https://imgur.com/gallery/vJwcktU
This is the state of my dorsiflexion after 6cm of limb lengthening. I am 5 months post op. I can’t walk normally. Is this normal or am I way out of the normal range? My job requires physical activity and in 4 months if i can’t get to running, I lose my job. I am considering reversing my length to 5cm. What do you think I should do, continue stretching as it is? Additional surgery is not an option for me. I must get back to running condition for the sake of my livelihood in 4 months. I am standing on the slant board infrequently, but i’m now doing it 4-5x a day at 10 minutes. I’m also laying on my stomach and letting my knees stretch out. Looking for suggestions as well as if you think my progress is normal/satisfactory, and if i should reverse lengthening.
Were you walking before at 4 cm.
Imo 4-5 cm is most you should do on tibias. I would go down to 5cm and do a lot of stretching. What did giotikas say?
He says to reduce down to 5cm if i have to and also possible gastroc recession. but i don’t want it to have to get to that.
also, i can’t remember the last time i was walking fine. it was probably around 2-3cm.
Seeing the state of your dorsiflexion and the fact that you're still using walkers at 5 months post-op, running after 4 months will be a difficult goal unfortunately.I also believe 5cm should be the limit for tibia.
I think a centimeter wouldn't make a difference at this point, at 6 cm or 5 cm the same damage is done already .. let your body heal, work on helping it recover as much as possible, eat good and you'll see how your situation starts improving. tibias is harder and different recovery time than femurs for sure they take longer, so be patient and dedicated to recover.
I'd be inclined to take Dr G's advice if he said to reduce. I know it's discouraging to not achieve your original goal but no one will notice 1cm difference. You need to ask yourself what you really want, be able to walk normal again at 5cm or be 1cm taller and not be able to move properly?
It is difficult to evaluate your dorsiflexion because of your posture and foot position. Please stand on a flat floor with your shoulders, backside and heels against the wall; then, see if you can get the bottom of your heels on the floor.
If so, you are at about a 90 degree angle between the plane of the foot and the plane of the shin (or neutral dorsiflexion, sometimes called "0 degrees dorsiflexion).
If you can achieve neutral dorsiflexion now; then, you have a decent shot at achieving normal dorsiflexion with hard work.
At least your right leg looks like it might be at neutral dorsiflexion; maybe -5 degrees which is not hideous.
Normal dorsiflexion is 0 to 40 degrees. Most people have 10 - 30 degrees; that is, the plane of the foot can be pulled up off the floor from 10 to 30 degrees.
Provided your bones are sufficiently healed and all other systems are "go", I suspect it will be possible for you to run in 4 months provided you aggressively train; that is, stretching, walking, stairs and stretching again at least three significant sessions per day; then, adding in some running steps; then, running when able.
Whether or not you should be attempting to run is a conversation between you and your surgeon.
You need to actually do more dorsiflexion exercises. It's obvious you slacked off quite a bit. This is very bad dorsiflexion. You main goal is to treat this dorsiflexion. Unless you want to sit and watch Netflix, stay having your heel up forever,then start treating exercises like a religion. Like 3-4 hours a day. Japanese leg lengthened routine 5-6 hours a day.
damn bro you look fked up. wish you the best. hope you get well in time so you can work again.
you need to work extra hard!!!
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