A happy and healthy new year to you.
If I read correctly, you will likely be in frames for almost an entire year after the surgery. Isn't this a rather long time for a lengthening of "only" 5 cms, or is such a long timeframe really the norm?
Cheers.
Quote from: IwannaBeTaller on December 29, 2016, 11:32:21 PMA happy and healthy new year to you.
If I read correctly, you will likely be in frames for almost an entire year after the surgery. Isn't this a rather long time for a lengthening of "only" 5 cms, or is such a long timeframe really the norm?
Cheers.
Thank you, wish you the same.
Yeah, I must be honest here. Being one year in frames is not worth for just gaining 5cm. But I had to deal with some complications along the way and I'm just happy that I didn't end up having any permanent problems. Also, I wouldn't have opted for having a Nail which can potentially open up a whole array of problems (like Knee pain, bone infection and another surgery for removal). So I way I see it is that I traded short term convenience for long term safety.
Quote from: fujitora on December 30, 2016, 06:13:59 AMThank you, wish you the same.
Yeah, I must be honest here. Being one year in frames is not worth for just gaining 5cm. But I had to deal with some complications along the way and I'm just happy that I didn't end up having any permanent problems. Also, I wouldn't have opted for having a Nail which can potentially open up a whole array of problems (like Knee pain, bone infection and another surgery for removal). So I way I see it is that I traded short term convenience for long term safety.
It's ok man. Time flies. If this process made height an insignificant matter to you, I think then it served its purpose.
Quote from: SAD on December 30, 2016, 06:30:34 AMIt's ok man. Time flies. If this process made height an insignificant matter to you, I think then it served its purpose.
Hey man! How are you doing ? Yep, time flew by like anything. I can't believe that I'm almost towards the end of the journey. Height, right now, doesn't feel so significant anymore. I don't know if that's because I have greater problems to deal with, or because my height fits in better now, at least to Indian standards. Only time will tell. But I'm sure as hell that I'm not going to try something like this again, as in break my femur for few more cms. I now have a greater sense of appreciation of what I had or still have, which I took for granted before this journey.
Quote from: fujitora on December 30, 2016, 09:42:49 AMHey man! How are you doing ? Yep, time flew by like anything. I can't believe that I'm almost towards the end of the journey. Height, right now, doesn't feel so significant anymore. I don't know if that's because I have greater problems to deal with, or because my height fits in better now, at least to Indian standards. Only time will tell. But I'm sure as hell that I'm not going to try something like this again, as in break my femur for few more cms. I now have a greater sense of appreciation of what I had or still have, which I took for granted before this journey.
Would you do it again if you could go back in time?
Quote from: IwannaBeTaller on December 30, 2016, 03:08:45 PMWould you do it again if you could go back in time?
Nope. I would not. It doesn't feel worth it, considering the fact that I ended up crippled for a year and would need a year more to gain back my old flexibility and strength. Since I was extremely short, my desire to become averagely tall made me underestimate the amount of pain and suffering I had to go through. I'm a couch potato and hardly ever went to gym in my life. So exercising up to 4 hours everyday and eating healthy food is very challenging for me.
Brutal honesty. Thank you for telling us that.
But there will still be benefits for you, no? Your height neurosis existed, and had you not done the surgery, it might have existed for god knows how long, perhaps until the end of your life. And even though your new height is not "perfect", it's already a good chunk better than your old one, and this will always benefit you regarding your previous bad feelings about your height. This counts for something I assume. But if the price was too high, perhaps you still regret having it done.
Quote from: IwannaBeTaller on December 30, 2016, 04:09:25 PMBrutal honesty. Thank you for telling us that.
But there will still be benefits for you, no? Your height neurosis existed, and had you not done the surgery, it might have existed for god knows how long, perhaps until the end of your life. And even though your new height is not "perfect", it's already a good chunk better than your old one, and this will always benefit you regarding your previous bad feelings about your height. This counts for something I assume. But if the price was too high, perhaps you still regret having it done.
You're right. If I hadn't done this surgery I would've had height neurosis all my life and regret for not doing it. I still haven't met any people that were part of my life prior to LL. So I don't know how these 5 cms gain translates exactly. Perhaps I would have a better appreciation when I meet them.
12/31/2016: Walking Video
I would like to finish this year by posting a video of me walking. It was shot today, which is approximately 9 months post surgery.
Feb 21st 2017 Update:- Almost there!!
I went to consult with a local orthopedic surgeon, someone that I've consulted couple of times over the last few months, to discuss about frame removal and my progress. I've been walking unaided a lot (2 to 3 hours a day) for the past two months, so I was hoping to get positive feedback. Good news is that the callus formation has been quite good. It's also distributed and not saturated in one area, which is a testament for my walking and other physical efforts. He examined by legs, pressed around the area where the corticotomy was done to analyse bone density and strength. Goods news is that my left leg is almost done and quite strong. My right leg, which I feared the most as it had gone through two surgeries, has caught up quite a bit with very good callus formation. The callus however was not as strong as on the left leg. So he advised me to plan for frame removal process over a span of one and half month (end of march).
Frame removal approach suggested by him:
He suggested to get the thick rods taken out first. That would transfer more load on to the wires and the newly formed callus. Stay mobile (walking and physical therapy) for few weeks and then unscrew one distractor at a time (I have 6 distractors per leg) for the next few weeks. Once all the distractors are unscrewed, remove the wires and the TSF frame, and walk with the support of brace. Brace is nothing but a plastic custom made support that latches onto your knees and lower leg (till ankle), that firmly holds your leg. It helps keep the bone aligned and straight against the angular forces that your bones are subjected to when you walk. I told him that I don't wish to go through surgery for frame removal because I want to limit my expenses and would be willing to tolerate some pain if needed.
I'm still thinking about his suggestion. I'll make up my mind by end of this week. I don't want to rush. I couldn't share X-Ray pictures because imgur seems to be down since yesterday. I'll post them in my next update. Also, I still have slight ballerina in my left leg. I also have morning tightness and need to stretch for few mins to keep the leg muscles going. I can walk unaided but I still have difficulty standing still. When I stand still, my body topples and I have to exert counter force on my ankles to stay still. My hips, knees and ankle should stay neutral and at ease when I stand still, but that isn't whats happening in my case. I guess I need a bit more flexibility in my ankles before I can walk or stand normally.
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