Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello! This is my first post on here, so bare with me. My GSD Apollo had his front left leg amputated due to nerve damage from an accident. He is 11 days post op, and he has had very bad nerve pain, possibly "phantom limb pain." He will have screaming fits for 10-30 seconds every time he gets up from laying down, whether he has been laying down for 10 minutes or 8 hours. After these fits, he is fine, gets around easily, wagging his tail like nothing happened. But this is happening 5-10 times a day now. He was not on gabapentin until 2 days ago, and we started it on Friday. It is now Sunday, and the pains have not gotten any better nor worse. I am not sure if it just takes a long time to kick in, or if the medication is not working in his case. Does anyone have experience with the medication not working for nerve pain? It breaks my heart to watch him scream every time he gets up... as if these first 10 days haven't been hard enough. Also wondering if anyone has input on how long it took for the nerve/phantom pain to stop. Hoping it won't be lasting too long, but I know it is different for every dog. Just looking for some hope that it doesn't last forever! Thank you all in advance for any advice you can give, this site has been great so far!
Hi and welcome to Tripawds, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
I'm sorry Apollo is having issues with nerve pain. I did not have to deal with it myself, but many here have. I'm thinking that it might take a couple days to get the gaba to work, especially if it wasn't started until after the phantom pain started.
Here are some Blog Posts on Pain Management. If you scroll down there is some info on adding some massage to help with the pain. There are also some links to another med used for phantom pain called amantadine.
Is Apollo on any other meds? I've read that sometimes gaba is more effective when paired with an anti-inflammatory like rimadyl.
I also wonder if the nerve pain is worse for Apollo since he had nerve damage to start with? Maybe a convo to have with your vet.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Gabapentin works much better if given prior to amputation but can still be used after the fact. Check with your vet to see if you can increase the dose to 300 mg every 8 hours. Sometimes it helps to add amantadine.
pam
Yes, he is on 300mg every 8 hours now, though we did just start it on Friday. He is also on carprofen for anti-inflamatory. I wish I had known to ask for it prior to surgery, but this is my first major surgery on any of my dogs. We go back on Wednesday for his 14 day post op staple removal, so I suppose I will ask then if we have other options, if the pains don't subside. Does anyone have insight on how long the phantom/nerve pains last after surgery? I haven't been able to find much info on this, hoping someone has dealt with it and knows first hand...thanks!
Thanks for your insight Dr. Pam!
Apollo is one handsome doggie. Thanks for joining us.
There are a few different types of pain, sometimes it lasts longer in some dogs than others. Hopefully Apollo's pain will subside soon. We have a ton of info about it here. Be sure to read our post about managing amputation pain before and after surgery, it will give you some insight on how to help alleviate it.
Hang in there, things do get better!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I wonder if maybe a staple is pinching? rather than phantom pain ... could be a similar reaction
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
midnighter94 said
I wonder if maybe a staple is pinching? rather than phantom pain ... could be a similar reactionDonna
I had not even thought of that. Maybe that is what it is, that would be an easy solution, so I do have hope that it could be that! It seems to be too much screaming for me to think that is what it is, but he has not had staples like this before, so he may just not know the pain. Thanks so much for the insight!
jerry said
Thanks for your insight Dr. Pam!Apollo is one handsome doggie. Thanks for joining us.
There are a few different types of pain, sometimes it lasts longer in some dogs than others. Hopefully Apollo's pain will subside soon. We have a ton of info about it here. Be sure to read our post about managing amputation pain before and after surgery, it will give you some insight on how to help alleviate it.
Hang in there, things do get better!
I will definitely read that link, thank you so much. And thanks for the kind words, I know the light will be coming soon, just waiting anxiously to see it! This site has been so helpful and I am very grateful for that!
Didn't think of that either, thanks Nurse Donna!
Aww glad we could be there for you. Don't worry. You're asking all the right questions and doing your best.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
APOLLO! You are soooooooo handsome! Can't wait to see more pics!
Just wanted to jump in and say welcome and ro let you know we are all right by your side. This recovery is no picnic for a couple of weeks. It's far more exhausting and stressful for us humans than our dogs!
BTW my vet didn't suggest starting Gabapentin ahead of time either. I learned far more from this site than I did from her Surgeon, that's for sure!
A suggestion if possible: Next time right before he gets up, spend a couple of minutes gently massaging around the incision site. Maybe spend a moment massaging all up and down his spine and around his neck and legs too.
Keep us posted! Aside from this hurdle, it sou ds like APOLLO is really doing well for this early in recovery.
Hugs to all!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
benny55 said
APOLLO! You are soooooooo handsome! Can't wait to see more pics!Just wanted to jump in and say welcome and ro let you know we are all right by your side. This recovery is no picnic for a couple of weeks. It's far more exhausting and stressful for us humans than our dogs!
BTW my vet didn't suggest starting Gabapentin ahead of time either. I learned far more from this site than I did from her Surgeon, that's for sure!
A suggestion if possible: Next time right before he gets up, spend a couple of minutes gently massaging around the incision site. Maybe spend a moment massaging all up and down his spine and around his neck and legs too.
Keep us posted! Aside from this hurdle, it sou ds like APOLLO is really doing well for this early in recovery.
Hugs to all!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Thank you so much for this response, you are too sweet! I never thought the recovery would be as hard on me as it has been, so it has definitely been a reality check. I am sitting on my mattress on my living room floor next to his crate as I type this, been sleeping here for 10 days! The massage is a great idea, I will definitely try that net time he gets up. This site has definitely given me more insight than my surgeon did, not ragging on him at all, he was great, but didn't get a lot of this helpful detail! Aside from these pains I feel like he is doing great for being early in recovery, I am hoping this bump in the road goes away as quick as it came, and we can move onto the better days! Appreciate the kind thoughts and hugs, very much appreciated!!
Here are some massage tips for ya:
http://tripawds.....?s=massage
Also, remember that the faster you normalize your life together, the more progress you'll both make. Getting back to your normal routines will give a sense of normalcy to life and help give Apollo the confidence he needs (and the sleep you need too!).
Really glad to hear he's doing great overall!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
jerry said
Here are some massage tips for ya:http://tripawds.....?s=massage
Also, remember that the faster you normalize your life together, the more progress you'll both make. Getting back to your normal routines will give a sense of normalcy to life and help give Apollo the confidence he needs (and the sleep you need too!).
Really glad to hear he's doing great overall!
Yes definitely, I am trying to remain normal as these episodes happen, rather than getting upset (although I definitely cried the first few times he did it because I felt so bad) and just rub his back and try to relax him. Hoping once these subside he will be back to his normal self for the most part, because he is other than these phantom pains! Thank you for the link to the massage, I will definitely use it today!
There really is an end to this part of things! Most do better once the staples are out. 
You're doing a great job! It's such a roller coaster of emotions that you go through this first couple of weeks. Apollo really is a handsome guy! His picture wasn't up yesterday.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
midnighter94 said
There really is an end to this part of things! Most do better once the staples are out.You're doing a great job! It's such a roller coaster of emotions that you go through this first couple of weeks. Apollo really is a handsome guy! His picture wasn't up yesterday.
Donna
Thank you so much for the words of encouragement, they mean so much! I know he is almost through the worst of it, but the days are dragging!
Thank you, he is handsome and he knows it for sure! 
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