There is a surgeon in my area who is instructing the clients of post-op IVDD patients not to have ANY type of rehabilitation therapy for at least 4 weeks post-op.
Typically I will start acupuncture, laser, therapeutic U/S, and PEMF for the first 2 weeks until sutures are removed, this way the patients are comfortable when we start more of a hands on approach.
Is there any journal articles looking at the benefit of "early" therapy? I know the ones I work with immediately post-op have much quicker recoveries than those that come to me 4 - 8 weeks post-op, however this is just subjective. I am looking for something that "has been printed"
Have a great day!
Douglas Stramel, DVM
Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner
Certified Veterinary Medical Acupuncturist
Aloha Douglas!
I'll have to look when I get home from holidays. I know I've got some things.
There is the Joachim et al study that shows acupuncture to be beneficial with the IVDD - off the top of my head.
I can well imagine your frustration. Neurologists tend to be the toughest nuts to crack I've found (both from experience & from what other's write in!!!)
Hopefully others will dig around their files to find something in the mean time!
Hello, Here are a couple of papers which I've seen lately. Im sure there are more.
* Draper, W.E., Schubert, T.A. Clemmons, R.M. and Miles, S.A. (2012) 'Low-level laser therapy reduces time to ambulation in dogs after hemilaminectomy: a preliminary study' Journal of Small Animal Practice (53) pp 465-469.
* Hady, L.L. and Schwartz, P.D. (2015) ' Recovery times for dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy with fenestration and physical rehabilitation: A review of 113 cases' Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health 7 (8) pp278-289.
Hope this is a helpful start. You might find more linked articles to these once you look them up.
