Thoughts about age & CLL

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Hi all. I'm 56 yrs old but v active/sporty & young in outlook. I've always wanted longer shins but could never afford it. Raised 5 kids to independence & now I can invest in me. Wife thinks I'm crazy to go for LL. It's OK for her - she has fabulous legs which was the first thing I noticed before discovering her other wonderful attributes. I suspect most in here are probably a lot younger than me though. Any other mature types around? Does age become a contraindication? I suspect I won't ever come to terms with being short. So, this is why I am here & this is who I am. Decision time.

Rgds,
Patrick

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Why do you say that? To me it would mean I gain height and more normal proportions as they are quite short. What would be legitimate reasons to undergo LL in your opinion?

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Hey AimHigh, thx for your insight. Sorry to hear about your symptoms. Maybe they will resolve given time? Maybe they might have happened anyway? Everyone gets OA/degeneration eventually, with/without h/o surgery. Did LL discepancy cause biomechanical issues that made KJ degeneration inevitable anyway? How long since the op? Would say the surgery damaged you or improved you & do you regret it or feel better overall for it? Would have doing it 20yrs ago have prevented your current difficulties?

Sport has already damaged me but I don't regret it at all. I've had 2 menisectomies, 1 acl repair, 2 hernia ops, 1 prolapsed intravertebral disc, rotator cuff tendinitis, jumpers knee, & bursitis just about anywhere you can get it. All of which which slowed me down a bit temporarily & made me less dynamic than I was when as I was 18 but I still got back into sport & I remain overactive. My knees sound like squeaking floorboards though... I just feel that I need some more height/proportions. Talking to folks with a similar interest on here is going to help me get my thoughts/feelings about surgery sorted I hope - like just do it/just forget it? Fit or short? Fit & taller? Who knows?

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No xr's, Ouroboros. I'm still at the starting point of my journey & dithering/reflecting/deciding just now.

Anterior superior iliac spine to medial malleolus = 82cms = L.
Anterior superior iliac spine to medial joint line of the knee = 46cms = F.
Medial joint line of the knee to medial malleolus = 36cms = T.

F/L x100 = (46/82) x 100 = 56 = FL

T/L x100 = (36/82) x 100 = 44 = TL

FL:TL = 56/44 so, yes this short man man does have short shins...

Anyway, I can tell by looking at them that they look short. This is my neurosis & no tape measure will sort it. Nor will xr's & the needless Ionising radiation zapping my pelvis/prostate/gonads/rectum...

I could retire anytime within the next 2 yrs with reasonable annual pension + lump sum & not have to work. So time off work/financing not a show-stopper. Q: do I (a) buy a £60,000 Jaguar XJ saloon? Or do I (b) buy half a 1BR flat in the Algrave, or (c) add some height & hopefully piece of mind? IDK yet but I'm working through it with people who have walked the same path & everyone's advice is welcome, either way. Thing is, I couldn't give a toss about a fancy car, or a holiday home but I really hate being a short man with short shins...

So far, I'm only considering Mr/Dr Guichet - are French surgeons called Mr, like in the UK, or Dr? Anyway, Marseilles is close to the UK. His int nail is cool. I fancy my chances of a positive outcome in the French healthcare system over the NHS any day of the week wether at weekends or not & I've worked in the NHS since 1984 so that is a considered judgement.

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Thx Stripes. I've given up on knees. they always hurt anyway. I've gotten use to it...

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Thx, mate. I will take that good advice & use it. Cheers!

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Good for her, PatiendDad! Thx, for the reply. Any more details, like where/surgeon/results?

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Age & acceptance, Hyong? No, mate. As I grow older my dysphoria is worse. I'm now also bothered about getting old AND still being short. I would make a *terrible* Buddhist. I envy that inner peace but honestly I can't let go like that...

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Ouroberos, (or anyone here for that matter) - who else could do internals on my tibias, with weight-bearing during the distraction phase? Any recommendations?

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Thx for that, Ouroberos. It's int tibs or nothing. Femurs don't need doing. I couldn't cope being off my legs for long so ext fixation is also a no no. I'm curious about your attitude towards the safety profile of int tibs. Have you got stats? What is the basis for your concerns? If it's just knee pain I was doing karate (3rd Dan Shotokan) & soccer (6-a-side on astroturf = knee killer) with the inevitable knee/back pain until 5yrs ago & now I do tennis/golf/weights/swimming at Joe average with ocd level despite my knees/back hurting. I can't run though. So, reduced athletic ability does not concern me that much. However, thromboembolism, osteomyelitis, malunion would. This is where I am just now but I am still open to the advice/opinions of others...

I checked Lumiere's diary. Thx. V interesting. I'm really pleased for him & impressed that he did it.

Finally, does everyone here hide their identity/faces? Why? Am I missing a big something, perhaps? I've always been upfront about being short & I don't care who knows it pisses me off. I often tell people that I can read books to get smarter/push weights to get muscles but what irks the most is that there is no way for me to compete with their height advantage (well until CLL came along). That must make them feel incredibly smug.