Quote from: LimbExtender on October 24, 2022, 12:46:20 AMHi OzBoy39
First off, I've really enjoyed your diary and appreciate the information provided! This information is extremely valuable to some of the us who will be doing this procedure or are considering it.
I found out about CLL back in 2014/2015 and have now decided it's now or never. I've booked my surgery bi-lateral femurs using G-nails with Dr Giotikas in December 2022!!
I understand you stayed in Athens for 2 months, then went back home. I'm considering staying in Athens for 6 weeks then going back home. I live alone and I'm very independent. When you were at 6 weeks how was your mobility and ability to be self sufficient? If you lived alone do you feel like you would be self sufficient at 6 weeks or would you need assistants? I'm really curious about driving. Do you think you would be able to drive at 6 weeks? I'm thinking I may need to drive to PT when I'm back home. Any circumstances you think may be a problem at 6 weeks? If at 6 weeks you don't think you'd be self sufficient, at what point do you think you would be? Sorry for all the questions 
, I'm just trying to get an idea on how independent I will be at 6 weeks. I would really appreciate you input and response!
If anyone else who has been through the process has any input, I'd appreciate that as well.
Hi Limbextender,
My reply is along the lines of the ones above.
Technically I believe you could be able to drive unless there's some strange complications. Im at exactly 60days post op today and drove home from airport. No problems (and I do have complications in my right leg,).
Re independence, you are indeed, but withal a very limited outlook of what you can and cant do. You can adjust your life to your limitations, but everything is kinda hard to do.
Nonetheless, if you have a "can do" approach, you'll be independent by then.
G-Nail on femurs in Greece on Aug24th. Let's do this!!!
Update at 60days post-op and 50mm distraction AND a question for some veterans (if any around)
Finally landed back home in Australia. So good to see my family again.
I'm sure they'll be of great help in the second half of lengthening.
Question re nerve pain/skin sensitivity and swell of lower leg
I slowed down to 10 clicks per day 2 weeks ago and I actually stopped for the last 48 hours. Still the same pain, uncomfortable feeling which started at around 3cm distraction. Anyone who's had similar symptoms that feels like sharing their experience (I guess I'm trying to sort of prepare myself for the next two months leveraging the past experiences of other fellow LLers)
My right leg is also considerably more swollen then the left.
And my right knee hurts when i put or remove weight on/from it.
Doctor at last appointment said that knee pain is due to muscle weakness so that I should walk more. And in regards to nerve pain and swell, he assessed the mobility, feelings and status of my foot, ankle, calf and shin and concluded that there's nothing concerning. I'm happy with that.but...
And he decided to slow me down to 10clicks.
Problem is that because of my right leg issues, I feel I'm damaging my training / stretching and general life quality (intended as in life quality for us crippled LLers) that instead, my left leg would allow me to have.
My left leg feels like I could start training for a marathon and unfortunately what that does is that anytime I'm on my feet I tend to shift most of my weight on that leg which I'm sure is not the right thing to do.
Sometimes I consciously realign myself....but then that hurts my right knee. It feels like a losing battle sometimes. You do 1 step forward and 2 steps back.
So, that's my update/request for information for this time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the rest, my last few weeks were quite uneventful. Clicks continue to be super easy and i understand all 4 current patients here on G-nail don't have major issues either (thx God).
PT had become hard as in painful (always on my right leg only). I regain strength on my quad and I can manage to actually push some "speed" on the bike (like doing a 1km at 90watts... Which is nothing in normal circumstances but it feels strong right now). Hip and glutes strengthening excercises worked really well to help me with my hip pains and get me a bit more mobile when in a laying position.
I also came to realise that "personally" I would never ever do Precice and be wheelchair bound (or with the constant thought of bending the nail) for 3-4-5 months. But that's me and my "need" to move around and be independent.
My friends still in Greece who are on Precice ain't having a super good time with that and I wonder how much longer they'll need Walker and crutches during consolidation. Nope... not for me.
BUT, I must say that the majority of them are doing this solo. One guy especially is doing quadrilateral precice, all by himself in a Airbnb.
And we managed to hang out together quite a few times (him on a wheelchair) and myself behind with crutches pushing him around Athens.
Not safe, but good fun.
Post in error, mods delete.
"And we managed to hang out together quite a few times (him on a wheelchair) and myself behind with crutches pushing him around Athens"
LOL This must have been a sight to see. Thats great.
Ozboy was great to meet in Athens, one of the most chill and helpful patients to talk to in person
Hope things go well, hope you keep in touch on the forum and tell us how the journey goes after coming home
Thank you for the kind words man.
I'll definitely stay on the forum at least until this ordeal ends.
Things are going ok here and I'm in the process of booking GP appointment, finding physio, restarting gym... Basically returning to life as much as I can.
Is anyone still in Athens? I'm arriving next week
Quote from: leonazul99 on October 26, 2022, 01:30:19 AMIs anyone still in Athens? I'm arriving next week
I'll PM you, a bunch of us here
SpeedDialer, Bagga, Leonazula99, and OzBoy39,
I really appreciate you all responding to my questions! You all provided some great information and helped provide some insight on potential mobility and independence around 6 weeks post op!
Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done different or wish you had known prior? Are there any "must haves" you would recommend while in Athens during lengthening?
SpeedDialer - I'll be in Athens sometime around December 11.
A few points that I could have done better
-Do not bring any work with you. Leave any commitment at home.
-Get an esim greek card with plenty of data.
-Workout your upper body as much as you can.
-Don't stress about the surgery. That's the easiest part. Not painful, not stressful, you just gotta sleep.
-After the surgery and wehn back to the hotel, do NOT overdo it. Basically if you doing G-nail, you might be tempted to start walking on your own, or do very long stints with Walker or crutches. DON'T. Follow the doc's advice. I torn my quad because I'm an idiot and I'm still paying for that.
- Make friends when you arrive and stick together. You're gonna need somebody to vent with when this thing hits you in your head (and it will...).
-get yourself those medical ice pack that can be somewhat flexed or bent to shape
That's all I can think of at the moment. Best of luck and again, don't stress about "the day". It's gonna come and be gone in a heartbeat. Then the fun begins.
You must be logged in to post a reply.