Fall: hind legs not moving

Question
Hi,  Our sweet guinea pig fell over the stair railing and fell.
She is not moving her hind legs, but does not appear to be in pain or distress.  She is maybe just a year old. She is eating and resting, and has gone potty normally.  I am staying by her side and loving her in a calm environment.  What else can I do?  I have been reading a lot online, and on this sight, and looks like time may heal, otherwise if not, I will keep her clean and dry.  Her cage mate is a larger female.  Is it safe to keep her together with the other female if she can not move, or do I have to separate them?  I don't want either to be lonely.
Thank you.  I was hoping for suggestions rather than an expensive Vet visit.

Answer
I'm so very sorry to hear about this. The fact that she's eating and drinking is a good sign. Hopefully this is just a soft tissue injury, but there's no way to really tell without xrays. It's possible she could have caused a spinal injury. If that's the case she may never recover the use of her hind legs.

I would not separate her from her cage mate. She needs to be in her own familiar environment where she will be more comfortable and less stressed. At this point there isn't anything you can do but just what you're doing. She may recover the use of her legs. If she does not that doesn't mean the end of her life.

Animals lack the capacity to feel sorry for themselves. They take whatever life has tossed them and they learn to adjust. We humans could take a great lesson from that.

Taking her to a vet isn't going to change much other than the balance in your bank account. So don't feel guilty if you can't or don't wish to do that. Small exotic animals aren't a specialty for most vets, and even if your vet told you there was a spinal cord injury it isn't going to change anything.

Let's hope she will recover on her own. In the meantime keep life as familiar to her as you can. Let her stay with her mate. The other pig will not hurt her. I wish you all the best. Please keep me posted on how she does.