I came home from work today and found my 12yo female cat unable to stand up and falling over because she could not use her hind legs. She was pretty much dragging her hind legs behind her and rolling over on her side trying to greet me at the door. I immediately brought her to my local vet and after an examination and xray, my vet advised me that she possibly had a slipped disc in her back. The xray was inconclusive and nothing really “jumped out” at the vet as a definate problem.

Additionally, the vet checked her for pain in her legs and hips (she had none), as well as to make sure she had feeling in her hind legs (she does). My cat was moving her legs, but just cannot seem to be able to stand up and walk on her own at all. She is not crying, and does not seem to be in any pain. She is a Maine Coon and she weighs in around 15 pounds.

At the advice of my Vet, she is being kept overnight so she can be treated with dexamethasone. I am unfamiliar with this drug/treatment, and was wondering if anyone could tell me if they have had any similar experiance, and what the outcome was.

Honestly, my vet told me that only a CAT scan or MRI can pinpoint the cause if it is spinal related, and that cost is about $1700 in my part of the world, and that is just not financially possible for me.

As a piece of background information, my cat has been climbing the stairs a bit slowly over the past two months, and over the past two or three nights was not coming upstairs at all. She was sleeping on the downstairs couch, which is really not unusual as it has been hot here and she likes the AC blowing on her. I had just attributed the slowness in climbing the stairs due to older age and maybe a touch of arthritis setting in. She is getting older and she is a bit overweight. I never imagined it could be something so serious. She has been eating and drinking as usual, and up until this afternoon when I got home she was as normal as she ever has been.

If anyone could chime in and provide more information or possibilities, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you…

I have a herniated disc that is compressing my nerve in my L4/L5 region and my back doctor has said that it is a pretty bad herniation. I also have some narrowing of the spine and arthritis in my lower back. I am only 21 years old, female, and about 15 pounds overweight. I have had 2 facet joint block injections in my back with celestone and it has offered me no relief, and I experience an increase in pain afterwards. I recently saw a back surgeon and he said that I am not a candidate for back surgery, which is fine by me because I think that I am way too young to have any surgery. However, I experience excrutiating pain when I sit down that travels into my hips and down the front of my legs. Sometimes it gets so bad that I cannot sit for more than ten minutes at a time which is a problem because I am still in school. Is there any other treatment out there besides these injections that I should ask my doctor about, should I go to a different specialist?

My dog has arthritis in his right front paw, he always had but he’s never been bad with it, just a little.
But recently he’s been crying because of it, and he can’t walk properly anymore and has a limp. I’m only 15 and my mum keeps on saying she’ll take him to the vet, but she hasn’t yet. I’m worried about him he’s been my dog since i was 8 and i’m 15 now, i know he’s kind of old but i just want to help him. What can i do at home that might help him? If you know please answer, it would be much appreciated.

So lastnight my dog out of nowhere starting limping on her left front leg. She was playing like her usual self and seemed fine, she layed down afterwards, and when she got up she was limping. I’ve seen her do it in the past, and after she walks or sleeps for a little while, it goes away. But she went to bed lastnight and woke up still limping and it seems worse today, she doesn’t seem to be in any pain though, she still tries to play (I wont let her though), and just seems like her usual self except with a limp. Does anyone know what could be wrong with her? Do you think she’s in pain and just not showing it? Is there anything that I can give her or do for her to help with the pain? I will take her to the vet if needed, but I wanted to get some educated opinions first about what’s wrong with her. Thanks.

By the way, she’s a 7 year old chocolate labrador retriever, she still plays and acts like she’s 1 and has never showed any symptoms of arthritis so I really think she’s pulled/torn something, any help deeply appreciated!
Thanks for all of the REAL honest answers that the majority of you gave me. I forgot to add that my dog is also a retired retriever, she’s been in the fields and water all of her life so from a young pup she’s always been very active and on her feet. She’s mainly an indoor dog now (only goes out to potty and monitored playing). And when I’ve said she’s done it in the past, it was only 1 other time, not something that happens a lot, and in a couple of mins. she walked it off and was fine, but now it’s not going away no matter what. I will make an appointment and take her to her vet today though, thank you all for your answers!

This is what I found in an article, how much of it is true?

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Only one??? Having all this components?

Water
• 20 minerals
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I’ve always worked hard to support my family despite difficulties due to my poor health. I have epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and stage 4 endometriosis. I’ve been suffering recurrent infections for the past year, and have had three surgeries in one year (one of them being a total hysterectomy).

I see four different specialists, take many medications, and my condition is still unstable. My doctors have told me it is likely I will continue to require more surgery in the future and that there is no cure for my condition….that I will continue to be limited in what I can do.

I’ve been on medical leave more than I’ve been at work this past year because of multiple surgeries and hospitalizations due to infections, respiratory distress, etc. I haven’t even earned enough to live on. I’m considering going on disability, yet I feel like I’m giving up. I just don’t feel good about it, although my health is declining.

Any opinions on this? I don’t know what to do anymore

Earlier this week, I had an indepth blood test/screening. My doctor originally thought I may have Lyme’s Disease or Rheumatoid Arthritis. I got a phone call today from the doctor’s office, and it turns out that I test negative for both of those–BUT my thyroid is not working properly.

Now my questions… how common is this disease? Is it potentially life-threatening? What kind of medication/treatment will I receive for this? What other kinds of tests might I have to undergo to PROVE that it’s a thyroid problem? Will this problem affect me later down the road when I decide I want to have children? Wow.. I have sooo many questions, I am very scared. I am 24 years old and always thought I was pretty healthy.
I don’t know yet whether it’s hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism… I will find that out when I go to the doctor on Monday to discuss the test results.

I have a knee problem in which my knee dislocates if my leg twists wrong or if too much pressure is added to it. There is a specialist I was referred to that is out of state that I wish to see in order to get an accurate diagnosis. I have had many issues with the doctors in my area. The insurance provider I have now is very local and simply refuses to cover seeing a doctor out of state. I recently switched insurances providers to something more national (Golden Rule through United Health Care) in hopes of finally being able to see a specialist about a questionable bone deformity that causes my knee to dislocate. However, upon being approved for a plan, the following rider was added:

This policy/certificate does not cover any loss incurred by Jenna ******* resulting from any injury to, disease or disorder of the musculoskeletal components (bones, muscles, bursae, cartilage, ligaments and tendons) of the left knee, treatment or operation therefor and complications therefrom. This rider does not exclude coverage for any form of cancer.

Is there ANY way to overcome this rider somehow? This was the whole point of switching insurers! I am already starting to get pain in my knee and, after speaking with the specialist I wish to see over the phone, was informed that it would only lead to intense arthritis if remained untreated. I was hoping to schedule the surgery to correct this after getting a diagnosis by this doctor next summer during my school break. I am 18 right now. Is there anything I can do, even have the specialist’s office contact my insurance, that might override this amendment to my policy. It is so important that I get this taken care of.

Thanks for any help!!
I will be going out of state for college also which was another reason for switching insurers.

I just looked at Obama’s health care bill – according to this, by 2014 insurers will be forced to rescind exclusionary riders for all adults to cover pre existing conditions. So apparently, I will just have to wait until 2014 to get surgery? Yes, it was placed with an indefinite length of time.

However, I have the same problem with my right knee (my left knee is just the worst off)…..so I can at least get a diagnosis for that knee and surgery for that one next summer and then just wait three more years for surgery on my other knee.

Do I have the right idea here?

Okay, So I get these “episodes” of HORRIBLE pain. The pain is ONLY in my joints, no where else. It hurts to pick up my cell phone, it hurts to type on the computer, to walk, even to just lay down. And its not just any specific joint, its all of them. All my fingers, my toes, my knees, elbows, etc.. About 8 months ago it was so bad I went to the ER twice in one weekend (this was my first real episode). The first night they sent me home, and the next day i returned cause it got even worse. They did some testing and told me my results came back negative for Lyme, Lupus and Juvinial Arthritis. I wasn’t in the hospital very long, and I thought this was very quick to get results back for any of these things. They released me, told me to follow up with my PCP, which I did but because the hospitals results came back neg. they haven’t tested me since.

I guess my question is, if the first test came back neg for Lyme does that usually mean its neg? Or does it take more than one test? I’m in the middle of an episode now and its killing me. I’m also switching PCP so hopefully I will get somewhere with that. I’m only 21 and I really don’t think I should be in this much pain from my joints.

**I have no idea if this is even what Lyme feels like, but when I describe it to people I work with and family they insist that it is Lyme**

Thank you for taking the time to read this and responding!

I was diagnosed about 10 years ago. I got up to some fairly high doses of 3 different meds, 2 twice a day and one once a day. About a year ago I started feeling tired all the time and it got to the point where I was sleeping about 12 hours a day. I was too tired to run my business and almost lost everything because I couldn’t work. I went to the doctor who ran blood tests and told me my sugar was fine and she couldn’t find anything wrong with me. Eventually it got to the point where I couldn’t afford my meds so I just quit taking them. No choice, really.

Well, three weeks after I quit my meds I had lost 22 lbs without dieting and my energy returned. My business is back to normal, I feel great, and I’ve lost another 13 lbs. Even my arthritis is better, I suppose because at my new reduced weight it’s not such a strain on my hips and knees.

In my situation, would you go back to the doctor and try to get back on meds? I’m afraid to test my sugar.