DJCyborg | Dr. Birkholtz | Precice 2.2 Femurs | June 2023

Hello everyone it's DJCyborg, I got my femurs lengthened with Dr. Birkholtz back in June 2023, never make a profile on the forum or put my diary here.

My entire diary is on Victor Cyborg4life D!scord channel but with my tibia surgery coming up later this year in 2025 I thought I would move my entire femur diary over here as well for community members here and then continue both here and on d!scord after my tibia surgery, since a lot of people use the limb lengthening forum as the general online limb lengthening research tool.

I would do my best to copy and paste materials over and then attach photos and videos as well if the forum allows. I'm not use to how the forum works and it's capabilities so bear with me, hopefully photos and videos work on here.

4 hours post op update.

pain was about a 5/10 directly after surgery, been sleeping a lot since now pain is about a 1.5/10

Dr. Birlholtz said the surgery went very well, 12.5mm precice are in and lengthening will start next Wednesday (6 days from today)

https://imgur.com/a/DDlV3MD
Having trouble with file sizes of pictures etc on the forum so I uploaded to imgur and attached the imgur share links from here forward

About 12 hours post op update
Pain is at a 0/10 but I tell them 2/10 to stay ahead of the curve.
Had 3 meals so far, around a liter and a half of water and urinated twice. No catheter was used for my surgery.
Going to be on walkers for about 2 weeks then crutches after that. No wheelchairs in sight. Which is the way I like it.

(Sorry about the previous 4 hour update, seems like the forum doesn't accept youtube post image links as it tries to recognize it as a video, trying to figure it out with KiloKhan a mod of this forum)

Wait how are you going to be on crutches so soon? Esp with P2.2.

Also, will be joining you soon in South Africa! I'll have to go with fitbone though, since there's not enough p2.2 supply these days.

Day 3 post op (got day mixed up)
Pain generally at a 1/10 if im not moving. During PT this morning right leg pain was about 3/10 at worst. Left leg however feeling much more pain when moving. Pain on the side of legs and almost feel like bone/nerve pain but idk. Also could be due to my severe muscles tensioning up this morning when they had to put a catheter in to drain 1.2 liters of urine
Going to do as much self pt on my left leg as well today until physical therapist comes back for the second session of the day

things are starting to get tough, especially small things like passing urine

day 3 pain much worse than 1-2 will update tomorrow. pain is very uncomfortable

day 4 post op.
pain much better controlled now, overall you just need to stay ahead of the pain. I have a catheter in that they plan on taking out tomorrow. I am having trouble urinating for some reason but they expect that to be fixed soon. Whatever sleep drug they gave me yesterday could probably knock out a elephant, I'm still feeling it today but the good thing is im sleeping a lot. Going back to sleep after typing this out. Finished a PT session this morning that went well and have another one later today. I can move both legs freely without too much discomfort. Currently 10:37am on Sunday  Lengthening with the ERC starts on Wednesday. Last night they moved me to my own private room. It's quite nice I have to say.

Lets keep pushing and healing ♥️

Day 5 post op
everything feels much better except PT just now. On the walker I got incredibly tired after just maybe 15-20 meters. The PT said its very normal around this time after surgery as blood pressure is very low. I felt dizzy and ears ringing. They said after another 2 or 3 weeks things will normalize out.

Everything I took for granted before I never will again, peeing, bowel movements, etc

This journey is tough but we just push through

Day 6 post op
Pain wise today the least pain I felt so far since surgery knock on wood. Would love for it to stay this way.

For some reason woke up feeling weak and dizzy though. They took my blood pressure, oxygen levels, heart rate, temp etc and they said its all within normal ranges.

Usually I have a huge appetite right when waking up but today breakfast is in front of my currently and I have no appetite to eat it. Dr. Birkholtz visited twice yesterday. I'll ask him if there is anything of concern when he comes to visit today. My start day of lemghthening has now changed from Wednesday (6 days post op) to Thursday (7 days post op) as Dr. Birkholtz will be out of town Wednesday.

Confirmed it's the old ERC decice but that one is supposedly better in many ways one being much more acurate lengthening and a more robust machine compares to the new lightweight plastic purple ones.

Yesterday I got up to pee and do #2 twice on my own and walker, felt amazing. Post catheder pain is gone.

Had a short 25 min PT session this morning streches and stuff went well overall. Just felt a bit dizzy throughout so the PT didn't want to risk any walker work until my afternoon 5pm session. I'm not sure how much weight I have lost since surgury day but I got my first good look at my face yesterday in the bathroom and my face looked a bit leaner.

Just want this feeling is weakness/tiredness and dizziness to go away today.

Taking this journey day by day

Update: Dr Birkholtz came to visit and now has ordered a blood test for me to make sure everything is ok electrolytes wise etc

I love how hands on Dr. Birkholtz is and how he visits every patient of his every single day

Update #2: Blood results are back and we know why I feel so dizzy and nauseated. My blood hemoglobin levels are at a 8.9 when the normal level should be at least above 10. Under 13 is considered low for males. I have two choice, one is a blood transfusion or two is take a iron supplement and it will return to normal within the next day or two. I have opted for the supplement.

I'm quite surprised ive been able to do all these crazy walker movements and going to restroom on my own these last few days. Just goes to show how well everything else Dr. Birkholtz does to allow me to even be like this in such a weakened state.

This was also an error of mine for not communicating with Birkholtz and his team well enough. I assumed the dizziness and nausea the first few days were normal.

Lesson learned never assume. And talk to your doctor!

Dr. Birkholtz has already visited me 3 times today and he says he will pop by again later today. This level of personal care is so out of this world its truly amazing.

Day 7
Some 4am thoughts here in South Africa. My lengthening starts today, later today. My gap is at least a few mm from what you can see in the xray image above. I haven't broke the news to Dr. Birkholtz yet but I'm changing my lengthening goal.

Originally goal is 6.0cm on left leg and 6.4cm on right leg

New goal is 5.2cm on left leg and 5.6cm on right leg

I know... the Kanye Western jokes are coming but that gap man... that is at least a few mm. I want a very conservative lengthening from the start. Plus lengthening 5.6cm on my shorter leg from here im getting like 6cm from it which is what I want.

This is subject to change, please no Kanye Western jokes guys but I'm just spilling my 4am thoughts

Day 8 post surgery
so far I have lengthened 0.75mm today. I have 0.25mm more before bed

Strange observation today. The nurses came into my room twice today already asking if I need pain medication and I said there is no pain both times. However we agreed we will take pain medication before bed just in case today since its only been 8 days since sugury. Pain wise it has always been low even right after surgery but today is the lowest it has ever been so far.

We continue lengthening 1mm per day and because I have precice nails for femurs it should be 1mm a day all the way until I finish

day 13 post op updates
Im feeling great, ERC is so nice to use. Got my first xrays post starting lengthening today. lengthend length is at about 8.7mm so we will hit 1cm tomorrow pretty much. Bone growth is also going very well especially 13 days after the osteotomy is performed. On the lighter side its harder to see but there is bone growth throughout all areas there is a gap, I'm happy, Dr. Birkholtz is happy. Lets continue growing and consolidating bone 💪

https://imgur.com/a/l2dHAU1 Day 13 xrays

One of my femurs started out 4mm longer and has a slight rotation deformity. Both of which will also be fixed while lengthening

Day 17 post op
I feel like the 9.5 to 10 hours of sleep mark is optimal for me. Sleeping is when the body heals and recovers.

Prior to surgery 8 hours of sleep is the optimal range for me but I feel this surgery kicked up my sleep needs by 2 additional hours per night.

I have also been eating a lot more, its odd when I eat now I feel myself gravitating to proteins before carbs. not on purpose but almost like subconsciously. I just eat up all the proteins on my plate before going to carbs.

today I will officially hit 10.25mm of lengthened length so the 1cm mark (1/6 of the way there) I hit the 1cm a few days ago if you count the gap created by surgery and then the free mm done after surgery to make sure the nail is functioning properly.

keep pushing forward everyday, this journey is going a lot faster than I had imagined what it would be

I do miss the feeling of normal walking though so I know once I can walk normally and go upstairs normally like pre surgery later this year it will feel sooooo good

Day 22 post op
I will reach 1.4cm in lengthened length today. Counting the gap created during surgery plus the mm after surgery im more around 1.7-1.8cm

time is passing quite fast

everyday just focusing on my goal of 6cm, doing good PT sessions, self stretches, building the business, good nutrition, and recovery.

Day 25 post op
Next xray is on Wednesday and I will be exactly 2cm that day

1/3 of my lengthening journey will be over by that time.

Everyday we keep pushing forward

Day 28 post op
It has almost been a full month post op already. Times flies. I'm really settling into a routine now and most of my free time outside of everyday tasks and stretching I'm spending on catching up on some work for my business. Summers before q4 is always the busy season haha. If I'm not in chat as often don't be alarmed.

I will pop in for a little bit everyday 20-30 mins or so.

Bone callous formation on xrays are looking great so far, Dr. Birkholtz is happy.

I'm going to continue to focus on my goal of getting to 6cm, just about 1/3 of the way there so far.

In my recovery stage after lengthening i'll share walking gait progress etc

Everyday the main focus is just keep pushing forward and continuing to up my caloric intake especially proteins and calcium intake

Day 32 post op
As of 3 days ago I am 100% off painkillers now. The only medication I am taking is the blood thinner.

Pain during the day is a constant 1-2 out of 10 and at night when I sleep it's a bit more uncomfortable. It's hard to keep both legs straight while sleeping I'm finding myself sleeping with one leg bent and one straight and alternating throughout the night multiple times.

My lengthening rate I have reduced to 0.75mm per day after some knee tightness and right leg nerve pain while stretching and it has solved both issues. This will add an extra 13 days to my lengthening with my expected finish date for lengthening to 6.0cm now August 28th. I don't mind though an extra 2 weeks for more comfort is worth it to me.

I'm currently in South Africa on a 90 day tourist stay the one Americans can come and stay 90 days visa free with. Towards the end of August I will be extending my stay with a medical visa to give myself time to fully heal and return to a normal walking gait before leaving.

Today I will hit 2.3cm

This journey is a long one, keep pushing forward day by day

Day 36 post op update
Everything feels like it's on cruise control now. Hit 2.6cm in lengthened length today. With gap plus mm we are around 2.9cm

Since hitting 2cm I have been lengthening 0.75mm per day rather than 1mm per day.

Can't wait for the next xray on Wednesday where my lengthened length will officially be 3cm

Painwise during the day we are at a 0-1 out of 10. Sitting is when there is slight discomfort. Standing/laying no discomfort other than when I sleep and wake up in the middle of the night quads are always a bit tight and a few knee bends takes care of it and I go back to sleep

Debating if I should go on safari once I finish lengthening or not right now, seeing actual lions and zebras and stuff would be pretty cool. Bring my crutches with. Still thinking about it

Day 40 post op
Got xrays done this morning bone growth is great and there is enough bone for me to start walking with crutches.

Dr. Birkholtz did warn that from centimeters 3 to 6 things will inevitably get tighter but we keep stretching and keep the same routine. In 2 weeks when it's time for the next x ray I will be at 4.2cm of lengthened length.

Lateral view of both femurs. Seems like you guys really like to see xrays LOL

⚠️ Reminder ⚠️
- Do not share / distribute my media or X-rays without my consent
https://imgur.com/a/K2SAU9D

Day 43 post op, I have 4 1/2 weeks of lengthening remaining. Unlimited sirloin steaks, going to do 4-5 of these for the protein 🦾
https://imgur.com/a/LAIhWAR