spinal nerves L6-S2". He also thinks it could be Lumbrosacral Disease, Cauda Equina, or a bulging disk. Unfortunately, and much to every ones surprise, the MRI showed a mass as being the culprit. This came as a surprise because this diagnosis is not very common, especially in a dog as young as Cisco (22 months). The neurologist told us that the mass can only be either a cyst or tumor and needed to be removed immediately. He also, told us that we were lucky to have been so astute and tuned in to Cisco because we caught it early. The prognosis for the mass being a tumor was not very good as this type of cancer is typically aggressive, likes to attack the spinal cord and nerves, and is very hard to combat. However, if it is a cyst, once the surgeon removes it, I get my dog back and we never look back. We were given a 50/50 chance for the mass to be either.
Friday, December 21st.......Cisco goes into surgery to remove the mass.
After waiting all day for a call from the surgeon I finally call him. He told us that the surgery was a lot more complicated than he initially thought it would be, so took a lot longer......I think he really thought it would be a cyst.....Anyway, the mass was a tumor about the size of a marble and had attached itself to several nerve sheaths as well as the Sacral(?) lid. It was very hard to remove. He felt that it had been there a long time, which to me does not sound typical, based on the earlier description of a peripheral nerve sheath tumor. He wasn't sure that he got good clean margins, but could not cut out anymore nerve without paralyzing Cisco.
By the end of our conversation, Cisco was starting to wake up.
We wont know the exact nature of the tumor until the pathology report comes back. But the good news is Cisco is doing very well this morning (the Dr. is thrilled) and we get to bring him home.
I am so thankful for the support of my family and friends. I will try to keep you updated with our progress.
Cheri
Please forgive me if I don't go into to much detail. My story is a very painful and one that is very hard for me to tell without crying.
About the first of Dec. Cisco hurt himself, at least at the time that's what I thought.
He exhibited signs of back pain and limping on his right rear leg, so I took him to the vet later that day. The vet examined him from head to toe and could not find anything definitively wrong because, of course, Cisco seemed to have walked himself out of it and was not exhibiting any clinical signs of lameness or pain. However, the vet gave him a shot of Dexamethazone based on my description of Cisco's earlier signs of pain and lameness and sent us home. He also told me that it would take about 72 hrs. for the dex to really "soak in" so give it some time and keep Cisco quiet for a week to give the "injury" time to heal. I gave it the week and Cisco seemed to get better, still a little ouchy but not limping.
About ten days go by and Cisco starts showing signs of pain again intermittently.
For example, he would cry out when turning to the right or would cry out when getting up.....So off we go to the vet again. Only this time I insist on X-rays of his back, hips and knees. The vet had him for the entire day and was a lot more thorough. The X-rays did not show anything out of the ordinary but he (the vet) decided to send them out to a specialist for interpretation. The specialist's report comes back and again, X-rays are normal, good hips, normal back, knees ok. My vet mentions Lumbrosacral Disease, Cauda Equina, or a bulging disk as possible causes for the pain but that these are not detected by X-ray and can only be seen through MRI.
Now I'm starting to get really worried, as this could be something a lot more serious than a pinched nerve or sore muscle.
My vet sent us to see an Orthopedic Surgeon who then referred us to a Neurologist for an MRI.
The Neurologist examines Cisco and finds "severe painful response to bilateral compression of the wings of the ilium (hip bones) localized to the spinal nerves L6-S2". He also thinks it could be Lumbrosacral Disease, Cauda Equina, or a bulging disk. Unfortunately, and much to every ones surprise, the MRI showed a mass as being the culprit. This came as a surprise because this diagnosis is not very common, especially in a dog as young as Cisco (22 months). The neurologist told us that the mass can only be either a cyst or tumor and needed to be removed immediately. He also, told us that we were lucky to have been so astute and tuned in to Cisco because we caught it early. The prognosis for the mass being a tumor was not very good as this type of cancer is typically aggressive, likes to attack the spinal cord and nerves, and is very hard to combat. However, if it is a cyst, once the surgeon removes it, I get my dog back and we never look back. We were given a 50/50 chance for the mass to be either.
Friday, December 21st.......Cisco goes into surgery to remove the mass.
After waiting all day for a call from the surgeon I finally call him. He told us that the surgery was a lot more complicated than he initially thought it would be, so took a lot longer......I think he really thought it would be a cyst.....Anyway, the mass was a tumor about the size of a marble and had attached itself to several nerve sheaths as well as the Sacral(?) lid. It was very hard to remove. He felt that it had been there a long time, which to me does not sound typical, based on the earlier description of a peripheral nerve sheath tumor. He wasn't sure that he got good clean margins, but could not cut out anymore nerve without paralyzing Cisco.
By the end of our conversation, Cisco was starting to wake up.
We wont know the exact nature of the tumor until the pathology report comes back. But the good news is Cisco is doing very well this morning (the Dr. is thrilled) and we get to bring him home.
I am so thankful for the support of my family and friends. I will try to keep you updated with our progress.
Cheri
by rtdmmcintyre on 22 December 2012 - 17:12
Cheri
I hope it all turns out well. I can empathize with you, this kind of waiting and not knowing for sure is gut wrenching. Hope for the best, keep a positive attitude. His recovery also is helped by your positive attitude.
Wishing a speedy recovery
Reggie
I hope it all turns out well. I can empathize with you, this kind of waiting and not knowing for sure is gut wrenching. Hope for the best, keep a positive attitude. His recovery also is helped by your positive attitude.
Wishing a speedy recovery
Reggie
by beetree on 22 December 2012 - 17:12
Cheri,
Thanks for the update. I am so sorry for you and Cisco, to have to deal with such bad news. You both are in my thoughts and prayers, that there is only a healthy recovery for Cisco. Please give Cisco a big hug and kiss of hope, from me.
bee
Thanks for the update. I am so sorry for you and Cisco, to have to deal with such bad news. You both are in my thoughts and prayers, that there is only a healthy recovery for Cisco. Please give Cisco a big hug and kiss of hope, from me.
bee
by Ruger1 on 22 December 2012 - 17:12
Cheri..
I am so sorry to hear this..My heart does go out to you,..Hoping Cisco recovers quickly and the results of his surgery go well in every way..
I will keep him in my prayers and thoughts...
Give him a pat for me,,
Be strong Cheri...We are with you in heart,,
I am so sorry to hear this..My heart does go out to you,..Hoping Cisco recovers quickly and the results of his surgery go well in every way..
I will keep him in my prayers and thoughts...
Give him a pat for me,,
Be strong Cheri...We are with you in heart,,
by laura271 on 22 December 2012 - 18:12
Cheri -
I'm one of those readers here who has (silently) enjoyed watching Cisco grow up and was thrilled at the stories of his successes. I'm sending positive vibes your way for his speedy recovery. Hang in there - waiting is so hard.
Laura
I'm one of those readers here who has (silently) enjoyed watching Cisco grow up and was thrilled at the stories of his successes. I'm sending positive vibes your way for his speedy recovery. Hang in there - waiting is so hard.
Laura
by GSDPACK on 22 December 2012 - 19:12
I know how heart breaking this is.
We all here will be thinking of you guys and hope for good news and Cisco's full recovery
We all here will be thinking of you guys and hope for good news and Cisco's full recovery
by Hundmutter on 22 December 2012 - 19:12
Oh Cheri -really feel for you. Your post took me straight back to my
birthday, five summers ago, when I took Jet, one of the dogs I worked
with, for an MRI and heard the same result. That it was either a cyst
or a tumour, on his spine.
As Jet was quite an old man by then, however, we decided to let him
go while he was still sedated. Rather than put him through an exploratory
op and the recovery period. I thought I'd got over that by now, but it has
come flooding back.
Wishing you the very best of luck with Cisco - he is young and strong.
Sending as many positive thoughts your way as I possibly can.
Linda.
birthday, five summers ago, when I took Jet, one of the dogs I worked
with, for an MRI and heard the same result. That it was either a cyst
or a tumour, on his spine.
As Jet was quite an old man by then, however, we decided to let him
go while he was still sedated. Rather than put him through an exploratory
op and the recovery period. I thought I'd got over that by now, but it has
come flooding back.
Wishing you the very best of luck with Cisco - he is young and strong.
Sending as many positive thoughts your way as I possibly can.
Linda.
by Bhaugh on 22 December 2012 - 20:12
I am so sorry to hear about Cisco. Prayers are being sent your way right now for a full speedy recovery.
Barb
Barb
by Ibrahim on 22 December 2012 - 20:12
Chri,
So sad to hear this about lovely Cisco, wish you both all the best
So sad to hear this about lovely Cisco, wish you both all the best
by Sheesh on 22 December 2012 - 21:12
Cheri,
I am so sorry to hear about your boy. I am sending you positive thoughts and wish you the very best.
Theresa
I am so sorry to hear about your boy. I am sending you positive thoughts and wish you the very best.
Theresa
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