Dr. Giotikas - external tibia/Stryde - Diary 2018/2019

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Yesterday evening I was stretching my left foot like always. Suddenly after a certain movement I felt a sharpe pain in my tibia. Half an hour later I walked to the bathroom and back and already noticed that the pain was increasing. The pain was spreading in my whole left leg. After 1-2 hours the pain decreased again and I was able to sleep. Today I felt better but when I walked again that certain spot made itself noticable again so I have to be careful not spread the pain again by putting too much weight on my left leg.

These are the days you feel frustrated because the pain slows down your recovery/mobility and there's the uncertainty of what that pain is and when or if the pain will go away. 

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Update

That problem went mostly away again today (17th May).
I was able to walk again with full weight bearing on my left leg. On the 16th while the left leg was weak I had to use my right leg mostly when I stood or moved around. Just that one day made my right leg stronger than it was before. I really noticed this now when I was using the crutches again. I can walk faster now as the stronger the legs are the less you have to adjust the crutches for balance and that saves time. I actually prefer the crutches over the walker as I feel less pain in my legs then.

Unfortunately for a few weeks now I have an issue with my left leg. Whenever I want to sit down it gets stiff and cramped, a bit painful too, then when I'm sitting only after about 5 seconds the tension disappears gradually. Today it started to get uncomfortably stiff (only the tibia area) when I walk. I can move it around normally but there's a big pressure. Probably the muscles around the pins under the knee... the X-rays don't indicate a problem. I'm sure it'll be fine again once the frames are off. I guess that the stiffening around that area of my left tibia is a reaction of my body to avoid pain.

Also one nerve of my right lower leg makes itself noticable uncomfortable when I move my leg in certain positions.

Today I also felt a sharp uncomfortable sensation around one of the pins of my right ankle whenever I slowly took off my foot from the floor.

So every day is different. Even after 7 months you'll get surprised by new pain. The chance is high that it will disappear on its own though.

At the end of this day I'm happy though because of my walking progression.

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How's your strength when going from sitting to standing? Are you doing any PT to work on this? What about stairs?

As I said before, we're around the same level. My walking has improved immensely, I can pretty much walk with 1 forearm crutch. And with near-perfect gait and motion. Maybe a little tweaks needed.

However, stairs still need some work, as does standing from sitting position in my case. What about you?

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And yes, the new pains are infuriating. It can kill your motivation. Stay strong man.

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Quote from: jcayabo on May 17, 2019, 11:42:10 PMHow's your strength when going from sitting to standing? Are you doing any PT to work on this? What about stairs?

As I said before, we're around the same level. My walking has improved immensely, I can pretty much walk with 1 forearm crutch. And with near-perfect gait and motion. Maybe a little tweaks needed.

However, stairs still need some work, as does standing from sitting position in my case. What about you?

I lost the ability to stand up on my own after the surgery. I don't think that strength would help until the frames are there. So I don't do much . Pretty sure that after the frames it'll be a lot easier.

I will test the stairs soon now that my legs are both stronger.

My walking abilities do progress luckily too. But whenever I sit for several minutes and want to stand up and walk I can't do that immidietaly. I need about a minute and more until I feel stable on my feet. But that's again the pressure from the pins. What about you? Can you walk immidietaly after standing up?

Quote from: jcayabo on May 17, 2019, 11:43:31 PMAnd yes, the new pains are infuriating. It can kill your motivation. Stay strong man.

True. Thanks! You, too!

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Great, can you tell us your overall impression on Dr G?
Is he accountable, experienced and skilled enough
Did he encourage it band and tendon release and these stuff
How much would you rate him compared to US Doctors?

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Quote from: Great321 on May 18, 2019, 12:38:36 PMI lost the ability to stand up on my own after the surgery. I don't think that strength would help until the frames are there. So I don't do much . Pretty sure that after the frames it'll be a lot easier.

I will test the stairs soon now that my legs are both stronger.

My walking abilities do progress luckily too. But whenever I sit for several minutes and want to stand up and walk I can't do that immidietaly. I need about a minute and more until I feel stable on my feet. But that's again the pressure from the pins. What about you? Can you walk immidietaly after standing up?

True. Thanks! You, too!

I need some sort of support to stand, at least 1 forearm crutch and pushing against the chair/table/whatever. I can walk immediately, but my ballerina is a bit stiff until I walk a good 10 meters and everything is okay, the ballerina is temporary and my feet go normal. All of the pressure for me is on my ankles, but it's not so bad and I can walk immediately.

Are you saying you haven't done any stairs training at all?? Oh man, I hope that's not what you're saying.

Are you walking unaided? With a zimmer? With crutches?

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Quote from: Kenda on May 21, 2019, 12:37:03 PMGreat, can you tell us your overall impression on Dr G?
Is he accountable, experienced and skilled enough
Did he encourage it band and tendon release and these stuff
How much would you rate him compared to US Doctors?

Dr. Giotikas is a reliable doctor who you can contact all the time during and after the whole process. I didn't need those IT band release stuff things. But he talked about that during the consultation. So someone who needs it will get it. I can't compare him to U.S. doctors. I do not recommend fully externals though. LON is better.

Quote from: jcayabo on May 23, 2019, 01:08:31 PMI need some sort of support to stand, at least 1 forearm crutch and pushing against the chair/table/whatever. I can walk immediately, but my ballerina is a bit stiff until I walk a good 10 meters and everything is okay, the ballerina is temporary and my feet go normal. All of the pressure for me is on my ankles, but it's not so bad and I can walk immediately.

Are you saying you haven't done any stairs training at all?? Oh man, I hope that's not what you're saying.

Are you walking unaided? With a zimmer? With crutches?

The stairs I have at home are very high and bad to exercise with. I don't do PT outside somewhere else. But I'm pretty sure that when the frames are off it'll be less of a problem.

I mostly walk with crutches now. Only for standing up I use either the walker or something around me to lift me up.

I still have a tiny bit of ballerina foot. After a good stretch it's gone BUT when I stand straight I can fall backwards... only if my upper body leans a bit forward I wouldn't fall.. weird

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I think I asked you about your PT before, but I don't think you said what kind of PT you're doing.

As for me, I'm not really doing any, but I'm walking in the city, up and down stairs and on uneven ground every day, sometimes upwards of 2km. For sure my ass strength is evaporated and I can't get up myself, I wish there was a way to improve it. I'm looking into yoga classes, maybe seeing some women will motivate me to move my legs around a bit.

If I take the right painkillers (150mg ketanol) I can walk unaided very slowly, and I jerk my upper body completely to do it. I think I took about 10 steps so I'm seeing improvement. Totally penguin style.

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Quote from: jcayabo on May 23, 2019, 08:55:07 PMI think I asked you about your PT before, but I don't think you said what kind of PT you're doing.

As for me, I'm not really doing any, but I'm walking in the city, up and down stairs and on uneven ground every day, sometimes upwards of 2km. For sure my ass strength is evaporated and I can't get up myself, I wish there was a way to improve it. I'm looking into yoga classes, maybe seeing some women will motivate me to move my legs around a bit.

If I take the right painkillers (150mg ketanol) I can walk unaided very slowly, and I jerk my upper body completely to do it. I think I took about 10 steps so I'm seeing improvement. Totally penguin style.

I don't do PT as well. I will continue with it when the frames are off. I only walk and stretch.

I can lift my right leg unaided, too. I think it's just a matter of time and everything will be fine. Good luck!