It's good news that the pain seems to have eased. At the risk of saying something that you are already well aware, my advice (for what its worth
) would be that if he displays the same symptoms again, press for a more detailed examination. For instance, a blood test will confirm that he is in pain (pain raises the blood sugar levels). The test would also show the health status of the liver and kidneys (important if NSAIDS are to be used). A classic response to pain that seems to come on quickly is to use NSAIDS. However, the problem with cats is that these drugs can only be used in small doses and less frequently than would apply to humans. As I have already mentioned, my concern is that any symptoms that keep reappearing (even if you know (as in this case) that there is a pre-existing injury) can sometimes hide a deeper seated problem. In any case, chronic or frequent pain can ultimately affect the immune system.