Day 61 (Mon., Sep. 21) - 58.2 mm Taller
Today is the 14th day and the last day of my 4-distraction-session days, prescribed by Dr. M. to cope with extreme growth. I have continued to walk on crutches, and took it easy on calcium, but today is the last day. Starting tonight I will resume my unaided walks and take enough calcium, while on the normal 3-distraction-session days to the end!
I have my first out-patient PT appointment today. As I suspected, the PT had not worked with a CLL'er before and did not know much about stryde nail surgery. But he was a quick learner and got a lot of details from me in a few minutes, to be able to help me with recovery.
He gave me 4 exercises. Two for hamstrings. One for the IT bands and one for the quads. As I had suspected my quads needed attention the most.
He was also concerned about my bent knees while standing and walking. I was not that concerned. I told him, as soon as I resume unassisted walks without crutches, that should resolve it.
I asked to see him often to get help, but he thought it would not be needed and I had to work on my own and then get re-assessed weekly. My next appoint is next Tuesday.
I resumed walking unaided as soon as I got home. I hope I would not need to go back to crutches or walkers ever again 
Femurs with Dr. Shahab Mahboubian - July 2020
Day 62 (Tue., Sep. 22) - 59.2 mm Taller
As per Dr. M.'s advice, today I resumed my normal 3-distraction sessions, growing 0.99 mm per day. The last 14 days, growth of 1.33 mm per day, had a big (negative) impact on my flexibility, especially my quads. I hope to be able to gradually gain back my flexibility now that my daily growth is lower at 0.99 mm.
In addition to my own stretching exercises, I am also doing the 4 exercises the PT taught me. My quads however don't seem to have any improvement. There is a chance the best I could do is prevent them to get worse, but immediately after the distraction phase is over, I would do serious quad exercises to go back to normal.
Pain is manageable with the two Gabapentin and two Tramadol pill I take daily. Gabapentin may have already started working, as I gradually feel like I have no nerve pain.
Today is day 53 since I started my distraction phase.
Day 63 (Wed., Sep. 23) - 60.2 mm Taller
Day 64 (Thurs., Sep. 24) - 61.2 mm Taller
Day 65 (Fri., Sep. 25) - 62.2 mm Taller
Day 66 (Sat., Sep. 26) - 63.2 mm Taller
Day 67 (Sun., Sep. 27) - 64.2 mm Taller
Day 68 (Mon., Sep. 28) - 65.2 mm Taller
Nothing abnormal to report. I continued to do 3 0.33mm distraction per day. Pain with the help of pain killers is manageable (Pain level: left: 1-5, right: 0-1). My quads feel so stiff like rocks! I have a hard time bending my knees, especially the left knee.
Tomorrow is my next appointment day with Dr. M. I hope to hear from him that the crazy 14 day schedule of 4 distraction sessions per day worked and I did not have any premature consolidation.
Day 69 (Tue., Sep. 29) - 66.1 mm Taller
I had a PT session in the morning for re-assessment. My PT measured my knee bending flexibility and found that there has been no change on the quads (did not get better, but did not get worse either). I think I am okay with that, cause I am confident I can regain my quad flexibility gradually, after the distraction phase is over in about two weeks (I hope).
I met Dr. M. in the afternoon. He thought I was doing great. The x rays showed that I did not have any premature consolidation, as the 14 days of 1.33 mm daily growth, provided a good gap to avoid that. He asked me to resume focusing on growth by taking calcium and eating well.
The surprising part was that his measurements based on the x rays showed that my left grew by almost 77.1mm. I don't remember what number exactly for right, but something like 65mm or so. Right seemed okay, but it seemed impossible to me that one could grow beyond what the device shows. He mentioned that it could be that measurements based on x rays are not accurate. He thought I should continue to do my sessions and when the nail hits 8cm, it would not further grow. I plan to do that!
Today is day 60 since I started the distraction phase! I may be the fastest CLL'er to reach 66.1mm in 60 days
Quote from: StrydeNailChallenge on October 03, 2020, 12:49:17 PMDay 69 (Tue., Sep. 29) - 66.1 mm Taller
I had a PT session in the morning for re-assessment. My PT measured my knee bending flexibility and found that there has been no change on the quads (did not get better, but did not get worse either). I think I am okay with that, cause I am confident I can regain my quad flexibility gradually, after the distraction phase is over in about two weeks (I hope).
I met Dr. M. in the afternoon. He thought I was doing great. The x rays showed that I did not have any premature consolidation, as the 14 days of 1.33 mm daily growth, provided a good gap to avoid that. He asked me to resume focusing on growth by taking calcium and eating well.
The surprising part was that his measurements based on the x rays showed that my left grew by almost 77.1mm. I don't remember what number exactly for right, but something like 65mm or so. Right seemed okay, but it seemed impossible to me that one could grow beyond what the device shows. He mentioned that it could be that measurements based on x rays are not accurate. He thought I should continue to do my sessions and when the nail hits 8cm, it would not further grow. I plan to do that!
Today is day 60 since I started the distraction phase! I may be the fastest CLL'er to reach 66.1mm in 60 days
Hi SNC,
Great progress! That's actually kind of scary how it overshot the lengthening. What would happen if someone were to just want to do 5cm and the ERC ended up overshooting things? You can reverse right? Would you do that gradually or all at once? Hope you get to your goals safely!
-brondo
Day 70 (Wed., Sep. 30) - 67.1 mm Taller
Day 71 (Thurs., Oct. 1) - 68.1 mm Taller
Day 72 (Fri., Oct. 2) - 69.1 mm Taller
The discomfort and pain during evening times are sometimes annoying. I hope this does not get aggravated during the last 1cm of my distraction phase!
I do at least 6 times of PT sessions per day, but the only remedy that brings the pain down to zero is hot water! A hot bathtub or jet works perfectly, but it is temporary. As soon as I am out pain resumes. Overall things are not as bad. I would have imagined a lot worse in 5cm+ range, so I am happy with my progress so far.
Quote from: brondo on October 03, 2020, 12:59:31 PMHi SNC,
Great progress! That's actually kind of scary how it overshot the lengthening. What would happen if someone were to just want to do 5cm and the ERC ended up overshooting things? You can reverse right? Would you do that gradually or all at once? Hope you get to your goals safely!
-brondo
brondo bro, I am as surprised as you on this! We plan so much, spend so much money and we expect things to be accurate. Turns out measurements are not accurate!
I know someone could grow shorter than what the device number implies for various reasons (magnet did not connect to nail for various reasons), but I am still not sure whether a lengthening device can actually make it grown even larger than what it displays.
I know there are facilities that can accurately measure length and growth using x rays, because I did that right before the surgery to know the exact height of my left leg and right leg. It would be nice to use something similar to those facilities in Dr.'s office, so they can do accurate measurements during the distraction phase.
Quote from: StrydeNailChallenge on October 03, 2020, 01:04:12 PMbrondo bro, I am as surprised as you on this! We plan so much, spend so much money and we expect things to be accurate. Turns out measurements are not accurate!
I know someone could grow shorter than what the device number implies for various reasons (magnet did not connect to nail for various reasons), but I am still not sure whether a lengthening device can actually make it grown even larger than what it displays.
I know there are facilities that can accurately measure length and growth using x rays, because I did that right before the surgery to know the exact height of my left leg and right leg. It would be nice to use something similar to those facilities in Dr.'s office, so they can do accurate measurements during the distraction phase.
That seems like a problem that Dr. M doesn't have ways to accurately measure the legs. If someone decided to do less than the max length, they would need to make sure their legs are even before consolidatoin. Do you know if you're using ERC1 (the green and yellow buttons) or ERC4 (the purple one with the display)? I've learned that ERC1 is more accurate, but ERC4 has the ability to turn off if the magnets are not properly aligned.
With an XR is quite easy to know exactly how much the nail has been distracted, you can see a light shadow. If you ask for an XR standing you can even check if the hip (and so the femurs) are perfect aligned.
Quote from: brondo on October 03, 2020, 01:48:55 PMThat seems like a problem that Dr. M doesn't have ways to accurately measure the legs. If someone decided to do less than the max length, they would need to make sure their legs are even before consolidatoin. Do you know if you're using ERC1 (the green and yellow buttons) or ERC4 (the purple one with the display)? I've learned that ERC1 is more accurate, but ERC4 has the ability to turn off if the magnets are not properly aligned.
It's the purple one, ERC4 with the display.
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