Day 36 (Thursday, August 27) - 28.7 mm Taller
Official Graduation Day from Crutches:
As noted in my diary, the first time I tried an unassisted walk was on Day 21 (Wed., Aug. 12th), however at the time I did not feel like it would benefit me to go 100% unassisted. Two weeks have passed since then, and I am confident my legs are more than ready to go unassisted. I therefore graduated myself from crutches as well and wet unassisted 100%. I ended up walking perhaps more than other days, cause without the crutches, I had more freedom in terms of doing my own tasks. E.g., instead asking my family to make me coffee and bring to the table, I did those tasks myself. I almost did everything by myself today. That certainly put a lot of pressure on my legs, however it felt right, meaning I believed my legs are ready for the extra pressure and the unassisted walks would accelerate the healing process.
The rest was pretty much the routine I have been following: exercising before and after each lengthening session, taking vitamins, etc. as noted in my diary., and pain management (Tramadol, ointments, massages, and hot showers every other day or so).
What if knees lock:
As I had also noted before, every time I wake up my legs are so stiff. Especially if I sleep with my legs straightened or with a pillow under my knees, when waking up I would have a hard time for a few minutes bending my knees. However today something unexpected happened. After a short afternoon nap with my legs straightened while napping, I could bend my right knee after a couple minutes, but my left knee was aching like crazy; I felt like I was almost breaking my knee by doing any moves. I finally found a solution: I tried to stand up on my legs, while my left leg was like a piece of wood with no flexibility and my right leg doing most of the control. I then walked for a few minutes with both legs bearing my body weight and then I finally tried sitting; that worked! A reminder that while resting with legs straight, it is a good idea to put a pillow under your knees to avoid knees going to a lock mode!!
I thought I should share this with our Stryde fellows: if you have a hard time bending your knees, perhaps you should not fight it. Instead stand up and try to walk for a while and then try to sit and that should do it 
Femurs with Dr. Shahab Mahboubian - July 2020
Day 37 (Fri., Aug. 28th) - 29.7 mm Taller
Today, I walked the longest since the surgery day. That made my legs, especially the left one painful by night time. Looking at others, I think I am 5 times or higher as slow as a typical adult. I get even slower outdoors, cause I don't wanna look wobbly, so I take extra care and my time to make it look a bit more normal while walking.
I also drove for a second time today. I believe behind the wheels I am just normal and like old times I should be able to drive for long hours, if necessary.
Went to costco to try my first in-store grocery shopping post-op. By the time I got to the entrance, I was exhausted, but I saw those electric carts for handicaps. They let me use one, so shopping was piece of cake while riding the electric cart. I rode the cart all the way to my car.
Quote from: StrydeNailChallenge on August 29, 2020, 07:48:33 PMDay 37 (Fri., Aug. 28th) - 29.7 mm Taller
Today, I walked the longest since the surgery day. That made my legs, especially the left one painful by night time. Looking at others, I think I am 5 times or higher as slow as a typical adult. I get even slower outdoors, cause I don't wanna look wobbly, so I take extra care and my time to make it look a bit more normal while walking.
I also drove for a second time today. I believe behind the wheels I am just normal and like old times I should be able to drive for long hours, if necessary.
Went to costco to try my first in-store grocery shopping post-op. By the time I got to the entrance, I was exhausted, but I saw those electric carts for handicaps. They let me use one, so shopping was piece of cake while riding the electric cart. I rode the cart all the way to my car.
That’s good to hear. Now that I have the spare cash and I’m actually planning to do it soon (if all goes as planned with work) I’m thinking through all the logistics as well, especially for food. I don’t have any family nearby, so I need to figure out what can be done independently and what I need help on.
I’m actually getting a little nervous just thinking about actually going through the whole process, even though I’ve known about LL and have semi-consistently been reading journals since 2014.
Quote from: BelowTheMean on August 29, 2020, 10:27:04 PMThat’s good to hear. Now that I have the spare cash and I’m actually planning to do it soon (if all goes as planned with work) I’m thinking through all the logistics as well, especially for food. I don’t have any family nearby, so I need to figure out what can be done independently and what I need help on.
I’m actually getting a little nervous just thinking about actually going through the whole process, even though I’ve known about LL and have semi-consistently been reading journals since 2014.
Hey BelowTheMean,
My general advice to all who have researched and planned to do CLL at some point in their life, is to go for it as early as they can. Part of this surgery is out of your control, e.g., the pain I have experienced on my left leg started a couple hours post surgery and has stayed with me ever since, whereas my right leg has had a typical 0 level pain so far. Surgery is complicated and even a tiny bit of change on where the nails should go, etc. may impact pain level drastically. This would not change if you postpone the surgery; the earlier the better, cause during COVID-19 times, we have the chance to WFH and that helps with the healing process.
As for staying alone post-op, I just don't see how I could survive the first few days, had I not have others helping me. Unless your pain level from early post-op and on both legs is low, I believe you better have a family member or a friend helping you during the first few days.
Hey StrydeNailChallenge,
What exactly happened to your left leg that didn't happen to your right? Hope you have a good recovery.
-brondo
Quote from: brondo on September 01, 2020, 04:28:58 PMHey StrydeNailChallenge,
What exactly happened to your left leg that didn't happen to your right? Hope you have a good recovery.
-brondo
Hey Brondo,
It's a long story. I have put all the detail in my diary here. However the short version of it is that since my right leg has had almost zero level pain since day 1, the contrast between my right leg and left leg has captured my attention to try to figure out what I could do to make my left leg improve to be like my right leg. It is very possible my left leg pain is typical; according to many folks here who have posted their story including the pain they've experienced.. That would then mean that I got lucky and my right leg somehow exceptionally has not pain.
In general my speculation on the pain the LL surgery is that a lot of it is related to the nerve system, but I am not sure.
In any case during the last two weeks or so, I have got a better handle of pain management and my night sleeps are much better than the first few weeks.
Quote from: StrydeNailChallenge on September 01, 2020, 05:38:35 PMHey Brondo,
It's a long story. I have put all the detail in my diary here. However the short version of it is that since my right leg has had almost zero level pain since day 1, the contrast between my right leg and left leg has captured my attention to try to figure out what I could do to make my left leg improve to be like my right leg. It is very possible my left leg pain is typical; according to many folks here who have posted their story including the pain they've experienced.. That would then mean that I got lucky and my right leg somehow exceptionally has not pain.
In general my speculation on the pain the LL surgery is that a lot of it is related to the nerve system, but I am not sure.
In any case during the last two weeks or so, I have got a better handle of pain management and my night sleeps are much better than the first few weeks.
Hope it's not too bad then. Looking forward to your future updates!
Day 38 (Sat., Aug. 29th) - 30.7 mm Taller
Day 39 (Sun., Aug. 30th) - 31.7 mm Taller
Day 40 (Mon., Aug. 31st) - 32.7 mm Taller
Day 41 (Tue., Sep. 1st) - 33.7 mm Taller
Last couple of weeks have increasingly become more normal and predictable. My routine including pain management, etc. look almost like the same. I have continued to walk 100% unassisted. My walks still look wobbly. I still don't bend my left knee while walking. I feel more swelling and pain on the left leg. I drive almost every day just to feel a bit more fresh. Driving and hot showers make me feel normal, cause those are the times, my legs don't give me a feeling that I had a surgery!
Just to be safe, I reserved a PT to come by on Wed. the 2nd. My goal is to get an evaluation from a PT on how my self-PT has turned out so far. Also I would like to know about the weak muscles so I can work on them. Finally any tips from the PT on improving the left leg would be great. I will provide an update here about that.
Hey!
It’s so awesome you’re doing great while lengthening!
How is your pain? Do you drink painkillers? Do you think you can avoid drinking them, if you actually do?
Quote from: Aquahoma2 on September 02, 2020, 08:49:15 AMHey!
It’s so awesome you’re doing great while lengthening!
How is your pain? Do you drink painkillers? Do you think you can avoid drinking them, if you actually do?
Hey Aquahoma2! Thank you!
I was finally able to manage the pain using a pain management I came up with, based on a lot of trial and error and also the posts in this forum. I have mentioned the details in my diary, but it's basically taking Tramadol as necessary but in the worst case within 5 hours of each other (I sometimes take them within 8 hours of each other or longer, if not much pain) + hot showers + using some off-the-shelf ointments that are available in Costco and Amazon. The resulting pain for most of the times is 0 to 3 on the left leg and 0 to 1 on the right leg.
If you see my diary, you'll notice I tried dropping pain killers several times and every time I finally failed and had to restart taking them. Tramadol has been great so far and I think I am going to continue to listen to my body and take as necessary. Ideally I would like to take 2 tramadols per day, but so far it's been mostly 3 or 4 per day.
I hope this answered your question. Keep in touch Bro,
SNC
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