IVDD Episode 2...day 26

We're coming up on a month from the onset of this latest episode of IVDD. I really wish there was greater progress at this point, but yesterday's therapy may just have been the turning point for which we were waiting. While undergoing a particularly aggressive session of electroacupuncture, Lu suddenly jumped up to a seated position and cried out as if in pain. No one wants to see their pet in distress, but on the other hand, experiencing pain means that she has some amount of sensation. Dr. Krausser ended the electroacupuncture treatment at that point, since Lulu was giving us all signs that she was done for the day.

As usual after acupuncture, Dr. Krausser spent some time manipulating the muscles in Lu's legs. She uses various techniques to do so. Earlier in the day's session, Dr. Krausser had made a disappointing comment that Lu's hind legs seemed weaker than they were during Monday's therapy. But as she tried her strength again, she found that Lu's right side (which has consistently been her good side), was remarkably stronger than it was prior to acupuncture. In fact, she was able to support much of her weight on that leg. While obvious signs of significant impairment to Lu's back end remain, Dr. Krausser believes we may have awakened nerves in her back and leg when she cried out in pain. We're hanging on the hope that this might be true.