Raisin Bran - Internal Femurs - Dr. Betz - 2015

Edit Post

Day 97

Today, I am 5 days away from being finished. I clicked 15 straight in the morning after breakfast. Throughout my process, I've played around with the manner of clicks many times. I've alternated between a complete 15 clicks in the morning/early afternoon, 5 clicks split 3 times a day, 10 clicks in the morning/5 in the afternoon, and 5 in the morning/10 in the afternoon (my favorite for physiotherapy days). Lately, I've gone back to the usual 15 clicks all at once. Some patients might prefer clicking at night, but the few times I tried this, my muscles felt really tight and would cramp up during my sleep. You can never sacrifice a good night's sleep for anything. Continuous movement and/or stretching after I click has always worked for me.

My total is ~9.9cm now. I am planning to have my final x-ray this Tuesday, along with another patient who recently arrived at Elke's and has finished clicking (exactly 10cm) recently. After I get my x-ray back, I'll try to upload my initial, middle, and final x-rays to this diary.

I spent a solid 20 minutes on the bike today, without resistance and limited breaks. It is really a surprise each time I have to raise the seat another level. It takes my brain at least a few minutes to comprehend this. The bike is very helpful with the quad/hamstring flexibility of my weaker left leg. I can just feel the leg loosening up more every minute that I'm cycling.

Tomorrow will be Day 98. Wish me luck and I appreciate any comments or feedback. Additionally, make sure to check out the diary of my housemate, september14. This guy is literally the perfect patient. Just sleeps, eats, and exercises. His amazing recovery and form is something that I always strive to emulate.

- Raisin Bran

Edit Post

That's great Bran I'm sure you'll make a swift recovery but could you perhaps upload some of the routines you used to prep for surgery, or at least point to where I could learn more about this sort of stuff.

I would like to be as well prepared as possible, just as you and your friend are.

Edit Post

Re: Uppland

Before I begin this post, I'll just say that if you can find the workout programs for Insanity, P90x, or P90x3, they have some excellent workouts and stretches that can prepare your core strength and leg flexibility. Before the surgery, I was doing the Pilates and Yoga workouts from P90x3, the 60min+ Yoga stretch from P90x, the Max Cardio Conditioning and Core Cardio and Balance workouts from Insanity, and the isolated Ab programs from each series.

Now, on to the yoga stretches. If you can hold each of these stretches/poses well for at least 40-60 seconds, then you should be great in terms of flexibility for hamstrings, quads, glutes, flexors, lower back, and the core. The big keys for these stretches are to always use proper form and not to cheat (swinging, bending knees, etc.) You should work your way up to the perfect stretch/pose.

WARRIOR I



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/warrior-i-pose/

WARRIOR II



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/warrior-ii-pose/

WARRIOR III



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/warrior-iii-pose/

**THE WARRIOR TRIO SHOULD BE THE STARTING SETS FOR ANY ROUTINE**

CRESCENT LOW LUNGE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/low-lunge/

CRESCENT HIGH LUNGE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/high-lunge-variation/

RESTING HIGH LUNGE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/high-lunge/

PARTIAL CORE TWIST



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/bharadvaja-s-twist/

FULL CORE TWIST



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/marichi-s-pose/

ALTERNATE FULL CORE TWIST



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/half-lord-of-the-fishes-pose/

WIDE HIP STRETCH



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/bound-angle-pose/

FLAT WIDE HIP STRETCH



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/reclining-bound-angle-pose/

EXTENDED SIDE ANGLE POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/extended-side-angle-pose/

REVERSE SIDE ANGLE POSE



*I LOVE THIS POSE, HITS EVERYTHING PERFECTLY, JUST LIKE WARRIOR*

http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/revolved-side-angle-pose/

EXTENDED TRIANGLE POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/extended-triangle-pose/

HALF MOON POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/half-moon-pose/

CORE SHREDDER POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/full-boat-pose/

SIDE STRETCH POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/intense-side-stretch-pose/

CLASSIC TOUCH TOE POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/big-toe-pose/

FLOOR TOUCH TOE POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/head-to-knee-forward-bend/

STANDING SIDE LEG LIFT



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/extended-hand-to-big-toe-pose/

FLOOR SIDE LEG LIFT



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/side-reclining-leg-lift/

FLOOR FRONT LEG LIFT



*USING A TOWEL OR A BAND TO PULL THE FOOT DOWN IS VERY HELPFUL IN THIS STRETCH*

http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/reclining-big-toe-pose/

SPINAL MOVE POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/cat-pose/

*THE NEXT THREE STRETCHES HAVE DIFFERENT ANGLES AT THE PELVIS, IF YOU CAN DO THE UPWARD DOG PERFECTLY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THE SPHINX OR COBRA ANYMORE*

SPHINX POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/sphinx-pose/

COBRA POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/cobra-pose/

UPWARD DOG POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/upward-facing-dog/

*THE NEXT SEVEN POSES SHOULD BE DONE IN CONTINUOUS PROGRESSION, EACH ONE FOLLOWS THE NEXT IN MOVEMENT*

CHILD'S POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/child-s-pose/

EXTENDED CHILD POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/extended-puppy-pose/

DOWNWARD DOG POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/downward-facing-dog/

FLAT STAFF POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/four-limbed-staff-pose/

PLANK POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/plank-pose/

BRIDGE POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/bridge-pose/

UPWARD PLANK POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/upward-plank-pose/

*NOW, THIS FINAL POSE IS MY FAVORITE. IT BUILDS STRENGTH ON ALL THE AREAS WE SHOULD WORK ON. FYI, TRY TO PUT YOUR KNEES AT 90 DEGREES, IT MAKES IT EVEN HARDER*

ELECTRIC CHAIR POSE



http://www.yogajournal.com/pose/chair-pose/


For any comments or feedback, feel free to post in this thread. I hope this visual post can help future and former lengthening patients to improve their condition.

- Raisin Bran

Edit Post

Wow, thanks Bran you're a big help to all of us.

Edit Post

That last one looks like it would be very hard with lengthened femurs, from a biomechanical standpoint, as you'd be far more inclined to fall backwards due to the change in your center of gravity (it moves further back for squats).

Edit Post

Re: Taller

You're absolutely right. This compiled list of stretches is to develop the optimal flexibility and range of motion in the lower body, prior to surgery. At my current point in lengthening, I can only do several of these stretches with moderate success due to my lack of flexibility. Even after I'm done clicking, there will still be a few of these stretches that I'll have to avoid due to instability. As you mentioned, my favorite, Electric Chair, is completely out of the question, unless I use the support of a wall behind me.

- Raisin Bran

Edit Post

Day 98-101

I had skipped my posts the last few days because of a lack of things to mention in each individual day. Therefore, I decided to compile everything into a single post. Today is Day 101. On Day 98, I reached the 10cm point. If I recall correctly, my nail (13mm) can lengthen up to 12cm. However, my plan has always been 10.4cm, which is 4 inches. Honestly, the final 4mm does seem to be a bit of an odd addition, but I promised myself that if my condition at 10cm was positive, I would continue on for these 4 more days. I've resolved this extra portion as just providing me some additional peace of mind. Once I return back to the states, if someone asks me how much I've grown, I can simply say 4 inches.

I've stopped skipping days for rest, so Day 99 was 10.1cm, Day 100 was 10.2cm, and Day 101 (today) is 10.3cm. I haven't included the hundredths digit in my lengths, but from my calculations, Day 102 will be exactly 10.44cm.

I had my x-ray exam earlier today at the Komfortklinik. After I got to look at the image of the nails, bones, and bone development, I felt very reassured. My screws were straight, my nails were perfect, and I was developing a noticeable bone bridge on the outside of each leg. Additionally, the IT band tightness on my right leg had relaxed a great deal since my last x-ray. My hips were almost at an equal level, with just a slight rise on the left side. I was hoping to correct this issue after the conclusion of clicking, but I'd definitely made significant improvements with the ITB these last 5 weeks. This was all great news. Dr. Betz was unable to see me at the hospital, but he informed us of this ahead of time. Instead, he will come by Elke's house later today or tomorrow to discuss the x-ray and visit the other patients there.

I can't wait to start feeling relief from the muscle tightness associated with clicking after I finish tomorrow. I should expect some noticeable change in my legs, in regards to flexibility and range of motion, roughly 10 days after I finish. I am very fortunate that I do not have to work on fixing any underlying issues with my condition, such as wide legs, duck ass, etc. Therefore, I can focus solely on recovering my former mobility, strength, and coordination.

Also, a new removal patient is at the house now. He came earlier yesterday and plans to stay for an entire month. His surgery is next week. He had stayed the entirety of his lengthening at Elke's house, working with Peter Woll. To hear him and Peter tell it, the start of his lengthening period was very difficult. He had a lot of mass (muscle/fat) in his thighs. Unable to click by himself after surgery, he needed to have his initial clicking done under anesthesia. Later on, he developed very wide legs as well. If you were to look at him now, however, you could've never guessed that he'd had such difficulty in lengthening. He lengthened a full 10cm with the 13mm nail and his condition is just fantastic. It is definitely a confidence booster to see these remarkable success stories.

Tomorrow is the conclusion of my lengthening process. Wish me luck.

P.S. I hope prospective patients who read this diary will try to follow the yoga breakdown I provided earlier. You don't have to attempt all of them, but mastering some of them will definitely be useful prior to lengthening surgery.

- Raisin Bran

Edit Post

Yeah man that yogu stuff was super useful although I haven't tried allof them yet.

Edit Post

Congrats Bran!  Sounds like all your hard work and preparation paid off.  I admire your realistic goal setting approach to the whole process.  I think everyone should be as strict and vigilant as you to do everything in their power to put the odds in their favor when leg lengthening.  Please continue to update your diary through your recovery process and share your insight.

Edit Post

Re: Uppland

Happy to here that. Keep it up man, incremental improvement in flexibility is the path to success. As the say, Rome wasn't built in a day. Let me know if you need anything else.

Re: ouroboros

I appreciate the positive remarks. You've grasped the mindset that all patients need to have to succeed. Like you said, you have to do everything in your power to put the odds in your favor. Honestly, I came into this lengthening experience expecting just one big constant war. However, it wasn't that at all. It was many individual battles, each one forcing you to adjust and adapt your methods in order to persevere through. A few weeks of a strained groin, another few weeks of wide legs, then IT band tightness, etc. Just as you think some issue or difficulty has resolved itself, something else pops up. I think the people who end up having long-term problems are those who can not understand and/or accept this concept. They focus on a few things, and lose sight of the many other parts that need just as much attention.

- Raisin Bran