Youre planning to remove your scars or youre saying remove the rods? IF scars how are you going to get them removed? I hard the best way is through laser therapy.
What about martial arts? Kickboxing, MMA on compete levels? Is it possible to return to this kind of sports and continue to train hard? Chat gpt and deepseek said that it is not safe even after full recovery, joints wear out faster bc they are not adapted to new height, new bone is weaker than "natural" bones and will be "ahils heel" especially in martial arts. Is there someone with this kind of experience?
how is 'new' bone weaker than natural bone?? - it actually grows back stronger, to compensate for and reinforce the bone around the break.
For combat/contact sports at a high level, why would you do LL?? - wait till you cannot compete any more, as much because you will lose your natural range of motion.
For general fitness, you can easily get back to full range of motion ie, running at normal pace and good quality gym work.
No-one will be crippled if you follow the doctor's advice.
Quote from: kja on September 26, 2025, 09:27:44 AMhow is 'new' bone weaker than natural bone?? - it actually grows back stronger, to compensate for and reinforce the bone around the break.
For combat/contact sports at a high level, why would you do LL?? - wait till you cannot compete any more, as much because you will lose your natural range of motion.
For general fitness, you can easily get back to full range of motion ie, running at normal pace and good quality gym work.
No-one will be crippled if you follow the doctor's advice.
Excellent question. This gets to the very heart of how bone regeneration works and why it's such a remarkable, yet limited, process.
The "new" bone formed during limb lengthening (called the regenerate) is weaker than natural bone primarily in the medium-term (months to a few years after the procedure). Over a very long time (years), it can become very strong, but its structure will always be different.
Here’s a breakdown of why it's weaker, using an analogy.
The Analogy: Green Wood vs. Seasoned Hardwood
Think of your natural bone as a piece of seasoned, dense hardwood. It's strong, with a complex, organized internal structure.
The new regenerate bone is like green wood that is still drying and hardening. It's less dense, more porous, and its structure isn't fully organized yet.
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Key Reasons for the Weakness:
1. Micro-Architecture and Porosity
· Natural Bone: Has a complex, honeycomb-like structure (trabecular bone) inside, surrounded by a very dense, hard shell (cortical bone). This structure is optimized over years to handle stress.
· New Regenerate: Initially, it's more like a porous, crisscrossing network of bone spicules. It lacks the dense cortical shell and the organized internal architecture. This makes it more flexible but much less resistant to bending and twisting forces. It's like comparing a solid brick wall to a lattice of thin sticks.
2. Bone Mineral Density (BMD)
· Natural Bone: Is highly mineralized. Calcium and other minerals have been deposited over a long time, making it rigid and strong.
· New Regenerate: Starts as a soft, cartilage-like "callus" that gradually mineralizes. Even after the bone appears solid on an X-ray, its mineral density is lower than that of the original bone. It takes many months or even years for the mineralization to catch up.
3. Collagen Alignment
· Natural Bone: The collagen fibers (the protein framework that minerals stick to) are aligned in specific patterns to resist the usual forces placed on the bone.
· New Regenerate: The collagen fibers are initially laid down in a random, disorganized way as the bone is stretched. It's only over time, in response to weight-bearing (Wolff's Law), that they realign along the lines of stress. Until this reorganization is complete, the bone is mechanically inferior.
4. Blood Supply
· Natural Bone: Has a mature, established network of blood vessels.
· New Regenerate: The blood supply is initially immature and fragile. While it's sufficient for healing, it's not as robust, which can also contribute to slower strengthening.
The Timeline of Strengthening
This is a critical point that surgeons emphasize:
1. Consolidation Phase (Months 3-12+): After the lengthening stops, the regenerate slowly consolidates and mineralizes. On an X-ray, it progresses from looking hazy to solid. During this phase, it is very vulnerable to bending or fracture from a direct blow or a fall. This is why patients are on crutches for so long.
2. Remodeling Phase (1-3+ Years): This is the long-term process where the body continuously breaks down and rebuilds the bone in response to stress (Wolff's Law). The bone slowly develops a denser cortical shell and its internal architecture becomes more organized.
3. Long-Term Outcome: After several years, the regenerate can become very strong—strong enough for running and most activities. However, studies show that its micro-architecture and mechanical properties never become 100% identical to the original, never-touched bone. It may remain slightly more porous or have subtle differences in mineral density.
Conclusion: Weaker is a Relative Term
So, is the new bone "weaker"?
· Yes, absolutely, for the first 1-2 years. It is a significant vulnerability.
· In the long term, it becomes "strong enough" for normal life and even sports.
· But for high-impact, high-risk activities like kickboxing, where the bones of the leg are subjected to extreme twisting and impact forces, the fact that it is potentially a lifelong "weak link" is a massive risk. A direct kick to the shin in the regenerated area could have more severe consequences than it would on a natural bone.
This inherent, long-term vulnerability is a primary reason why surgeons strongly dissuade patients who want to return to activities with a high risk of trauma to the lengthened bones.
Answer from deepseek that i asked earlier.
Quote from: kja on September 26, 2025, 09:27:44 AMFor combat/contact sports at a high level, why would you do LL??
Bc i want to be higher now and continue to training? Height is an advantage in all life aspects and in martial arts especially, i feel insecure with rivals who is higher than me
im 175 cm (5'9 if i remember it right). Women in my country demands 180 cm minimun (5'11), i lie to them of course that im 180), bit with real 180 i can lie that im 185))), just a joke, anyway iwant +5 cm and continue my life if it was my natural height so i try to understand is it possible or will be some lifetime restrictions after that.
Sorry for double posting
Anyone attempting to use an 'anology' of differences in deadwood and greenwood barely merits a response.
You then state that over time the bone is strong but 'will always be a different structure' - that was not the question.
You wanna talk wood - become a carpenter.
You wanna discuss long-tern bone regeneration and strength - please discuss with an accredited orthopaedic surgeon, with LL expertise.
Or read some books.
The bone itself becomes harder than the original bone - an analogy could be with those martial arts experts, whose hands and shins break and can smash through bricks after bone regeneration - in time.
The femur and tibia are stronger than cement - so could hardly sustain a bigger body after lengthening without the above.
Doctors and research confirm it takes 3 years to reach said increased strength in the leg bones.
striving - what sport are you specifically referencing? - and how old are you??
Might be easier to answer in this way.
if it is martial arts/kickboxing - then you get it done - but would need at least 3 years before you attempted to return to competitive action after LL
To return to high quality running - 1 year/18 months from surgery.
Quote from: kja on September 26, 2025, 01:36:21 PMAnyone attempting to use an 'anology' of differences in deadwood and greenwood barely merits a response.
You then state that over time the bone is strong but 'will always be a different structure' - that was not the question.
You wanna talk wood - become a carpenter.
You wanna discuss long-tern bone regeneration and strength - please discuss with an accredited orthopaedic surgeon, with LL expertise.
Or read some books.
The bone itself becomes harder than the original bone - an analogy could be with those martial arts experts, whose hands and shins break and can smash through bricks after bone regeneration - in time.
The femur and tibia are stronger than cement - so could hardly sustain a bigger body after lengthening without the above.
Doctors and research confirm it takes 3 years to reach said increased strength in the leg bones.
It is from deepseek, as i understand it is using different sources from web for response. Of course it can mistake, bc of that im here, to hear other people opininions and exp.
Quote from: kja on September 26, 2025, 01:40:48 PMstriving - what sport are you specifically referencing? - and how old are you??
Might be easier to answer in this way.
Kickboxing, but MMA in plans, not professional, but im compete on lower levels. Im 33, training for six years.
Quote from: kja on September 26, 2025, 01:58:18 PMforgot to say - you'd also have the lack of confidence psychologically in your legs to deal with too - probably harder to.ovrrcome than the surgery and recovery itself.
would you trust a big kick on your shins!!?? (if tibia) 
I try to understand exactly this moment - can i trust in my legs after surgery.
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