Limb Lengthening Forum
Limb Lengthening Surgery => Limb Lengthening Patients Experiences => Topic started by: Nyc brother on March 06, 2024, 07:12:00 PM
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Hi guys.
I did my LATN surgery with Dr. Giotikas a month ago. Thank G-d it went really well. I am in Athens and very happy. I was much more anxious about this surgery than G-nail. However, it turns out LATN on the tibia is 5x less painful than G-nail femurs thank G-d. It is a bit slow now. Only like 6 patients here. I heard there were times in 2023 there were 15-18 patients. I guess everyone is waiting for pmax.
Anyways, the main message I wanted to share is: thank G-d we live in a generation that has these surgeries. I started at 159.5CM with Gnail I did 9.6CM so I know I am at least 169CM. Hopefully, I can attain 7CM G-d willing with LATN. We will see. Would be awesome to be 176CM.
If being short does not bother you I am happy for you. If it does, I want you to know these surgeries are legit and there is a way out. Peace.
Link to G-nail diary http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=68370.0
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how is walking and running and stuff. I want to hit 180cm and im around 165. so id have to do 8+7 and being able to get 7 on tibs is iffy so maybe ill do like 8.5 + 6.5 or maybe ill do 8.5 + 7 or even 9 + 7 or something like that. but having decent athletic ability is important to me. I dont have any desire to play sports professionally, but I do want to be able to run and jump around and stuff so im curious how thats been for you considering its very rare for people to go over 8 in femurs
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Hi oklama.
After 9.5CM I felt my running ability decreased a lot. I lost the explosiveness. I can jog but not run fast.
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congrats on the gains u will have ok proportions with the legs now that u are doing tibias.
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@Beemer m3
I hope so. Thank you for the good wishes.
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Femoral lengthening with X-Os G-(Guichet) nails: 48900 Euro - This was the package that you picked before? Is it weight-bearing?
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Hi Lucindaris,
Yes, that is the package. Full weight bearing.
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Congratulations on the successful limb lengthening. I am happy for you. That is quite a lot of length you did, please keep us updated on your recovery. I'm curious how your explosiveness and running will come back. Perhaps you just need some more time?
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Hi oklama.
After 9.5CM I felt my running ability decreased a lot. I lost the explosiveness. I can jog but not run fast.
Do you expect to recover further? are you still seeing improvement and do you work out your legs to try and recover them further? I know your surgery was a while ago so im unsure if further improvement will happen. Thats kind of unfortunate, overall id take that over being short but id still like to be able to get some level of speed out.
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Hi Lucindaris,
Yes, that is the package. Full weight bearing.
Thank you for the answer. I do really think about Giotikas or Becker because I need to stay in European Time-Zone for work. How was the entire process, did you work remotely through all of the stages? Is it possible to drive a car with Gnail after certain time. How much time on average it takes to get 8-9 CM?
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@ lucindaris
G-nail was painful for me. Most patients do not work when doing G-nail. I could barely do 1 hour of work especially the first month. Maybe in month 2-3 it’s possible to do more , like 4-5 hours. After you finish lengthening you should be able to drive but not during lengthening, I don’t think so. It will take 3 months to hit 9cm.
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I went to the doctor. I am at 2cm now. After surgery the doctor told me not to lengthen for 10 days this is why it has been a bit slow. Overall, really grateful to G-d. No complaints. Pinsites look good and no pain. Tibias at .75 per day is slower. Every where I go people assume I am in a lot of pain because LATN does look scary with bulky frames and lots of pins. The reality is this is much less painful than internal nails.
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Thank you for the answer. I do really think about Giotikas or Becker because I need to stay in European Time-Zone for work. How was the entire process, did you work remotely through all of the stages? Is it possible to drive a car with Gnail after certain time. How much time on average it takes to get 8-9 CM?
Another patient who stayed in the room next to me drove his own car home from hospital. The hospital was in St Ingbert, and he drove all the way to Bavaria, which is a 4 hour drive, give or take. This was about 10 days after he had his (first) surgery. A few weeks later, that same patient also had to drive back because his nail stopped clicking (presumably due to premature consolidation). Betz numbed him up and clicked 60 times in one go to release the nail. That put him in a lot of pain, but he managed to drive back alright. So yes, driving is possible pretty much immediately, though it is certainly not pleasant.
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Another patient who stayed in the room next to me drove his own car home from hospital. The hospital was in St Ingbert, and he drove all the way to Bavaria, which is a 4 hour drive, give or take. This was about 10 days after he had his (first) surgery. A few weeks later, that same patient also had to drive back because his nail stopped clicking (presumably due to premature consolidation). Betz numbed him up and clicked 60 times in one go to release the nail. That put him in a lot of pain, but he managed to drive back alright. So yes, driving is possible pretty much immediately, though it is certainly not pleasant.
Interesting, and how was your pain with Betz Nail?
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dam makes me want to do g-nail. im only aiming for 5.5 cm in the femurs. im just waiting for pmax. taking so long.
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Hi guys.
I wanted to update. The mental aspect of the surgery is real and crucial. For example, thank G-d I am doing really well at PT and flexibility. No issues with pin sites. Thank G-d. But I did use the majority of my money on these two surgeries and it gets to me at times with anxiety. I remember the doctor telling me some people the metal frames it bothers them mentally and it has an affect on their recovery. (For me the frames don’t bother me at all) the point being mental health and strength is crucial when doing the surgeries.
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This is a bit random but wanted to share.
When I did G-nail and went from 159 to 169CM I told girls I did the surgery. They did not care. They did not reject me because of that. The reason being is after surgery it’s hard for someone who does not know you to imagine you were shorter. This is just my experience. Maybe others had a different experience.
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Overall, I want to clear some things about Dr Giotikas. I think he is a great surgeon he knows what he is doing. Meaning actually cutting the bone and technical skills. However, 2 things. 1. The city of Athens is not the most comfortable. My friend is doing surgery now by Becker. He is staying in a fancy hotel which has a pool and PT. Doctor Becker checks on him everyday. Of course it’s luxury. But do you that know he is paying 150 EU a day for that? In Athens things are much cheaper but it’s a hassle to get from the hotel/airbnb to PT and to the hospital. They do have a driver though so somewhat easier now. 2. G-nail clicking is painful. Whoever said otherwise is lying. We are trading the ability to weight bear instead of precice however the price is more pain. It’s not fair to on the doctor when G-nail itself is way more of a painful process than precice.
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How are your proportions after 9.5 cm? What is your sitting height?
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Hi Rellec,
Great questions. Before surgery I was short and stocky. I had thick legs. Wide hips. After my 9.5cm my legs looks great. Skinny but not too skinny. Everyone says it looks like I lost a lot of weight and I look great. Even better than before surgery. Most people think this was always my normal height. Again this is because I was stocky. If you are very skinny to begin with and do 9.5 cm I agree your legs can look like noodles and I would advice against it. My sitting height I don’t know.
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In NYC Brother we trust!
1. Can you tell us your weight going into this?
2. How long is it recommend to stay there?
3. Are you in the hotel? If so, how are their meals?
4 How do you send payment for this surgeries? Do they require you wire them $. How do you pay the extra stuff like the aids?
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Hi musicloverincal,
I made sure I was not overweight to do G-nail. This is really important. I know it’s hard to believe but I lost 40 pounds in 3 months before the surgery. My assumption was the more weight I have is more pressure on the legs. In reality I was right. The more muscles and fat you have the harder the clicks for G-nail will be. You can ask anyone and everyone. The super skinny small guys usually have it much easier. I came to G-nail in 2021 at 137 pounds or 62 Kilos.
Duration of stay: that’s a great question! It seems the majority of the British patients stay for 4 weeks and then go back to England. This is because they feel comfortable knowing they will see the doctor in London face to face. (Doctor is 2 weeks in Athens and 2 weeks in London) All other patients usually stay until they finish lengthening for their desired goals. It’s not like Betz/Becker where it’s common to go back to your home country and continue clicking.
The Hotel where the patients are is called Nova Hotel. I personally have an Airbnb but it’s seems the other patients are happy with the food and the hotel.
Payment is wired of course. You have to pay in Euros. So use a website like “Wise” to convert your currency to their currency while also being able to make a wire transfer at the same time.
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Update.
I am at 4.8CM now thank G-d. Removal of frames is scheduled for May 9th G-d willing. I should be at 6.5CM total. I am happy.
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Hi musicloverincal,
I made sure I was not overweight to do G-nail. This is really important. I know it’s hard to believe but I lost 40 pounds in 3 months before the surgery. My assumption was the more weight I have is more pressure on the legs. In reality I was right. The more muscles and fat you have the harder the clicks for G-nail will be. You can ask anyone and everyone. The super skinny small guys usually have it much easier. I came to G-nail in 2021 at 137 pounds or 62 Kilos.
Duration of stay: that’s a great question! It seems the majority of the British patients stay for 4 weeks and then go back to England. This is because they feel comfortable knowing they will see the doctor in London face to face. (Doctor is 2 weeks in Athens and 2 weeks in London) All other patients usually stay until they finish lengthening for their desired goals. It’s not like Betz/Becker where it’s common to go back to your home country and continue clicking.
The Hotel where the patients are is called Nova Hotel. I personally have an Airbnb but it’s seems the other patients are happy with the food and the hotel.
Payment is wired of course. You have to pay in Euros. So use a website like “Wise” to convert your currency to their currency while also being able to make a wire transfer at the same time.
Going back to your country or home - is a good thing as long as you are disciplined to do your clicking, stretching and exercises.
All the required info and medication are given. Patients need to be mature and cautious during lengthening processes, always walk with crutches and avoid doing risky movements, taking thing easy and always step by step. The most challenging part is to do lengthening and working full time during the process. You will be stressed and tired emotionally, physically and mentally.
Not all the patient like our Nyc brother, blessed with family support and dedicated parent to take care of him completely during 3 months lengthening. He doesnt need to worry and do anything by himself. Becker patients do have the option to stay on further like Nyc brother. The patients can easily rent a place in Freiburg. All medication, XRAYs, doctor consultation and visit, and PT sessions are free as long as you are in Frieburg. Most patients using Betz nail are able to move and walk with crutches after few days post operation.
If you are doing alone and unable to walk for 3 months, you will definitely need a caregiver or helper.
If we do the math, the operation package cost is more or less the same with the similar lengthening nail (Gnail or Betz Nail).
The discrepancy is mainly the cost of living (food, accommodation and transportation) in that country where u do the lengthening.
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Hey guys. Update.
Tomorrow will be frame removal and insertion of placeholder nail G-d willing.
I pushed and got 6.2CM on my left and 6CM on my right.
The doctor has a technique when he will insert the nail to give me a few more millimeters G-d willing. (Similar to G-nail during initial surgery he gives his patients 5MM.)
Overall, the first two months were not difficult. The last month was hard. From 4.5CM till 6CM it got a lot harder and walking is not so easy at all. I could not do it without a family member near me. Also, for some reason some of my pins would close and then reopen because of lengthening and it caused just more difficulty. When the pins are dry that is best.
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Hey guys. Update.
Tomorrow will be frame removal and insertion of placeholder nail G-d willing.
I pushed and got 6.2CM on my left and 6CM on my right.
The doctor has a technique when he will insert the nail to give me a few more millimeters G-d willing. (Similar to G-nail during initial surgery he gives his patients 5MM.)
Overall, the first two months were not difficult. The last month was hard. From 4.5CM till 6CM it got a lot harder and walking is not so easy at all. I could not do it without a family member near me. Also, for some reason some of my pins would close and then reopen because of lengthening and it caused just more difficulty. When the pins are dry that is best.
why not 7cm since you have a very good support system?