Femurs in Athens with Giotikas mid Jan 23

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Can you give us an update please?

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Quote from: eztic123 on March 17, 2023, 10:31:10 PMCan you give us an update please?

Hi all,

While this forum can be quite toxic, I also found it to be a valuable resource in a space where information is severely lacking so I feel like it's my duty to contribute.  Please note--one thing I found that people tend to do is generalize based on anectodal evidence, Unfortunately, there is not a lot of scientific research on limb lengthening so these anectodal diaries become important data points.  But understand that they're just that--data points. 
This surgery not only creates a tremendous amount of trauma to your body, but re-traumautizes your body each time you lengthen.  This can create a domino effect so you have many things going on with your body. Some things tend to be more universal, but not everybody's body reacts the same way.  Feel free to ask any questions, but please be kind and humble to each other. 

Anyway-here's a recap so far.

Day 0--Surgery day, January 19th (bi-lateral femurs surgery using g-nail with Dr. Giotikas in Athens)
Woke up from surgery feeling relatively OK and pain free, although my legs felt like they were just sandbags attached to my body.  I walked (or hopped) about 100 feet on the walker with no problem. 
Stayed in the hospital for three nights. Stay was fine.  Had the room to myself with great nurses attending to me regularly but trying their best to let me sleep.  Hospital itself was somewhat rundown, and I wouldn't trust the doctors there other than Dr. G.

First week after surgery-
Settled into the Hyatt and was able to walk around with walker when needed.
I did not feel pain regularly during the day, however, my legs continued to feel like sandbags attached to my body that I could move up and down but had no control over when they moved to the side.  If they started to move to the side, I would not be able to overcome the inertia, and this would be excruciatingly painful. 
At night, I would wake up every half hour and have to pee five or six times per night (I found out this was caused by the swelling, but I still don't understand why the urge to pee often only came at night).
Hyatt staff are are particularly friendly, and it created a pleasant atmosphere in what was to be my home for the next 7 weeks. 

Second week after surgery--
I started PT and clicking. 
I found getting in and out of cabs incredibly stressful because often times doing so would cause my legs to veer off to the side causing incredible pain.  At PT they exclusively focus on stretching. They basically perform the same routine on all femur patients every day.  Aside from getting stretched, they administer electricity, ice, and a compression boot.  You also ride a bike and after two weeks are cleared to walk on an anti-gravity machine.  The PT sessions lasts about 2 to 2.5 hours, but I think that it could probably be accomplished in 45 minutes (30 for the stretching and 15 for the anti-gravity machine).  I question whether any of the other things they do are effective, especially weeks after your surgery.  Nonetheless, despite being way too crowded of a space, PT is generally a pleasant social atmosphere where you get a chance to chat with other patients and the PT staff. 

Clicking for me was incredibly easy.  I was able to do it on my own from the get go, and I could accomplish it in a minute or two.  However, the easy clicks has its drawbacks as I also had an inordinate amount of accidental clicks, especially on my left side. 
I had my first x-ray taken 11 days after surgery and it showed that I had lengthened 1.8 cm on my left side and 1.3 cm on my right side.

Third week--
I increased from 15 clicks per day to 21 clicks, as Dr. G has G-nail patients lengthen 1.5mm during the 3rd week.  Clicking  continued to be a breeze, but I started to get much tighter and PT got more painful. My sleep improved somewhat, as I would wake up every 2 hours instead of every half hour and no longer had the urge to pee repeatedly throughout the night.

Fourth week--
Began to experience nerve pain in my left calf that eventually became unbearable when i applied any type of weight on it.  It also was both numb and extra sensitive to touch.  At PT, they would put tremendous force into stretching me and that too caused unbearable pain to the point that I would be screaming during the PT sessions. 

Fifth week-
I took a couple days off clicking my left leg and the pain in my calf began to subside. 
I had my third x-ray 32 days after surgery.  I had lengthened 4.2 cm on my left leg and 3.8 on my right.  Considering I had not lengthened my left leg for a couple days and then reduced the clicks for another couple days, this meant I was averaging almost 1.5 mm on my left leg.  I believe this was an unforced error that caused me unnecessary pain and numbness that is is still there today.  My x-rays showed slow bone growth, and my flexibility left something to be desired so Dr. G. slowed me down to 7 clicks per day. 

Sixth week--
Reducing the number of clicks dramatically reduced the pain during the day to the point that I stopped taking the tramadol.  However, the day I stopped, I ended up feeling like complete dog  .  It didn't occur to me until quite late in the day that I was going through withdrawal.  Because I still want to take it at night and want the option to take it before PT or if I end up increasing clicks or just feel pain one day, I decided to continue to take 1.5 tramadols per day regularly, regardless of whether I feel pain.  I like my drugs just as much as the next guy, but don't like feeling like I'm a junkie.  Nonetheless, I will wait until this whole thing is over so I only have to go through withdrawal once.  I will tell you that aside from the physical signs of withdrawal, the tramadol made me much more emotional. 

Seventh week-
PT continued to be excruciatingly painful, but my flexibility improved somewhat, probably because I was only clicking at less than .5mm per day. 
I had my final X-ray in Athens which showed improved bone growth.  Dr. G upped me to 8 clicks per day. 

Eight week-
I returned home, and started PT here.  I go twice per week, and it is much more individualized. They focus both on strength and flexibility, however, while the stretches can be fairly uncomfortable for an extended period of time, they stop right before the point of pain.  My physical therapist said that research shows that stretching right up to the point of pain is more effective. 

Notes--I'm walking on crutches quite a bit and hope to walk unassisted shortly after I stop lengthening.  I'm not sure how realistic that is, but I'm able to put on muscle fairly quickly so hope I will be able to get my glutes back sooner rather than later.  I'm also considering taking BPC 157, TB 500, and possibly HGH to assist with recovery.  If anyone has any experience or advice about this, I'd very much appreciate it. 

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Update--So things haven't gone very smoothly over the past month.  About a month ago I found out I had a DVT and a bent nail on the same day.  While the DVT will hopefully go away and won't be an issue, the bent nail real negative impact on recovery.  Because the nail is compromised, I'm the doctor basically is treating it as I have a precise nail.  No walking normally on crutches until the bone consolidates.  Additionally, because the nail bent, my knee alignment is slightly screwed up.  Not exactly sure how bad it'll be, but it's definitely not going to be the smooth recovery I was hoping for. 

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Quote from: oldiebuttbaddie on April 29, 2023, 07:33:06 PMUpdate--So things haven't gone very smoothly over the past month.  About a month ago I found out I had a DVT and a bent nail on the same day.  While the DVT will hopefully go away and won't be an issue, the bent nail real negative impact on recovery.  Because the nail is compromised, I'm the doctor basically is treating it as I have a precise nail.  No walking normally on crutches until the bone consolidates.  Additionally, because the nail bent, my knee alignment is slightly screwed up.  Not exactly sure how bad it'll be, but it's definitely not going to be the smooth recovery I was hoping for.

How did you notice the DVT? Are you still on Xarelto or have you stoppped taking it?

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My leg was quite swollen, and someone told me to get it checked out. I had stopped taking xarelto 30 days after surgery but am back on it for 90 days. 

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In what kind of situation the nail bent? Has it happened to other patients also?

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Quote from: oldiebuttbaddie on April 30, 2023, 05:12:51 AMMy leg was quite swollen, and someone told me to get it checked out. I had stopped taking xarelto 30 days after surgery but am back on it for 90 days.

That is your problem right there. You’re literally not listening to your doctor!

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Quote from: Kanye Western on May 01, 2023, 06:56:29 AMThat is your problem right there. You’re literally not listening to your doctor!

In Greece they only advise 30 days of blood thinners post-surgery.

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Quote from: oldiebuttbaddie on April 30, 2023, 05:12:51 AMMy leg was quite swollen, and someone told me to get it checked out. I had stopped taking xarelto 30 days after surgery but am back on it for 90 days.
Yes, please go for ultra sound scan for any blood clot.
If no, it may be due to other issue and consult your local doctor to get immediate treatment.

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Quote from: p00293 on May 01, 2023, 03:05:04 PMIn Greece they only advise 30 days of blood thinners post-surgery.
For weight-bearing nails only. Precise patients do the full lengthening period.