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One Step Closer - External tibias, femurs, humerus - Petersburg, Russia

O
Overdozer
Member
Posts: 161
Joined: Aug 2014
Posted on Jan 26, 2015, 1:57 am
#1
Hey guys! So I just removed the external frame from my left femur, tibia frame was removed like a month age. So far I've lengthened 7.5 cm both on my tibia and femur. I currently have a very light ballerina - my feet don't go past 90 degrees when standing, but when sitting they're ok. Also I can't bend my knee on my femur leg past 140 degrees (straight knee is 180 degrees, so I currently have 40 degrees of ROM). I'll be working on it actively next months and will update on progress. In 2 months I plan to restore my knee ROM to 100% and go for the second surgery on my left tibia and right femur. After that I'll be lengthening my humers. Or actually... I may lengthen them when I'm done with distraction phase, if my Dr. allows me to, as I want to save some time. If not, I'll just do it after removing all the frames - will be much easier, considering I'll have my legs functional, but that will require additional 4 months. We'll see.

Yea, I'm bad at writing diaries, so ask me your questions, if you will.
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P
pablo1989
Member
Posts: 136
Joined: Jan 2015
Posted on Jan 26, 2015, 8:51 pm
#2
Hi exclide!
I am newbie. My english also isn't very well, but i will try to pose some question:
- You wrote that you have had 2 lenghtenings. One on tibia and one on femur. Does it mean that you had cross-lengtening? Could you explain what does it mean?
- How long does it take lengthen tibia for 7,5 cm?
- Is it possible to lengthen legs at home after surgery and then come back to a hospital to remove frames?
- After what period of time frames are removed? Full consolidation is needed?
- Is it possible to exercise upper body during lengthening?
- Could you work during lengthening (for instance as a freelancer) or is it not preferable because it may have bad impact on consolidation
- Did you experience some difficulties during lengthening?
- How is your health? How do you feel after surgery and before another?
- What was your original height?
- How old are you? Does age have significant influence on recovery time?
- Are you Russian?
- Is Dr Soliman a nice and trustworthy person? Is he a good expert at his field? Would you recommed him to others people wanting to undertake a surgery?

Sorry for my excess curiosity but as i wrote i am a newbie and don't know much about overall procedure of leg lengthening.
Take care,
zysq1989




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O
Overdozer
Member
Posts: 54
Joined: Aug 2014
Posted on Jan 27, 2015, 1:37 am
#3
Hi!
Quote- You wrote that you have had 2 lenghtenings. One on tibia and one on femur. Does it mean that you had cross-lengtening? Could you explain what does it mean?
Yes, it's called cross-lateral lengthening. It's done due to big external frames on the femur being really uncomfortable. So instead of doing 2x femur at the same time, they do tibia-femur and then repeat. It's more comfortable this way.

QuoteHow long does it take lengthen tibia for 7,5 cm?
After what period of time frames are removed? Full consolidation is needed?
Usually 3 months for distraction phase and another 6 for consolidation. So 9 months total. If everything goes good.

Quote- Is it possible to lengthen legs at home after surgery and then come back to a hospital to remove frames?
Yes. However, you'll need to take x-rays so the Dr. can monitor the proccess, your healing rate, misaligment, pin stability... X-rays are usually taken every 10-14 days.

Quote- Is it possible to exercise upper body during lengthening?
It's possible, but no one really feels like to. Plus, if you exercise solely your upper body, your legs will look really tiny compared to it.

Quote- Could you work during lengthening (for instance as a freelancer) or is it not preferable because it may have bad impact on consolidation
You can work. No impact on consolidation.

Quote- Did you experience some difficulties during lengthening?
My back hurt really bad at the side of the femur external for like 2 months. Idk why, but it vanished.

Quote- How is your health? How do you feel after surgery and before another?
- What was your original height?
- How old are you? Does age have significant influence on recovery time?
I feel the same overall. My original height was 167 cm and I'm 22. Yes, the younger you are the faster your bones heal and your muscles/tissues recover.

Quote- Are you Russian?
- Is Dr Soliman a nice and trustworthy person? Is he a good expert at his field? Would you recommed him to others people wanting to undertake a surgery?
Yes and yes. Well, not sure about him being 'nice', as I didn't get to speak with him, but he is very experienced, from what I've gathered. He works closely with my Dr.


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P
pablo1989
Member
Posts: 29
Joined: Jan 2015
Posted on Jan 27, 2015, 6:48 am
#4
I have another set of questions One Step Closer - External tibias, femurs, humerus - Petersburg, Russia
-Is it possible to walk after consolidation phase without crutches?
-Are frames removed after distraction phase or consolidation phase?
-Are x-rays taken during distraction phase or both distraction and consolidation?
-How much does it cost (surgery+accomodation)? Are hostels in St. Petersburg expensive?

And one more thing. I am from Poland. How is the attidude of Russians toward Polish people? I know our governments don't like each other, but what about ordinary people? I hate politics and i hope normal people in Russia too.

Thanks for all your resposnses.
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U
Uppland
Member
Posts: 486
Joined: Sep 2014
Posted on Jan 27, 2015, 8:00 am
#5
So you went from 167 to 182CM?

That's a huge gain, why did you choose to do so much?

Will you be lengthening your arms as well?

Any chance you might post a few pictures and videos to show off how your recovery is going and how it looks with that much height gained?
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O
Overdozer
Member
Posts: 346
Joined: Aug 2014
Posted on Jan 27, 2015, 8:09 am
#6
Quote from: Uppland on January 27, 2015, 08:00:03 AMSo you went from 167 to 182CM?

That's a huge gain, why did you choose to do so much?

Will you be lengthening your arms as well?

Any chance you might post a few pictures and videos to show off how your recovery is going and how it looks with that much height gained?
I'm done with the first stage. I still have one more lengthening stage on my other tibia and femur, that should be in around 2 months. Like it states in the thread title, yes, I'll be lengthening my humerus. I'll post pictures when I'm done with everything, which won't be any time soon. Maybe.
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O
Overdozer
Member
Posts: 184
Joined: Aug 2014
Posted on Jan 27, 2015, 8:19 am
#7
Quote from: pablo1989 on January 27, 2015, 06:48:02 AM-Is it possible to walk after consolidation phase without crutches?
-Are frames removed after distraction phase or consolidation phase?
Yes it's possible. In fact you can walk without crutches right after the surgery. Though it's not recommended. While the external frames are usually much more weight bearing than internal devices, pins still can bend and break under pressure.

Frames are removed after consolidation phase of course, if you remove them after distraction phase, your newly formed 'bone' will simply break. That is of course if you don't choose to do LON (lengthening over nail).
Quote-Are x-rays taken during distraction phase or both distraction and consolidation?
-How much does it cost (surgery+accomodation)? Are hostels in St. Petersburg expensive?
They're taken every 10 days during distraction phase and then like every month or two during consolidation.

It cost me about 2000$ for the surgery, external frames and 2 weeks hospital stay included. That was before the ruble drop though. I don't think you'll find anything expensive here especially considering our currency situation.
QuoteHow is the attidude of Russians toward Polish people? I know our governments don't like each other, but what about ordinary people? I hate politics and i hope normal people in Russia too.
They don't care at all.
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U
Uppland
Member
Posts: 77
Joined: Sep 2014
Posted on Jan 27, 2015, 10:00 am
#8
Quote from: exclide on January 27, 2015, 08:09:17 AMI'm done with the first stage. I still have one more lengthening stage on my other tibia and femur, that should be in around 2 months. Like it states in the thread title, yes, I'll be lengthening my humerus. I'll post pictures when I'm done with everything, which won't be any time soon. Maybe.

Good luck man.

Please do an arm lengthening diary, we are crucially short on those -yours will be the first on this forum.
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O
Overdozer
Member
Posts: 410
Joined: Aug 2014
Posted on Jan 27, 2015, 10:21 am
#9
Quote from: Uppland on January 27, 2015, 10:00:51 AMGood luck man.

Please do an arm lengthening diary, we are crucially short on those -yours will be the first on this forum.
Yeah it'll be there eventually. I don't think there's anything special about arm lengthening though, from what I've gathered it looks like humerus is the easiest bone to lengthen. And it makes sense - you don't need walking aids, your legs are functional, you can use your arms for usual tasks they don't require weight bearing. The only reason I feel a little bitter about doing it is the additional down time. I don't plan lengthening more than 3.5 cm on my humerus though, so it shouldn't take more than 4 months.
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D
Disobedient
Member
Posts: 277
Joined: Oct 2013
Posted on Jan 27, 2015, 5:14 pm
#10

Wow, this is something!!..
so you lengthened 15cm at total (ah that was my initial goal One Step Closer - External tibias, femurs, humerus - Petersburg, Russia, I wish I had stick to it)
anyway so they removed your frame after 9 months , you're REALLY REALLY really lucky to have such a fast consolidation..

knee bending .. hmm after removing the frame 40 is fine. I think I was around that when I removed the frame too ( I assume when you said 40 you mean in sitting position , when you lying in your tummy and bending your knee it will be less)..
but regain full rom in two months , man this is optimistic .. I wish you would make it. just don't be hard in yourself if you'll achieve (80-90) this is more than ok at this stage ..

did u have any complications beside knee bending problem . like duckass, knock knee probably ? and how is your femur  alignment btw?

if you have x-ray or pictures plz share it with us if you can.


 
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