Hi LL veterans,
I have looking into doing this since over a decade. But I have been putting it off due to anxiety. I have even booked and cancelled the surgery. I can't forget the surgery and move on. And I can't get myself to do it. I am stuck in this middle state, unable to mentally function normally.
I probably suffer from generalized anxiety disorder where I imagine the worst outcome of taking any decision. Doing any type of surgery is new to me. With LL, I constantly think about fat embolism, infection, blood vessels bursting during surgery, amputation, prosthetics, etc. Irrational, but I can't control this.
So I have decided to get one leg done at a time. Left femur first and then right femur (or the other way haha).
Benefits
I have to be worried about one leg at a time. Lesser at stake. Worst thing that happens would happen to one leg. I still have a good leg. If LL is my worst decision ever, I will have one good leg and can still live independently. I can finally get past this nightmare of having to decide whether to do this procedure or not.
Now I do know the disadvantages of doing one leg at a time:
* 2 surgeries. 2 times anesthesia. 2 times first 2 week horror.
* longer duration of pain
* I can't really walk until both legs are equal length. I must use insoles or lifts on the shorter leg.
* if one leg goes smooth, the other leg might not. at what length do I stop with the first leg?
* I am CREATING a deformity by lengthening the first leg. I am knowingly creating a discrepancy with the goal of fixing it later.
* 2x the costs for surgery, travel, hotel, whatever else that needs to be repeated
The doctor advises against this. He says it's better to do both at the same time and stop whenever and be done with it. I agree, but can't get myself to do it. I will spend another 10 years on this forum reading every word and still not be done with it.
People who have done LL, please let me know your opinions. Is this doable? Please don't tell me how it's faster to do both together, I know that haha. Do you see any major problems of doing one side at a time that would make you advise me to not do it at all?
One leg at a time: VETERANS PLEASE ADVISE!
any suggestions guys? Do you know of people who did one leg at a time? how was their experience?
There's something called cross lengthening, where 1 femur and 1 tibia are lengthening at once followed by the other femur and tibia.
It makes walking difficult in between the lengthenings, but people do it. The purpose of this is because it is done with external fixators, and 2 external femurs at once is extremely inconvenient.
I've heard somewhere, although I don't remember where, that there is at least one doctor who does one leg at a time.
However, if your anxiety is really bad you might want to see a therapist. Maybe then you might get over it and do LL normally.
Geez I think you should do both get them done move on. The amount of time you’ll waste and Even with one leg we can’t function 100percent. Those complications you mentioned are rare. You’ll be fine don’t let anxiety take over
I can't think of any other downsides other than what you posted. The problem with the second one going wrong and leaving you with a first one longer than it, therefore needing a third surgery for shortening, might be solved by doing tibias.
If you do tibias, the worst that could happen would be half a bad leg (cut off below the knee). Then you could build your resolve up to living with the fear of two half-legs being the worst case scenario if you did them both at the same time.
Ay bro ik its scary as hell and the complications could end up doing bad things to u. But the chances of this happening can be minimized with a good experienced doctor. May I ask which doctor you are going to do CLL with?
From thinking about doing this surgery to actually doing this surgery was a total of one months time. Just fyi
Quote from: m7liam on September 01, 2020, 03:59:42 PMFrom thinking about doing this surgery to actually doing this surgery was a total of one months time. Just fyi
Any problems? How are things and length how much?
You didn't think this through. You are actually increasing your risks. Don't be stupid.
Quote from: Medium Drink Of Water on September 01, 2020, 02:47:50 PMI can't think of any other downsides other than what you posted. The problem with the second one going wrong and leaving you with a first one longer than it, therefore needing a third surgery for shortening, might be solved by doing tibias.
If you do tibias, the worst that could happen would be half a bad leg (cut off below the knee). Then you could build your resolve up to living with the fear of two half-legs being the worst case scenario if you did them both at the same time.
You are right. Tibias are "safer" in the worst case situation. In terms of long term outcome femurs seem to be more reliable based on the experiences of members here and preference shown by surgeons.
You must be logged in to post a reply.