Quote from: Great321 on December 06, 2018, 05:43:52 PMUpdate 3,975
X-rays
Today new X-rays were taken. Dr. Giannakos said that they look very good. This time I can post them since they weren’t given via CD. According to the number of clicks I made I should be around 3,9cm but I guess the X-rays will show less like last time. The exact numbers will be given to me soon. Then I know how many days more I have to lengthen.
The callus is more or less visible depending on the light in the pictures. So the callus of the fibula isn't as visible because I focused on the bigger bone.
Left tibia: https://i.imgur.com/9ZYuiHc.jpg
also Left tibia: https://i.imgur.com/ZNOselu.jpg (In this one two holes are visible..strange, I have to ask about that)
One of the fibulas (close up): https://i.imgur.com/dUZzDq5.jpg
Right tibia: https://i.imgur.com/c6BypMB.jpg (doesn't seem to look as good...but at least Dr. Giannakos was pleased)
Walking
The last two days we went outside by the seaside and I walked about 250meters each day. It was sunny and didn’t feel like December at all. That was the first time I walked so much without a stop in between. With healthy legs that’s a ridiculous small distance but with frames on that was a milestone. My next goal is to slowly increase the distance I could walk.
Muscle pain
My gluteus muscle is still causing problems at night. I apply that devil’s claw balm twice per night. Sometimes when I have to stand up in the morning it is very uncomfortable, there is tension going from lower back to foot (only left side) which makes it difficult to walk. It gets better later in the day. Without this problem the whole LL process would have been a lot easier to handle.
Appetite
I had lost my appetite after the surgery. Sometimes after a few bites I felt sick already. Every next bite was a fight. On top of that my digestion was too fast if you know what I mean so I might not got all the vitamins and stuff of the food I ate. Eating became a burden for me. I stopped drinking normal water from the supermarket, now I only drink fennel tea and my digestion system got better. Recently I noticed that I can eat more, too.
dont know what to say about the xrays but you should try to walk more, alot.
As much as you can.
Dr. Giotikas - external tibia/Stryde - Diary 2018/2019
Quote from: BladeRunner on December 06, 2018, 06:43:44 PMdont know what to say about the xrays but you should try to walk more, alot.
As much as you can.
Thanks for the input! Yeah I try
I just talked to Dr. Giotikas. He is also pleased with the X-rays and my pin sites.
He said that exact measurement can't be done but I'd be around 3,4cm and I should lengthen 10 more days with 3 clicks per day.
Quote from: BladeRunner on December 06, 2018, 06:43:44 PMdont know what to say about the xrays but you should try to walk more, alot.
As much as you can.
taking your advice right now. I walk, walk and walk inside my appartment. Already walked 8 times the distance I walked in the very beginning with some stops inbetween. Still have enough energy to do a couple of more. Each time is like 50 steps.
Actually now I'm sure that I will be able to increase the amount I could walk by a lot...
I will keep track of my progress.
But guys, don't think that I walk like a normal person. Still can't put my whole weight on one foot without being very careful. So my weight is always spread on either both feet or on one more than the other. I still help myself with my arms but try to do it less and my butt still sticks out not because of duck ass but because my heels don't touch the ground completely (when I stand straight, they do when I lean forward with my upper body) and my muscles are still too weak
Quote from: Great321 on December 06, 2018, 05:30:53 PMThank you, too! Will you see him in the U.K. or in Athens? Looking forward to read about your experience:)
No. At least my body couldn't cope with that amount. I'm 20 and my right heel couldn't touch the ground already at around 3cm. Also I wouldn't want to wear the frames for such a long time. Each cm means about 1,5months more of the frames.
I’m seeing him in London for a consultation quite soon. I will prepare questions for him and the useful information I’ve been given in this forum from this year will help me compile many of those questions. Once I’ve seen him, I will post the information he gives me on this forum hoping this will be of use to others. I will then need to have a few other consultations with other surgeons. Then I must make a decision. Should I have the operation with this doctor then it will be in Athens.
How are your pain levels when walking? Are you still taking 1 tramadol and 2 Lyrica, and what are your dosages? I'm close to the same progress as you, but the pain is really difficult, standing in the same place without painkillers is almost impossible, I get a huge amount of pressure on my tibias.
I am also impressed you're able to get 3 turns/4 turns consistently. If I do 3 turns or even 2, the pain in my ankles is incredible. Really astounded by your progress man.
So when will you start Precice on your Femurs ?
Do you think from your experience that it would be better and easier ?
Quote from: Sara123 on December 07, 2018, 02:22:28 AMI’m seeing him in London for a consultation quite soon. I will prepare questions for him and the useful information I’ve been given in this forum from this year will help me compile many of those questions. Once I’ve seen him, I will post the information he gives me on this forum hoping this will be of use to others. I will then need to have a few other consultations with other surgeons. Then I must make a decision. Should I have the operation with this doctor then it will be in Athens.
Nice of you! Then good luck with your decision 
Quote from: Kenda on December 07, 2018, 12:46:26 PMSo when will you start Precice on your Femurs ?
Do you think from your experience that it would be better and easier ?
I will wait with Stryde because I have just experienced how valuable it is to be able to walk. I want to recover as much as possible, enjoy working legs and then. A year at least. And yes, I think Stryde will be easier. I can't say if Stryde is better for tibias. I just wanted to avoid the possibility of permanent knee pain. (and to save money)
Quote from: jcayabo on December 07, 2018, 05:09:52 AMHow are your pain levels when walking? Are you still taking 1 tramadol and 2 Lyrica, and what are your dosages? I'm close to the same progress as you, but the pain is really difficult, standing in the same place without painkillers is almost impossible, I get a huge amount of pressure on my tibias.
I am also impressed you're able to get 3 turns/4 turns consistently. If I do 3 turns or even 2, the pain in my ankles is incredible. Really astounded by your progress man.
Except for the serious muscle problem and some minor but not long lasting pains around the knee area I don't feel any major pain while walking. When I had the knee pain my doctor told me to take at least two Tramals a day and Paracetamol after every 6 hours but after the knee pain has stopped I don't feel the need to take so much. Actually I don't even know if Tramal has ever helped me. I still take 2 Lyrica a day and it helps quite well since I don't have any nerve pain anymore. I felt that pressure on my tibias in the beginning of lengthening. I felt pressure around my ankle and some nerve pain when I did the turns in the beginning but then I started to do the turns very slowly, sometimes even with stops im between to avoid that pressure and since then I don't have any pain during lengthening.
Sorry to hear that! I wish I could help you more. Everyone is different though. I know from someone else that he felt the pain always after walking.
Since I started walking a lot more I feel better. That was the first night I didn't have to use the devil's claw balm to ease the muscle pain because it got better through walking. Today I walked probably at least 20-30 times 50 steps.
How do I contact Dr. Giotikas?
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