Bilateral Femur Lengthening Dairy: May 2021 with Dr Betz and Betzbone

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Day 11

Did 20 clicks on the left and 19 on the right (to eventually correct a 5mm deficiency on the left leg). The good news is that the clicking pain has diminished, mainly attributing to better techniques and the return of Ibuprofen. I now twist my right knee in small increments, making sure that it doesn't twist a single degree beyond what is neccessary to click.

The not so good news is that my hip flexors have become extremely tight when I have close my legs. It's as if there's a pin being hammered into my right hip. There is also sometimes a bubbly sensation where it feels like my right hip will disjoint with my legs. My right leg is just hopeless at this point

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Day 12

My right pelvis felt like it was rubbing against a screw and it was! The most recent x-ray showed that a screw is loose and I will have to redo surgery to secure it. The good news is it's only one incision and someone can do my clicking. The bad news is full anesthesia and another god damn surgery!!!

I commend Dr Betz for his professionalism, but this complication is purely an implant/surgeon error. Re-opened wounds are more likely to bleed, and leave a scar. Repeated anesthesia is terrible for the brain.

While I'm beginning to master clicking, it still takes a good chunk of my day. At this point, I strongly recommend a Stryde surgeon.

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Quote from: SirStretchAlot on May 14, 2021, 07:19:14 PMDay 12

My right pelvis felt like it was rubbing against a screw and it was! The most recent x-ray showed that a screw is loose and I will have to redo surgery to secure it. The good news is it's only one incision and someone can do my clicking. The bad news is full anesthesia and another god damn surgery!!!

I commend Dr Betz for his professionalism, but this complication is purely an implant/surgeon error. Re-opened wounds are more likely to bleed, and leave a scar. Repeated anesthesia is terrible for the brain.

While I'm beginning to master clicking, it still takes a good chunk of my day. At this point, I strongly recommend a Stryde surgeon.

sorry to hear this man.

But is anesthesia really bad for the brain? "repeated" = 10s of times or even just twice?

And why dont you opt for a spinal block or something?

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Sad news man, but he cannot do a local anesthesia? I had a tumora in the middle of my left tibia 10 years ago and the surgeon just did a local anesthesia in my leg to go get it, how cannot it be possible to do it just for one screw replacement ?

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Quote from: SirStretchAlot on May 14, 2021, 07:19:14 PMDay 12

My right pelvis felt like it was rubbing against a screw and it was! The most recent x-ray showed that a screw is loose and I will have to redo surgery to secure it. The good news is it's only one incision and someone can do my clicking. The bad news is full anesthesia and another god damn surgery!!!

I commend Dr Betz for his professionalism, but this complication is purely an implant/surgeon error. Re-opened wounds are more likely to bleed, and leave a scar. Repeated anesthesia is terrible for the brain.

While I'm beginning to master clicking, it still takes a good chunk of my day. At this point, I strongly recommend a Stryde surgeon.

Sorry to hear mate. At least the screw replacement surgery will be simple and non-invasive. Did you get a chance to see what the loose screw looked like on the X-ray? I assume it was the top larger screw that was loose?

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Quote from: SirStretchAlot on May 14, 2021, 07:19:14 PMDay 12

My right pelvis felt like it was rubbing against a screw and it was! The most recent x-ray showed that a screw is loose and I will have to redo surgery to secure it. The good news is it's only one incision and someone can do my clicking. The bad news is full anesthesia and another god damn surgery!!!

I commend Dr Betz for his professionalism, but this complication is purely an implant/surgeon error. Re-opened wounds are more likely to bleed, and leave a scar. Repeated anesthesia is terrible for the brain.

While I'm beginning to master clicking, it still takes a good chunk of my day. At this point, I strongly recommend a Stryde surgeon.

Oh no that fking sucks.
Don't worry about brain problems, while there is indeed a maximum limit you should do within some time, brain damage will not occur, especially at your age. only on old patients long operations can leave (temporary) confusion and memory issues. It's dependent on how long the surgery takes too, a screw fix will most likely not take long at all.

I don't know if you have any other options like epidural has it's downsides too. It's not only very uncomfortable, but you also get a catheter, you may have bad headaches for some days and you are paralyzed for a few hours.

The biggest thing would be bigger infection risk if you have to operate on the same spot again but other than that it should be a quick and easy fix.
How much will this ordeal cost you?

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las vegas baby & Johnp86
Yeah so Dr Betz applies local anesthesia to the wound regardless of whether general is applied. It seems to be a surgical preference of his to always gas his patients as it's easier for him to move them. Still, general anesthesia has the potential for long-term memory impairment.

RB
He needs to cut a whole to either screw in or replace the screw. I think that's invasive haha. It was indeed the top screw on my right leg that became loose. They're checking operational x-rays to see if this was a surgical error. I honestly hope that's the case because if not, there's a good chance the screw will become loose again.

RealLostSoul
I think additional surgeries due to implant/surgery errors are free, as they should be. I'm paying in the form of further physiological damage. Regardless, I had to rebook my plane ticket, and push a bunch of appointments which was a logistical hassle. Staying in this hospital for 2 more days isn't the most pleasant thing either. The only good thing I see out of this, is that the nail came loose while I was still in Germany. Flying in for another 30min surgery 6 weeks later would be upsetting given COVID.

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Ok got it, i asked Dr Betz when I met him  why he was  the only surgeon to put horizontal screws at the top of the nail and according to him it is better

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Interesting. He told me it‘s irrelevant which type of anesthesia I choose and it‘s up to personal preference. But maybe with purely local (not epidural) you could still move your legs which would be bad.
Don‘t worry about anesthesia cognitive impairment. At your age you would rather win the lottery than getting any of this.

Definitely is a crappy situation though, please update us when you know more, I am interested in how this will go. Wish you all the best!

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Quote from: SirStretchAlot on May 14, 2021, 07:19:14 PMDay 12

My right pelvis felt like it was rubbing against a screw and it was! The most recent x-ray showed that a screw is loose and I will have to redo surgery to secure it. The good news is it's only one incision and someone can do my clicking. The bad news is full anesthesia and another god damn surgery!!!

I commend Dr Betz for his professionalism, but this complication is purely an implant/surgeon error. Re-opened wounds are more likely to bleed, and leave a scar. Repeated anesthesia is terrible for the brain.

While I'm beginning to master clicking, it still takes a good chunk of my day. At this point, I strongly recommend a Stryde surgeon.

Sorry to hear this. This is like a nightmare! I hope you recover from this setback and continue towards your lengthening goal.