Yes, I have Arthritis... but NOT where'd you think!

[ Tell a friend | Save to your Corral | Make them Catster Feline Friends ]
[ See the full Sweets page ]

[See the entire diary archive for Sweets]

January 13th 2011 7:10 pm
[ View A Comments (12) ]

I'm going to hijack Sweets' diary, because I don't have the presence of mind to write this from her view. So, you get to hear from me tonight.

I'm all an incoherent mess. Most of you know about Sweets and her rear right leg (The one with the fused patella) She's been intermittently hopping on 3 legs, refusing to bear weight on that right leg at all and has had 2 days where she just cried and hid under the bed.

We had a 7pm vet appointment tonight to see what's actually going on inside that leg. (We got home 2 hours later) I had expected to hear/see that there were degenerative changes going on, with her hip, knee or foot, probably secondary to arthritis.

There are early arthritic changes, but they're in the left leg. (which our vet felt is probably resultant from her compensating with the left leg all these years for what her right leg can't do.)

The right leg however, is a complete mess. There's a hole through the bone below the knee. The knee, as you can imagine is a complete indistinguishable mess, and there is a possible fracture in the femur and a beginning bone lesion. Our vet felt that with the appearance of the bone lesion, the hole and the mess of the knee that it "resembles/looks like bone cancer"

Our options are to biopsy, wait and as per biopsy results assess from there or to amputate now and biopsy the amputated leg.
We are choosing to amputate now, (Wednesday actually) mid femur, above the bone lesion.
Pending her preopertative/senior blood work panel results. (which we should hear on tomorrow)

The good news is that her chest xray/full body xray did not show any signs of cancer any where else in her body.
She's already basically been a "semi 3-legged" cat since we've had her and cats do really well after the amputation of a limb.

She had a 24 hour shot for pain and we have clindamycin mixed with torbutol to give her twice daily for pain management between now and Wednesday. Her right rear leg is in a padded splint and Nuk and Gabby are being respectful of her "space."

Purred by: Hazel Lucy

January 13th 2011 at 7:22 pm

Oh Sweets,
It's rough on your folks, but soon you will feel sooo much better. We're all purring that you will be pain-free until the surgery and that you'll have a quick recovery. My good pal Margo RKN is a 3-legger and no one gets around more quickly than she does!

Purred by: Monida (Catster Member)

January 13th 2011 at 7:48 pm

Ah Sweets, I'm sorry to hear this. :( I'll start purring super hard for you!

Purred by: Sigmond DB #61 (Catster Member)

January 13th 2011 at 8:42 pm

Dear Sweets, while this news is unexpected and very stressful, I am purring and purring that everything will go well with your surgery, and that you will soon be feeling better than ever. My purr machine is going at maximum velocity for you.
You are amazing, and don't you forget it!
Love,
Siggy

Purred by: Colette Sidonie-Samantha (Catster Member)

January 14th 2011 at 1:30 am

Oh, poor baby, and poor Mom! We feel for you both. Sending lots of purrs & huggies your way. Feel better soon.

Colette, Marrakech, Samsara, Misha, B.A., Cappuccino & Mom

Purred by: ♥ Tasha ♥ (Catster Member)

January 14th 2011 at 4:11 am

Sending strong purrs and love!

xoxoxo Tasha

Purred by: Tigger (Catster Member)

January 14th 2011 at 5:27 am

We're sorry to hear that you'll lose your leg,but it's better than being in pain. Our Dad is pretty handy. He'll whittle you a peg leg if you promise not to kick Nuk with it! We're all Purring for you!

Purred by: Paula K

January 14th 2011 at 6:05 am

Oh Sweets, we know this is hard - but it's probably harder on mom than on you! We're sending purrs and we know you'll feel better soon.

Purred by: BK (Catster Member)

January 14th 2011 at 6:09 am

Oops - a little glitch! That post above is from BK and mom.

Purred by: Hilda (Catster Member)

January 14th 2011 at 8:21 am

Purring hard for you!

Purred by: Monster (Catster Member)

January 14th 2011 at 12:11 pm

All the best to you, Sweets. My sisfurs and I will purr for you.

Monster

Purred by: Kristina R

January 14th 2011 at 1:39 pm

Purrring & paying furrry hard for yous Sweets!!

Luvs,
Willow

Purred by: Oliver (Catster Member)

January 15th 2011 at 6:54 am

Oh Dear Sweets! We iz sorry to hears dis news. We hopes dat yu is comferttybul wiff yer meddysin fer pains. Yer mommy an' poppy iz agoona takes good cares uv yu an' yu will be wiff dem fer a berry long times. We iz purrin' fer yu an' ebbery buddy in yer furrmily. We luvs yu purrry mutch!