Hi Android, what did your doctors say to you regarding athletic recovery? Did they say that you'll lose much more than if you only did one segment?
Thank you for your informative and detailed posts.
I am going to St. Petersburg in September and will essentially repeat your process.
While at St. Elizabeth's, where did you keep you phone, and laptop, and other valuables during surgery?
Did you bring your own wheelchair or walker or crutches?
How have you been lately android any new pain any new information on this hope everything is going well for you
Quote from: Troma on July 21, 2018, 05:37:05 PMWould that be possible after returning home to consolidate, assuming I can walk normally or half decently by then?
Is the knee height difference apparent in walking? or when wearing clothes?
I know you answered this but you will complete the first phase then come back in a year or at the first sign of consolidation?
You are doing 7 femurs and 5 tibia?
Really, do I need to save $40k even for Russia for LATN cross lengthening?
Scars man, I know you have not had your frames out yet or even finished lengthening but are they anticipated to be really bad?
Hey Troma!
It'll take a few weeks before you can walk normally, even if you get nailing. Observant friends and family will notice that something is wrong. Knee height difference won't be noticeable if you wear pants. You can wear lifts on one foot to even out any discrepancy if you lengthen more on femur.
I'll probably return to Russia as soon as consolidation is at an acceptable level. I will send my doctors regular x-rays so that they can confirm.
My goal was 7 cm femurs and 6 cm tibias, but I may lower the latter to 5 cm. I don't want to risk ballerina for 1 cm, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
If you don't have any cash flow while doing this, and you're doing cross lengthening with LATN, then I recommend having $40k. I say this because you may run into surprises, like having to stay at the hospital for entire duration for distraction instead of an apartment.
I'm not too concerned about scars at the moment. I won't deal with it until nail removal a few years in the future.
Thanks for the advice, there are definitely tough days!
Quote from: Bruce Wayne on July 21, 2018, 07:02:15 PMHi Android, what did your doctors say to you regarding athletic recovery? Did they say that you'll lose much more than if you only did one segment?
I didn't ask about it since it's not a concern of mine since I don't play sports.
Quote from: California on July 26, 2018, 11:41:55 PMWhile at St. Elizabeth's, where did you keep you phone, and laptop, and other valuables during surgery?
Did you bring your own wheelchair or walker or crutches?
I just kept my stuff in the room. Keep them out of sight and you'll be fine.
I didn't bring my own wheelchair or walker. The walker is pretty flimsy, so you might want to pick one out that you feel comfortable with.
July 20-24: Apartment Hell
So, the past week was rough. First couple days of being in the apartment seemed great, but it quickly dawned on me that this isn't practical for a person with a knee that won't bend.
First, I have to get up a lot more often. Answer the door for food delivery, carry food to kitchen to eat, put leftovers in fridge, answer door for grocery delivery, etc. My legs really couldn't take it, because I feel stabbing pain every time I have to walk. Doing this a couple times a day is tolerable, but some days I had to get up five times. Not being able to answer the door fast enough meant that the delivery person had to come back later, adding an unnecessary trip to the door for me.
Then there was the fear factor. What if I fall? What if I drop my phone? No one will come to check on me, I felt scared. With my painful, shaking legs, it was completely possible for me to eventually collapse and become helpless.
I got a wheelchair delivered, but it was useless with my locked knee. It really hurt to use it, so it was impractical to use.
And... What the heck do I do with the trash? I couldn't even leave the apartment since the walk to the trash schute was so far.
I eventually emailed Dr. Kulesh and Dr. Nikita on the 21st, saying that I need to return to the hospital because I don't feel safe. Dr. Nikita responded that he can get me on the 24th, but then Dr. Kulesh added that I might have to wait until the 29th since there's no agreement with the hospital. I was panicking. But thankfully Dr. Nikita was able to work it out, and picked me up on the 25th.
July 25: Back in the Hospital
I was at the apartment for less than a week, but it felt like eternity. Dr. Nikita and two guys came to pick me up with a stretcher, and I was shuttled back to St. Elizabeth's. The nurses and staff welcomed me back with big smiles, felt great to be back!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlqAw5iBv-o/
This is the kind of thing I warned about when it comes to money; be prepared to spend more than you initially plan. Apartment was way cheaper, and probably manageable with bilateral tibias, but it was impossible for me.
This night I started to feel really sharp pain on my femur frame knee. Burning, needles, numbness... Seems like nerve pain. The pain goes away if I constantly rub on it, but it surges back up if I stop for 15 seconds. The pain level can range from 6 to 8, I had to get an injection painkiller that night to sleep.
July 26-27: Pain!
I'm currently in pain as I write this, for now the main culprit is the tibia frame leg. The shin feels like it's been hit with a bat, pain level 6-7. Femur frame knee pain comes and goes. I may need to meet with a neurologist to get prescribed some neuropathic painkillers like gabapentin, which Jim recommended. I have to go to Medem, the private clinic, to get a prescription; sort of want to avoid that since it's so much work to go there with a stretcher... We'll see.
I'll get x-rays on Monday, hoping for good progress.
Total Lengthened so Far:
Tibia 22.5 mm (1 mm day)
Femur 24.5 mm (1.5 mm day)
Estimated Days Remaining Before Correction/Nailing: 33 days
Almost only one more month until correction... Hang in there!!
So glad Dr. Nikita was able to arrange for you to get out of the apartment, and that it didn't take any longer. Was very glad to hear you were managing to walk, otherwise!
Sorry to hear about the recent pain. I hope it becomes better now that you're back at the hospital again. Have to try believing in it.
I've only been logging in here to check your diary. I'm glad you're still able to at least play games and such while lengthening. Others have described their experience as becoming total zombies! Thank you very much for the all updates, Android.
Now's the final lap. You do - multiple - one hour updates, despite even getting 6-8 pain levels. You'll handle this!
I also honestly thought I would have a lot more questions when your journey finally came. Yet, I can almost never think of anything.
You have already shared it before, but I guess it doesn't hurt asking again?
Haven't managed to check on here as much as I wish I could, but the feelings stay the same: still wishing you the best everyday. Wardon and wardup!
i had the same problem but got the arrangement with my nurse daughter and she was coming every other day to cook some stuff and keep me company. Doing LL on your own seems almost impossible and i was doing tibias.
edit
as far as i know Dr kulesh can arrange some lady to cook and clean the house. Wouldnt that be enough?
Thanks!
Nice update! Hang in there, Android!
Hey myloginacc! Yeah, I can't wait to get these frames off. Pain is manageable now with injections, but it doesn't mean I can walk without pain. Basically I'm fine if I don't move much, so I'm still anchored. I get an injection in the morning and at night, Dr. Kulesh said it's better for my body than pills if it continues to work.
Now, the questions:
Quote from: doomsday on July 27, 2018, 07:30:53 PMas far as i know Dr kulesh can arrange some lady to cook and clean the house. Wouldnt that be enough?
From what I recall during consultation, he no longer offers this. I'm sure he'll help if you ask nicely though.
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