Quote from: ThirdSpace on May 04, 2023, 09:59:28 PMThank you for starting your diary!
I was wondering: How possible is it, given your experience, to work a remote tech job while lengthening? Is it plausible or ridiculous to expect to function at work after 2 weeks? It seems to me that if you "don't have time for anything else" after all your stretching that that includes work?
It is more than possible but it depends on a couple of things.
1. Have you found your method of sleep management? The number one reason why my day is fragmented is due to my lack of sleep and therefore lack of energy throughout the day. Also falling asleep randomly throughout the day requires a lot of downtime from waking up and getting up to speed. Some LL'ers are taking Benedryl or Tylenol PM and some are taking cannabis/CBD. I will be trying that soon to see how it helps.
2. How much are you stretching? The more intensively you stretch the less time you will have but you can most certainly weave in stretches in between work.
I highly recommend taking the first 4 weeks off though. My pain overall wasnt super high aside from my injury but for some people it is very difficult time. After the first 4 weeks, I'd say most people can definitely manage a remote job as long as its not an overwhelming amount of time/workload. There are a few LL'ers here doing remote work while lengthening.
Dr. Assayag - Internal Femurs - 2023
Quote from: Yau on May 04, 2023, 01:17:19 PMDo your PT have experiences with LL patients? I think about when I finish my lengthening and go back to home. It is difficult to find a PT have LL experiences.
What did Dr Assayag think about your hip infection? Hope your hip inflection goes away!
The one that reinjured my knee did have experience but limited experience with LL patients. He was far too aggressive in the stretching.
Dr. Assayag put me on an antibiotic called doxy but I have a sensitive stomach so we decided to try Keflex first from my PCP. It seems to be responding but very slowly.
Quote from: Vx88x on May 04, 2023, 08:06:26 AM
I also got a hip infection around day 24. I am currently taking Keflex/Mupriocin prescribed by my primary care physician. Hoping that subsides soon.
My hips are still very sore and it is difficult to roll over easily.
What exactly do you mean by "hip infection"? Is it a bone infection?
Quote from: Vx88x on May 04, 2023, 07:59:55 AMI immediately flew back home and scheduled surgery back in the United States with Dr. Assayag. He is the only other surgeon I would ever consider after meeting everyone else.
Can you share why?
Quote from: Vx88x on May 04, 2023, 08:06:26 AMI decided to lengthen 1mm for 5 days and then .75mm for the rest of the way til 8cm.
This whole journey so far has been a test of mental fortitude. I have to keep reminding myself why I did this as it is difficult to keep that in focus right now. This isn't easy at all and I feel as though the most difficult parts have not even started yet...
What do you mean you decided to lower to .75mm? What did Assayag think? It's normal to lower but it's typically done later on. In some ways, the difficult parts are behind you, and you definitely "started" once you broke your legs. The first month is very different but you do get used to it (to a degree...) and it becomes somewhat of a routine you just go through.
Quote from: Vx88x on May 04, 2023, 09:49:18 AMSometimes I lose sight of why I did this due to the exhaustion of being wheelchair bound and immobile.
This also becomes easier over time. Personally I thought I'll hate being in a wheelchair for so long, but honestly I don't think it's that bad. Just like everything else, you kinda get used to it. As long as you can mostly take care of yourself, and with help here and there (and you're lucky to have family/gf around you) - definitely doable!
Keep stretching a lot, that's so important! I was doing the exact same thing - stretching immediately after each lengthening session for 45-60 minutes. Made me feel so much better and I think it's really paying off now.
Quote from: Limbfan2020 on May 05, 2023, 02:42:25 PMWhat exactly do you mean by "hip infection"? Is it a bone infection?
Suture abscesses on my hip sutures.
Quote from: hippo60 on May 05, 2023, 08:06:47 PMCan you share why?
What do you mean you decided to lower to .75mm? What did Assayag think? It's normal to lower but it's typically done later on. In some ways, the difficult parts are behind you, and you definitely "started" once you broke your legs. The first month is very different but you do get used to it (to a degree...) and it becomes somewhat of a routine you just go through.
This also becomes easier over time. Personally I thought I'll hate being in a wheelchair for so long, but honestly I don't think it's that bad. Just like everything else, you kinda get used to it. As long as you can mostly take care of yourself, and with help here and there (and you're lucky to have family/gf around you) - definitely doable!
Keep stretching a lot, that's so important! I was doing the exact same thing - stretching immediately after each lengthening session for 45-60 minutes. Made me feel so much better and I think it's really paying off now.
Which part? About why I chose Dr. Assayag or why I felt more comfortable in the United States?
Dr. Assayag has nothing bad to say about slowing down to .75mm. It is my preference to go slower for me to avoid more pain, complications, tightness, and any other issues that may arise. I may eventually drop to .50mm per day as I am in no rush to finish lengthening.
Yeah I am trying to get used to everything still.. I guess it'll take a bit more time. The wheelchair part just sucks when going out to places to eat etc... Are you currently lengthening right now too?
I appreciate the kind words and encouragement =]
Yeah, I think the stretching strategy is doing very well so far, I am constantly getting more and more flexible than I was pre-op, even though my legs are getting longer and longer.
I believe he meant Assayag over all the others. Which I am also curious as to why
Quote from: Vx88x on May 06, 2023, 12:11:59 PMWhich part? About why I chose Dr. Assayag or why I felt more comfortable in the United States?
Dr. Assayag has nothing bad to say about slowing down to .75mm. It is my preference to go slower for me to avoid more pain, complications, tightness, and any other issues that may arise. I may eventually drop to .50mm per day as I am in no rush to finish lengthening.
Yeah I am trying to get used to everything still.. I guess it'll take a bit more time. The wheelchair part just sucks when going out to places to eat etc... Are you currently lengthening right now too?
I appreciate the kind words and encouragement =]
Yeah, I think the stretching strategy is doing very well so far, I am constantly getting more and more flexible than I was pre-op, even though my legs are getting longer and longer.
Why Assayag over Paley (and/or other US doctors).
As for slowing down, just for perspective - Rozbruch starts all his patients at .8mm (unless very young then he does 1mm), for similar reasons. People typically end up slowing more eventually either because of lower bone growth or pain. I think it's quite rare not to slow down at all. Another option is to alternate daily, like .75mm and .5mm. That helps as well.
Here is your problem - you're going out 
. Each to his own of course, but personally I avoid going out, unless I really need to. I don't have someone with me full time (or anywhere near that) so it's not convenient as you can imagine.
Technically I finished lengthening (reached 8cm on both legs) but because of lower bone growth in one leg I reversed a bit and now lengthening back to 8cm again (will finish soon).
Glad you're getting more flexible, just be prepared that it's going to change 
Quote from: hippo60 on May 06, 2023, 05:29:23 PMWhy Assayag over Paley (and/or other US doctors).
Ah okay.
Why Dr. Assayag?
My decision was both based subjectively and objectively but with less emphasis on the objective. I feel as though most the surgeons in the United States have a fairly solid base level of surgical knowledge and skill that keeps us patients safe. Their technique and skill are all above average. So the objective values are somewhat leveled on this side of the pond. Although with the help of a specialist colleague we did admire Dr. Assayag and Dr. Lee’s immaculate precision and details from previous patient’s x-rays that I spoke to. This was more a of in-the-industry geeky admiration thing.
The biggest difference for my choice was his care, attention, warmth, kindness, and genuinely active concern for his patients. And I put a big emphasis on active. This surgery, as we all know, is extremely difficult. And although there is a good bit of information with a straightforward process, there are some discomforts or unexpected experiences that happen along the way.
The unknown, for me, makes me feel uncertain and gives me some anxiety. I have never, in my career of being in a sector of the medical industry, have seen a doctor actively care for their patients in a way that Dr. Assayag did. He gives his patients/prospective patients his direct personal cell line. Even prior to surgery, after consultation, I asked him dozens and dozens of questions, without even having made a deposit yet. He was so friendly, answered everything, and never made an inkling of distain or arrogance.
In our rather fast paced world, the genuine soft paced care he gave stood out head and shoulders from the rest. Even after pausing my initial decision for a time being, Dr. Assayag reached out to make sure I was okay. If he cared that much before even receiving a deposit, it made me feel comfortable on how he could be after becoming one of his patients.
And now after surgery. Whenever I have an issue or question, he answers very quickly, anytime that he is not in surgery or having family time. When there is an issue, I always would wake up to a text message from him checking up on me and how I was doing. I appreciated it very much because I know he was actively finding time to do so between surgeries or appointments. And when the pain was high and/or morale was low and times were just tough, those little things really give a sense of comfort, that he was thinking about how I was doing.
If I ever felt uncomfortable or felt as though I needed slightly more attention, he would somehow squeeze me in same-day or next day even if the appointment list was full, to ease my concerns. I consider that above and beyond patient care.
So that is my personal reason for choosing Dr. Assayag. It is like a genuine mom and pop shop with simple love and care without the bureaucratic bull or tape.
But I encourage everyone who is considering LL reading this, you have to go visit the doctor you are willing to consider. It made a huge difference and impact for me.
Quote from: hippo60 on May 06, 2023, 05:29:23 PM
Glad you're getting more flexible, just be prepared that it's going to change
Yeah I am expecting to hit a wall soon. Did you gradually lose flexibility or did you one day wake up and a chunk of your flexibility was gone?
And woo! Very happy for you that you are almost done!! Im excited to hit 8cm if I can make it. Seems so far away haha.
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