Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: jetcleo on August 19, 2007, 07:45:03 AM

Title: Mystery back pain
Post by: jetcleo on August 19, 2007, 07:45:03 AM
Hi everyone i just wanted to let you know about what happened to Jet a couple of years ago and wondered whether anyone elses cat had gone though anything similar and what they were diagnosed with.

Jet is a really friendly cat but he suddenly became aggressive, hissing, swiping, etc and when he stood up to stretch and arched him back he would cry out in pain, it was heart breaking to hear.  Took him to my vet who did all they could, blood tests, x-rays, etc and couldn't find anything wrong so referred him to another vet.  This vet injected something into his back to show up his spinal cord on the x-ray and there was nothing of note on there.  He was tested for Fel Leuk, aids, etc and all came back negative but he was still in pain.

He was then referred to a specialist (one of the best in the country) for an expensive MRI scan.  This again showed nothing wrong but the consultant could clearly see he was in pain.  He subscribed some medication which they use in cats with epilepsy, he had that for 6 months and hey presto no pain and my old cat was back.  The whole treatment cost just over £2500 thank heavens for insurance, and in the end the thing that cured him only cost £3.69 for a bottle!!

They've still not been able to say exactly what was wrong, they think it was something psychological!!  :Crazy:
Title: Re: Mystery back pain
Post by: blackcat on August 19, 2007, 07:54:17 AM
maybe bruising, not sure if that is apparent in the tests done. If so, a local dog may have taken a swipe at your cat but the cat got away without breaking the skin.
Title: Re: Mystery back pain
Post by: swampmaxmum on August 19, 2007, 16:28:22 PM
Doc once told me if you want a freebie day off work with no-one being able to prove you aren't lying, say you have back pain as 90% time they can't work out what it is (or if you have it or not). Maybe it's the same with cats. Sounds like a top specialist who helped you - great thinking. Makes me think he's seen it before and found that treatment works! Where did you have an MRI done - is that routine in the UK?
Title: Re: Mystery back pain
Post by: jetcleo on August 19, 2007, 17:43:51 PM
The MRI scan was done at a specialist vet centre in Chester (UK), can't remember the name of the place now.  It was lovely like a top hospital for cats and dogs.  Wouldn't have minded being treated their myself, very posh!!!

I'd never heard of MRIs for cats until i had to take him, think it was because they'd tried every other test and x-ray available.

It was a good day out while he was being treated i spent the day at Chester zoo!

Title: Re: Mystery back pain
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on August 19, 2007, 18:42:26 PM
The MRI scan was done at a specialist vet centre in Chester (UK), can't remember the name of the place now. 


Just wondering Jet, do you know this is a UK site, although we do have some resident foreigners  ;D

Teresa may know of this place cos she is in Chester, well nearish.

So glad it worked cos its terible to have a cat in pain.
Title: Re: Mystery back pain
Post by: jetcleo on August 19, 2007, 18:49:09 PM
hiya, yes it was just swapmaxmum asked if the MRI scan was routine in the UK.  Wasn't sure where they were from.

Thanks

 :)