Diary - January 2019 - In Full Stryde with Dr. Mahboubian of North Hollywood.

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(Friday) Day 105 Post Op - Day 13 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]


Good evening CLL'ers,

Another day in the books. Today was good...and the trend continues...I'm feeling just a tad better each day.

I'll be straight to the point for today. I am now 100% walking via cane.  I move slowly and have a tight gait but am fully utilizing the cane now to get around work, home, and PT clinic, etc. As you all well know...A cane is full weight bearing and can only be relied upon for balance. I am now at this stage....

My challenges at this time are pretty straight forward:

1) Tightness - Stretching and being patient for muscles to continue adaptation with new bone length.
2) Anterior Pelvic Tilt (Duck Ass) - By far the most annoying issue.  All I can do is stretch hip flexors and work out glutes and abs. In time the Pelvis shall rise again! lol
3) Muscle Strength - Legs actually do feel quite strong; but they can improve.  Will continue to follow my daily commitment to get stronger by walking and doing exercises.

That is all for now you guys.  I'll be headed out to Dr. M's in exactly 1 week from today for X-Rays and follow up details.  I hope everyone is doing well and feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions.

All the best,

IFS

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What stretch you do to deal with tightness?
What strengthen exercises?

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Hi WGT,

I do the following stretches/strengthening, below. I continue to add more and mix up  my routine as well.   The following examples can be used as a well rounded routine for all CLL'ers for before or after cll surgery.  Mix this in with physical therapy massage and treatment. etc and you're going to achieve your goal. 

Let me know if you have any questions!

Walking

I try to take at least 1000 steps per day and am reminding myself to stand up  out of my chair every 45 minutes take some steps, stretch out a bit.


Hip Flexor Stretches



Knee to Chest (Quads/Hip Flexors):



Protected Hamstrings (Hamstrings)



Lying down Hip Flexors (Quads/Hip Flexors)



Thomas Stretch (Quads / Hip Flexors, Great for resolving APT)



Hip Abduction



Front Leg Raises (Quads)



Ball squeezes (Grown/Inner Thigh)



Prone Quad Stretch (Quads)



Stand and Sits (Glutes, Hips, Hams, Quads)




Balance on One Foot



Correct Anterior Pelvic Tilt







Cable squats/Puts (Use bands if you do not have cable weight machine

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Hey IFS,

You continue to inspire many of us with your diligent diary posts and your general experience with this surgery. Really awesome stuff brother, keep up the great work!

If you don't mind, I would really appreciate your advice. I have my pre-op next week and surgery in about 3 weeks. I am going to start putting together items I may need and order necessities like a walker, wheelchair, and a cane. Those seem like the most urgent items. I was really hoping to get your input on which walker and wheelchair to buy. I assume any cane will do? If you found other additional items useful to you, please throw them my way.

I wanted to order them now so that I don't fall into a frenzy later. I already am very nervous about this surgery, and I am sure it will only intensify in the next 3 weeks as I get closer to the date!

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Thanks a lot!

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Quote from: tiggy on April 20, 2019, 03:14:27 AMHey IFS,

You continue to inspire many of us with your diligent diary posts and your general experience with this surgery. Really awesome stuff brother, keep up the great work!

If you don't mind, I would really appreciate your advice. I have my pre-op next week and surgery in about 3 weeks. I am going to start putting together items I may need and order necessities like a walker, wheelchair, and a cane. Those seem like the most urgent items. I was really hoping to get your input on which walker and wheelchair to buy. I assume any cane will do? If you found other additional items useful to you, please throw them my way.

I wanted to order them now so that I don't fall into a frenzy later. I already am very nervous about this surgery, and I am sure it will only intensify in the next 3 weeks as I get closer to the date!

Tiggy, I appreciate the kind words and boy don't I know about that feeling just before CLL.  It's a very humbling one.  On one hand you know you're about to enter into a difficult unknown; but then on the other hand you know that you're about to, once and for all, destroy your height dysphoria and re-emerge a new man, re-imagined on your terms.  I can't wait to hear about your journey. Keep us posted, hopefully! Who is your doctor? 

Here are some tips per yours questions above:

Wheelchair - I recommend a model that allows you to recline.  Truth is that you're likely going to spend quite a bit of time, during the 1st month in a wheelchair since you're legs will still be healing from surgical pain and of course your legs are weakened at this point.  At those moments where you want to simply rest and/or take a nap; you will not have the desire, strength, energy to constantly be trying to transfer your self to the bed since this will be painful.   The below link is to a well-reviewed recliner wheel chair that I believe will work great for you.   My wheel chair was not recliner and boy don't I wish I had one for those first couple of months especially.    You'll benefit from this. You may even decide to sleep from it for 1 week; if transfer is far to painful.

Recliner Wheelchair https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-SSP20RBDDA-Wheelchair-Detachable/dp/B005JIKB70/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=reclining+wheelchair&qid=1555733783&s=gateway&sr=8-4 

Walker - I recommend a walker that has wheels in front.   As you gain strength; you'll appreciate the ability to push on the walker to proceed forward.  At the beginning when you are struggling to walk;  you'll appreciate the non wheeled side for stability.  I also recommend including a bag to attach to the walker; so that you can easily transfer things from one place to another.  I am also going to include a link to a tray that works great for placing your dinner dishes, etc, as needed. 

Walker - https://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Button-Folding-Walker-5-Inch/dp/B001HOM4U2/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=walker+with+wheels&qid=1555734049&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Walker Bag - https://www.amazon.com/Walker-Bag-Vive-Accessory-Attachment/dp/B01AOBN78Q/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=walker+bag&qid=1555734234&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Walker Tray - https://www.amazon.com/Jobar-47903800-Walker-Tray-Jb4790/dp/B00Q5C91J8/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=walker+tray&qid=1555734250&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1

Cane - This is an easy one.  I recommend the below.   Do not rush to use the cane; just go your own pace.

https://www.amazon.com/Medline-Offset-Handle-Cane-Black/dp/B000BJBH3Y/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=cane&qid=1555734285&s=gateway&sr=8-4

Crutches - You will likely graduated to crutches after walker. Below is a good option. Arm crutches are best for this.

https://www.amazon.com/Medline-MDS805160-Aluminum-Forearm-Crutches/dp/B00LOLL29C/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2E8S8E8TN0EGT&keywords=arm+crutches+for+adults&qid=1555734326&s=gateway&sprefix=arm+crut%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-5

---

I'll see if I can find some time to put together a tool kit for the community in the coming days so that prospect CLL'ers have the basics covered. I'll make sure to direct this over to you!

All the best,

IFS

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Quote from: InFullStryde on April 20, 2019, 04:27:15 AMTiggy, I appreciate the kind words and boy don't I know about that feeling just before CLL.  It's a very humbling one.  On one hand you know you're about to enter into a difficult unknown; but then on the other hand you know that you're about to, once and for all, destroy your height dysphoria and re-emerge a new man, re-imagined on your terms.  I can't wait to hear about your journey. Keep us posted, hopefully! Who is your doctor? 

Here are some tips per yours questions above:

Wheelchair - I recommend a model that allows you to recline.  Truth is that you're likely going to spend quite a bit of time, during the 1st month in a wheelchair since you're legs will still be healing from surgical pain and of course your legs are weakened at this point.  At those moments where you want to simply rest and/or take a nap; you will not have the desire, strength, energy to constantly be trying to transfer your self to the bed since this will be painful.   The below link is to a well-reviewed recliner wheel chair that I believe will work great for you.   My wheel chair was not recliner and boy don't I wish I had one for those first couple of months especially.    You'll benefit from this. You may even decide to sleep from it for 1 week; if transfer is far to painful.

Dude, tips from someone who's in the thick of it and knows how to be resourceful is so valuable. Feel a bit guilty to ask you to keep these tips coming. I'm piecing all my own ideas together based on your diary.

And congrats on 100% cane walking a little more than 3 months out.

P.S. thanks for that last video : )

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Quote from: OGfivesevener on April 20, 2019, 05:09:01 AMDude, tips from someone who's in the thick of it and knows how to be resourceful is so valuable. Feel a bit guilty to ask you to keep these tips coming. I'm piecing all my own ideas together based on your diary.

And congrats on 100% cane walking a little more than 3 months out.

P.S. thanks for that last video : )

Glad I can help, man!  I'll be creating that CLL tool kit here shortly for everyone.   That last video was also my favorite. lol

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Quote from: InFullStryde on April 20, 2019, 04:27:15 AMTiggy, I appreciate the kind words and boy don't I know about that feeling just before CLL.  It's a very humbling one.  On one hand you know you're about to enter into a difficult unknown; but then on the other hand you know that you're about to, once and for all, destroy your height dysphoria and re-emerge a new man, re-imagined on your terms.  I can't wait to hear about your journey. Keep us posted, hopefully! Who is your doctor? 

Here are some tips per yours questions above:

Wheelchair - I recommend a model that allows you to recline.  Truth is that you're likely going to spend quite a bit of time, during the 1st month in a wheelchair since you're legs will still be healing from surgical pain and of course your legs are weakened at this point.  At those moments where you want to simply rest and/or take a nap; you will not have the desire, strength, energy to constantly be trying to transfer your self to the bed since this will be painful.   The below link is to a well-reviewed recliner wheel chair that I believe will work great for you.   My wheel chair was not recliner and boy don't I wish I had one for those first couple of months especially.    You'll benefit from this. You may even decide to sleep from it for 1 week; if transfer is far to painful.

Recliner Wheelchair https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-SSP20RBDDA-Wheelchair-Detachable/dp/B005JIKB70/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=reclining+wheelchair&qid=1555733783&s=gateway&sr=8-4 

Walker - I recommend a walker that has wheels in front.   As you gain strength; you'll appreciate the ability to push on the walker to proceed forward.  At the beginning when you are struggling to walk;  you'll appreciate the non wheeled side for stability.  I also recommend including a bag to attach to the walker; so that you can easily transfer things from one place to another.  I am also going to include a link to a tray that works great for placing your dinner dishes, etc, as needed. 

Walker - https://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Button-Folding-Walker-5-Inch/dp/B001HOM4U2/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=walker+with+wheels&qid=1555734049&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Walker Bag - https://www.amazon.com/Walker-Bag-Vive-Accessory-Attachment/dp/B01AOBN78Q/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=walker+bag&qid=1555734234&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Walker Tray - https://www.amazon.com/Jobar-47903800-Walker-Tray-Jb4790/dp/B00Q5C91J8/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=walker+tray&qid=1555734250&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1

Cane - This is an easy one.  I recommend the below.   Do not rush to use the cane; just go your own pace.

https://www.amazon.com/Medline-Offset-Handle-Cane-Black/dp/B000BJBH3Y/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=cane&qid=1555734285&s=gateway&sr=8-4

Crutches - You will likely graduated to crutches after walker. Below is a good option. Arm crutches are best for this.

https://www.amazon.com/Medline-MDS805160-Aluminum-Forearm-Crutches/dp/B00LOLL29C/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2E8S8E8TN0EGT&keywords=arm+crutches+for+adults&qid=1555734326&s=gateway&sprefix=arm+crut%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-5

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I'll see if I can find some time to put together a tool kit for the community in the coming days so that prospect CLL'ers have the basics covered. I'll make sure to direct this over to you!

All the best,

IFS

Hey InFullStryde! Do you think this varies by individual? I've read a few stride diaries and it doesn't look like they've needed to be in a wheelchair for the first month.

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Quote from: jaybam on April 20, 2019, 07:20:21 AMHey InFullStryde! Do you think this varies by individual? I've read a few stride diaries and it doesn't look like they've needed to be in a wheelchair for the first month.

Ok i have tried to not post here but i suspected this diary would confuse future stryde patients.
Im worried youre going to write some kind of toolkit because the LL process in this diary is way off what is normal. Your toolkit is going to ill advise people I hope you can stick to info about stretching, nutritions and LL price. And not things like «rest in bed first month to heal from
surgery wounds.»

To future stryde patients reading:
You walk on walker day 2 postop. Crutches day 4. (Crutchless for short distances inside the house. )
There is NO wheelchair needed. I am lengthening right now and know other Stryde patients too. Its false info to say you need wheelchair and be bed ridden. I travelled through airports postop 6 days. When i got home i walked crutchless inside house. Drove car. Bought groceries on crutches. I make food crutchless, shower etc

Sitting on wheelchair or bed all day is how not to do LL when you have a weightbearing nail.
Of course its painful first time walking but thats how body heals stronger. You beat the   out of your cells, supply body nutritions and it will heal them and next day you will walk even longer.