So worried :(

Hi all havent been on for a while and would really appreciate any thoughts advice anyone can fire at me. So 2 weeks tomorrow Vinnie jumped off bed and gave an excruciating yelp and wouldnt put his leg to floor. Got him to vets that evening where he examined him pulled him about but typical staffy doesnt give much away. So had a muscle relaxer injection and pain killers, By the Tuesday night he was putting it to floor but limping slightly. Vet did xrays on weds that showed no breaks or chips of bones but did say he had pulled him about a bit to get images. Now since then he has worsened the limp is awful but does bear weight on it just doesnt seem to want to put the leg straight its sort of out to side. Returned to vets where he examined him again and thinks he may have a trapped nerve so on Gabapentin now but although he is pretty much normal in himself the limp just isnt improving. I am worrying its never going to get better I have rested him only going out to garden to do his toilets and cut his food down as he isnt having exercise. The meds zonk him out and jumps on bed in early hours as he has always done with no effort at all but we do lift him down I am just looking for some reassurance really from anyone who has experienced anything like it. The vet must be fed up with me as I am on the phone every day but I am really so very worried my nerves are through the roof. I just need some sort of time scale to how long it will be before he improves. Thanks in advance praying for some advice

Muscle/ligament strains can rake weeks to improve.

Having said that, if you're concerned that your vet isn't taking it seriously enough, you can always ask for a second opinion at another vet.

In the meantime you could try hot & cold treatment. Use a warm hot water bottle to place against wherever it hurts & then a pack of frozen veg. Both for about 2 or 3 minutes at a time.

Is it front or back leg?

Thanks Gilly vet said we may have to increase strength of meds gradually we see him again on Thursday its is his front left leg

With a front leg it's likely to be either the muscle that attaches to the shoulder or the elbow. Either will make a dog walk with its leg held out to the side.

Both can take weeks to heal because they're used so much, even with limited exercise!

Yes that makes sense thanks that has made me feel more at ease I think me and him are just impatient just thought with all meds it may have been slightly easier he still tries to hump his bed which I stop and play and eating fine it just doesnt make sense

If its a trapped nerve I am guessing that will take weeks to heal also?

Trapped nerves are a problem because you may have to wait for inflammation to ho down before it can right itself.

It could also be that he needs a combination of drugs (an anti-inflammatory & a painkiller) and that might be worth mentioning to your vet.

Ok will mention it he is on Previcox an anti inflamm for his arthiritic elbow on other leg has to be on them inevitably but maybe they are not strong enough to help with any swelling from the injury

Try the hot & cold treatment, though. It can make a significant difference.

Thanks Gilly will do have done it once earlier how often in a day do you think?

Twice a day would probably help, but any time he looks a bit sore you can repeat.

He has just hobbled out to toilet but dragging the paw on bad leg now could that be the Gabapentin as know it suppose to block communication between certain nerves I am a wreck and dont see vet until Thursday

I honestly don't know.

Hopefully he'll start to pick up soon.