1.Patient Background

Species: Feline Sex: Male Age: 11 months Case: intervertebral Disc Disease

While playing, the cat suddenly had hind limb paralysis and back pain. A vet diagnosed it with intervertebral disc disease and recommended acupuncture plus Class IV laser therapy. Acupuncture can boost immunity, and laser therapy can relieve pain and inflammation and aid tissue repair. The cat cooperated well. That night, it could stand and move a bit. After several treatments, it fully regained its mobility.

2. Chief Complaint

Strenuous fighting, excessive play, or poor jumping and landing postures can impact the spine and cause rupture of the intervertebral discs, which are already suffering from degenerative changes. A ruptured disc can compress the spinal cord and nerves, leading to disc disease.

3. Treatment Plan

Acupuncture combined with class 4 laser therapy. Acupuncture stimulates acupuncture points, unblocks meridians and qi and blood, regulates the nervous and immune systems, relieves pain and muscle spasms, reduces the size of the herniated disc, and reduces compression on the nerves; laser therapy accelerates blood circulation, promotes tissue repair, and relieves pain and inflammation through the laser's thermal and biostimulatory effects. Laser treatment 6 times, 1 time per day, 3 consecutive laser treatments, 1 time every other day, as well as 3 laser treatments afterward.

4. Conclusion

Acupuncture treatment can stimulate the nerve endings of cats, prompting them to release endorphins, serotonin and other natural analgesic substances, effectively relieving pain. At the same time, it improves blood flow to the lesion area, accelerates the discharge of inflammatory mediators, reduces inflammation and swelling, and also regulates the nervous system and endocrine system to restore the balance of body functions. In addition, laser physiotherapy can further promote local blood circulation, strengthen tissue oxygen supply, accelerate tissue repair, activate immune cells, enhance autoimmune function, and promote overall recovery. The combination of the two can fully relieve the pain and inflammation caused by intervertebral disc disease in cats, and promote tissue repair and recovery of body functions.

5. References

[1] Bayas Escudero JS. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in bone repair: A systematic review[J]. Injury, 2019, 50 (11): 1853 - 1867.

[2] Garavello - Freitas I, Baranauskas V, Joazeiro PP, et al. Laser irradiation improves histomorphometric parameters and bone matrix organization during tibia wound healing in rats[J]. J Photochem Photobiol B, 2003, 70 (2): 81 - 9.