Week 10 (November 24-30)
Post Op: 73 days
Achieved: 7.1 cm
Goal: 8cm
Days to completion: 9
This phase of the lengthening process is exhausting no so much because of the high pain level but like Chinese Water Torture it’s subtle but relentlessly persistent. Getting your sleep 2 hours at a time 3x per day is not ideal in any way, shape, or form. It gets the job done but you’re tired all the time. Not so good if you’re working and trying to maintain your stretching and exercise schedule.
Flexibility/Mobility: My bent knees are getting slightly worse. I believe the reason was no physical therapist this past week. He was on vacation for the Thanksgiving holiday. I still maintained the same stretching and exercise schedule but it’s not the same. There’s only so much pain you will inflict on yourself. I can’t say again how important it is to have a physical therapist during this process. If you are shooting for high numbers I don’t think you can do without.
Pain: pain is consistent day and night now that I have stopped trying to sleep the whole night. The only downside with less pain is that my dreams went away. Last week my pain med schedule was below. Will try to follow same schedule for next week.
Med schedule
6-8 AM - ½ Norco and 2 Tylenol 500 mg extra strength
12-2PM – ½ Norco and 1 Tylenol 500 mg extra strength
8-10PM - ½ Norco and 2 Tylenol 500 mg extra strength
Overall Mood: Like last week sh!ty and optimism is disappearing as my flexibility diminishes. I’m a little concerned Dr M is going to make me stop. Not necessarily the end of the world at 7.3cm but disappointing if it comes to that. I’m scheduled to see Dr. M on Dec 2 we will see what he recommends.
Lessons learned – none worthy of mention this week
Afonso - Precice II Internal Femurs - Dr. Mahboubian - Sept 2014
Week 11 (Dec 1 - 7)
Post Op: 80 days
Achieved: 7.2 cm
Goal: 8cm
Days to completion: 8
As reported earlier after seeing Dr M. I’ve had some setbacks this week. Just to recap I lengthened 2.5 mm less than being reported by the Precice machine and Dr. M had me take a 3 day break from LL to give my soft tissue time to catchup. That said I’ve enjoyed the break for one I’ve been able to get more sleep. Not the desired 8 hours yet but a sold 4 hours straight. I hope I can maintain that next week but if not that’s ok we are at the finish.
Flexibility/Mobility: With the break my bent knees are getting slightly better. Overall I feel a little looser. Unfortunately I’m sure to lose all that flexibility next week with the final 1cm push.
Pain: By the end of the break I was taking half the pain meds. That made me happy really want to wean off meds as soon as possible. My guess is by middle of next week I’ll be at my previous pain med levels. That’s ok one week and this part will be over.
Overall Mood: Back to optimistic was really happy to see pain and sleep deprivation greatly diminished in the 3 short break days. Still concerned about bent knee but even that improved slightly. Going into this last week enthusiastically and happy to finish.
Bone Growth and Consolidation: Now that we are close to this phase I will start reporting on this. From last weeks xrays it looks like my right leg has good bone growth but the left still has a ways to go. Dr. M isn’t concerned at the moment but has recommended that I start doubling up on Vitamin D to 4000 iu and start taking Silica.
Lessons learned – none worthy of mention this week
Great diary, rather late than never right 
Do you know how much you've spent in total thus far? Considering next week is your last week?
Thanks for starting your diary here Afonso.
I have had the same surgery, and am currently in lengthening/distraction phase (Precice II in South Africa).
I am in the process of reading your whole diary. I have one question. At one point you were distracting 1.33mm per day (as opposed to 1mm per day). Did you request 1.33mm/day or did the doctor recommend it without you asking for it. What does Dr. Mahbooubian say about the benefits and risks of 1.33mm/day vs 1mm/day.
Quote from: ShortyMcShort on December 08, 2014, 03:53:34 AMGreat diary, rather late than never right
Do you know how much you've spent in total thus far? Considering next week is your last week?
Hi and thanks! As for costs the surgery and hospital is 68,000 other costs to consider:
Physical therapist - my insurance paid for this but if you have to pay expect $80 3x week x 13 weeks - $3,120
Home aid - I had family with me but if you don't have that you will need someone full time the first 2 weeks
Transportation (doctor / hospital etc...) I found someone that transported me for $100 per trip including return - I needed that 2x per month = $800
Clean lady - very hard to clean yourself had someone come in every week @ $60 x 13wk = 780
Housing - I'm paying with utilities 2000 per month for condo near Dr M.
Equipment - wheelchair, walker, heating pads, commode, crutches, exercise bike etc - $600 - $800
Quote from: Plzen on December 08, 2014, 05:10:17 AMThanks for starting your diary here Afonso.
I have had the same surgery, and am currently in lengthening/distraction phase (Precice II in South Africa).
I am in the process of reading your whole diary. I have one question. At one point you were distracting 1.33mm per day (as opposed to 1mm per day). Did you request 1.33mm/day or did the doctor recommend it without you asking for it. What does Dr. Mahbooubian say about the benefits and risks of 1.33mm/day vs 1mm/day.
Hi and congrats on your surgery going to 1.33mm is not advisable Dr. Mahboubian only prescribed it because I was close to preconsolidation. I did it for 2 weeks and it significantly impacted my pain levels, sleep, and flexibility. How far are you along?
I have a diary here as well. I have distracted 2cm so far.
Hi alfonso hope you're doing well. Will you let us know how your recovery is going when you've finished lenghtening? It'll be interesting to hear from an athletic person.
Quote from: Uppland on December 08, 2014, 08:32:55 PMHi alfonso hope you're doing well. Will you let us know how your recovery is going when you've finished lenghtening? It'll be interesting to hear from an athletic person.
Hi Uppland doing well almost at the end. Definitely plan on keeping up the diary especially during the consolidation phase. After that will make a point of doing monthly updates for as long as there is interest.
Quote from: afonso on December 09, 2014, 12:42:55 AMHi Uppland doing well almost at the end. Definitely plan on keeping up the diary especially during the consolidation phase. After that will make a point of doing monthly updates for as long as there is interest.
That's good to hear man. Will you post pictures and/or videos to show how you manage? I understand if you're uncomfortable but visual diaries are always the most helpful. It helps alleviate much of the fear and uncertainty of the surgery.
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