It is November 03. I am doing good. A lot of things has happen in the past month. I move back to the seven beds room. It was ok at first. Then after a week we got some new patients in the room. One of them was a very loud snorer and he like cold weather and smoke. He guy always open the room balcony door all day and night. So, I could not get any sleep for about two weeks.
My body's immune system got weaken and i got an infection on my top right leg. When I move that leg three of the pins really hurts and the wound those pins would not heal at all. It hurts when I bend that leg knee. I lost all the strength in that leg so I could not lift it. When I got out of bed that leg was in a lot of pain and when I got back into bed it was also painful. But, every time I got into bed I had to call a cleaning lady to help lift that leg to get into bed.
I was not getting any better but was feeling worst. So, I final decided to move back to the two beds room. After I moved back I could sleep with any problems and after three days infection started to get a lot better.
On October 22, they remove my left leg frame and put on a cast. Five days later they cut the cast and wrap it. When I walk in the cut cast it was more painful for me. The bottom break was fine the top break was more painful the more I walked. The doctor told me to take a day off and start walking normal the next day.
They have told me that if my right leg bone was strong enough, they would remove my right leg frame on November 05. My visa is going to expired on November 18, so if my right leg frame is remove on that date I will not need to renew my visa and can go home on November 16 if everything works out.
My experience at Ilizarov Centre in Kurgan, Russia.
November 6 , 2014, It looks like I will have to be here a little bit longer. I just got tested to get my frame remove and the bottom bone was still very soft. The top bone break was fine. So it will be 2 more weeks until they test it again. They did remove my foot ring on that leg. so, it will be a lot less painful walking on it. I would like to wait 10 days in the cast before going home. I just hope the next test will be better so I can go home.
Yes, I have been home sick and I am starting to feel a little lonely here. The dinner here for the past four days has been horrible. Two was breakfast and other two was just nasty.
I will be getting an x ray on Monday. I hope it will be good with out any problems. The top break bone that is in the cast still hurts but it has been getting a little better. I just think it has not harden enough.
November 19, 2014, After my x ray Dr Roman said my bone move out of place because he remove the foot ring when my bone was to soft. He tried to move it back into place by hand two time but it did not work. I had to get a second surgery to take out the pins and put new one in one the bottom set of my foot. I just get the surgery yesterday .
Dr Roman said the surgery went fine. I will get another X-ray on Friday to be sure. He say two week later then he well see if the bone is hard enough. Three of the breaks have harden just that last break well not. So it look like I will be here a bit longer.
The reason I did not go to the hotel was first i had an infection so I was not walk very well. Then then doctor remove my first frame so I though I was not going to be in Russia much longer. Now with the second surgery I do not think I should go to the hotel any time soon.
I did not think this is the best time for me to be in Russia but I can not help it. I should not leave until they tell me I am ready to go. Yes, 4 cm is good but I was really wishing for more. But, I do I should have stopped.
I am glad you are feeling much better. Are you still using the walker boot? When do you think you well be strong enough to see your father and friends? I know you really miss them by now.
November 29, 2014,They had to replace the pins on my bottom ring. I did not have to pay extra for the surgery. It was painful for two or three days but not anymore. The x ray look good the doc says. My next test to see if my bone has harden is on Dec 8. If it is good I can go home before Christmas
December 12, 2014, My right leg was having nerve problems. I still can not raise my right leg ankle after they remove my frame. The doctor recommended me to have a nerve test and see a nerve doctor at the center. The test cost me about $100. They are giving me four shots everyday for it. When I get home the doctor recommend me to keep taking meds for it and see a nerve doctor there.
On my last bone test, my final bone was still a bit soft. The doctor said it was good enough to take off the frame. I can be home for Christmas but I have to wear the cast for a month then get an x ray to see if the bone is hard enough to remove the cast. So, some good and some bad news. But, what can you do. I am glad that i will be able to see my family and friends for Christmas. I have been a bit home sick lately. My flight will be on Dec 14. I hope the flights will not be to bad because it will be 23 hour and I will have to fly with both cast on. Dr Roman told me i just need one cast on at home but both if i go outside or travel.
When I got home everybody said I was a bit taller and lost a lot of weight. The flight was not to bad because the airlines and airport helper really helped me out. I got DonJoy Telescoping IROM PostOp Knee of my leg so I do not have to wear the cast. It is for comfortable, easier to remove, and can bend the knee. So, after getting home it life has been much better.
January 16, 2015 My legs feel a bit stronger now. I can bend my knee a lot further then II use too. I can now move my small toes on the right foot now but just a very little bit but still can not move my big toe at all. I am now walking with a cane and still wearing the DonJoy Telescoping IROM PostOp Knee. I think by the end of the month it will be long enough. Frank told me he was still wearing his case. I do not know why. I guess he do not feel safe enough yet.
February 2, 2015, My legs feel a bit stronger now. I can bend my knee a lot further then I use too. I can not move my small toes on the right foot now but just a little bit. It has been two months and still can not move my big toe at all on that foot up. Because of that it is harder to put on my shoe and I sometimes bump my big toe the ground. I am think about seeing a doctor next week about it.
I do not need to use a cane anymore to go around the house but I still use it. I can not go up and down stairs without it.
In conclusion, if I know before hand everything had to go through I would not have done it in the first place. But, no one can know until they do it. Everyone experience will be different. Out of the five people that had Leg Lengthening surgery with me here, three of the five would not have done it if they know before hand everything had to go through.
I would give Russian Ilizarov Scientific Centre an ok but not good place to do leg lengthening surgery. It is a quick and safe place to do it. But, I think it is one of the most painful place to do it. There they do two breaks on each bones so they can lengthen faster but it is more painful. They will only give you one or two day break period some time but not often. For some people here the foot ring was not at bad, but for most include me it was one of the worst part.
Russian Ilizarov Scientific Centre a great place if you need a correction. You will not need to do lengthen or need the foot ring. Most of the people there is very nice. I just had a problem with two of the helpers or cleaning ladies there. They where just lazy and not very nice at all.
The total cost for my experience was around 25,000 USD including my airfare. The time that I had to be in Kurgan, Russia was almost 6 months. It will be 3 to 4 months for me at home before I am good enough to work. If you are going to do this I do wish you the best of luck. But, It will be a more harder experience for some then others.
How was your leg lengthening procedure?
It was painful and had many small problems
How much did you lengthen?
at the end i only got 4cm
What was your initial and final height?
tring for 7cm could only get 4 cm
What complications did you face and how were they addressed?
read diary
How did your self-perception change after the procedure?
I feel the same
What would you have done differently?
I do not think my body is right to do LLC. So, I am canceling my LLC on my femur
How is your athletic recovery?
I can walk with out help, still can not us the stairs with a cane. Do not think I can play sports yet
Can you sprint/how fast can you run?
I use my trendmill on speed two. So, a mile in 40 minutes
Do you regret limb lengthening?
Yes, if I knew everything that I personal had to go through before hand and could not even get the 7cm i was hoping for. I would not have done it. But, it is better that i did it then wondering for the rest of my life what life would have been if I have did it.
How did people/society react to your change in height?
My family can tell I am a little tall. I have not recover enough to real go out yet
Is there any other wisdom you'd like to share with our community?
Knew before you do LLC that it will be very long and painful. Even after you go home it will still not be over. For some people I know it is about a year of their life. Time will move very slowly.
What did you tell psychiatrist. Did you mention the letter you needed was for surgery or just in general?
He ask me why I wanted to get LL surgery and did I know everything that i have to go through. We talk for almost an hour.
I still don't understand why you had to stop at 4 cm?
to be honest it seems like the reason is not because your body cant handle lengthening, but rather because your doctors performed the double cut which in my opinion is stupid.
the soft tissue has speed limits, and the double cut doubles the strain on the soft tissue. I think if you only did 1 cut you could have reached your 7cm goal.
still don't loose heart. 4cm is still acceptable. certainly a bitch considering your starting height. I would be pissed to, but its still better than nothing.
the average girl in western countries is like 5"3 so your dating pool has increased. its really sad you couldn't squeeze out that extra 3cm.
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