Quote from: Movie on April 01, 2023, 06:17:37 AMkeep it up man the first 3 weeks were t he hardest for me, everything else started getting easier from there.
Hey Movie, how have you been? How’s life been any updates?
Day 20 (16 mm)
Just wanted to provide some updates. It's not all sunshine and rainbows. But also nothing out of the ordinary. I've heard from most patients I get a honeymoon phase around the 3 week mark for about 1 month before the lengthening gets hard. I've yet to reach that honeymoon phase but I think I'm getting close.
A few complications
1) right fingers are constantly numb, from using the walker. Apparently this is pretty common, and it'll go away in the future as I stop putting so much weight on my hands. It's most numb in the mornings and after using the walker, and it settles down a bit. I padded up my walker and used gloves but that hasn't solved the problem. I think I really have to wait it out for a few months until I'm off the walker. But this isn't particularly bothersome
2) Right outer hamstring is super tight. I originally thought it was my IT band (even though I got it released), but the doctor said it's my hamstrings. It's like a small part on the outer knee near my IT band which was why I thought it was my IT band to begin with. But to be fair, I haven't really started stretching yet. I just started it, and it seems to be getting a bit better. It's only tight when I stand completely straight or lie down completely straight.
3) Right inner shin has a reduced sensation. Talked to multiple of my doctor friends, apparently this isn't uncommon after a major surgery like breaking the femurs. But it'll usually go back within a few months. Nerve sensation can just take a long time to regain, but nothing to worry about. Honestly, I don't even notice it unless I'm showering and scrubbing there specifically.
4) My right butt where I think the reamed the nails has a really tight patch of muscle I think. It's been like this for 1-2 weeks. Basically if I angle my legs in a weird position I feel a sharp sharp cramp there. It probably happens 10 times a day (usually when I'm stretching). But I'm slowly stretching it out and using a massage gun to try to break up whatever tissue is causing that and we'll see how it goes.
Aside from that, it isn't too bad. I've been driving so I can save money on Ubers. Walking isn't too exhausting though I should probably do it more. I'm looking to go home to the bay area in a week, pretty excited to get out of Vegas. I rarely use pain meds now, probably on average 1 - 1.5 Percocet a day. The max I can have is 4. And I really dont even need it. I just use to prior to PT so I can go harder. And sometimes when I'm just annoyed of feeling sore in my legs I'll use it. The soreness is bearable but it can get annoying when its there 24/7.
Day 26 (I think around 23mm? Forgot)
I take on average 10mg of Percocet a day. Split into 2. Valium sometimes though it doesn’t help. I stretch a lot, maybe on average 2 hours a day. (Before and after lengthening for 10 mins each, and then a single 1 hour session). A lot of “complications” I’ve had resolves in a week, new ones appears and disappears me I think I’ll reach 5cm, not with ease but it won’t be like omg I can’t take this anymore I want to quit. Like I’m already tight. But I continue to stretch.
I go back to the Bay Area tomorrow, not looking forward to the 9 hour drive but excited to be back home. Will probably update when I hit 5cm or if anything crazy happens.
I don’t think I’ll do PT back in the bay. Price is just not worth it, I’m looking at $100 per a 30 min session with PT that doesn’t deal with limb lengthened. I bought all the equipments and a massage table for less than $250 total. I’ll force myself and push myself to do my own PT 5 days a week for 2 hours a day. I have online guides from famous limb lengthening PTs like Mosche and Mike the PT. I am a young guy that works out, I think I can push myself to stretch even if it hurts. I’ll update on how it goes.
I have HDHP that’s why my insurance cost so much for PT. But also I grt $3k on my HSA debit card from my company so I think it’s worth it still. I used all my HSA on my hospital bill which was $10k
Keep going!💪
Looking forward your update posts!
Day 29? 25mm
Updating here because I just hit 1 inch so why the hell not. Everything's been good. Being back at home is nice for social aspects, just being able to talk to family. Mornings still suck. I stretch whenever I have downtime and PT doesn't seem necessary YET. All the old complications went away.
When I thought my IT band was tight, it was prob just my hamstring near there being stretched too far and recovering so it was sore and painful, took 4-5 days of rest and it was gone. Cramps on my left butt went away suddenly one day, as the doctor said. He thought it was just the screw irritating the muscle and it'll just take a bit for it to heal up.
I'm "tight", like I can feel my hamstrings tight when I lie down 180 degree, but nothing unbearable. 55mm to go, so let's kick this journey in its ass.
Quote from: ballsackoffury123 on April 15, 2023, 06:50:50 AMDay 29? 25mm
Updating here because I just hit 1 inch so why the hell not. Everything's been good. Being back at home is nice for social aspects, just being able to talk to family. Mornings still suck. I stretch whenever I have downtime and PT doesn't seem necessary YET. All the old complications went away.
When I thought my IT band was tight, it was prob just my hamstring near there being stretched too far and recovering so it was sore and painful, took 4-5 days of rest and it was gone. Cramps on my left butt went away suddenly one day, as the doctor said. He thought it was just the screw irritating the muscle and it'll just take a bit for it to heal up.
I'm "tight", like I can feel my hamstrings tight when I lie down 180 degree, but nothing unbearable. 55mm to go, so let's kick this journey in its ass.
Nice man. Things are going to probably get their hardest now that you're crossing 1 inch. Id go turbo with the stretching. Good luck.
Quote from: lessthanavg8300 on April 15, 2023, 02:01:57 PMNice man. Things are going to probably get their hardest now that you're crossing 1 inch. Id go turbo with the stretching. Good luck.
ugh ur scaring me. I know 50mm will be interesting because i hear it so much that that will be a huge tightness change. But everytime I look.. im still so early on and it's already NOT easy. I really hope this next 7 weeks flashes by and I can hop into consolidation
How about your legs tight, soreness, stiffness now? Did old complications go away and new complications appear? Do u get PT near your home or only stretch by yourself?
Quote from: Yau on April 19, 2023, 12:09:59 AMHow about your legs tight, soreness, stiffness now? Did old complications go away and new complications appear? Do u get PT near your home or only stretch by yourself?
Most of the old complications went away. Main one right now is saphenous nerve pain affecting my right ankle and calf. Doctor just prescribed me gabapentin so I'll see how that works. I think this will be a "complication" that wont go away until I start consolidating though. And these aren't even complications, they're normal symptoms of the surgery. Guys I talked to went through the same issue, said they regained 95% of the nerve sensation 20 days after consolidating and are continuing to see improvements.
I can feel the tightness but nothing too bad yet at 30mm. Everything is still bearable. Stiffness and soreness only in the morning, it gets better once I get out of bed and start my day. No PT since 3 weeks post surgery. I do strengthening exercises and stretching at home on my massage table and have all the equipments and bands at hand which I use. I do about 3 hours of combined stretching/strengthening 6 days a week. PT in the bay area is $150 for a 30 min session, not worth it.
Saw your interview on cyborg4life dude. Thanks for hopping on there.
Now that you’re home, do you think this whole process is probably done better at home vs staying (Dr paley, Assayag) who require you to stay in their respective city during the entire lengthening?
Also you think it’s easy to just do all the pt yourself? How’s your mobility on the walker/in general? As in, has your ability to perform simple day to day tasks been fine on your own?
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