What treatment is there for degenerative disc in dogs?

Our almost 11 year old English Spring Spaniel was diagnosed with degenerative discs in her back. She had been limping and the vet took x-rays to be sure it wasn't her knee. He gave her a cortisone shot on Thurdsay and she was walking better. Then yesterday she chased a squirrel and jumped up and down around the tree and is limping again. The vet said to let her rest a couple days, which is hard to do with the damn squirrels in the yard. Does anyone have any ideas on how to help her? She is our baby and there is no way we want to put her down. She is using both her back legs, so it's not like she is paralized. It just hurts her to use her right hind leg.

Treatment for intervertebral disc disease is managed by one of two options - medical or surgical. Medical therapy may be used if low grade pain and minor or no neurological deficits are present. Anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants are typically used.It is mandatory to strictly restrict activity since pain relief may result in premature resumption of normal activity. Normal activity can then lead to extrusion of more disc material which may in turn lead to worsening of clinical signs or even paralysis. Once again, strict confinement is mandatory since recurrence of clinical signs following medical treatment is common. Medications that inhibit blood coagulation such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, (e.g., aspirin, phenylbutanzone, banamine, and Adequan) should be avoided if future surgical intervention is contemplated.Surgical treatment should be considered whenever there is persistent or recurring pain, difficulty standing or walking, recurrent episodes, rapidly progressing symptoms, or symptoms which have an incomplete response to medical treatment.TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE - WHY?Early detection and diagnosis followed by immediate appropriate treatment results in the best possible prognosis. There are three basic neurological functions: proprioception (joint sense or knowing where the extremities are without looking), motor movement (movement of extremities voluntarily with nerve and muscle function intact), and sensory perception (ability to feel noxious stimuli). In addition to pain, proprioception deficits (knuckling on feet, ataxia, staggering) are usually seen first in animals suffering from a extruded disc. Motor deficits (weakness, paresis or paralysis) generally occur simultaneously or follow proprioception loss. If motor function is decreased or lost, the problem is urgent! Loss of sensory perception signifies severe spinal cord injury and is associated with a decreased chance of recovery following treatment. Intervention should be carried out as early as possible following onset of neurological deficits.