I might get premature consolidation according to my doctor if I do 0.5mm/day. He says I shd do alternately 0.5 and 0.75 to play safe as my bone bridge is forming fast (this was after a week of slowing down to 0.5)
Pls let me know (even it is hearsay) if you have read of other patients who had this problem or, you had this problem. Thanks!
problem is , my local surgeon saw my latest x-rays where there was speed-up in consolidation due to my slower lengthening rate (in part)... he says I should do at least 0.5/0.75 alternately. 0.5 might be risky.
dr fahri however, who did my operation, saw my outdated x-rays (2 weeks earlier) because I didn't request for a soft copy of the latest x-ray from the hospital. based on dr fahri's reading of the slightly-outdated X-rays, he says: do 0.5.
dr fahri strongly believes I should do 0.5. He says the ideal lengthening rate is 0.66mm.day. he allows me to do 0,75 and 0.5 altnerately but says, 0.5 is better.
dr bagirov however, did not prefer 0.5, or 0.5/0.75. he seems to think both are equally fine.
the curious thing about my frames, are that theoretically 3 turns = 0.75. IN TRUTH, however, each time I turn 0.75, the device probably turns less. why? my excel spreadsheet is always 5 mm ahead! this means the actual gain in length is LESS.
if you actually listen to your body (and I do, turning slower or faster depending on pain), then you WILL FIND that your actual lengthening rate averages (at least in my case it did) at about 0.66 mm/day.
my worry is that a theoretical 0.5 mm/day on paper is actually like 0.4mm/day, might end up with premature consolidation
then again, I must say it is insane to do 0.75mm./day once your soft tissues are stretched out. I did that rate for 5 days and my archilles and knee got much worse. I slowed to 0.5 for one week, and everything recovered.
0.5/0.75 is manageable so I might do that. if I encounter severe soft tissue issues, I will have to discuss more seriously with both surgeons whether 0.5 would be fine.
Im very happy that I have already gained 4.5 cm. If I prematurely consolidate at 5-6 cm, I have no intention to go back to the surgery room.
It is insane to do 1mm/day especially when I close to 5 cm mark.1. I need to walk. If I do not walk, I cannot work. Anecdotally when I speed up, pain and soft tissue issues arise, with great speed (often within one week).
2. I am past the initial weeks when I can do 1 mm/day because my tissue now is more stretched already
3. My doctor's recommendations (in fact both doctors) and my home ortho's recommendation do not include speeding up to 1 mm/day. In fact, my doctor vehemently recommends against 1 mm/day. There must be sound reason for this. Clinical experience and/or data. He says it is very bad for the joints and soft tissues.
I think I will do 0.5/0.75 alternate days, with breaks of 0.5/day if there are soft tissue issues. This would ensure I am above the (actual) distraction rate of 0.5mm/day which is supposedly the minimum according to Fahri to ward off premature consolidation. He says I MUST do at least 0.5 mm/day.
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