From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2002-09-14 02:08:30 UTC
Subject: Re: Can't use back legs after surgery
To: TR1212@AOL.COM, ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <p05111705b9a848813441@[10.0.1.17]>
How long has it been since she was under those confined conditions
and did she get much exercise between then and the surgery? If she
was already suffering from sarcopenia (poor muscle levels and poor
muscle tone) that itself would worsen the normal levels of hind end
weakness which ferrets suffer with so many forms of illness and
during recovery.
There are very good reasons why weight training and balance exercises
are increasingly being built in rehabilitation and geriatrics for
humans; it's because muscle loss in those muscles needed for support
and balance such as the back and abdominal muscles, and those needed
for mobility (legs) and many functions needed for independence (also
arms) are in and of themselves handicapping, i.e. even without having
a handicapping disease present muscle loss alone limits mobility and
ability. Add a disease or recovery on top and the symptoms will be
greater. This may or may not be the cause but it is something to
consider.