Update on Day 51, 43mm!Strap in, I have a big update for everyone today! First off, my apologies for not getting this post up sooner. As
Leggs guessed above the roundtrip travel to Vegas this past Tuesday (July 9, it's currently July 14) for my follow-up with Dr. D. took absolutely everything out of me. Let me tell you about it!
The day started at 4:30am with a 7:30am flight to Vegas. The nerve problem was still an issue. Sitting on the plane to Vegas (almost 3 hours from gate to gate) was torture. My ankles were on fire and I was constantly readjusting my legs. I ended up taking a full dosage of oxycodin mid-flight and rubbed Icy Hot with lidocaine on my legs. That helped quite a bit but I was still very uncomfortable. Part of the issue is that I've been so used to having my legs elevated. I haven't been in regular "sitting" position longer than an hour or so a day. Towards the end of the flight I was scrambling to think of places I could go to stretch out with my legs up before my noon appointment with Dr. D. I was scheduled to pick up my rental car shortly after arrival.
I remembered that I have Priority Pass with my credit card. That allows you to access certain airport lounges. The lounge at the Las Vegas airport is quite good - The Club at LAS. They have a quiet room with recliners and foot rests, and 2 chaise lounge chairs. I spent about 2 hours there with my legs elevated the entire time. It felt AMAZING!
I picked up the rental car and texted Dr. D.'s tech that I wanted to pick up my prescription script to drop off before my appointment. No problem there, but I could tell they were busy. Turns out I scheduled my follow-up on one of their "clinic days" - which meant LOTS of people in the waiting room. While I was at Costco, their x-ray tech asked me how long I would be in town for. Turns out to my heart's dismay that their x-ray machine was broken. I was devastated because that was the main reason I came there! He said they would work hard to get it repaired.
I had my face to face with Dr. D. He was happy with the healing of the scars and cleared me officially to use the pool. I discussed the nerve issue with him again and I got a bit of a lecture from him. Apparently something got lost in translation when their tech texted me last week to say I could lengthen once a day. Dr. D. meant that I *only* should lengthen once a day for a couple days, followed by only twice a day for at least a couple of weeks. He made me promise to only lengthen twice a day. I will say this - that was on Tuesday and the nerve pain has dropped IMMENSELY! It's practically non-existent. There is no question that lengthening twice a day is the right decision. While I want to finish ASAP, it's NOT worth dealing with the shooting nerve pain.
Their optimism that the x-ray machine would be fixed faded quickly. Originally they wanted me to go to another clinic to get x-rays, but I would have had to pay for them myself. It's a minor issue, but I feel that with all the money I paid for this that I shouldn't have to pay for x-rays because their machine was broken. So, I asked if he would check to see if Dr. D. would pay for the x-ray. The tech came back and said they called the clinic to let them know the arrangement but there was a 4 hour wait for x-rays. There was no time to get that done if I was to make my flight. The tech offered a reasonable compromise -- he would personally reach out to my primary care physician back home and ask him to write a referral for x-rays, which would mean insurance would cover the x-rays. I agreed to that and was soon on my way back to the airport. I had some time to kill and considered seeing the Hoover Dam, but I was in pain and physically exhausted. That chaise lounge chair at the airport lounge was calling my name!
I dropped off the rental car (note to others who may use Budget rental car at the airport -- they are the cheapest but they are by far the most picky about any scuffs/dents on the car. Make sure to mark ANY and ALL damage on your form upon car pickup, and take pictures of every angle of the car!) and took a nap at the lounge. There's also a centurion lounge but it will only let you in 3 hours before your flight's scheduled departure time. While I actually thought the Lounge at LAS was a bit more comfortable and less crowded, there's no question that the food and drinks are way better in the centurion lounge!
The flight home was MUCH better. The pain level was about half what it was on the flight TO Las Vegas. It was quite a hike to get from the terminal to my car. I didn't actually get home until 1:30am.
So, I've only been lengthening twice a day since Tuesday. Like I said, the nerve pain has dropped so much it's essentially gone and pain has definitely decreased. Yesterday I was able to get x-rays. I bought an external cd reader so I could read the x-rays and share it with you fine people.
Here are the x-rays as well as the newest picture of me standing next to Dr. D. I haven't heard anything from Dr. D. about these x-rays because he hasn't seen them yet, but I *think* they look okay!
verticalpush-
Have you grown gills yet
Roundtrip travel from Austin to Vegas with two broken legs in the middle of summer is no picnic. Hope all went well with your check up. Rest easy my friend, when you feel up to it another video would be great to see your progress. You should be around halftime in the LL game. Keep up the great work, it will be over soon and the new height will be so worth the time, money and effort.
Thanks for the encouragement
Leggs!! Now that I'm cleared for the pool I will DEFINITELY make use of that this week! I can't wait. Feels great to be past the halftime point
Vertical, I sent you another PM, plz check when you can, thanks.
Thanks
Lalbadshah - I will check it now!
Wow thats crazy - how is the daily routine now bro - will we get another video?
Hi
SimonFuller! My gait has been very similar to the old video but I will try to remember to get a new walking video shot this week! It may actually have improved a bit thanks to only lengthening twice a day.
hey man, I am looking to get my surgery with Dr. Debiparshad or Mahboubian in ~2 years.
Would you mind meeting up with me once you are fully recovered? If not, I totally understand, no worries!
Thank you
Hi
MirinHeight - happy to chat with you once I'm recovered. I'm in the Texas area. I won't be back to Las Vegas very much - especially after my last adventure!