Day 16 post-op/Day 9 home. Hi all!
Just got home from Lili's second hydro session and I'm pleased to report that she is doing really well.
She's up on all fours now, wonky as anything and intermittently "giving up" and letting both back legs drag for a second or two before she pulls them back up and goes on her wobbly way again, but considering only a few days ago she was struggling to get one leg under her, I'm thrilled.
She's managing to stand upright on all fours for quite a while now too, and her back is gradually straightening out as she moves around. She was a bit hunched to begin with, I think due to her instability on her legs more than anything. She walks pretty well in her sling (both legs are going now instead of one) but she's so desperate to get everywhere and smell everything that her front legs are going quicker than her back legs can manage, so it's a real struggle to keep her calm and paced. I worry that she's going to hurt herself with how crazy she can get at times, but I'm hoping her enthusiasm is won't hamper her progress in any way.
The therapist is very impressed with her progress and it's such a relief to see her improving bit by bit. I think the hydro therapy is really helping as we saw a big improvement in the strength of her legs the morning after her first session - which I was not expecting at all. She's still bewildered by it all, but after a few minutes in the water she gets into it and is happily bribed into keeping moving with some chicken haha!
I'm also spending around an hour and a half/two hours a day (in three parts) doing massage and passive movements with her on the floor. Her left leg is getting a lot stronger and she actually pushes against me with it now when I stretch it out. I'm getting kicks from the right one, but not the left yet...I'm hoping that will come soon as she's making such great progress.
The pessimist in me is just waiting for some kind of set back, because everything has gone so well so far, but I'm hoping with a bit more rest, and some more therapy she'll be back to her old self again and able to scamp around and get into everything as she loves to do.
Big thanks to everyone for all the lovely comments and for keeping her (and me!) in your thoughts.
I'm certain all the positivity and love I've found here as been felt by us both and it's certainly lifted me through the lowest times.
Here she is, looking all wet and straggly and rather unimpressed by it hahaha!
