Brief Medical Update

AP here:
For the past two weeks Tonka has been on a bit of a slide downward. he is still mobile but he is stiff in the back right leg which is his good (bad) leg and he has been falling quite a bit. It is almost as if the problem has shifted sides, not to the extent that we had in the beginning with the left but still presenting those same lame/weak symptoms. He does not pick that foot up high enough when clearing an object, it seems weak and has no traction and he collapses on that side when he does fall. He is hesitant to use the ramp and has been doing a little back and forth weight shuffle with the back feet while standing. He is not sleeping through the night and consistently and seems to have trouble getting comfortable especially lying on his side.
His amazing therapists of course are diligent about listening to my observations and checking him out thoroughly and are always brainstorming about what they can do to help him. I am always a little more positive when leaving therapy knowing that he is in such good hands. The people at CVSS are all so professional and caring as well as the other staffs from other practices within the building. I know that he is truly looked after anytime he is there.
A consult with an Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Roa and Neurology , Dr. McDonnell let us know that his therapists Chris and Diana are right on track with what they are doing for him and took their suggestion of adding a medicine called Gabepentin.
The Gabepentin should help if he is having what they call neuropathic or neurogenic pain which involves the reaction of the nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) to injury. With neuropathic pain, the reaction in the nervous system to the pain actually makes the pain feeling worse and is commonly described as "burning", "electric", "tingling", and "shooting" in nature. This pain is usually worse at night and might explain why he gets me up so many times at night. I know it is not because he needs to go to the bathroom since he has no interest in going out if I open the door. He wants me to snuggle up with him and then he goes right back to sleep. He really is just a big baby.