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

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Hey Great, I’m sorry to learn that it’s a difficult time, I hope the days ahead are better...can you tell me how supportive Dr Giotikas has been about this overall..? Did he help you with finding accommodation, is he responsive? If I am coming to do this surgery alone with no family etc do you think I’ll cope? Can you tell me how much the accommodation is approx? Sorry for bombarding with so many questions..

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How do you feel about Giotikas? Do you think he is skilled? Have you seen other patients apart from zakika?

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Quote from: jcayabo on December 26, 2018, 04:43:27 PMYou speak a lot of truth in the pain management being the biggest problem. The way pain randomly gets you at strange times of the day and strange places really demotivates you.

You've done really well man, congratulations. Just as a reference, I started 2 weeks before you, and now I'm still 3 weeks behind you, only because of slowing down due to pain. I'm not too worried about it, I'm just going at my own pace, but it really shows you've got a lot of tolerance to push through it. Great job.

I have to ask what you're doing for your PT to walk straight. Could you describe it? Or maybe give us a video? Very interested on how you do PT going onward.

The last few days I stopped taken any painkillers. The pain I had was never a lasting one luckily. Also I feel like I could have stopped a lot earlier as I didn't feel that they made a major difference.

Pain was not too bad, only for 2-3 days when I couldn't walk because of weak knees and infection pain was annoying when I bent my leg but endurable.

We will both finish this soon enough and will be gifted with a new height

Thank you for your words. Once I'm in Germany I will upload a video.


Quote from: Ayesha12345 on December 26, 2018, 10:07:52 PMHey Great, I’m sorry to learn that it’s a difficult time, I hope the days ahead are better...can you tell me how supportive Dr Giotikas has been about this overall..? Did he help you with finding accommodation, is he responsive? If I am coming to do this surgery alone with no family etc do you think I’ll cope? Can you tell me how much the accommodation is approx? Sorry for bombarding with so many questions..

Hey, I feel great now Physically and mentally. Especially walking helps me with my digestion problem, because of that I also can sleep better. And my mood is the best when I'm not tired during the day. Dr. Giotikas was really supportive by being very responsive. As a patient you can alaways write or call him. I didn't really ask for accommodation help, I just looked for appartments through airbnb and sent the link to his e-mail so he could check if it fits my needs. I couldn't have done this alone. I can write you a list of things I needed help with in the future, then you can think about how you would do it on your own or with the help of a caretaker. I paid almost 2.000€ for 2,5months.

Quote from: Heightchange on December 28, 2018, 12:49:50 AMHow do you feel about Giotikas? Do you think he is skilled? Have you seen other patients apart from zakika?

I trust Dr. Giotikas and Dr. Giannakos. Apart from some numb skin areas around my lower legs (that will probably get better after a year -speaking from another experience-), I'm in a good state actually and I haven't had major problems so far. I have only had contact with zakika.

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Do you have nerve problems?  Can you move your foot Up and download?

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I had some nerve pain in my left foot but it disappeared. I don't take Lyrica anymore. I have more dorsireflexion or how you call it in my right foot than left one but I think it will improve with time. Meaning I have more difficulties touching the floor with my left heel first.

I'm back home again since the end of last month. I stopped taking pain killers but yesterday I started again with one tramal per day because especially after I sat a longer time or after sleeping there's pressure inside my legs and knees when I lift them after having put my weight on them. But after some time it gets easier. I don't know why (maybe because I took more painkillers) but in Athens I was able to get up and walk faster.

At home I sometimes sleep for almost 12 hours (with stops inbetween where I wake up), bathroom, breakfast, learn another language, read the news, ps4, surfing etc. Mentally I feel very good (except for the thoughts where I wish to be able to walk again) My mother still helps me a lot.

My room is in the first floor and the steps to downstairs are too high and too narrow. Climbing stairs is not possible. My right knee is not strong enough and bending my right knee while putting my whole weight on it can be painful suddenly. Too dangerous. I rather sit on the step and climb down and up while sitting but getting down or up isn't easy either. I need support for that. Getting in and out the car can be tricky as our parkway and street is not that even. On top of that we have winter. So in case there will be snow or ice outside I have to cancel my PT appointment or I call a special organization who helps transfer people in wheelchairs.

My muscle discomfort has 99%  vanished since I arrived here..maybe it was the mattress in Athens

My right foot's stretching got better, but I am sure as soon as the frames get taken off it will be a lot better because there's one pin that hurts a lot when I stretch my foot and while I can move my left foot to the right and left, I can't do the same with the right foot mainly due to that one or both pins at my ankle.

I try to do PT exercises on my own everyday, leaning against the wall, lifting my legs, cycling. Yesterday I walked for an hour in my room. Sometimes I stand while reading sth.
Next week I'll have two PT sessions with a physiotherapist who has seen fixateur externes but isn't experiences with them, still I trust her...it's just strengthening my muscles and stretching, I can tell her what my PT in Athens did with me

I just hope that I will be able to walk before summer because I want go on with life

Next week I want to go to the radiology for new X-rays.

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Six-axis TSF can correct complex leg deformities


This doctor's TSF is triaxial and it seems that it can only be used for limb lengthening


I want to know if I can correct my o-leg at the same time during the operation


^_^

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Quote from: a fading memory on January 19, 2019, 07:43:10 AMSix-axis TSF can correct complex leg deformities


This doctor's TSF is triaxial and it seems that it can only be used for limb lengthening


I want to know if I can correct my o-leg at the same time during the operation


^_^

Yes, Dr. Giotikas mentioned during the consultation that he will use the frame differently as for lengthening it doesn't need to be too complex. You should send him an e-mail with your question.


Anyways here are my new X-rays:
I expected more. I didn't post the lateral (sideways) view on which you can see that there's still a lot that has to grow :/ But well I have at least two more months anyways...

Left leg

Left leg

Right leg

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For this doctor you need about an extra 4000 Euros for complications and 3,500 for accommodation, food, a carer initially for some hours and the transfers from your apartment to where the physiotherapists are. If I’m not mistaken, it’s 3 times per week you must attend physiotherapy and each transfer costs 30 Euros. I think for externals aim to have at least 30,000 Euros in total.

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Quote from: Sara123 on January 22, 2019, 08:09:54 PMFor this doctor you need about an extra 4000 Euros for complications and 3,500 for accommodation, food, a carer initially for some hours and the transfers from your apartment to where the physiotherapists are. If I’m not mistaken, it’s 3 times per week you must attend physiotherapy and each transfer costs 30 Euros. I think for externals aim to have at least 30,000 Euros in total.

Luckily I didn't have any complications. My accommodation was 2.000€ for 2,5months. Groceries are expensive here compared to Germany. Didn't need a carer because of family.

If you check Dr. Giotikas website the PT after the hospital seems to not be included anymore?. I don't know if it was a mistake or a real change...

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Physiotherapy is included during your stay in Athens, what’s not included are the transfer costs/ transportation costs. This is what I see on the website and also it’s the info. I was given by them.