Elderly cat breathing difficulties when purring

[Katie]

Just wondering if I can pick a few brains here!

I had a bad fall from riding last summer and have had continous neck pain/aches ever since. The past week i've noticed a considerable improvement and all muscle tension seems to have gone (fingers crossed).

But now, both my arms continuously feel like they have been punched I remember when I had my fall one of my arms went numb for a couple of hours, but do you think my sore arms could have something to do with the tension moving down my body?? I can't think why else they are feeling like this

[..lay a little egg for me]

Hmmm, don't know, but if I were you I would go to an osteopath/chiropractor and get myself looked at. It could well be related to the neck pain from the fall. I once had a very gentle fall (you know, the kind where the horse goes one way and you go the other but manage to hang on long enough to stop the horse but then fall off anyway ) and this put my pelvis and neck out. The osteopath found one leg half an inch shorter than the other because my pelvis was lopsided and my neck muscles at the front were really sore. You might have some kind of pinched nerve due to the neck damage that is causing these strange feelings.

 

Hope you feel better soon

xx

[Egluntyne]

I would get yourself checked out if I were you, just to be on the safe side.

 

It is probably nothing, but it is best to make sure.

[Mrs Frugal]

I'd get checked out if you can, Katie. I had a trapped nerve in my neck and it gave me similar symptoms so you may have done something like that during the accident. A course of anti-inflammatory tablets sorted it out for me so it's worth getting it looked at as that might be all you need to get rid of the problem.

[MedusA]

I agree with Egluntine and Kate. Anti-inflammatories are probably all that are needed, but best to get a professional opinion. Hope you feel better soon.

[Chickens@61]

i would pop to your gp, he/she can refer you for a physio assessment to find out what is going on.. muscle pain can radiate to other areas in the same way that nerve pain can (i.e. the part of you that hurts may not be the part where the root of the problem lies!).

 

to me it sounds like maybe it is your neck that is the problem, and if appropriate the physio will advise some daily stretches/excersizes to 'free things up' a bit. also maybe you would benefit from some low frequency ultrasound and/or manipulation/massage - all of which an nhs physio will do (for free!)

 

also, some hospitals (including the one i work at) have a 'self referral' scheme for physio appointments designed to reduce gp's workloads. so if you ring your local hospital and ask for the physio outpatient department you may even be able to book yourself an appointment directly..

 

hope this helps,

[baby bears mum]

Absolutely agree with getting yourself checked out. I had a bad whiplash injury last year as a result of a car accident and it would probably have been a similar injury to yours. Doctor suggested phsyio and in the end I had accupuncture which was absolutely wonderful. It has taken me nearly 12 months to get back to normal(ish) (if I ever was!!!!) so the sooner you get checked out the better.

 

Hope you feel better soon.

 

x

[Katie]

Great animals aren't they We were having a gallop down the field just as some ducks decided to fly over the field - the one thing that she is terrified of! She did a classic bucking broncho and just dropped her shoulder and ran. I came off and landed on the bottom of my neck/top of my back. I think what did it was when I immediately got back up and ran after her and got back on, not really realising what I had just done But thanks, I'll try and get myself checked out at the hospital - didn't realise you could do that. I went to my GP a few months after my fall and he gave me a sheet of exercises to do, but didn't tell me much else. They seem to have worked though I need arm exercises now!!

[superjules]

It's best to get yourself checked out by an osteopath or other such qualified person as it could be a trapped nerve anywhere between your spine and wherever you are feeling the numbness.

[Trish]

Without a hands on assessment it would be really hard to say what the problem is, I'm a massage therapist and often see clients with pain in one area that's caused by a problem in a completley different place. Also your body gets used to being a certain way and what feels improved my actually not be at all.

 

If you can get to see a physio or an oesteopath/chiropracter that would be best, with all the will in the world unless it's their speciality a G.P. is not likely to be able to tell that much. Physio can be great but their's often a huge waiting list, oestopaths etc can often see you very soon which is great as the longer things stay misaligned the longer it can take to get them right again.

 

Hope you can get this sorted out soon

[Katie]

I hope it's nothing too bad, are trapped nerves curable? I'm going to get in touch with the hospital this week, feel I should have done this a lot sooner!

[Snowy]

I hope it's nothing too bad, are trapped nerves curable? I'm going to get in touch with the hospital this week, feel I should have done this a lot sooner!

 

Don't worry Katie - with the correct diagnosis, some exercise and massage/manipulation, you should be right as rain in no time. If you could find a physio who specialises in sports therapy/musculoskeletal disorders that would be ideal - they would be able to pinpoint the problem and offer a wide range of treatments.

 

Hope you get it sorted soon!

[Trish]

Most sports type injuries can be put right. Falls from horses can often cause misalignements'trapped nerve type injuries and yes they can usually be corrected. Hope your better soon.

[The Dogmother]

I'd recommend goign to see an osteopath.

 

I have a prolapsed disc in my neck caused by a car accident over 20 years ago - I sometimes get the sensation you describe, but my osteopath can sort it out with just one session.