Limb Lengthening Forum
Limb Lengthening Surgery => Limb Lengthening Patients Experiences => Topic started by: bluebarbie on March 07, 2015, 06:04:56 AM
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Hi, I am new to this forum. I am currently doing femurs lenghtening with LATN method done in Singapore Mount Elizabeth hospital on 10th Jan 2015. I've written a blog of my journey in the following link: https://bluebarbiedoll.wordpress.com
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Hello Bluebarbie, welcome!
When was the surgery performed and how are you feeling now? From all I've read, femur lengthening with an external device is very difficult. You're a tough one!
This forum was a big help to me when I was going through lengthening. It helped to write when I was feeling frustrated or in pain. Hope you give us more details :)
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Hello Bluebarbie, welcome!
When was the surgery performed and how are you feeling now? From all I've read, femur lengthening with an external device is very difficult. You're a tough one!
This forum was a big help to me when I was going through lengthening. It helped to write when I was feeling frustrated or in pain. Hope you give us more details :)
Thank you KiloKAHN. Im gonna be 2 months post op on 12th of this month. Yeah its a really rough journey for me. I still dont know how to use this forum well. So i'll work on it and try to share more of my experiences.
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Hello bluebarbie,
hmmm.. 2months post the surgery , I guess you've done with lengthening phase , right?
I second kilo, it would be great if you can share more details with us .
I hope things will work out wonderfully with you ;)
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Bluebarbie hos many centimeters are you going to lenthen? Are the scars in femurs very big? How much range of motion have you got ? Are you able to walk? Do you think is much more dificult to do femurs than tibias?Thanks
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Hello bluebarbie. I hope everything will be OK - Good luck.
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Hi,
I am currently in distraction phase with ex-fix on femurs.(Latn with monorail). By the time I distracted 4 cms, I found out that I have only grown 3cms on my x rays. I felt terrible. Yet my doctor ( Sarbjit Sign from Mount Elizabeth Sg) said it is normal. I found out that it is caused by slanted (bended) pins. Have anyone doing externals experienced it? Will I lose more days? What can be done about it? I am feeling very bad and stressed.
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Yes, this is normal and everyone doing externals has to deal with it. It gets to the point where you stop counting how much you've turned and just start going by what the doctor measures in the x-rays.
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Hi. Medium Drink Of Water and friends from above
Thanks for the reply and greetings. I am now doing a blog and I will try to share experiences as soon as possible.
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What's your lengthening goal Bluebarbie? Doing external femurs you must want those devices off asap, but at least I see that you plan to do the LATN method. Just remember that leg lengthening requires much patience and is not something you ever want to rush through. Make sure to check your x-rays regularly and don't lengthen too fast.
I also want to tell you that I hear alot on the forum about how femurs lengthen at an angle, unlike tibias, and therefore you might not get all the height that you have lengthened. But your 4 cm lengthening amount and the 1 cm loss that you mentioned doesn't seem all that bad and so probably the 1 cm loss would be considered within normal range. However, I am not certain how much pin loss applies when using the monorail fixator, being that the pins used are known to be larger and thicker in size.
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Thanks for ur concern, galaxy1. Yeh, living with these frames is definitely killing me. I am also having difficulty with keeping my Rom in my left knee due to a misalignment caused during operation. My goal is 7to7.5cms. And I am really anxious that I wouldn't be able to reach my goal.
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hey bluebarbie , why did you do femurs and not tibias?
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Thanks for ur concern, galaxy1. Yeh, living with these frames is definitely killing me. I am also having difficulty with keeping my Rom in my left knee due to a misalignment caused during operation. My goal is 7to7.5cms. And I am really anxious that I wouldn't be able to reach my goal.
Your knee ROM ? well take it easy .. after removing the frame , You will get the knee range with proper PT . you need just to give it a time .
did they fix the alignment for you??? or would they fix it when they will insert the nail?.. you should fix it NOW, or right away after finishing the distraction .. don't wait a day after that. then they would tell you we can't fix it , cuz it would disturb the callus
hmmm what else, will about the 7cm .. usually you lose 1cm in femur lengthening so be aware of that ..
femur lengthening shouldn't be that painful. the frames is pain in the ass , but the lengthening process for the femur is easier than tibia .. either way .. give yourself rest , this would help you a lot to continue with your goal,.. and anyway in your xray it's seems you don't have that much of strong callus so you won't risk preconsildation .. ask your doctor about that and see what he would suggest for you ..
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Hey blue, I am from Singapore too. I posted an x-ray here, but I realised it had my name. Your x-ray has your name too so u might wanna take it down or censor it. I think most x-rays from here have names.
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Your knee ROM ? well take it easy .. after removing the frame , You will get the knee range with proper PT . you need just to give it a time .
did they fix the alignment for you??? or would they fix it when they will insert the nail?.. you should fix it NOW, or right away after finishing the distraction .. don't wait a day after that. then they would tell you we can't fix it , cuz it would disturb the callus
hmmm what else, will about the 7cm .. usually you lose 1cm in femur lengthening so be aware of that ..
femur lengthening shouldn't be that painful. the frames is pain in the ass , but the lengthening process for the femur is easier than tibia .. either way .. give yourself rest , this would help you a lot to continue with your goal,.. and anyway in your xray it's seems you don't have that much of strong callus so you won't risk preconsildation .. ask your doctor about that and see what he would suggest for you ..
[/quote
Thanks for your care and information. You can check out my blog I juz finished.
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Hey blue, I am from Singapore too. I posted an x-ray here, but I realised it had my name. Your x-ray has your name too so u might wanna take it down or censor it. I think most x-rays from here have names.
Thanks for ur help. :)
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I just read through your blog, Bluebarbie. Great info. You'll feel much better when this is all over with. You're in a battle now, but keep fighting and know that you'll be free of pain one day :)
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I just read through your blog, Bluebarbie. Great info. You'll feel much better when this is all over with. You're in a battle now, but keep fighting and know that you'll be free of pain one day :)
Thanks Kilokahn. Yesterday I got my xrays. Nearly 4cms now and feeling great to find out pin bending isn't going any further.
How about u? How are u doing now?
Wishing u fastest recovery too?
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Hi can u pls help me ask sarbijit about how much he charges for ex-fix removal tibia?
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How are the scars in the pin sites?
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Also, can I ask:
1. is this monorail
2. what is the price (inclusive of the nails)...this price excludes medicine?
3. would singaporeans get lower price?
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Hi can u pls help me ask sarbijit about how much he charges for ex-fix removal tibia?
Hi,ItsMyLife
I will not be seeing him until around 10th of next month. So maybe u could ask yourself through his email below.
sarbjit1@singnet.com.sg
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How are the scars in the pin sites?
The scars are quite big in my eyes. It is the pins cutting through the skin. I may have to get scar removable surgery after this is over. I'll try to share the pics when I can, too.
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Also, can I ask:
1. is this monorail
2. what is the price (inclusive of the nails)...this price excludes medicine?
3. would singaporeans get lower price?
1.Yes, monorails
2.around 650$.
3.Sorry,I don't know about this.
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1.Yes, monorails
2.around 650$.
3.Sorry,I don't know about this.
sorry BB, did you mean $65000?
$650 for surgery is impossible in singapore
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sorry BB, did you mean $65000?
$650 for surgery is impossible in singapore
Yes..I mean 65000$. =)
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65,000$ makes me cry :) that price can get you internal.
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65,000$ makes me cry :) that price can get you internal.
Yeh.. I didn't know it then. =(. I suffered from loads of pain and discomfort from my frames. I wished I had found out b4.
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well girls are capable of lengthening more than men due to various reasons such as hormones.
however are you sure the Goal of 7 to 7.5cms is a good idea?
what are you at now? (don't worry I read it: Nearly 4cms now )
what is your knee flexibility at?
I am also having difficulty with keeping my Rom in my left knee due to a misalignment caused during operation.
can you give us numbers/degrees for your knee rang eof motion for left and right leg. thank you.
knee contracture is difficult to fix?
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https://bluebarbiedoll.wordpress.com/
my spider sense is tingling............ something seems very wrong about that website.
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Yes..I mean 65000$. =)
Singapore dollars?
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https://bluebarbiedoll.wordpress.com/
my spider sense is tingling............ something seems very wrong about that website.
Yeh I m only 145 cms so I have to get at least 7cm. =(.
My Rom of left knee is around 45' and right is 60'. Before they were around 90' until one bad inflammation came about a week ago. Since then I couldn't get my Rom back.
What is wrong by my blog.?can u tell me in details pls.?
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Singapore dollars?
No USD.. Including all cost I think i might be spending about 70000$. I regret about not being able to get internals. I thought the cost for internals are about 80000+
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can I ask you what do you do in real life? just curious. you don't have to answer if you don't want to.
I wish you the best of luck with your journey.
I assume you can straighten your legs?
http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=1099.msg19192#msg19192
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It's OK. Well I run a tour company. But my mom paid for my surgery. My parents are both doctors. And I am the only child so, they are always there to fulfill my dreams.
Yeh straightening my legs is ok for me.
What is wrong with my website, u mentioned b4?
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I suspected it(you doing a job like that) . you running a tour company shows in your website.
:) don't worry its all good. :)
its layout is done in such a professional manner that it makes you look like a marketer, however your demeanor makes me believe you were a real patient and had no such marketing engender, this led me to a confused state where there were 2 conflicting puzzle pieces, I strongly suspected that the layout was due to your job.
in other words you should take it as a compliment that your web site looks very professional and it shows. :) running a tour company means you are good at marketing and I can see it in your website.
so good luck on your journey. this website has to always be cautious about people who try to promote doctors. but this doesn't apply to you.
good luck. you sound like a sweet girl :) my recommendation is that you really really email other doctors and get second opinions for how much is a safe limit for external femurs. my doctor believes 5cm. I think if you really must have so much length at least stop at 6.5cm.
its sad because for external femurs you can get it done for like 20k or even less in Russia. however I am sure you have amazing quality of care. and I think for girls it is better to pay for all the luxuries instead of trying to just tough it through. because this is a very emotional journey. :) don't worry about the money, both your parents are doctors. :) I think just focus on the height, and how awesome life will be in the future.
I think that you should only go for 6cm......... 6.5cm tops. I personally am doing 5cm femur. but that's just me.
after you are done femurs, see if you like the new height or want more.
and if you want more then get tibia done for like 15k.
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You wrote in your blog that Dr. Singh told you your femur bones were too small for the internal method. Did he suggest any particular internal device before discovering from your x-rays that your bones wouldn't fit them?
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Don't worry Singapore has one of the best medical systems in the world.
Its good that you came here to do your legs. I would have done in SG if I could bear to afford this amount of money (yes I can afford but I wanna save)
The price is ridiculous but then again Singapore is now the most expensive city to live in.
For external femurs, it is best to stop about 4-5 cm. Maybe you can speak to Dr Singh about it.
SG has a dearth of LL doctors who are experienced and I think Dr Singh is the most experienced surgeon in SG.
He used to practise in TTSH and use the Fitbone technology. Price was about 100,000 SGD (about 80,000 USD)
I am abit worried about frame removal so I will remove in Singapore. Russia doesn't believe in anesthesia, pain killers and antibiotics, so I think Singapore is much much better.
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No USD.. Including all cost I think i might be spending about 70000$. I regret about not being able to get internals. I thought the cost for internals are about 80000+
I paid roughly $80K all in for internals with Dr. G., but that also included cost of living abroad and the pre-training costs. Without pre-training, it would've been less, but that's unfortunately part of Dr. G's red tape unless your initial Cybex test results are very high. I did not want to postpone the surgery for months in order to do it on my own, so I chose to suck it up and pay so I could get the surgery in before the new year.
How are you doing bluebarbie? When do you expect to finish lengthening?
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ForcedPuberty,
Thz, I appreciate your compliment and concern. My doctor asked me how much I'd like to gain on our pre op consultation? I told him 7 to 8cms. But he advised me to get 6 first then see it goes and add more if my body accepts. But I must have 7+. I m doing stretching exercises as much as I can and maintaining my Rom. I swear Iwould never go for another LL journey to gain more. Have had enough. I'll juz try to finish this one up with the most I can get and recover fast. Wish me luck.
Sean Connery,
I think he was mentioning about fit bone or iskd. But when I asked him about precise last time, his feedback wasn't clear.
ItsMyLife,
I regret on how much money I had spent and pain and discomfort I had gone through without knowing I could have internals with other doctors. But then I could again relieve on not having had any complications or other hard situations coz I had done in that expansive but a reliable country.
YellowSpike,
80k including living expenses and pre training costs is not bad. I read through your experiences. Envy u that u didn't have to go through very hard times, well compared to me
me.
I m now 4+, reaching 5cms soon, worrying everyday of not reaching 7cms. I m going at 1mm a day so about next 30 days I would reach my goal and thinking of going a lil bit further if I could. IF I COULD. But now I m having a hard time keeping my Roms. =( Left knee can bend only 35 to 45 degrees and right around 60'. Pain every now and then from tissues and skin being cut through by pins or when I try to push my knee bending further. =(.
U are very lucky to be recovering quite well now. Juz keep it up and don't be lazy to try harder. =). Wishing u fastest recovery.
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YellowSpike,
80k including living expenses and pre training costs is not bad. I read through your experiences. Envy u that u didn't have to go through very hard times, well compared to me
me.
I m now 4+, reaching 5cms soon, worrying everyday of not reaching 7cms. I m going at 1mm a day so about next 30 days I would reach my goal and thinking of going a lil bit further if I could. IF I COULD. But now I m having a hard time keeping my Roms. =( Left knee can bend only 35 to 45 degrees and right around 60'. Pain every now and then from tissues and skin being cut through by pins or when I try to push my knee bending further. =(.
U are very lucky to be recovering quite well now. Juz keep it up and don't be lazy to try harder. =). Wishing u fastest recovery.
Don't worry bluebarbie. LL is hard for all of us, no matter which method or doctor we choose. We all understand what you're going through is very hard. I have every confidence that you will reach your goal of 7cm! :)
And thanks, yes ,I know I have to step it up with the walking, I have been trying more and more every day!
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hey bluebarbie , why did you do femurs and not tibias?
Sorry, juz found ur post. My tibias aldy seems slightly longer than my femurs. I would look very unpropotionate if I lenghten them. Plus, girls with long slender thighs, I find them beautiful.
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Reaching 5cms. Duckass is getting worse. But when I try to fix it with standing, lying on my tummy or back kicking exercises, I feel sooooo much pain around my pin sites especially the ones near the knee. Pain is like fleshs are being torn underneath them.
Sleep is also getting more and more difficult. I have to put two pillows under my back when I sleep coz I cannot lay on my back flat. Only about 20 more days before lenghtening phase is over. I juz want these days to end.. :-[ :-[. I'll update more on 26th which I have to take xrays. Knee Rom still 40' - 45'on left side and 50' to 60' on the right. Dull aches in the whole right femur when I bend that knee.
(http://www.image-share.com/upload/2894/242.jpg)
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You're very brave for sticking it to 7cm. 7cm is a significant gain and will change your perspective dramatically.
Can you bend your knees and are you closer to reaching your goal?
I advised another member previously. If it's too painful, it's okay to stop and take a break for a few days. And once the pain subside you can re-lengthen again. Also, increase mobility if you can like doing some brief exercises. Staying stagnant in one place will keep the pain. And you have just 20 or so more days, so you can be generous with those pain-killer and detox yourself every day now and after.
You can detox by taking in leafy greens vegetables and smoothie.... I know it's difficult. Good-luck and cheers.
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What is your doc allowing you to take for pain relief? Do you take any sleeping pills to help for bed?
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Hi, Smallguy and KiloKAHN
My knee bending is still the same as last cms, (around 45' -50')
Yes, I agree with u on painkillers. Yesterday I met my doctor, took xrays and I was put on more medication Muscol, tramadol, Nucoxia and Danzen for pain, muscle relaxation and inflammation. He put me on diazepam to help with my sleep. But I don't take it. Because the problem is I am always tired and sleepy and as soon as my head touches the pillow I juz fell asleep, yet pain kept waking me up. I m in pain, stressed and worried that I wouldn't reach my goal and I have a sense it's gonna get worse as it nears the end. I have also updated on my blog showing my xrays also. Thanks friss. I do appreciate ur advice.
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be strong , you can do it , the end of the lengthening is near.
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Yeah, the enemy is pain. But like I said, while pain is temporary, height is real. Whatever you do now will have an effect on the rest of your life. Think about all the moments where you have been discriminated against in your life for your short stature. Maybe you were teased. Life would be so awesome if you are 7cm taller. Your dating pool widen, your job prospective gets bigger... and while you take your clients out on tour-guide (I read you have a tour guide business) you won't look so small to all the foreign customers.
The moment is now. If you can, split out your lengthening, doing a few quarter of a millimetres every few hours. Do some exercises and watch some movies to keep your mind off. If you can, maybe chat with a friend to kill time. Or if you want encouragement from me, you can always post on here. Goodluck! :D
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Hi KirPi and Smallguy,
Your motivations definitely made my day :).
Smallguy, I read through ur posts and found that u have went through alot, too. It's great that those times are over now. I m really happy for u and wished to be in ur place. I 'll get there on day too,right!
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Yeah, you will also get there one day. Just know that these moments are your hardest and the grass is definitely greener on the other side.
Thanks. I've had quite a few exposures in life in the field of romance, hardship, betrayal, and ambition. Many events are undisclosed but I plan on writing a book about it and sell it to a movie studio one day. (just kidding)
Keep us update on your progress. Cheers.
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Hi bluebarbie
How many cm you did until now, and how about walking ? are you able to walk ?
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Hi bluebarbie
How many cm you did until now, and how about walking ? are you able to walk ?
Now reaching 7cms in about a week.. I cannot walk. Mobility is very bad with ex femur lengthening.
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Now reaching 7cms in about a week.. I cannot walk. Mobility is very bad with ex femur lengthening.
Are you allowed to walk though? Like, is the monorail device capable of weight bearing?
Stay strong!
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Are you allowed to walk though? Like, is the monorail device capable of weight bearing?
Stay strong!
I try standing and put about 30%of my body weight everyday to allow blood supply to my new callus.
I don't think monorails are very strong devices..My bones slowly get misaligned during the months. But I will have to put internal nail after finish lenghtening so.it's no problem for me.
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Now reaching 7cms in about a week.. I cannot walk. Mobility is very bad with ex femur lengthening.
Hope you will be well soon, so you were not able to walk from the first day after the operation ? or you started to lose ability to walk day by day with lengthening?
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Hope you will be well soon, so you were not able to walk from the first day after the operation ? or you started to lose ability to walk day by day with lengthening?
I was abit mobile post op but it was also too painful whenever I make my movements. I slowly lost my mobility and pain.
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Took xrays today. Very close to getting 7cms. Had been feeling very great lately, which is the opposite of of I had expected. Pain and all the tightness had gone down to like 1/10. Sleep had been good, too. I take only Nucoxia and Muscol twice a day now, well including nutrition supplements like Calcium and vitamin D, of course. Knee ranges have gone down abit, left (35′ to 40′) and right (around 40′).
With LATN method there could be loss of gained length during the next internal nailing surgery. Because of that my doctor told me to gain 8cms in case to compensate for any loss during the surgery, which is going to be in next two months.
I
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Nice to see that everything is getting better and you are close to your goal. Keep us updated.
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Took xrays today. Very close to getting 7cms. Had been feeling very great lately, which is the opposite of of I had expected. Pain and all the tightness had gone down to like 1/10. Sleep had been good, too. I take only Nucoxia and Muscol twice a day now, well including nutrition supplements like Calcium and vitamin D, of course. Knee ranges have gone down abit, left (35′ to 40′) and right (around 40′).
With LATN method there could be loss of gained length during the next internal nailing surgery. Because of that my doctor told me to gain 8cms in case to compensate for any loss during the surgery, which is going to be in next two months.
I
You will remove the external in 2 months after stop lengthing ? I thought internal nailing surgery right away after stop lengthing.
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good luck
youve just started on the recovery process
expect a year or so to recover... but will get better
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KirPi / Crimsontide / Alex
Thanks, Yeh. I am quite relieved that the most difficult part, the hardest battle field is almost over. But I also I am getting really inpatient about having to stay with the frames longer. I don't know, my doctor said he wants to give my bones and muscles some time so that during the surgery they don't snap back and get compressed easily. He also said that there is a surgical technique to get the bones distracted while he puts the internal nail. I don't really quite understand too, why I have to stay in frames for two months if there is a technique to get them distracted during surgery. :-[
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Bluebarbie, I find the misalignment of your femurs as well as the explanation your doctors have given you for how they plan to correct it (during nailing) somewhat disturbing.
The exact, precise, proper alignment of your femurs is very important to your hip, knee, and ankle health long term. Currently your alignment on the monorail is way out of wack. Dr. Singh has told you he will "fix this during nailing". But I cannot see how this is a good approach.
Your bones will start consolidating soon. Once they do, your ability to fix the deviation will decline. Furthermore, "roughly approximating" the realignment by manually shifting the knee during nailing is not likely to be precise enough to give you the correct alignment you need.
It's possible I am wrong on this, but we have seen many, many people get butchered by misalignments like this and never become able to walk properly again. If I was you, I would be safer than sorry.
The safest and most accurate way to correct your misalignment before consolidation occurs is probably going to be to have the monorail immediately removed and a external Ilizarov with Hexapod or Taylor frame attached. These devices will allow computer planned accurate realignment of the femurs within only a few days of wearing. Once the realignment is done, you can still get nailed into position, and continue with recovery as planned. The point is, with the Hexapod realignment, at least then you will be getting nailed into a correct alignment.
There are many doctors who offer this procedure. You could talk to KiloKahn about the doctor he's being treated by in India who is not too far away for you (Dr. Parihar). He seems affordable, has done a very good job with Kilo so far, and treats deformities via Hexapod regularly. Perhaps you can e-mail the doctor your current xrays and see what he thinks.
I would very strongly caution you about taking a "wait and see" approach. If that consolidation occurs, and you are not in a good alignment when it happens, you may never walk normally again or you will require multiple much more difficult surgeries to be able to. I think it would be much more affordable and beneficial for you to pay for the Hexapod realignment now than try to fix this once your legs are consolidating in a potentially crooked position.
For illustration purposes, this is what I'm trying to help you avoid:
(http://s30.postimg.org/ozpe0as81/faplgaabg.jpg)
It would probably not cost more than 10-20K to travel to India, get the Hexapod realignment, and go back home. For the money your parents have already paid, this would I'm sure be worth it to them to avoid having their daughter potentially crippled like the guy above was. 4 years of surgery later and he still can't function properly.
The only thing I'm not sure of is if it is safe to remove the monorails and attach Ilizarov while you have such extensive callus between the bone fragments. You wouldn't want to disrupt that callus and then end up with nonunion either. I would send the xrays to that Indian surgeon as well as perhaps the experts out there like Dr. Paley who can advise you further on the safest next course of action.
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bluebarbie
Almost I am going to make it next month, pure external.
I have a quetsion to you, almost you need around 2 months and two weeks to lenth 7 cm. and you will wait more 2 months before internal nail, why you dont wait for more 2 months or 3 with the external fixator instead of having an internal nail for all your life, or at least for some years.
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Bluebarbie, I find the misalignment of your femurs as well as the explanation your doctors have given you for how they plan to correct it (during nailing) somewhat disturbing.
The exact, precise, proper alignment of your femurs is very important to your hip, knee, and ankle health long term. Currently your alignment on the monorail is way out of wack. Dr. Singh has told you he will "fix this during nailing". But I cannot see how this is a good approach.
Your bones will start consolidating soon. Once they do, your ability to fix the deviation will decline. Furthermore, "roughly approximating" the realignment by manually shifting the knee during nailing is not likely to be precise enough to give you the correct alignment you need.
It's possible I am wrong on this, but we have seen many, many people get butchered by misalignments like this and never become able to walk properly again. If I was you, I would be safer than sorry.
The safest and most accurate way to correct your misalignment before consolidation occurs is probably going to be to have the monorail immediately removed and a external Ilizarov with Hexapod or Taylor frame attached. These devices will allow computer planned accurate realignment of the femurs within only a few days of wearing. Once the realignment is done, you can still get nailed into position, and continue with recovery as planned. The point is, with the Hexapod realignment, at least then you will be getting nailed into a correct alignment.
There are many doctors who offer this procedure. You could talk to KiloKahn about the doctor he's being treated by in India who is not too far away for you (Dr. Parihar). He seems affordable, has done a very good job with Kilo so far, and treats deformities via Hexapod regularly. Perhaps you can e-mail the doctor your current xrays and see what he thinks.
I would very strongly caution you about taking a "wait and see" approach. If that consolidation occurs, and you are not in a good alignment when it happens, you may never walk normally again or you will require multiple much more difficult surgeries to be able to. I think it would be much more affordable and beneficial for you to pay for the Hexapod realignment now than try to fix this once your legs are consolidating in a potentially crooked position.
For illustration purposes, this is what I'm trying to help you avoid:
(http://s30.postimg.org/ozpe0as81/faplgaabg.jpg)
It would probably not cost more than 10-20K to travel to India, get the Hexapod realignment, and go back home. For the money your parents have already paid, this would I'm sure be worth it to them to avoid having their daughter potentially crippled like the guy above was. 4 years of surgery later and he still can't function properly.
The only thing I'm not sure of is if it is safe to remove the monorails and attach Ilizarov while you have such extensive callus between the bone fragments. You wouldn't want to disrupt that callus and then end up with nonunion either. I would send the xrays to that Indian surgeon as well as perhaps the experts out there like Dr. Paley who can advise you further on the safest next course of action.
Hi, maximize
Thanks alot for all ur concern for me. About that misalignment thing, Yes! As soon as I saw my very first xrays, left femur, 7days post op, I couldn't help myself from crying and begging my doctor to realign it again for me. But he insisted and promised that it will go straight again and I won't have a problem after the internal nailing is done. There were many other doctors, nurses and my family members there when that battle happened. So finally I just gave in and restrained myself from ever thinking about that again and become depressed over it. But during the distraction phase, I find the right femur slowly getting misaligned, too.
As for me now I don't really think about it or worry that much anymore coz like u mentioned it can be fixed somehow. What is really disturbing me currently is that, with LATN method, it's likely that we lose our cms during that internal nailing surgery. And for me with that misalignment thing, I don't even know what to say....
I had emailed other doctors like u suggested me, Dr Rozbruch and dr Aporn from Thailand. Well I thought about Dr Paley and Dr Guichet too, but they mainly practice in internals so I didn't contact them.
Yes for me, I would do anything or travel anywhere as long as I gain my targeted length at least 7 cms. External femurs is like a living hell and there is no way I will let those hard earned cms go away.
Alex,
I wanted to do with internals but as my bones are too small and risky to go with that method I had no choice but go with this hybrid method.
Firstly my knee bending is very bad and the longer I stay in frames, the more likely it is to get stiff knees for a longer period of time and recovery. And I worry very much about subsidence with pure externals. Even with this nailing thing, I am really stressed about losing my gained length during that surgery. But with this u can find out immediately and once it's done, the nail locked,it's over and no more compressing over time. Plus I have this misalignment thing that need to be fixed.
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As for me now I don't really think about it or worry that much anymore coz like u mentioned it can be fixed somehow. What is really disturbing me currently is that, with LATN method,it's like that we lose our cms during that internal nailing surgery. And for me with that misalignment thing, I don't even know what to say....
I had emailed other doctors like u suggested me, Dr Rozbruch and dr Aporn from Thailand. Well I thought about Dr Paley and Dr Guichet too, but the mainly practice in internals so I didn't contact them.
Yes for me, I would do anything or travel anywhere as long as I gain my targeted length at least 7 cms.
It can be fixed, but again, the only correct way to fix it is almost certainly with a full Ilizarov and Hexapod setup. Dr. Parihar is an expert with this. You will not be able to fix this once you consolidate. Do NOT let Dr. Singh nail your legs.
You should start getting in contact with Dr. Parihar now. His contact info is in the doctor's directory forum here:
http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=87.0
You are being way too worried about the possibility of losing a centimeter when it "compresses". You need to worry more about whether you'll ever walk straight again.
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It can be fixed, but again, the only correct way to fix it is almost certainly with a full Ilizarov and Hexapod setup. Dr. Parihar is an expert with this. You will not be able to fix this once you consolidate. Do NOT let Dr. Singh nail your legs.
You should start getting in contact with Dr. Parihar now. His contact info is in the doctor's directory forum here:
http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=87.0
You are being way too worried about the possibility of losing a centimeter when it "compresses". You need to worry more about whether you'll ever walk straight again.
Thanks, maxi. I ll see what I can do about it. I really appreciate ur help and concern. :-*
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(http://www.image-share.com/upload/2924/204.jpg) (http://www.image-share.com/ijpg-2924-204.html)
Picture of me standing, so that u can see my new proportions.
6 more days to reach my 8cms. Feeling really great lately. Yesterday I walked alot on my crutches without needing assistance anymore, went out, had late dinner date with my friends, yet pain and discomfort were just zero. The only thing I find it hard is the muscle tightness and stiffness during sleep. I still can't believe it. I thought the last days of reaching my goal would be like hell but everything is going really fine and smooth, I aldy feel like I m on my recovery journey. ::)
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mmm
barbie, you really seem like you're in denial
i hope you realize you will not be walking normally for over a year... you had the surgery 3 months ago? and yoyee doing 8 cm... with monorail
and you need to correct both legs... this is gonna take a while
ii know the tibia can be realigned with a nail after consolidation... not sure about the femur/... i can tell you for sure though that you will n ot walk normally again if you dont correct the issues... i have only 1 malaligned leg, not 2, and i know i cant walk normally until may or june when i have the correction done
good luck, and expect the next year and a half to recover
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Remain positive bluebarbie, and at the same time be ready for any possible setbacks you might have not expected. All that matters is that in the end you will be fine once again and will enjoy your new stature/height.
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(http://www.image-share.com/upload/2924/204.jpg) (http://www.image-share.com/ijpg-2924-204.html)
Picture of me standing, so that u can see my new proportions.
6 more days to reach my 8cms. Feeling really great lately. Yesterday I walked alot on my crutches without needing assistance anymore, went out, had late dinner date with my friends, yet pain and discomfort were just zero. The only thing I find it hard is the muscle tightness and stiffness during sleep. I still can't believe it. I thought the last days of reaching my goal would be like hell but everything is going really fine and smooth, I aldy feel like I m on my recovery journey. ::)
Awesome, blue. It was the same way for me at the end - doing better than at the beginning. You're even doing better than I was if you can already balance with crutches.
And I'm sure your doctor knows how to correct your alignment and will do a good job of it on the operating table before he locks the nails.
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you look great.
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Thanks my dear friends.
I know I have to be ready for the unexpected, it's still a long way ahead until full recovery. But I m just enjoying the moment where the most difficult and painful part is ending.
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what is this mis alignment and how do i avoid it fully.. By internal or not doing LATN femurs ?
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How is your duck ass now?
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Picture of me standing, so that u can see my new proportions.
6 more days to reach my 8cms. Feeling really great lately. Yesterday I walked alot on my crutches without needing assistance anymore, went out, had late dinner date with my friends, yet pain and discomfort were just zero. The only thing I find it hard is the muscle tightness and stiffness during sleep. I still can't believe it. I thought the last days of reaching my goal would be like hell but everything is going really fine and smooth, I aldy feel like I m on my recovery journey. ::)
Very happy for you that you can walk well. but let me ask you, what did you do to can walk again while you still lengthening ? last time I asked you, walking was so hard as you said.
I am going to do femur soon, so I am intertsed to get your experience: ))
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@Melan-sprint
Sorry, I don't know much about those alignment things. But my doctor told me when internal nailing is done with my method, they will b fixed.
@Kirp1
It's surprising that my duckass is no longer there. I can now stand really straight without pain. Well I think they resolved from doing lots of stretching for my hip flexers for the last several weeks. But quite amazing that they went away really quick.
@alex
Hi alex, yes I'll try to help as much as I can. Very few people do external femurs or with LATN method, so I guess there aren't enough information or examples that we need. That's why I m in this forum. I'll try to share as much information as I can about my experiences.
Ok, back to my walking, I still need help to get me up on my crutches, sitting back is ok for me. That's because my knees cannot bend. It's just all about balancing. First I just tried standing and test my balance, take short steps with someone's assistance first, then tried unaided. It's just like babies learning to walk for the first time. Knowing ur balance is important. Good luck with ur journey. Best wishes.
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8cms!! I still couldn't believe that I came this far. I m now feeling very happy and satisfied that I have just overcome the hardest battle and now enjoying my confort zone.
Yet the journey is still not over though, the internal nailing surgery in June buzzes me alot when I think of it.
My condition now after reaching the targeted length; I've been walking quite alot with weight-bearing of about only 30% of my body weight (86 pounds), using elbow crutches. My Roms were left 25' with the last distraction yet I feel like gaining them back, very little but easier to bend them.
Sleep wasn't bad for me during the distraction phase but now it is definitely better with about 1/10 of muscle tightness and ache.
Overall I m now so in love with my fixators and I won't mind wearing them for longer time if it guarantees decompression during the next internal nailing surgery. ;)
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Congratulations for your lengthening! You are a true warrior! Now the hardest part is over.
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Hey princess!! Congrats for a successful journey so far n wish u all the best!!
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Hi Bluebarbie , how are you doing?
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bluebarbie , please update , how are you ?
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Thanks buddies. I m doing well. My condition was the same as my last update plus I m enjoying my moments of less stress, tightness and stretching exercises. During distraction I turned 4 times a day so I did my exercises 3 times daily, 2 to 3 hours each sessions. Now it's off my shoulder but I still do my daily stretches. And I use my crutches alot. I go out sometimes and try to love my life in frames becoz I might stay in them longer than planned.
I will meet my dr on the 10th. We'll discuss about the next surgery. I m still worried about losing my cms and my alignment thing during that surgery.
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hope all goes well with your new surgery. my friend
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hope all goes well with your new surgery. my friend
Me too. I like this girl. She's genuine. She posts her Xrays and pics.
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Thanks,. you two. :-*
Four months anniversary! Went to see my doctor today. We discussed mainly about that re-shortening thing and misalignment. He answered my questions with passion and explained me about the surgical methods that could be used during the nailing procedure. He instructed me to stimulate the callus with turning back and forth one week after another. It's like starting from tomorrow I have to rewind my turns twice a day for a week (about 4 mms) then get them back to last distraction the next week and go on. Its quite a relief that my doubts and worries have gone down, not totally but much relieved after our discussion.
I have been going out quite alot and enjoying my consolidation with the best I can, like keeping myself busy with the things I love to do and rehabilitation of course. When I go out or meet my friends, I feel sooooo verrry happy with my new height that everytime I stand up, I feel like I was reborn again. There is no more fear that people would see my ugliness and feeling small that I just wanted to shrank more and disappear. I feel awesome.
I still go to rehab center three to four times a week and I do my daily stretches at home. My doctor told me to work on my knee bending more, as much as I could. I was left with about 25' with my last distraction. Up to now I gain back about 10' so my knee Roms are around 35' at the moment.
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::) 8) 8) ;D My proportions
(http://www.image-share.com/upload/2943/157.jpg)[/URL]
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Looking really great! Congratulations! ;)
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Great that you're back on your feet and feeling good. Hope your nail insertion goes particularly well :)
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You look great. You have done a very good amount of lengthening. You are a true LL warrior. Now enjoy the recovery and work hard to get all your ROM back. :D
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Congratulation on a successful leg lengthening journey.
Stick to physical therapy and you'll be fine.
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I have a quetsion plaese, Now I am in the external deveice, and I am going to start lenthing in few days. I can walk with the walker, dose lenthing will make walking harder ? please tell me your experince about this point.
I am doing femur as well.
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Heyy, Long time no update. Thank u all for the lovely and motivating comments.
I still do my physios sincerely. Muscle tightness and tensions are nearly all gone. Yesterday went shopping for about 2hours and still no pain. I try to walk more every day to allow more blood flow. I feel like a normal person just lacking the ability to bend the knees to their normal range and not being able to sleep on my sides. I'll be meeting dr Sarbjit to do my xrays of 1.5 months post lenghtening.
@Alex: I couldn't walk with walker coz I was afraid to put too much weight on my legs. I tried crutches also but elbow crutches are just perfect to use. Just need a lil practice. How much can u bend ur knees? Knee bending range loses with lengthening. But u have to walk whether u can bend them or not, putting about only 20_30% on ur legs.
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@Alex: I couldn't walk with walker coz I was afraid to put too much weight on my legs. I tried crutches also but elbow crutches are just perfect to use. Just need a lil practice. How much can u bend ur knees? Knee bending range loses with lengthening. But u have to walk whether u can bend them or not, putting about only 20_30% on ur legs.
I can bend one around 75, and the second just 45. I just started lengthening so I am afraid of range loses with lengthening as you said.
why you say put only 20 - 30 % on legs ? by the way, I am doing with ilzarov, not side deveice as yours, but mine is not full rings ilzarov, it's the same as this
http://www.orthopediconlineshop.com/Illizarov/ILIZAROV-Italian-Femoral-Arches
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I can bend one around 75, and the second just 45. I just started lengthening so I am afraid of range loses with lengthening as you said.
why you say put only 20 - 30 % on legs ? by the way, I am doing with ilzarov, not side deveice as yours, but mine is not full rings ilzarov, it's the same as this
http://www.orthopediconlineshop.com/Illizarov/ILIZAROV-Italian-Femoral-Arches
Oh.. I don't know about ur fixator. What does ur doc say? Partial or full weight bearing? If it's partial weight bear I suggest u shouldn't put too much weight on it or pins will bend causing loss of gained length.
About knee bending, I read that u are only doing about 4 cms? Is it? So knee bending shouldn't be a big concern for u. I did 8cms and left with around 35 degrees. But if u want fast recovery u should keep ur range at highest. Tip: Every time u try to bend u should give them some time. Like try to pull to bend urself with the best u can and hold for about 20 secs each bend. After u reach ur limit like say 65' ask someone to push further as u bend for about only 5 to 10' or more but within tolerated range, not further and hold for 10 to 20 secs too. Do that for as many times as u can tolerate and also bend urself to get the latest range. When u do that focus on relaxing ur quadriceps yet pulling ur hamstrings as the bending goes. Give both knees an hour or so for the whole bending session and u'll see what I mean by it.
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Oh.. I don't know about ur fixator. What does ur doc say? Partial or full weight bearing? If it's partial weight bear I suggest u shouldn't put too much weight on it or pins will bend causing loss of gained length.
About knee bending, I read that u are only doing about 4 cms? Is it? So knee bending shouldn't be a big concern for u. I did 8cms and left with around 35 degrees. But if u want fast recovery u should keep ur range at highest. Tip: Every time u try to bend u should give them some time. Like try to pull to bend urself with the best u can and hold for about 20 secs each bend. After u reach ur limit like say 65' ask someone to push further as u bend for about only 5 to 10' or more but within tolerated range, not further and hold for 10 to 20 secs too. Do that for as many times as u can tolerate and also bend urself to get the latest range. When u do that focus on relaxing ur quadriceps yet pulling ur hamstrings as the bending goes. Give both knees an hour or so for the whole bending session and u'll see what I mean by it.
Thanks alot for your advices : ))
before you start length, how much you were able to bend ?
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Thanks alot for your advices : ))
before you start length, how much you were able to bend ?
Around 80'
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When are you going to remove the external device, did the doctor decide ?
by the way, during lenthing period, there were a lot of pain and sleepless nights ?
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I planned to remove them at the end of this month. But may extend one more month in them.
U can find everything I went through during lengthening in my diary or my blog.
https://bluebarbiedoll.wordpress.com
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I planned to remove them at the end of this month. But may extend one more month in them.
U can find everything I went through during lengthening in my diary or my blog.
https://bluebarbiedoll.wordpress.com
I read it, it's provided me good info and bad news as well :D as you are talking about pins pain while lenthing
Please look here, and tell me, is that duckass ?
http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=2317.0
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As u are doing only 4cms u don't have to worry about duckass. And it is a thing that goes away easily if u do ur stretchings well. Stretch ur hip flexers every day 2 to 3 times a day by lying on ur stomach and do back kicks. U can do them by standing, too. Remember to hold each kick for a while.
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As u are doing only 4cms u don't have to worry about duckass. And it is a thing that goes away easily if u do ur stretchings well. Stretch ur hip flexers every day 2 to 3 times a day by lying on ur stomach and do back kicks. U can do them by standing, too. Remember to hold each kick for a while.
Okay, but what I suffer from is that duckass ? I am suffering from this even befor I start lengthening, and I think duckass happen with lengthening, isn't that ?
as well dose duckass bent the back towards as this pic
http://seniorjournal.com/images/Symbols/Health/walker-man-200px.jpg
or bend backwards as this pic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lordosis.png
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Sorry.. I'm not an expert, buddy. I can just tell u from my experiences. Ask ur doctor about it and I m sure he'll handle that for u.
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Next 3 days it'll be 5 months post operation and alil over a month from last distraction day. More callus has formed beautifully and the difference can be visibly seem from the last xray taken 41 days ago.
And today we made up our mind to do the next surgery exactly a month from now.
Ohhh yeah!!! Im sooooo happy and excited to be spending my last month my those devices that have changed my life.
Actually my doctor said I can do it this month but my mum and I wanted to wait abit longer for the callus to form more and all muscle tension to go away to make sure not to lose much on the gained length.
My Roms, muscle mass and strength are returning but very slowly, now knee ranges at around 40 degrees. The pinsites have healed completely but when I try to bend my knees further, the skin and underlying tissues around the pins struggle and try to tear themselves to be able to move. I don’t want to risk infection or manipulate them so I just go slowly.
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(http://www.image-share.com/upload/2970/127.jpg) (http://www.image-share.com/ijpg-2970-127.html)
Me today, legs are stiff every early mornings before exercises.
(http://www.image-share.com/upload/2970/128.jpg) (http://www.image-share.com/ijpg-2970-128.html)
Notice the visible formation of improved callus form in the lower two xrays? And Id like to request some people here who are very concerned for me about the alignment thing, please don't. I m sure Dr. Singh will def fix that during the nailing procedure.
(http://www.image-share.com/upload/2970/129.jpg) (http://www.image-share.com/ijpg-2970-129.html)
And my current legs.
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Thanks alot music maker. How are u.? Long time no talk.
I definitely love my proportions now. I m like u, love long legs and very ambitious to get them. Before my femurs are shorter than my tibias and I feel very unattractive. Now they are only slightly longer than the tibs. But my doctor said I could get between one to two cms shortened again during nailing time. :-\
Trying my best and all that I can to maintain them...
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You are doing a good job - Good luck.
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And today we made up our mind to do the next surgery exactly a month from now.
That's great, I am waiting for my day as well. external femur not easy.
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Thx @ Just me
@Musicmaker, my doctor said the final lenghtening would be in between of 6 to 7 cms, which is quite upsetting for me. But I can tell he'll try his best not to lose much, he just doesn't want to make a promise.
@alex, yes yes, I can know how u are feeling. External femur is a time in hell, yes. Just be strong and u 'll get there one day, too. And it's not too far from right now. Time flies real fast and it'll be over before u know it.
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Bluebarbie
After you finished lengthening, walking became easier ?
I am asking that as walking for me became hard, I started lengthening 13 days after the operation, during these 13 days, walking was much easier.
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Only 15 days left.....and still counting down. I had my xrays done two days ago and callus was forming great with the gap showing about 8.2cm
Had some problems at the xray department. It was crazy. Usually the xrays are enlarged so you never get ur exact measurements from them, right? That's why our xrays have to be calibrated to get the exact lenght . What I was facing is that they put a measurement for calibration but never calibrated my xrays. You see, that's what you have to face in an underdeveloped country. So that day the same xrays with the same gap(8.2cms) were showing over 9cms without being calibrated. I was outraged and complained and finally after about two hours of hanging in there, they told us they left out one step in there!!!!
My range of motions are currently around 45-50 degrees. Psychologically I am getting really impatient for the final days to pass but again really satisfied and happy with myself that I had struggled, endured and waited this long.
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(http://www.image-share.com/upload/2986/278.jpg) (http://www.image-share.com/ijpg-2986-278.html)
Callus clouding up real quick
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Bluebarbie
After you finished lengthening, walking became easier ?
I am asking that as walking for me became hard, I started lengthening 13 days after the operation, during these 13 days, walking was much easier.
Mobility is really limited during or after lenghtening.. Even bending ur knees slowly during therapy tears the skin around pins close to knees so leave out comfortable walking. I m sure things will become easier only when the frames come off.
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You look nice, barbie. And damn, your frames look so much better than my piece of crap. I was wondering... is it possible to do LON with monorail frames? That would eliminate problems with misaligment and loose of height when nailing with LATN, also you wouldn't have to wait. Not possible, right?
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You look nice, barbie. And damn, your frames look so much better than my piece of crap. I was wondering... is it possible to do LON with monorail frames? That would eliminate problems with misaligment and loose of height when nailing with LATN, also you wouldn't have to wait. Not possible, right?
Yes it is possible but only for those with bigger diameter bones. But it's like many doctors don't do it on femurs I think.
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Congrats on almost being finished Bluebarbie! You are surely one of the strongest people on here to have braved external femurs. I'm not sure I could've done it to be honest.
Yeah, those x-rays are never accurate. Dr. G said they can be off by up to 1cm. My recent x-ray estimates said I lengthened 8.3/8.4cm, but it's more like 7.2/7.3 cm in reality after adjusting for the x-ray estimate error.
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Thank you YellowSpike.
About the inaccuracy of xrays, LLers should always be aware of that fact.You can't do anything if u find out about it after ur bones start to consolidate. And end up not meeting ur actual goal.
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Thank you YellowSpike.
About the inaccuracy of xrays, LLers should always be aware of that fact.You can't do anything if u find out about it after ur bones start to consolidate. And end up not meeting ur actual goal.
This is very true, especially for external methods where you could lose some due to compression. But you seemed to have lengthened a lot, so I'm sure your final gain will be close to 7cm, which is a great gain!
The funny thing about the Gnail (and the Betzbone, I think too) is that you typically end up with a bit more height than you click. Though, this may just be due to the "formula" (15 clicks = 1mm) being somewhat off. Dr. G said I'm probably a bit over 7cm as a result of this (maybe 7.2-7.3cm), so it somewhat compensates for the femur angle issue. Which makes sense, since the x-rays (which are wrong) are saying I'm at like 8.4cm lol. Dr. G said when he retrieves the nails, almost all patients have a bit more than what they click, which is kinda nice.
Anyway, your life will become much easier once those frames are off. Internal nails are going to seem like a cakewalk to you, trust me 8)
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Yes yes, I def hope my final gain is closest to 7.
Ohh and thanks for believing in me on internal nailing. As for now I m really freaking out about it...the worst fear is death from embolism; second, rotational misalignments and third, not gaining my targeted length. I just can't get death out of my mind these days, whatever I do or think about, there is this thing what if I die during this traumatic surgery lasting around 6 hours. :-[ :'( I know it is so rare but I just can't get it out of my mind.
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Try not to worry about it too much. You've already come so far, and are on the home stretch. Those risks are quite rare, so I'm sure you will be fine. And you're going to love having an internal nail, your ROM will be a lot better and your pain level will go down too.
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Hey
Did you remove your device
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Your callus look good. Did your doctor remove the device?
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Thanks YellowSpike. I really appreciate ur encouragement. I don't feel scared anymore these few days.. I m just happy that the days are soo near and just can't wait. Not sure when itll b back, on surgery day?.. :o :D
Alex and KirP1,
I will be removing them and exchanging with internal nails on the 16th on this month, meet dr Singh on 10th when he visits my country and follows him back to Singapore on 15th. I m currently working on my Roms which are now at around 50'.
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Alex and KirP1,
I will be removing them and exchanging with internal nails on the 16th on this month, meet dr Singh on 10th when he visits my country and follows him back to Singapore on 15th. I m currently working on my Roms which are now at around 50'.
You didn't think about waiting for more 1 month maybe and remove the device without having internal nail, your new bones looks good in the last ray especially the left leg.
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Just popping up to let u all know that my day has finally come. 8)Today I arrived in Singapore and now trying hard to sleep coz tomorrow is my operation day. I m feeling so excited yet very very scared, worrying alot about complications during surgery or even death.
Ok goodnight to you all :-* and oh one thing left, I promise I will keep updating my diary until I fully recover; so only if something like death or something very very bad happened that I would be unable to carry on from now on. Don't think I m crazy, just letting u all know.
Please pray for me for tomorrow operation, hope to meet u all very soon. :-*
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You didn't think about waiting for more 1 month maybe and remove the device without having internal nail, your new bones looks good in the last ray especially the left leg.
I did 8cms and my right femur bone is abit misaligned so I need to get the internal nails.
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Thank you for sharing your LL experience and regularly updating members about your current situation.
I wish you all the best for tomorrow and a quick recovery :)
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Hope all goes well Bluebarbie! Keep us updated
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your diary has been really inspiring to read so far! best of luck tomorrow bluebarbie!!
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BlueBarbie, you're such a trooper. You're doing amazing and you're just going to love your new life - positive thoughts! All the best from Ukraine! ;)
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Ur encouragements do cheer me up. Thank you all my dear buddies. Ok here are my last photos of me in frames I guess, if everything goes well. Now two hours left before getting in the theater room. I m doing stretching exercises now while waiting. See ya.
(http://www.image-share.com/upload/3006/214.jpg) (http://www.image-share.com/ijpg-3006-214.html)
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I did 8cms and my right femur bone is abit misaligned so I need to get the internal nails.
Hope the best for you bluebarbie.
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Hope everything went well :)
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Helloooo! I m back. Today I was discharged from hospital. Everything went sooooo well and smooth. I didn't lose my height. I was left with 8cms even though my target was 7to7.5cms !!! Both femur alignments were totally fixed, too.
Is is like a miracle. Dreams do come true.
My doctor is an angel. He is a real expert, took great care of his patients, very kind and forgiving, very patient and a great doctor. I couldn't thank him enough.
The final step for me now is to do strict pt until 100% recovery.
My knee Roms were around 70% post op. But the right femur got abit swollen due to its huge misalignment fixed. Currently it's 50 degrees. My legs feel very light and flexible. While I m writing this I m tossing and turning on my bed. I m feeling sooooo great and happy.
Thanks alot to u guys for wishing and supporting for me.
Quote of the week: Things that don't kill you make you stronger.
Will post the xrays in a few days.
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(http://www.image-share.com/upload/3008/108.jpg) (http://www.image-share.com/ijpg-3008-108.html)
Post op day. The loves of my life. Haha. My boyfriend and dr.Singh
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Helloooo! I m back. Today I was discharged from hospital. Everything went sooooo well and smooth. I didn't lose my height. I was left with 8cms even though my target was 7to7.5cms !!! Both femur alignments were totally fixed, too.
Is is like a miracle. Dreams do come true.
My doctor is an angel. He is a real expert, took great care of his patients, very kind and forgiving, very patient and a great doctor. I couldn't thank him enough.
The final step for me now is to do strict pt until 100% recovery.
My knee Roms were around 70% post op. But the right femur got abit swollen due to its huge misalignment fixed. Currently it's 50 degrees. My legs feel very light and flexible. While I m writing this I m tossing and turning on my bed. I m feeling sooooo great and happy.
Thanks alot to u guys for wishing and supporting for me.
Quote of the week: Things that don't kill you make you stronger.
Will post the xrays in a few days.
Welcome back bluebarbie, your next days to full recover will be so easy comparing what you passed.
Your knees were bending around 45 degrees before the removal of the external device, and now became 70 degrees ? removal made you gain 25 degrees in one day ?
If so, that's will be great news for me as well : ))
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Im very happy for you!! You have been a true warrior and now you have your recompense. In no much time you will be enjoying it ;)
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(http://www.image-share.com/upload/3009/181.jpg) (http://www.image-share.com/ijpg-3009-181.html)
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One is missing, the left hip area view which u can see in the first xray.
I have to be very careful with weight-bearing at the moment for about a month.
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Looking good on those x-rays! He seems to have fixed the misalignment quite well.
Congratulations, you're almost halfway done with LL. :P
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Thx KirP1. Yes I m enjoying my life and feeling very happy, satisfied with the results.
@Alex, yes I can see the Roms improving day by day. As soon as after frame removal , your legs just become so light and flexible. My left Rom has reached about 80' now. And no longer very stiff like before. Right is quite painful at the moment due to its swelling having its huge alignment fixed but still it's improving.
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Looking good on those x-rays! He seems to have fixed the misalignment quite well.
Congratulations, you're almost halfway done with LL. :P
Yes, thanks Mdow. I m also quite proud of dr Singh. He has done a great work, fixing those huge alignments without even losing the gap and everything.
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Congratulations, bluebarbie. It feels great to no longer have foreign objects sticking into your legs, doesn't it?
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Congratulations, bluebarbie. It feels great to no longer have foreign objects sticking into your legs, doesn't it?
Yes it sure does. Life has changed to its better, more comfortable level. But still got lots of work to do before full recovery, isn't it?
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Hey
Any updated about your knees ? how much can you bend now ?
By the way, when will you can put all your weight on legs ?
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did you measure your bone gap after surgery?
please don't tell me you just took your doctors word for it. its better to check these things out. (when my doctor told me that I didn't loose length after a correction I did and I fixed it) always check yourself.
also I was a little shocked at your diary because your external devices looked like they were just slapped on without any surgical precision at all. I mean 1 was parallel to the bone the other was not. the reason I was shocked is because I thought when you pay 80,000 dollars you get like world class precision. not just a throw together job.
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did you measure your bone gap after surgery?
please don't tell me you just took your doctors word for it. its better to check these things out. (when my doctor told me that I didn't loose length after a correction I did and I fixed it) always check yourself.
also I was a little shocked at your diary because your external devices looked like they were just slapped on without any surgical precision at all. I mean 1 was parallel to the bone the other was not. the reason I was shocked is because I thought when you pay 80,000 dollars you get like world class precision. not just a throw together job.
Hey man, she already did her surgery successful, her external device did the work as well. (external devices looked like they were just slapped on without any surgical precision at all). if it was like that I don't think she was going to be able to do more than 8 cm and walk on the device.
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also successful surgery depends on how you look at it. she lengthened along the anatomical axis and not the mechanical axis. (correct me if im wrong bluebarbie)
8cm along the anatomical axis doesn't seem like a good idea to me. her knees will be closer together now.
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also successful surgery depends on how you look at it. she lengthened along the anatomical axis and not the mechanical axis. (correct me if im wrong bluebarbie)
8cm along the anatomical axis doesn't seem like a good idea to me. her knees will be closer together now.
Yes, my knees come in abit closer. I noticed it as soon as after nailing is done. But shouldn't be a problem, I think coz it happens with pure internals as well. And mine is very little that u can't even tell.
About my final gain of lenght, if u had finished my diary or my blog, I m sure you would clearly see how much that matters to me and how I struggled for precise gaining of my targeted length. The xray department in Singapore and my doctor believed I gained 8.8cms in the final xrays, it's not the the first time I had been having similar problem. But the final gain will come out in precise numbers calculated and calibrated on xray films next month. Most LLers are facing that problem too and I have aldy mentioned it before. I have discussed the matter over with my dr many times too. I strongly believe it will not be more then a millimeter different from the measurement I stated in my signature.
I know it is quite early to predict if mine is a successful LL or not yet it is about 75% done successfully without any complications.
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well, congratulations on the height blue barbie. your quality of life should be amazing compared to before now that you have completed your LL journey.
I was just raising some of these issues just to make you aware of what I saw just in case you need to do further research on the issues. in truth some small anatomical changes should not be an issue as long as your walking is not affected.
and if it is affected leading to knock knee type gait it takes 7 years for mechanical bone remodeling in which it will naturally fix itself. so either way you should be fine.
I look forward to your future x rays and your walking recovery. :) and yes you are correct many internals do only offer anatomical lengthening options.
again congratulations for all the hard work. and good luck on your recovery
:)
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Hey
Any updated about your knees ? how much can you bend now ?
By the way, when will you can put all your weight on legs ?
Umm, the Roms are still about the same as I mentioned before Alex. Swelling is gone ony right leg but 2/10 pain is still there. My doctor told me to go gentle ony legs until his next visit in around 20 days. Full weight-bearing depends on my bone regeneration. But my doctor opinion is it will be around 3 months from now. I will push my knees for gaining more Roms after 2weeks post operation when all the bruisings, pain and wounds have healed well.
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Had my xrays taken and appointment with my doctor yesterday. Fine results.
Dr. Singh said I can start doing hydrotherapy and go on with my daily knee bending and muscle strengthening exercises.
Today is one month anniversary of my nail exchange. I m doing great and very motivated to return to normal life. I spend nearly 6 hours daily mainly on knee bending exercise and for muscle stretching and strengthening. Yet, Roms of my knees seems very slow in progress to me. Progress can be seen..., like ranges between long achieved Roms became flexible, strengthened and more mobile over time. It is the increase in new range that seems to be very VERY slow to achieve, maybe like 5 to 7 degrees since last update. I have made up my mind to achieve 90' in the next 15 days.
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Had my xrays taken and appointment with my doctor yesterday. Fine results.
Dr. Singh said I can start doing hydrotherapy and go on with my daily knee bending and muscle strengthening exercises.
Today is one month anniversary of my nail exchange. I m doing great and very motivated to return to normal life. I spend nearly 6 hours daily mainly on knee bending exercise and for muscle stretching and strengthening. Yet, Roms of my knees seems very slow in progress to me. Progress can be seen..., like ranges between long achieved Roms became flexible, strengthened and more mobile over time. It is the increase in new range that seems to be very VERY slow to achieve, maybe like 5 to 7 degrees since last update. I have made up my mind to achieve 90' in the next 15 days.
Restoring ROM after doing external femurs is a long and difficult process from what I've been told. But your advantage is that you have the correct attitude and dedication in your physical therapy. Keep at it. Wish you all the best in your recovery.
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Okay, today is one and a half months post my nail exchange surgery. And surprisingly there is something new to update about..guess what??? I started driving again today. .My legs are recovering fast and i can find them getting stronger each day.
I made up my mind two weeks ago that by today i have to gain 90 degrees of rom. .i juz felt alil bad that i couldnt make it. I was wrong about my previous roms to start with. You can compare the two pics..one was taken today and the less range one was 20 days ago. Sorry for the low quality pic, something went wrong with my sony that i bought samsung s6 in the next one. By calculating with the time and the ranges gained, I guess it would take me another two weeks to fully attain 90 degrees.
You could see the scars are pretty bad though..i have been using centellase ointment along with silicone pads and yesterday i got them injected with some steroids. I will get to them for removal after i regain my roms.
(http://i61.tinypic.com/211mh54.jpg)
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(http://i60.tinypic.com/spu974.jpg)
picture of my first driving after 8 months. I used the car which is abit old coz i was scared as well as excited with my new elongated legs. 8) ;D ;)
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(http://i58.tinypic.com/29b0xp2.jpg)
Today b4 going out.
Tip for instant scar removal......With concealer or thick makeup. Apply a thin layer on the edge of them and stroke to blend them in with normal skin color. And for the darker, more visible middle areas..put some relevent amount on them and use ur finger and tap or rub gently on the scars.
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You're looking great, bluebarbie. Can't even tell from the pics thwt you had any surgery. How is your knee rom now?
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Looking phenomenal. ;) Your legs look a tiny bit longer(maybe it's because I know you did LL) but that's a good thing on a girl.
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You're looking great, bluebarbie. Can't even tell from the pics thwt you had any surgery. How is your knee rom now?
thank you..dear.
umm i think its about 77 degrees..what do u think? The picture is landscape so the one with less rom is hidden. Drag it out to compare the two. I havent been to the physio center lately so i couldnt measure it properly yet.
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(http://s16.postimg.org/jsjimm7xh/Photo_Grid_1441706930404.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/or7115bq9/full/)
image upload no size limit (http://postimage.org/)
The above pictures give an image of what i have been doing these days. I have been working out my legs and using them more lately. The achived ranges have become more adaptive and flexible. But i havent increased my roms much yet. They seem really restricted around 80. I dont dare to push them harder yet as it has been only 53 days post nail change. I m always concened that i might bend my nail or screws accidendtly.
It has neen two days since i started hydrotherapy. The pool is also heated so i feel relaxed and much better after getting in it. Actually it is a jacuzzi attached to a gym. In our country we dont have hydrotherapy pools at pt centers.
I have noticed my belly fat, my arms and shoulders getting thicker due to using them alot and atrophy of my butt (gluteus maximus). So i have started to hit the gym too.
I wake up at 7:00, get to the gym first working on my belly, my gluteus and strengthen all femur muscles and hip flexors then get in the pool. There i swim lightly, walk around and squat holding on to the pool side to not put too much weight on my legs. I stretch for a while then take a shower, get back home pushing myself for two more knee bending sessions lasting one and a half hour each. Yesterday after getting out of the pool i noticed a popping sound coming from my right knee just underneath the pattela inside the joint with no pain or swelling. But i got so scared that i burst into tears and contacted dr Singh. But the knee is noticely bending more and smoother along with the poppings. They only come when i bend them actively (using my own strength) but when i relax and bend or straighten them with the help there is no sound. So i just hoped it is coming from the tendons or lingaments inside the joint. Will update again after getting x rays in a few days and appointment with dr Singh.
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Hi Bluebarbie! Congratulations! You have very beautiful long legs now! You look like a beautiful doll. Just let us know about your progress with scars and ROM. Cheers :D
Thank you so much dear. The only problem now is knee bending. Its also like a barrior coz only when i regain full flexion that i would be having scar removal. :(
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Your proportions are the best I have ever seen after 8CM.
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Hopefully Dr Singh will have good news for you and the popping sound isn't serious. You look to be doing well with your rehab and as Taller said, your proportions are awesome. After reading about how bad some external/LATN femur patients had it, it's good to see that you're moving around and enjoying yourself. Wish you well on your continuing recovery.
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Another great update by bluebarbie. :)
Thanks for sharing your experience with us here. External femurs isn't something that's done often, so your diary is especially useful to people considering that procedure.
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(http://i58.tinypic.com/11j3i1x.jpg)
Xrays are from yesterday. Dr singh increased me to 40 percent of weightbear.
We have obsevered the popping sound too. It is coming from the patella and still there when i use the joint. Dr singh said it is because of tight muscles and lingaments and will go away soon so it is nothing to worry. The roms are increasing too but very very slow and little. I'll update for them in a few days time.
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One the one leg you have a little bit misaligment ? Will that go after time away or do you need any correction ?
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It's from the lateral side. Human femurs are also naturally bent from that view. You can see the front views are all very well aligned. Ive read that they do remodel after some years for slight misalignments.
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Oh good to know and yes they are looking good. I wish you all the best :-)
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(http://i57.tinypic.com/eaiijd.jpg)
The two photos are 17 days apart. One was from my last update about them on 30th aug and the other was from yesterday exactly two months from nail exchange. That is the result from working 6 hours daily. I m getting really tired and sometimes upset. But i m commited to it and i know i have to work no matter what. I try my best to stay positive and motivated each and everyday to regain those motions back in the soonest time.
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(http://i58.tinypic.com/2j1tytj.jpg)
my gym time.
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(http://i62.tinypic.com/e5mlnd.jpg)
Two months and a half today. Im still lingering around this range. Two days ago i started try to pull my tib towards my thigh as it is very near to 90 degrees and easier to do so. But some of the problems i m facing now is when i try to push further i am scared and started feeling like the nail is bending or is it my thought i dont know. I got scared and i dont dare to push further yet. And there is this lill pain coming from my inner joints. The pain is only there when the ranges get in between 85 to 90. The popping sound is nearly gone but still there sometimes.
I can bend nearly 90 but the range is not usable yet. Only about 40 to 50 is smooth and usable. The other half got stiff and shrank back when not in use for a while.
Thank you very much to those who are there to reassure and support me when i m feeling down. I def need them. And please if there is any information about those knee contrature after ex femur lenghtening you guys know please provide me with it, the exercises and time commitments and tips i need to know, i would really appreciate that.
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I know what you mean about being worried the nail will bend, and that affecting how hard you push yourself. It was the same for me. Once you get that nail out you can start really pushing yourself hard. It will take a really, really long time to recover from LL. Don't get discouraged.
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I know what you mean about being worried the nail will bend, and that affecting how hard you push yourself. It was the same for me. Once you get that nail out you can start really pushing yourself hard.
Hi , mdow.
Did you also experience contracture like me. ? I thought u did tibs.
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Yes, I did tibias but I went through a similar issue with my ankles. Fortunately for me, I could force the ankle to bend just by walking since that put my whole body weight on the tendons. When you walk, are you able to use your body weight to your advantage in the same way? Walking and using the body's weight helped me more than any form of PT or stretching.
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When you walk, are you able to use your body weight to your advantage in the same way? Walking and using the body's weight helped me more than any form of PT or stretching.
I see what ya mean. For me, I do squats but I'm not yet allowed full weight bearing so I do it only during water therapy.
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(http://i59.tinypic.com/2rrx6vs.jpg)
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Not much of an update. Just a motivational post for myself. I have now gained back my figure from working out. The knee bending hasnt improved much yet. It is very close to 90 but has been lingering around that range for quite a time that i have been depressed lately. I feel like i have no energy to move on anymore. But ill keep on working, keep pushing myself but ill give it a rest for a while. Just for a while coz i really need a break. Has been working my a.s out for 10 months now. Full time..hardest work u could ever imagine..with pain and sh.t ...this is just ridiculous.
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Nice pics
Now how about your gait?
Could you walk properly now?
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Thanks,
I still have to walk with crutches other than in pool so i dont know for sure yet but because of locked tight knee movements allowing only around 40 degrees roms when walking I have to struggle abit even with crutches.
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bluebarbie you look great! you are proof longer legs are definitely more attractive on women :)
are you able to do the stationary bike at all? I think that's really helped me with getting some knee flexion back since it lets you get a ton of repetitions in. if your current knee rom is very limited, you can set the bike seat higher and over time lower the seat to increase knee flexion. that's what I've been in addition to stretching. I know it's tough to stay motivated and it's been an especially long road for you but know that you'll get there eventually with all your hard work and have all the benefits of being taller and looking good!
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Hi Goldenegg, I tried to bike but couldn't..It was quite difficult as the smooth and available range for me is like only around 40 degrees but I couldn't remember if I adjusted the seat to higher level or not. Tomorrow when I get to the gym, I'll def try it again. Thank u so much, dear. I really need every lil advice available out there. The progress has been unsatisfying and slowing down over time. I spend six or more hours working on it every day for the whole 10 months. I can't even bend my knees past 90 degrees yet. Itsnt it just too much. I have also tried every stretching technique available on the Internet.. Maybe it's just that I have been trying too hard.? Maybe it's just that I have been pushing too hard.? I m just sooo confused and have no idea with myself on how to overcome this situation.
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(http://i61.tinypic.com/2eppnuq.png)
My current Rom. Note that the range is still not useable. I only reach it when i pull hard enough and giving it about 30 to 45 minutes each session.
I also bought dinasplint knee brace for improving flexion about ten days ago. I still cant tell the benefits of it yet. I intended to wear it several hours a day but still cant. Its like i mentioned b4.... when i keep my knee bent for several hours, the medial and inner parts of my knees start to hurt. The most i can keep them bent at 75 degrees on dynasplint is around one and a half hours. The pain is only there when i keep it bent exceeding the smooth range of around 50. What i dont like about that brace is that there are only 5 available degrees which u can keep ur knee locked, each gap only 15 degrees apart. So thats why i have to keep my knees at 75 coz the next lock available is only at 90. And there is no further lock available beyond 90 degrees. Actually i am around 80 so its quite disturbing. I'll try to find a solution about it soon.
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are you able to do the stationary bike at all? I think that's really helped me with getting some knee flexion back since it lets you get a ton of repetitions in. if your current knee rom is very limited, you can set the bike seat higher and over time lower the seat to increase knee flexion. that's what I've been in addition to stretching.
Today I tried again to bike but it's not working yet. I tried setting the seat higher and tried pushing it backwards too but either way it doesn't work. I need more flexion to be able to do it. But anyway thanks for the advice.
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Today I tried again to bike but it's not working yet. I tried setting the seat higher and tried pushing it backwards too but either way it doesn't work. I need more flexion to be able to do it. But anyway thanks for the advice.
ah sorry that wasn't helpful bluebarbie. I guess you need a decent amount of knee flexion to begin with even if the seat is really high. I'll let you know if I think of anything else, but best of luck with your PT! I'm confident you'll get there eventually with your dedication
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Did you try the elliptical? With your current rom I think it might be ideal before the bike.
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Hi, G-Man.
I tried the elliptical today at the gym. There are several types available. Two of them are suitable for me. It was quite easy to walk on them. But its more like warm up exercise for me. Still i'll use it every gym session from now on. It strenghtens my overall leg musces. Thanks alot for ur advie, fri.
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Yesterday was 102 days past nail exchange.
Had an xray, met with Dr Singh and also had an appointment with a doctor from Italy for scar revision.
Xrays were good and I was allowed around 70 % of weight bear. So I bought a pair of walking sticks yesterday and started using them instead of my elbow crutches.
For my scars, I have to go for surgery. The pinsite ones are deep and sunken so I also need a fatgraft to resurface them again. But i was told that one of them is still not yet ready for surgery until afew months later. I need to give them intensive massage during this time.
I'll also be meeting another plastic surgeon from Korea the end of this month so that I can compare and decide for better option.
The last but not the least comes my knee Roms. ...
I was sick and quite depressed for the past few days and week and wasn't into doing the knee bendings properly. But interestingly they improved like never before. I m not too tight or stiff to move around in the mornings and more mobIle and easy to do things on my own. The smooth range that is available to use has increased incredibly like around 60 to 70. I can bend them to like 80 in about 10 minutes time, anytime, even early in the mornings. And i reach to like 85 to 90 in 25 mins without pulling hard. So it seems like I had been doing them all wrong from the start. I had been stretching and bending them way too much and way too hard than they can allow and causing them pain and stress so that they tend to get stiff and tight making it more difficult to start doing it all over again the next morning. I was so much in a hurry and over stretching them all the way until now.
And another thing that I have been doing differently is that I put my knee locked bent in knee brace and as soon as i put myself in an arched position, I fell tightness and tension on my quads. So only now I have also been properly stretching my quads for about 30 mins a day for the past week. I think it may also be a contribute for my improvement. But the lesson I have learnt is that u can't be in a hurry when it comes to stretching. Thanks u guys and will update later.
ps: I lost my ph last week and lost all the photos and videos. But found it gain the next day crushed over by car and now still trying to recover the files so thats why this time I came up with no photos. :-[ :-[ :'(. I also have a video of me walking , will try to upload it later.
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Hi, I m feeling alot better than last time on update. :)It will be four months of nail exchange on16th which is next six days. I have reached exactly 90 degrees of Rom. Losing more tightness too while on normal daily use of my legs. When people see me they think I'm all fine and happy and normal. But inside I am screaming and sick and tired of my legs. Four months already and still 90 degrees. .And you can't tell how long it will take to fully bend them.
Within next three months I promised myself I will be getting back to my normal life, start working and get on with my life. I will be travelling abroad for my business purposes too. .to get my mind off from these stressfull days. But i still have to continue working on my bending, of course. But just not like each and everyday, all day long like now. My doctor also agreed with me. He can see that I m getting so bored and depressed from too much of intensive physios and long recovery from knee contracture.
Following is the drawing of myself just to escape awhile from that depressed moment of yesterday
(http://i67.tinypic.com/2iwaz9i.jpg)
the eppilical is great for me. I can burn my callories on it s well as train my legs.
(http://i67.tinypic.com/jphkq8.jpg)
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Hang in there, bluebarbie. You're making progress and even though it's difficult, try and keep the positive outlook. Depression will only demotivate you and result in stalled progress. At the very least, you look fit and healthy. :)
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Yes..I'm trying my best but sometimes once in a while it just happens to get me and I had no choice but to pick myself up and keep going coz there is no way back ..right? Sometimes it just get so frustrating. But I will try my best. Thank you my dear friend.
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The following video includes my exercises at the gym excluding the ones in heated pool and the other two workouts for belly and butt which i'll include in the next update. I would love to see your comments on what u think of my recovery and other opinions and advices so please dont hesitate to leave me anything behind. . Thank u.
https://youtu.be/yzcZhDaCj4Y
The follwing video is the first one i tried to record of me on elliptical.
https://youtu.be/HuOh5XDt5xY
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hey bluebarbie,
your recovery looks like it's going really well. just based on the videos alone I honestly wouldn't even guess that you were struggling. by far the best recovery ive seen so far for someone who did external femurs
and your walking looks excellent. any reason why you're still using crutches? seems like you're essentially full weightbearing now since you can use the elliptical, etc. I recently started walking again and doing everything I can to get my walking back to normal ASAP
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and your walking looks excellent. any reason why you're still using crutches? seems like you're essentially full weightbearing now since you can use the elliptical, etc. I recently started walking again and doing everything I can to get my walking back to normal ASAP
I dont know, i m allowed to walk with one support in the house or short distances but two when outside. I m still scared to put too much weight on my legs although i can walk with one support which i seldom do. I talked to my doctor about it just yesterday again and he said he will see if he can allow me full weight bearing next month after checking my x rays.
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(http://i68.tinypic.com/xclyxz.jpg)
Met the plastic surgeon from korea. Feeling said. :'( I have started working again as my main career as fashion designer and these scars are great obsticles and set limitation for my work one way or another. . As i want them off asap i still have to do intensive pt for my knees to bend and it takes my time off from my work or leaves me more stress.
(http://i67.tinypic.com/sfi4uf.jpg)
(http://i68.tinypic.com/evbzma.jpg)
Above are my xrays taken today and my current knee rom.
i got permission from my doctor to stop using my crutches. .. .i have been wanting this moment and waiting for it so long but now im feeling scared to do so. .to walk without them. .Help me please.
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(http://i63.tinypic.com/wufi3m.jpg)
;DThe happy update ;D
The above two photos are like 10 days apart.
My legs have been bending past 90' since last week. The available usable range for me now is around 90'. I find it easier to bend or push the bend harder and the progress faster now.
I am able to stand for quite long without crutches at work and in showers and i also manage to walk a few steps like from desk to desk at work without my crutches. But i m still feeling scared that i might bend the nail or snap my bones while doing so after all that i have gone through and now nearing the end.
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Congratulations on making good progress, blue. 8)
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Congrats for the progress bluebarbie. Im sure that you are going to feel better every month . Keep working and in no time you will be walking and bending like before the surgery ;). This only needs a bit more of time.
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Thanks you my dears MDOW, KirP1 and musicmaker.
Following is the video i took yesterday at the gym. Its abit blurry coz i edited it on my phone.
https://youtu.be/wTVXwCTNciM
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Congrats bluebarbie,
you look so great and your walking is fine.
Keep strong
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You look very well and have a good physic . You look proportional. your walking is fine and Im sure it is going to improve more in the next months
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You look good and walking is already quite good. Congratulations!
Greetings Morpheus
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Thank you guys for the comments. Actually my upper body still swings if i dont concentrate on walking. I dont know if its my body or just my brain. When i walk and talk or look around i walk like a penguin but following is an update of my first high heels last night. ;D ;D ::)
(http://i66.tinypic.com/8zmrnd.jpg)
My husband and I. I know that i havent mentioned about him on my journey until now. But yes i am married and on 6th of january will be our second year anniversary. I dont know why i never wrote about him on my diary. I have been really mean and selfcentered since after the surgery from stress and pain. He has been with me the whole journey and he is a one of a kind type of husband yet i only had my two broken legs on my mind the whole year. My husband paid the remaing small amounts and cared for me dearly while my mom supported me with the main cost. Now is the time to pay back their love and support for me as i m nearly back to normal again.
(http://i67.tinypic.com/s3hwgl.jpg)
In a week time, it will be a year anniversay since my very first operation. I made a decision, a goal this time of last year that i have to be back into my normal life and be done with the journey in january 2016 exactly one year time. Unluckly i had to choose the external femurs route. I tried my best, my very best to achieve my goal. And yesterday i truely feel like i got it. Last night i wore my first highheels and the outfit that i had designed and made for myself to a runway show and i felt like I was on top of the world. I walked into the ballroom with this vintage themed attire tall and proud (with no limp or waddle) i swear 8) :D and everyone was looking at me, media men flicking their cameras the crowd checking me out and stuffs ...like wispers from my friends"omg she got so tall" "look at m..m..'s height". .and their admirations. Some of my close friends who had seen me waddle just a few days ago made jokes that I pretended to waddle and walk gorgeously in heels so that i can get permision to wear heels again without them worrying about me falling down or slipping. But no i swear i m just more comfortble with them. ;D ;) 8) ::) :P
I m now of average height or taller than some . I no longer fear and secretly denied when people gave comments like ( "Are you m........... ur are soo cute. U are so pretty ". .."U look prettier in "person". "I had always loved you and ur outfit designs") Before in my head my thoughts go like ..ohhh they are just saying nice things. How can i be sooo pretty when im this short. this small.
All of those things are in my past now. I can wear what i want, go where i want and be who i want to be now. Thanks my doctor, my mom and dad and my husband and my friend on this forum.
The are still two things left for me to reach the goal a hundred percent. The scars and my full range of knee bending. They are going steady now bending around 100 degrees. And for the scars i want to be done not later than febuary...but have to see what dr sarbjit plans for me.
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Xrays from yesterday.
(http://s8.postimg.org/ynnd99omd/Photo_Grid_1453884930037.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/dqr54lqld/full/)
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Dr singh approved me that i can start jogging so i did just out the hospital after the appointment ;D I felt great and really happy as i found myself like im back to my old self again, just taller and more confident.
(http://s15.postimg.org/wmimn99m3/Beauty_Plus_20160127155533_save.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
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My first day of clubbing in exactly a year with my husband and friends.
(http://s9.postimg.org/ueqi04va7/Beauty_Plus_20160127155413_save.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
screenshot windows 7 (http://postimage.org/app.php)
Tomorrow i will be having an appointment withan italian plactic surgeon and will be having scar revision surgery in a few days. My knee bending is around 100. Both dr singh and dr Rodi(plastic and reconstructive surgeon) said my roms could improve after the tissue release and revision surgery.
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Hi bluebarbie,
It's awesome that you're now jogging and feeling much happier and confident. I hope your scar revision surgery goes well. It's been great to read your LON femur experience considering how difficult it is supposed to be compared to other forms of leg lengthening.
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Looking nice, Barbie. Even with that high waist skirt I can't tell you've had LL. Congrats!
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(http://s16.postimg.org/vvrgjvgat/Beauty_Plus_20160202121351_save.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
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I m going to be having the scar revision surgery in 2 hours. Now i m doing my bending exercise while waiting for it with my mom, husband and the lil house maid. My knee roms have reached around 120 degrees since the past few days. Wish me a successful operation, dears...coz i m feeling really scared that it would interfere with my knee ranges afterwards or the scars would widen again due to skin tension. The surgery includes scar tissue release and fat graft and would be done under general anesthesia. See you soon and ill try to post photos of my scars before and after surgery in the next update.
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Good luck :)
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Hello friends , how have you all been?
Its been nearly five months now since i updated. Firstly i want to tell you all that the revision surgery went well and i had gained much benifits from it. All the fibrious tissues had been released and the scars are only left to fine lines. However I had been down and struggling for the past three months.
As soon as after the scar revision surgery i had to take care of the wounds strictly so that they won't expend and grow larger. That means i couldnt exercise or bend my knees properly. It was very frustrating to struggle in between not losing my gained rom and not expending my scars. I also had to wear the garment 24/7 to flatten my scars and i still do now.
For the time being I m still at 160 ' of roms for left knee and 150' of roms for the right. Thats when i pull my tibias towards my thigh. The flexible range is around 130 '. I still have to do my bending exercise one hour daily.
I have to use tape to prevent my scars from widening. I have 9 huge scars all together. Because of my great plastic surgeon doctor Rodi from Italy, 6 of the scars are left with just thin straight marks like i had been scratched by a nail on the sides of my thighs. They are still purple now until up to a year they will turn my skin tone.
I m able to kneel, jog or run now. I can also go up and down the stairs without struggling. But steep stairs are quite difficult to come down especially for my right knee. There is little pain in my right hip at certain times at certain angles which i think would not go away until i have the rods removed. The problems i have now are that i still need time to fully be able to bend my knees without stiffness or discomfort and time for my scars to mature and camoufledge to my skin tone. I cannot pray or meditate nor wear shorts and skirts in daytime.
I m feeling negative and angry to Sarbjit Singh not because he had been a bad doctor but because he had lied me about the scars and not letting me know about this really bad contracture and not being able to bend my knees and whats more he didnt let me know that i wouldnt be able to lay on my sides with those horrible frames for line four to six months. Those are the times of my life that i would fear to death even to think back. If he had warned me those things i doubt that i would undergo lengthening. But anyway thanks to dr Singh that he let me have my journey smoothly without and problems and now i m tall for life. I just regret spending the 2 years of my life unnecessarily and in pain and stress.
I will update again when i gain my full roms and thank you all for being with me through this journey and for your encouragements.
Befor scar revision
(http://i65.tinypic.com/i4om5k.jpg)
After scar revision
(http://i68.tinypic.com/16i79k9.jpg)
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So do you regret having done the surgery?
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Men can hide their scars because they're hairy but women can't. Women should stay away from LL.
Short women are cute. I prefer a short girl than a tall girl with those scars.
Musicmaker has those scars too even if she did internals. I don't have pics but people told me they are large (they saw her in the gym). Barbie, did you also want to become a model? MMs was a model and her career is destroyed (scars and handicapped). She should be furious with her doctor too. The problem is the same. Dr Singh is a liar as Dr Monegal and Dr Betz are liars. They sell their products and patients are deceived. Not only girls with scars. The teenage boy from Monegal wanted to be a professional sportsplayer and his dreams are over. Doctors lie about athletic abilities too.
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Men can hide their scars because they're hairy but women can't. Women should stay away from LL.
Anyone else think this guy is a psychopath?
-He hijacks yet another thread by a valuable member of our community
-Adds nothing of value, only fear and misunderstanding
-ISIS style preaching that women "should stay away from LL", when he wants to do LL himself
-Magically spins MM and Monegal into a thread that has nothing to do with them
Any sympathetic human being can understand that bluebarbie needs support, not this garbage.
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Anyone else think this guy is a psychopath?
-He hijacks yet another thread by a valuable member of our community
-Adds nothing of value, only fear and misunderstanding
-ISIS style preaching that women "should stay away from LL", when he wants to do LL himself
-Magically spins MM and Monegal into a thread that has nothing to do with them
Any sympathetic human being can understand that bluebarbie needs support, not this garbage.
You know what? As from now, Im gonna have a shot of Jägermeister for every time that guy mentions Monegal. Wish me luck guys!
Back on topic, hang in there, bluebarbie. As long as you have no pain or little pain you should not regret having had this surgery. Scars revision can work very well.
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bluebarbie, your scar revision is looking good - Congratulation. As time go it will be better and better.
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The scars will fade. Your legs & figure look fabulous.
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You know what? As from now, Im gonna have a shot of Jägermeister for every time that guy mentions Monegal. Wish me luck guys!
What happened to ozymandias?
LLuser: "He deaded. Killed by Monegal"
The scars will fade. Your legs & figure look fabulous.
Yeah, I was trying to find a polite way to say she looks hot too. (I mean no disrespect, so nobody get bent out of shape)
bluebarbie, your scar revision is looking good - Congratulation. As time go it will be better and better.
Bluebarbie, congrats on your success. External femurs? You're quite strong to get through that.
Is it possible for you to update on the scar revision surgery after some time has passed? My daughter will be going through that in the near future (not LL related) and I'm curious what other's experience with it will be. She's supposed to have a fat graft early next year...
Thanks and good luck!
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LOL! Am I that obvious?
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Hey guys, I m back to announce that I m 10 weeks pregnant. I was kind of shocked and felt unready when i got the news two weeks ago. I have planned my pregnacy differently, after the internal rods are taken out, after the scars have faded completely so that i can take gorgeous maternity pictures. And my knees havent acheived full roms yet. But there's nothing i can do, right? My husband and i wanted a baby so desperately that we went under fertlity tests afew years ago and found out that my husband has vericocele. He went under operation and since then we never used contraceptives . It is shocking to imagine that i got pregnant earlier while i was in my external frames, while i could'nt walk yet or my former roms.To actually think into it, now is about the time I m ready. . well, just a lil too soon. My scars will probably fade more in a few more months before my baby bump starts to show as i m now 6 months post revision surgery. My left knee is bending 160 ' and right 150 ' so they'll maybe reach full range before the bump? maybe. The only thing i m now worried about is my internal rods. Will it effect my baby in any ways? And oh one more thing, i have been stretching and am still stretching my muscles and tissues intensively to gain back my bend so will my baby be competing for the amount of nutrients it needs with my legs. I m doing the research myself and if u guys may know please provide me with the information. Thanks , will see u all later.
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Congratulations :D
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Hi bluebarbie, im inspired by you and im planning to do internal femur with dr. singh too. Your proportion looks great, may i know how long is your wingspan?
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Wow. I would love to get my femur done using monorail. I have already spoke to a doctor in India. Saving money . I'm from New York. I'm working my ass off and will get femur first and then tibia using monorail . Calculated downtime 2 years.