Accepted Answer

Hello there.

I'm sorry to hear that your boy is ill.

Yes, a pinched nerve does require rest in order to heal. What happens is the nerve becomes inflammed, and its the inflammation that causes the pain and the deficits associated with this particular ailment. When there's lots of activity like walking, the nerve doesn't have an opportunity to recuperate and the area is constantly irritated, and therefore, the inflammation doesn't have an opportunity to recede, or it recedes at a much slower rate.

Crating your boy will go a long, long way to healing him. As the inflammation recedes, so will the pain. And crating will be especially important as he improves. As he feels better, he'll want to be more active, but you can't permit this, as it will only worsen the inflammation and slow healing.

The spine is delicate and fragile - the consistency of cooked spaghetti - so any impact, pinching or direct contact with the surrounding structures can cause irritation to the cord, swelling and other damage. Often, the damage is reversible. This is especially the case when swelling is involved. When the cord is swelled, the messages cannot travel up and down the spine properly, so the brain may be telling the rear legs to move, but the legs aren't getting the signal. The messages can also become scrambled or confused, and you can even end up with phantom pain, where the nerves are perceiving pain signals when there's nothing painful actually occuring. In any event, once the swelling recedes, the messages can flow freely again.

So, right now, what I would do is keep him crated unless he's sitting with you. Only bathroom breaks should be allowed in terms of walks. Avoid picking him up for the most part, as this will put the spine out of alignment. Instead, provide supportive measures for obstacles like stairs. For stairs, you can help by towel walking.To towel walk, you sling a towel under the dog, (right before the rear legs). You pull up on the towel and support some of his body's weight, making it possible for him to stand and walk. This is an ideal solution for the short-term, like going up steps. For a better grip, buy a sling that's used for carrying firewood, available at hardware stores. It's basically a rectangle of fabric with handles at each end and it serves basically as a towel with handles. Or, if your crafty, you can just add your own handles to a large towel.

Also, prevent him from jumping. This may mean limiting access to certain areas for a while.

If he really seems to be in pain, I would speak with your vet about putting him on pain medication. Aspirin can be helpful, although I would check first before giving this due to the other medications. There's also more potent prescription drugs available, so your vet will likely try this if the pain is either too much for the aspirin to be effective, or if the aspirin cannot be given due to an interaction with one of the other drugs he's on.

A heating pad may also help. Apply on low for 20-30 minutes, several times a day. This will help with some of the cramping and muscular discomfort that's often associated with these injuries. The heat can also be soothing and relaxing, so it may be helpful if he's a bit wound up and you need to calm him.

I hope your dog is feeling better soon! Don't hesitate to let me know if you have any additional questions!

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-Mia Carter
Pet Expert

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Expert:	Mia Carter
Pos. Feedback:	99.5 %
Accepts:	748
Answered:	5/11/2008

Animal Expert

Specializing in the training and care of ill pets and special needs animals! Mom of 22 pets!