Diary: Femur LON - Dr Halil Buldu - May 2021

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Quote from: RB on May 24, 2021, 02:57:31 AMFair enough bro, hopefully you have a relatively smooth journey to 5.5/6cm. I had my surgery with Dr. Betz. Thanks bro!

Congrats being on your last cm to your goal! How are you feeling about it? Also how’s the tightness? I am under the impression that the betzbone is a completely easier device to use than LON, and the average recovery isn’t terrible because you’re already walking.
Also how does it feel to already be 6cm taller?? That’s amazing man

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Quote from: PerfectBody on May 24, 2021, 06:52:06 AMCongrats being on your last cm to your goal! How are you feeling about it? Also how’s the tightness? I am under the impression that the betzbone is a completely easier device to use than LON, and the average recovery isn’t terrible because you’re already walking.
Also how does it feel to already be 6cm taller?? That’s amazing man

Thanks man! Currently I feel ok. I definitely have tightness but as long as I stretch 3-4 times per day and stay on top of my PT it doesn’t bother me too much. I would say you guys doing LON probably have it harder just due to to the frames and being able to walk quicker so the recovery is probably a bit smoother but in the end I assume we would have similar recoveries.

It feels good man, I started noticing the gain at 5cm and now at 6cm it’s definitely noticeable especially when compared to people who I used to be the same height as like my gf. Keep going and you’ll be at 6cm in no time and feel free to ask any questions!

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Wednesday - May 26. 11 days after surgery. Gain: +4mm

The swelling is going down. Bending hasn't drastically improved, but I'm more confident in my ability to move and practice pending. Work started back recently and it's a good way to pass time. My motivation swings from 40-80% when doing stuff, especially because i feel the pins digging into my legs when I sit up. Lying down is really the only way to work.

Pain: No tightness yet. I'm still very early into my lengthening. People report past 4~6cm where they start feeling it. I hope starting a little taller will give me additional runway. Clicking pain has subsided. It still bothers the   out of me, but it's not intolerable. The first 1-2 days of clicking is brutal, but now it's just a dramatic ping down my left femur. I dread when my right leg will start clicking.

Mood: Hygiene is a critical component to this. Staying clean and feeling good about yourself is really the best way to do this that doesn't put you in a negative mental state.

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Arent u doing LON? Why do u need to do clicking?

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Quote from: Jason125 on May 26, 2021, 01:45:41 PMArent u doing LON? Why do u need to do clicking?

So there's a rod in our femurs. The rod isn't stable - after swelling dies down, the rod will swing back and forth according to our gait/hip movements. It bangs against our femurs - and let me tell you, this SUCKS. The first time it happens it feels like you rebroke your bone. The sensation dampens which each consecutive instance, but it never stops.

Right now my left leg has adjusted to it. My right leg hurts like a b*tch when it clicks.

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relax man, stay calmed and please do not be panic, you will go through this in a few days, the rods will be soon a no issue, I know how that felt to have the rods get rubbed against the bones, it's awfully painful but it will be gone soon. This ís normal to be hurt with a pair of broken legs and to be alone on this journey but please remember why we do this in the first place. i'm a lon tibias patient, currently at 67 days post surgery

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Did you check with the doctor  --is this normal?
If yes, then it is ok.

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Did you leave turkey yet? When are you planning to go back?

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Quote from: josh_bates on May 27, 2021, 05:21:55 AMDid you leave turkey yet? When are you planning to go back?
No. I will stay until late July doing therapy. If all goes according to plan I'll hit my goal end of June/early July.

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Quote from: PerfectBody on May 28, 2021, 09:05:23 AMFriday - May 28. 13 days after surgery. Gain: +6mm

Sigh, ok. Relax and stay calm? I'm in pain  . F*ck you, and f*ck everybody who does not detail how painful this is. If you find a diary that does not describe how brutal and painful this situation is, it is a fake diary. This surgery and procedure will shatter you to your core, and everyday until you remove your external fixators the pain will remind you of your dumb decision.
You dont feel pain? Congratulations. Good for you. Wow. AMazIng. You are a great guy! Shut the f*ck up. It's crazy how your new height means 0 changes with your ability to empathize.

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With that said, the pain subsides everyday, little by little. But as one pain subsides, another emerges. Example: surgery trauma -> swelling -> bone clicking -> muscle tightness -> nerve pain.
As time goes on, one becomes another. Sometimes the pain from one group never leaves and you're left with a variety of pain from different sources. That's the way this surgery works.

They promised me a 5 star hotel with breakfast. I don't have breakfast. It's a 2 star hotel anywhere else, at best. The hotel makes everybody go to the lobby to pick up food. In pain.
They promised me frequent contact. LOL they have 90 clients with a 9 person team, and new patients everyday. LOLL they cannot manage this.

Do I regret it? Not sure yet. Dr Halil Buldu is definitely an expert surgeon. He does LON better than almost anybody. While I am spitting vitriol at everything surrounding this situation, I can't fault him. He did a good job.

I'm about .7mm taller. I know at 5cm I will consider stopping. At 5.5cm I will definitely stop. My first x-ray is next Saturday, June 5th. I will be about 1.5cm taller by then. I'm pounding a ton of dairy so hopefully ill  be able to push >1mm/day, which allows me to terminate lengthening at the end of June. One month of hell.

If you've read my diary and are still considering this procedure, please evaluate your quality of life. If it's so bad you're willing to take your own life, then this is right for you.

Hang in there. It hurts like hell, but in the end I am sure you will come out stronger, happier and you will be glad you did it.