Tibia lengtheners - going down the stairs

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Hey everyone.
Working on my recovery, I'm realizing that stepping down the stairs is pretty impossible.
Getting up the stairs is slow but possible.
Bending the knee for reaching up the stairs is slow but steady, however when stepping down, the pressure on the knee of the leg that's being bend (not the leg that reaches down the stair) is really hard.
Its pretty much the same movement as squatting. To a certain level it's not possible to bend further.
Is that common with tibia lengthening?
Would love to know about your experience

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still got the rods in?

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Nope. I did external only with ilizarov. No internal nail.
About 7 months post surgery and about 80 consolidated...
Trying to figure out if it's a problem or common weakness because of the procedure and lack of movement for a while....

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Should be normal as the discomfort you are describing is when you put all the weight on one leg and then also bend the knee on top of that. This should be the moment it is under most force.

How long has it been since you finished? It would take time for the muscles, tendons and ligaments etc. to adapt. The longer tibia will cause a difference in torque on the knee as the angles change.

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Thanks.
Yeah it feels like you described.
I finished lengthening about 2 months ago and on x-ray seems like 60-70 percent of the gap is consolidated.
I also take into account that the pins of the ilizarov perhaps cause some limitations on the muscle around the knee or anterior tibia.
Physiotherapist recommended me to do exercises of Essentially squatting, trying to give it a try.

Just wanted to hear out other patients experience with this issue.

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Quote from: limby101 on November 26, 2023, 12:20:42 AMThanks.
Yeah it feels like you described.
I finished lengthening about 2 months ago and on x-ray seems like 60-70 percent of the gap is consolidated.
I also take into account that the pins of the ilizarov perhaps cause some limitations on the muscle around the knee or anterior tibia.
Physiotherapist recommended me to do exercises of Essentially squatting, trying to give it a try.

Just wanted to hear out other patients experience with this issue.

Then it would make sense as ligaments and tendons adjusting takes longer than the bone consolidation. So if your gap is 60-70% consolidated it would make sense that you feel it difficult when putting all your weight on one leg and then bend the knee as well.

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You are not the only one. I heard the same story from other patients that went through LON.

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hahahha! here we go.
First of all don't panic , You will 100% do stairs again, I know right now u might be scared that you'll never be able to do stairs again.
Looking at the stair must scare you.
I know.
The same thing happened to me , I did LON on tibias,
This is happening because
1. you have no balance
2. your anti gravity muscles are weak
HOWEVER, you mentioned you have no nail in and are not 100% consolidated so i would wait till 100% consolidation to try this

You have to get a habit on balancing yourself on one leg and doing one leg squats.
PLEASE DONT DO THIS TILL YOURE A 100% CONSOLIDATED
however,
Also train your anti gravity muscles.

Those are : calves ( gastroc and soleus) , thighs ( Hamstrings and quadriceps ) and your glutes including the hip adductors and abductors.

you can purchase a step like this  from amazon to start practicing (Thats what i did)

https://www.amazon.com/Tone-Fitness-Aerobic-Exercise-Platform/dp/B07TZSX3D3/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1PPY2BQH7ALB8&keywords=step&qid=1701011028&sprefix=step%2B%2Caps%2C263&sr=8-5&th=1

A physio should help you.

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Thank you!!!
Reassuring messages here are extremely appreciated:)

I wasn't aware I should wait until full consolidation to push those muscles and knee. I actually feel pain and kinda push through it, thinking it might help on the long run, but maybe I will wait as you said..

The physio told me to do squat exercises that pretty much triggers the same pain / resistance on the knee.

Thanks a lot

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please wait for full consolidation before u do anything like squatting and or any movement that puts force on  the tibia. I dont want you to have any disaster.