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Sign Me Up. Most dogs take six to eight weeks to recover from spinal cord surgery and many benefit from physical therapy. After that, recovery drops to less than 20 percent. Your dog underwent an operation known as a hemilaminectomy.
Some breeds are more prone to disc problems than others. The spinal discs are shock-absorbing cushions between the vertebrae. Vertebrae are the large bones of the spinal column. This is known as a ruptured, herniated, or slipped disc. A ruptured disc causes severe low back pain and, sometimes, shooting pain down the back of the legs, which is known as sciatica.
Usually the symptoms of a disc rupture heal on their own after a few weeks to a month. If the problem persists for months and becomes chronic, you may choose to eventually consider surgery. Severe low back pain on its own may be a symptom of a ruptured disc, but it can also be caused by strains or sprains of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. However, low back pain combined with shooting pain down the back of one or both legs sciatica usually points to a herniated or ruptured disc.
If you have a ruptured disc, sciatica may get worse when you bend over with your legs straight or when you sit. You may also feel a sharp pain when you sneeze, cough, or sit on the toilet. Normally, the rubbery discs allow the spine to flex and absorb forces on the spine when you twist, bend, or lift.
With aging, the discs start to wear out. They may flatten a bit or bulge outward, like an underinflated tire. The gelatinous material inside the disc begins to dry out and grow stiffer, and the layers of the fibrous wall of the disc start to separate and fray.
If a damaged disc presses on nearby spinal nerves, they become inflamed. Disc ruptures in the low back typically affect the sciatic nerve roots that exit the spine on either side of the discs. The sciatic nerves pass through the buttock, down the leg, and into the foot. Weakened discs may be more prone to rupture as a result of everyday activities and work, or from sports, car accidents, or falls. Doctors can often diagnose a ruptured disc based on symptoms, particularly sciatica.
However, in many cases, a thorough exam and answering detailed questions about the symptoms and history of the problem is enough for a reliable diagnosis. Disc-related back pain and sciatica often gets better on its own in a few weeks, though in some cases it can last longer. For new disc pain or a flare-up of an existing condition, current treatment guidelines recommend you first use self-care steps to relieve the symptoms and wait for your back to heal.
Applying cold packs to the painful area when you first start to feel pain can help to numb the nerves and reduce your discomfort. Heating pads and hot baths later can reduce tightness and spasms in the muscles of the lower back so you can move more freely.
Learn more about treating pain with cold and heat. Over-the-counter OTC pain relievers can help to reduce pain and inflammation.
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