feeling a bit better about everything...rigorous PT coupled with cutting out biking really helped calm down the muscles. The pain still spikes at night but not mentally in a dark place anymore. After talking to other patients, I'm realizing this cycle is common regardless of method or stage of lengthening. Gonna have a couple days where the pain is especially bad, the mental state/depression suffers, then the situation improves and ur back on track with your goal. Then u run into another pain obstacle and the cycle starts over.

This really is a long, sluggish marathon. I've been lengthening for a month now with one more month to go and it already feels like ive been here for half a year or something. Good news is I guess there's rapid improvement after the fixator removal surgery. Talking to some people who just had them removed and they say pain/sleep/quality of life is night and day. Really puts some light at the end of the tunnel.

One thing that helps a little is establishing a routine. I wake up at 6 (not on purpose; my body is awake by then), do my first lengthening, slowly make my way to the bathroom and wash myself/clean up (not with a shower of course). Then I eat breakfast. I always make sure I have leftover rice the night before so that I can quickly heat something up. Since cooking saps up a lot of energy, I've been relying on a lot of canned tuna/salmon/other types of fish/beans/protein powder for protein. After eating, I start stretching in my room. I think having a bit of food helps with the stretching. Then I go to my PT session which lasts two hours. Afterwards, it's 12pm and I have my second lengthening. After another meal, I lay down and start reading some stupid mystery novel (helps to read something not serious but a page turner). I set an alarm for every 3 hours for light stretching. At 6 I'll lengthen for a third time and eat dinner. I usually call a family member or friend afterwards and slowly wind down using a tens unit and a muscle relaxer pill. I also use the long bath towels as blankets because the regular blanket feels too heavy. I'll try to start sleeping but every night, I wake up every hour or so. Just gotta try to stay loose, take painkillers, and survive till 6.

Another tip: not a bad idea to grab a tens unit. It's not going to help with severe pain but for little day to day aches, can help with some temporary pain relief. It doesn't last long but every small win helps immensely in the long run.