Request to the community:
If y'all can provide perspective on how to roll over to sleep on stomach in a less painful way, i would be all ears
Saturday Oct 23rd:
Things are looking better each day, learning how to do more things independently. Showers, bathroom, etc. Even with precice nails, I think it's best that you're not completely bed ridden all day, and that you wheel around on your wheelchair, walk with most weight supported on a walker, perform the necessary stretches, etc. I finally see how I might be able to finish this process.
Lengthened 16 mm so far. The lengthening is pretty painless as of now.
Working while recovering from surgery and during the distraction phase can be challenging. You have to balance multiple things at once; in addition to the very real physical challenges you're facing, you're also now thinking about work problems. There are some chair exercises that you can perform while working at a desk, including:
1. heel pumps
2. leg raises
3. knee extensions
You can pepper these into your work schedule. I do them simultaneously while taking calls at my desk.
Also, support system is CRUCIAL. I don't know how I would have gotten through these last 3 weeks without my partner. They are my rock, and we sing karaoke at night to relax 
.
Thursday Oct 28th:
Time is flying. We're already nearly a month in past the surgery date? What is life.
I've lengthened now over 2 cm. 1/4 of the way there! I've finally learned to roll onto my stomach to stretch my hip flexors as well. It's a glorious feeling.
Something that I've been reflecting on, is that it takes a village to raise a single person. I think, especially in the case of LL'ers, that can hold true. Without PT, occupational therapists, my primary doctor, and of course Dr. Mahboubian, I wouldn't be even close to where I am today.
Some helpful products to buy to help ease this process:
1. Stretching straps. Your hamstrings get tight and, even with decent flexibility, it can be tough to reach them especially later in the lengthening process. https://www.amazon.com/Trideer-Stretching-Physical-Non-Elastic-Exercise/dp/B092MJ621Z/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1TJ8TBBDRUAMT&dchild=1&keywords=stretching+strap&qid=1635444329&s=hpc&sprefix=stretching+strap%2Chpc%2C134&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExVzBTUU9SNjJYSDlSJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwOTMxNzc5MUdIOFVJRlBFUElLWSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNTI5MzkyVUdCS0M5RzFIRTc1JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
2. Massage gun. I use this everyday, multiple times a day. https://www.amazon.com/Athletes-Percussion-Massager-Handheld-Electric/dp/B096R9CXK7/ref=sr_1_6?crid=384JOFDQWF4IR&dchild=1&keywords=massage+gun&qid=1635444385&sprefix=massage+gun%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-6
3. Pee bottles for men. It gets tough to traverse to the bathroom, especially in the middle of the night when you're trying to rest soundly, so pee bottles have also saved me. https://www.amazon.com/Male-Urinal-Glow-Dark-Bottles/dp/B081S999SP/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3HO041AFT30TS&dchild=1&keywords=pee+bottles&qid=1635444441&sprefix=pee+bottl%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-5
Congrats on the progress! Keep up the good work 👍
Anyone have any tips on how to know if your nail has bent? I get paranoid each time I take a heavy step by accident, that something terrible has gone wrong. If there's any way to tell without an xray, that'd be great.
I have heard that it's almost impossible to tell if a nail is bent until you get it x rayed. Please take it easy, offload as much as you can, and keep checking every 2 weeks with your followups. This inconvenience only lasts a couple more months.
Quote from: L8GrowthSpurt on October 30, 2021, 11:29:25 PMCongrats on the progress! Keep up the good work 👍
Thanks, appreciate it.
Quote from: ChangeMyLife on November 03, 2021, 07:24:04 PMI have heard that it's almost impossible to tell if a nail is bent until you get it x rayed. Please take it easy, offload as much as you can, and keep checking every 2 weeks with your followups. This inconvenience only lasts a couple more months.
Yeah, this was my understanding as well. Thank you for the advice, I may get an xray soon to assuage my worries.
Hey letsgettaller - how you doing? The X-ray show an6 bending of the nail? Hope everything is going well. 👍
11/16:
Appointment with Dr. Mahboubian last friday. Turns out my rods look okay and even!
I'm at 4cm now, but it sounds like my bone is healing too fast. As a result, need to lengthen 1.33 mm / day until i see him again, in the first week of december.
Experiencing some numbness in one of my legs. Feeling a bit nervous about lengthening so dramatically over such a long period of time, but I'll give him a call if i feel i need to tone it down.
The distraction phase can be tough, but thus far it's been bearable.
Hey man! Thanks for the diary. If you don't mind me asking, how much was it all?
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