Limb Lengthening Forum
Limb Lengthening Surgery => Limb Lengthening Patients Experiences => Topic started by: Purushrottam on September 09, 2017, 01:06:44 AM
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Hello LL Forum,
I am scheduled for a Femoral Limb Lengthening with Dr. Paley on September 26th, 2017. I am currently 5'5.5 (166 cm). I'm hoping to get an 8 cm increase. I'll update this diary as I progress through this. If anyone has any questions, feel free to post here.
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Thank you for sharing and the best of luck with your surgery. Please keep us posted. Would love to hear about your journey.
What is your age? Why did you choose Dr. Paley vs. other US doctors?
Thank you. All the best!
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Thank you very much! I am 26. I chose Paley because he is the most experienced. I'm actually family friends with Dr. Mangal Parihar (who I believe trained with Paley as well) but since I live/work in the U.S, I thought that it would be more convenient to have it done here in Florida with Paley. Nothing against other doctors
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awesome. good luck with your journey bro.
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Thank you very much! I am 26. I chose Paley because he is the most experienced. I'm actually family friends with Dr. Mangal Parihar (who I believe trained with Paley as well) but since I live/work in the U.S, I thought that it would be more convenient to have it done here in Florida with Paley. Nothing against other doctors
Thanks for your response. Perfect age to do it at in my opinion. Wishing you well. Keep us posted. You're just a couple of weeks away!
You're in skilled hands obviously. Hopefully all goes smooth and without any setbacks.
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Thank you!
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Thanks!
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Hello LL Forum,
I am scheduled for a Femoral Limb Lengthening with Dr. Paley on September 26th, 2017. I am currently 5'5.5 (166 cm). I'm hoping to get an 8 cm increase. I'll update this diary as I progress through this. If anyone has any questions, feel free to post here.
Hi,good luck with your surgery ! Why did you choose femurs over tibias ? And why did you decide to go with this surgery,despite the short stature ?
Keep us tunned !
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Hi,good luck with your surgery ! Why did you choose femurs over tibias ? And why did you decide to go with this surgery,despite the short stature ?
Keep us tunned !
Thanks for the wishes! I chose femurs because its cheaper/less risky vs tibias. I decided to go with it because I have finally have the money (fully self funded with no outside financial help) and I think the benefits outweigh the risks. I'll keep everyone updated.
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Will you be getting PRECICE 2.2? Will you be staying at the hotels near the hospital?
Best of luck on your journey, you are in great hands.
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Will you be getting PRECICE 2.2? Will you be staying at the hotels near the hospital?
Best of luck on your journey, you are in great hands.
1. Yes
2. Hopefully. I think that a lot of them have been wrecked by Irma. My calls aren't going through/are all busy.
Thanks for your wishes!
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Hey, so did Dr. Paley ask you to do anything to prepare for the surgery? Stretches, diet, any special exercise?
Also, what is your current level of flexibility?
All the best, you're less than a week away!
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Hey, so did Dr. Paley ask you to do anything to prepare for the surgery? Stretches, diet, any special exercise?
Also, what is your current level of flexibility?
All the best, you're less than a week away!
1. No particular exercise/stretch. However his site has some suggestions for stretches. I've been doing a few of those. He suggested that I don't smoke in the months prior the surgery (I don't smoke in general). As far as diet, he recommends some vitamin D supplements.
2. I'm not that flexible. I can touch my toes standing up, but thats pretty much it. I always neglected my stretches when working out.
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Just arrived at my hotel in West Palm Beach. I met some other patients. They were very friendly and answered a lot of questions. My pre op is tomorrow and the surgery is the next day. I'm feeling a bit nervous about losing my independence for a while.
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Just arrived at my hotel in West Palm Beach. I met some other patients. They were very friendly and answered a lot of questions. My pre op is tomorrow and the surgery is the next day. I'm feeling a bit nervous about losing my independence for a while.
All the best buddy, I wish I could afford paley, he is the best in business but the cost is akin to daylight robbery :)
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Hello Puru, any update on your journey?
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Just arrived at my hotel in West Palm Beach. I met some other patients. They were very friendly and answered a lot of questions. My pre op is tomorrow and the surgery is the next day. I'm feeling a bit nervous about losing my independence for a while.
Purushrottam, hope all went well well for you today! Blessings for a successful recovery. Wishing you all the best. Give us an update when you are up to it.
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Hello everyone!
I'm still not discharged from the hospital yet. I will give a full summary of those days when I reach my hotel . It's relatively inconvenient to type the it all up on my phone. Overall I'm doing pretty well. I've already grown 2.5 mm. Thanks for all your support! A detailed summary of the pre-op, surgery, and hospital stay will come as soon as I have access to a laptop.
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Hello everyone!
I'm still not discharged from the hospital yet. I will give a full summary of those days when I reach my hotel . It's relatively inconvenient to type the it all up on my phone. Overall I'm doing pretty well. I've already grown 2.5 mm. Thanks for all your support! A detailed summary of the pre-op, surgery, and hospital stay will come as soon as I have access to a laptop.
Glad you're well and already taller! Thank you for keeping us posted. We look forward to hearing from you. All the info and insight is invaluable.
All the best to you!
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you are a lucky guy to get to LL in the states, those prices are only for the most affluent. Good luck with everything. Keep us updated.
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Glad you're well and already taller! Thank you for keeping us posted. We look forward to hearing from you. All the info and insight is invaluable.
All the best to you!
Thank you LAGrowing I'll do my best to make tomorrow's update as informative as possible.
you are a lucky guy to get to LL in the states, those prices are only for the most affluent. Good luck with everything. Keep us updated.
I am definitely lucky. However I'm not exactly affluent. The only money I had saved up after college was from my internships. I got a degree in a high paying field with my tuition fully paid for via scholarships. I got a relatively high paying job in Silicon Valley that qualified me to take a very high interest personal loan for the amount required. That took me about 3.5 years to get there. I have enough saved just for my deposit and 6 months of expenses (loan interest payments, hotel stay in FL for 3 months,etc). I quit my job for this so I'll need another three months of expenses saved while I look for a new job after I'm done with LL. It was quite a meticulous amount of planning.
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Hi Puru. Boeing so young, I dont understand why you are still at the hospital. Where you will be
staing at when discharged?
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I was discharged today at around 4:30 PM I've mostly slept since then because it was really painful.
My update from the last few days:
September 25
I had my preop and pre admission testing schedulesd today. In the morning I realized that I stupidly forgot to book a wheelchair accessible hotel for my stay. I asked my hotel if they had any left for me dates and unfortunately they did not. Luckily their sister property (Homewood Suites) had them for about 90/day, which given the last minute booking was not too bad.
I had my appointment at 11. They went over my history and the procedure. I met with the entire team that would be operating on me (Anesthesiologist,etc). They cleared up a lot of questions and reassured my parents who had come with me.
..... to be continued because I'm still exhausted and don't have a computer....
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Congrats on your starting your journey!
Did you parents fly from India for your surgery?
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Congrats on your starting your journey!
Did you parents fly from India for your surgery?
Thanks! No they live an hour and a half away from Florida. That was another reason for me to pick Paley.
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Hello everyone please bear with the slow updates. I'm still dependent on my dad for most basic things, and recovery takes a lot of effort. I'll update as soon as my body heals a bit and when I get some mental clarity and peace.
September 25 continues...
During my measurements, it turned out that I was actually 168.5 cm barefoot rather than 166.5 cm. This was definitely an uplifting feeling.
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Hi Puru, how you you are doing?
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Hey going trough all forum posts and reading about complications above 6 - wouldn't it be better to stop at 6 also taking into account that you were 2 cm taller when measuring...
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Hi Puru. I'm worried about you. No updates since the 1st. Are you doing ok?
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Thanks for the concern guys sorry about the late update. My phone was messed up. Still can't use the laptop.
I completed 4 days of physio now, which I will update on later. The first 2 days they went light on me. I was like whew this will be a breeze. Last 2 days were intense. I cried and screamed during a few exercises during the last 2 sessions. The last time I remember crying or screaming was probably in middle school.
Here's what happened:
Day if surgery Sept 26
I went to the surgical center at 6 am, where they got me prepped for surgery. It took a few hours. The whole time I was just thinking "let me just get this over with "
My parents were pretty nervous. I was fairly calm as I had read other diaries before and had read that it feels like time travel. One of the nurses even commented on how unusually calm I was.
Soon they said they were putting anesthesia on me. Suddenly I woke up after. I was feeling no pain whatsoever. I was hooked to an IV, a Foley catheter (urine) and a vital signs machine.
They rolled me into my room.
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Hi Puru, how you you are doing?
I'm doing pretty well thanks your concern and sorry for the late update.
Hi Puru. I'm worried about you. No updates since the 1st. Are you doing ok?
I'm doing fine my friend, I'm really sorry for the slow updates.
Hey going trough all forum posts and reading about complications above 6 - wouldn't it be better to stop at 6 also taking into account that you were 2 cm taller when measuring...
Yeah probably. I wouldn't mind stopping at 5 cm either. I'm going to go for the full 8 though unless Paley recommends otherwise.
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All the best buddy, I wish I could afford paley, he is the best in business but the cost is akin to daylight robbery :)
Thanks for your wishes buddy, sorry I couldn't reply to you sooner. I think the price is worth it, considering that it's not just Paley, but his entire team. You have anesthesiologists, OPTs, nurses,etc. Every one of them was very meticulous and concerned about me.
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Hello Puru. Are you Doing ok?. Please post an update
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Hi Puru, would you mind telling us the amount that you budgeted for the entire surgery and the breakdown (surgery, PT, hotel, food, months, etc.). Also how was pain level the first few days and how did you get through that. All the best!
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I was discharged today at around 4:30 PM I've mostly slept since then because it was really painful.
My update from the last few days:
September 25
I had my preop and pre admission testing schedulesd today. In the morning I realized that I stupidly forgot to book a wheelchair accessible hotel for my stay. I asked my hotel if they had any left for me dates and unfortunately they did not. Luckily their sister property (Homewood Suites) had them for about 90/day, which given the last minute booking was not too bad.
Hey, is 90/day including taxes? And is this the cheapest room available? I know DoingItForMe got a room in Homewood Suites for 70/day + taxes, that's why I'm asking
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Hello Puru. Andy update?. Un planning to do LL next year with Paley and it would be interesting know how the latest Precise 2 is doing. Hope you are OK
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Sorry for the late reply. I was off this forum and mostly focused on doing therapy. Update on my next post.
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I stopped lengthening at 65 mm yesterday. The pain is completely gone. My legs feel like nothing happened except for the loss of flexibility and inability to weight bear. The doctor gave me the go ahead to continue lengthening but I decided to stop because I have reached my goal height (5'9").
I'm going to continue another week of physical therapy and then fly back home.
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Hey, is 90/day including taxes? And is this the cheapest room available? I know DoingItForMe got a room in Homewood Suites for 70/day + taxes, that's why I'm asking
Yeah including taxes. Not the cheapest. I needed a suite with 2 beds that was handicap accessible because my parents were also staying. Having a living room helped because my parents weee working remotely. Apparently winter is peak season. I also booked on the day of.
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Hi Puru, would you mind telling us the amount that you budgeted for the entire surgery and the breakdown (surgery, PT, hotel, food, months, etc.). Also how was pain level the first few days and how did you get through that. All the best!
$90 x 70 for the hotel.
$1800 x 4 for my loan payments
$600 x 2 for food.
My parents were staying with me so they bought the groceries. I'm going to reimburse their expenses once I get a job.
The surgery itself was $90k
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I stopped lengthening at 65 mm yesterday. The pain is completely gone. My legs feel like nothing happened except for the loss of flexibility and inability to weight bear. The doctor gave me the go ahead to continue lengthening but I decided to stop because I have reached my goal height (5'9").
I'm going to continue another week of physical therapy and then fly back home.
That's awesome, man. Congratulations! Hope everything keeps going well from now on.
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I stopped lengthening at 65 mm yesterday. The pain is completely gone. My legs feel like nothing happened except for the loss of flexibility and inability to weight bear. The doctor gave me the go ahead to continue lengthening but I decided to stop because I have reached my goal height (5'9").
I'm going to continue another week of physical therapy and then fly back home.
Hi Puru,
Been curious to hear of your progress. Glad to hear you're well. 5'9" is an awesome height, with shoes, you're 5'10"+. Congratulations. Happy for you.
So you lengthened 65 days? At 1mm per day? Seemed so quick. Now 30 days of consolidating before full weight bear?
Have you been taking any supplements or doing anything other than PT during your lengthening? Are you happy you did this? Any words of advice ? I'm scheduled for femurs in January 2018, God willing 7.6 CM.
All the best. Thanks for posting !!
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That's awesome, man. Congratulations! Hope everything keeps going well from now on.
Thank you!
Hi Puru,
Been curious to hear of your progress. Glad to hear you're well. 5'9" is an awesome height, with shoes, you're 5'10"+. Congratulations. Happy for you.
So you lengthened 65 days? At 1mm per day? Seemed so quick. Now 30 days of consolidating before full weight bear?
Have you been taking any supplements or doing anything other than PT during your lengthening? Are you happy you did this? Any words of advice ? I'm scheduled for femurs in January 2018, God willing 7.6 CM.
All the best. Thanks for posting !!
I lengthened since Sept 26. I was at 1 mm per day until last weekend. I slowed down to .75 mm per day until yesterday. I have 30 - 60 days of consolidation depending on bone growth.
I've been taking Silical 1, 2, and Boost. Been eating lots of protein and calcium. I was mostly doing the recommended PT. However I did slack a bit which I don't recommend. Muscle tightness can really suck if you don't keep up.
Good luck! Almost everyone who was there was able to get to at least 70 mm. Just be sure to follow all their instructions.
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Thank you!
I lengthened since Sept 26. I was at 1 mm per day until last weekend. I slowed down to .75 mm per day until yesterday. I have 30 - 60 days of consolidation depending on bone growth.
I've been taking Silical 1, 2, and Boost. Been eating lots of protein and calcium. I was mostly doing the recommended PT. However I did slack a bit which I don't recommend. Muscle tightness can really suck if you don't keep up.
Good luck! Almost everyone who was there was able to get to at least 70 mm. Just be sure to follow all their instructions.
Thank you for your response Puru! Would love to hear from you once you are clear to weight bear. Sincerely happy that you are almost done. I as others appreciate your updates. Anything else you can share with us?
Silical 1 and 2 for bone growth?
Thanks again.
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Congrats on the LL...does dr Paley himself performed the operation?
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Thank you for your response Puru! Would love to hear from you once you are clear to weight bear. Sincerely happy that you are almost done. I as others appreciate your updates. Anything else you can share with us?
Silical 1 and 2 for bone growth?
Thanks again.
No problem! I will definitely update once I'm ready to weight bear. Thanks for your support!
Congrats on the LL...does dr Paley himself performed the operation?
Thanks! Dr. Robbins performed on my left leg and Dr. Paley performed on my right. I didn't really perceive a difference between the legs. Its a team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, assistants, etc.
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Update:
I went to the doctor for my last X-Ray/visit and to return my Precice controller.
He said everything looked good. I verified that both of my legs lengthened equally (65 mm). They suggested that I send an X-Ray next month and then they can let me know if I am clear to fully weight bear.
They also mentioned that there was a documentary being created about the Paley Institute. They needed cosmetic LL patients who wanted to talk about how their life changed after therapy (positive and negative). The documentary would be aired at primetime. I said that I wanted to remain anonymous so I can't do it.
I am finishing up my last week of therapy. They are teaching me to use crutches up and down the stairs. The stretches are no longer painful. My body is slowly gaining its flexibilty back.
So far, its been a really smooth ride. I'll post my next update probably in a month after my X-ray.
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Update:
I went to the doctor for my last X-Ray/visit and to return my Precice controller.
He said everything looked good. I verified that both of my legs lengthened equally (65 mm). They suggested that I send an X-Ray next month and then they can let me know if I am clear to fully weight bear.
They also mentioned that there was a documentary being created about the Paley Institute. They needed cosmetic LL patients who wanted to talk about how their life changed after therapy (positive and negative). The documentary would be aired at primetime. I said that I wanted to remain anonymous so I can't do it.
I am finishing up my last week of therapy. They are teaching me to use crutches up and down the stairs. The stretches are no longer painful. My body is slowly gaining its flexibilty back.
So far, its been a really smooth ride. I'll post my next update probably in a month after my X-ray.
Congratulations on your journey so far, thanks for sharing your experience!
That's interesting about the documentary, I wonder when and where it'll be aired.
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Thanks! Dr. Robbins performed on my left leg and Dr. Paley performed on my right. I didn't really perceive a difference between the legs. Its a team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, assistants, etc.
Were you told about this before?
That's a little concerning.
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Can you post some pics and Xrays ?
Thanks
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Just saw your AMA on Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/short/comments/7hri82/i_just_finished_lengthening_with_cosmetic_limb/), hope you don't mind me linking it here since it's no secret (you linked back to this thread after all).
/u/3inchestaller's thread (https://www.reddit.com/r/short/comments/1ugx1y/im_a_guy_who_just_completed_three_months_of_leg/) was an inspiration for me as well. Again, thanks for sharing; it's great to see multiple communities benefit from your experience.
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Just saw your AMA on Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/short/comments/7hri82/i_just_finished_lengthening_with_cosmetic_limb/), hope you don't mind me linking it here since it's no secret (you linked back to this thread after all).
/u/3inchestaller's thread (https://www.reddit.com/r/short/comments/1ugx1y/im_a_guy_who_just_completed_three_months_of_leg/) was an inspiration for me as well. Again, thanks for sharing; it's great to see multiple communities benefit from your experience.
No problem, Android. I just don't want my identity/name to be revealed. I messaged /u/3inchestaller 3 years ago from that same account and he convinced me to do this in the states. At that time, I was not making anywhere near the money I would need to do this. I didn't even think it was possible for me to do it in the states (affordability wise). I can't believe its finally done. Whew.
Can you post some pics and Xrays ?
Thanks
In interest of privacy, I'd rather not, sorry. To be honest, they don't look that different from Penguinn and DoingItForMe's X-Rays.
Were you told about this before?
That's a little concerning.
I was told that the entire team, including Paley would be doing this. After the surgery you can ask for patient notes. This includes a timeline of how the surgery was performed and if there were any complications. Thankfully there were none for me. It was quite textbook.
Congratulations on your journey so far, thanks for sharing your experience!
That's interesting about the documentary, I wonder when and where it'll be aired.
Thanks for your wishes, Android. I should have asked for more details. I was just too ecstatic from the whole thing being completed to think further.
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In interest of privacy, I'd rather not, sorry. To be honest, they don't look that different from Penguinn and DoingItForMe's X-Rays.
Can you explain what do you mean by privacy ?
No one can recognize you from pictures of legs and Xrays
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So tibias with Paley is more expensive than femurs, huh? Just got done reading that reddit thread.
Good on you for sharing all the advice. 5'9" is my ideal height as well.
Also, do you plan on sharing with anyone IRL that you did LL? Would you tell a partner?
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Thank you very much! I am 26. I chose Paley because he is the most experienced. I'm actually family friends with Dr. Mangal Parihar (who I believe trained with Paley as well) but since I live/work in the U.S, I thought that it would be more convenient to have it done here in Florida with Paley. Nothing against other doctors
Hei man, thanks for the diary and congrats on your new height. I have a few questions, is it OK if I PM you?
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Hei man, thanks for the diary and congrats on your new height. I have a few questions, is it OK if I PM you?
Thanks! Feel free to PM me. I don't check my pms often though.
So tibias with Paley is more expensive than femurs, huh? Just got done reading that reddit thread.
Good on you for sharing all the advice. 5'9" is my ideal height as well.
Also, do you plan on sharing with anyone IRL that you did LL? Would you tell a partner?
Yup tibias are more expensive and the limit is 6 cm.
I don't plan on sharing this information with anyone. Only my parents know.
Can you explain what do you mean by privacy ?
No one can recognize you from pictures of legs and Xrays
Sorry dawg I don't feel comfortable sharing x rays.
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Thanks! Feel free to PM me. I don't check my pms often though.
Thanks bro, sent you a PM just now.
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Thanks bro, sent you a PM just now.
Replied.
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Replied.
Thanks a lot. Just one more question (in PM), thanks a lot.
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not to be rude, but it is hard to trust a diary that does not have x rays at the very least.
Nobody could recognize you via x-rays so there should be no privacy concern.
Nonetheless, Good luck on your ll journey
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not to be rude, but it is hard to trust a diary that does not have x rays at the very least.
Nobody could recognize you via x-rays so there should be no privacy concern.
I completely agree with you
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not to be rude, but it is hard to trust a diary that does not have x rays at the very least.
Nobody could recognize you via x-rays so there should be no privacy concern.
Nonetheless, Good luck on your ll journey
Thats not rude at all. You have a very valid concern. I'm afraid people will have to take my word for it. Thanks for your wishes mate.
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When should you start taking the calcium supplements?
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When should you start taking the calcium supplements?
I started taking them the day after I was discharged from the hospital.
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Update:
I stopped lengthening on December 1st. My last doctor visit was December 4th.
It has now been over a month and a week since I stopped lengthening. I am visiting the X Ray technician tomorrow to get an X-Ray.
I will find out if I can fully weight bear then. Fingers crossed. Otherwise, I'm pretty mobile with crutches. I can do almost everything with them (including drive, etc) except for carrying things around (both hands occupied).
My flexibility has gotten a lot better. When I stopped lengthening, my knees could barely bend 90 degrees even with the therapists pushing me. Now I can bend them past that by myself (and even more if someone is pushing my legs).
I actually went to the gym today for the first time since the surgery. It felt really good. I wish I had gone earlier but was a bit scared. I mostly rode the bike for 20 minutes and then did 20 minutes of chest exercises (I tried doing the lat pulldowns but I had trouble getting my legs around on that machine. Maybe I'll wait until I can fully weight bear before doing that) and then a few minutes of stretching. My stretch after doing the bike for 20 minutes was phenomenal. I realize that I should have been cyclying a lot earlier. Oh well.. never too late to learn.
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Since then, I met a lot of people from before. Thankfully, no one commented about looking taller. I really wanted to keep this secret and was worried that it would be obvious. The people I met were people I meet very infrequently (as I live in a different state). However, the questions about why I got "injured" got annoying eventually (especially when I was at a party). On the other hand, people, especially little kids are really sweet to you (because you are crippled).
I feel the effects of my new height almost instantly. Even though 2.7 inches doesn't sound like much, it feels crazy. Whenever I went to a party, restaurant, shopping, or to the gym, I was taller than almost every girl (I'm a hair below 5'9" now). A sizeable number of guys were shorter than me as well. Mentally, I assumed that they were teenagers or kids and then suddenly I remembered... no they are adult.. you aren't the same height as before. People who were several inches shorter than me at my old height (5'6") were usually teenagers or kids. Its a really weird adjustment.
My life is slowly getting back to normal. I quit my job and got into heavy debt for this surgery. Now my schedule is booked with job interviews (yay). So far its looking really good. If everything goes right, I will start working in March (and hopefully making way more than what I was making before).
Overall, everything looks good.
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Update:
I stopped lengthening on December 1st. My last doctor visit was December 4th.
It has now been over a month and a week since I stopped lengthening. I am visiting the X Ray technician tomorrow to get an X-Ray.
I will find out if I can fully weight bear then. Fingers crossed. Otherwise, I'm pretty mobile with crutches. I can do almost everything with them (including drive, etc) except for carrying things around (both hands occupied).
My flexibility has gotten a lot better. When I stopped lengthening, my knees could barely bend 90 degrees even with the therapists pushing me. Now I can bend them past that by myself (and even more if someone is pushing my legs).
I actually went to the gym today for the first time since the surgery. It felt really good. I wish I had gone earlier but was a bit scared. I mostly rode the bike for 20 minutes and then did 20 minutes of chest exercises (I tried doing the lat pulldowns but I had trouble getting my legs around on that machine. Maybe I'll wait until I can fully weight bear before doing that) and then a few minutes of stretching. My stretch after doing the bike for 20 minutes was phenomenal. I realize that I should have been cyclying a lot earlier. Oh well.. never too late to learn.
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Since then, I met a lot of people from before. Thankfully, no one commented about looking taller. I really wanted to keep this secret and was worried that it would be obvious. The people I met were people I meet very infrequently (as I live in a different state). However, the questions about why I got "injured" got annoying eventually (especially when I was at a party). On the other hand, people, especially little kids are really sweet to you (because you are crippled).
I feel the effects of my new height almost instantly. Even though 2.7 inches doesn't sound like much, it feels crazy. Whenever I went to a party, restaurant, shopping, or to the gym, I was taller than almost every girl (I'm a hair below 5'9" now). A sizeable number of guys were shorter than me as well. Mentally, I assumed that they were teenagers or kids and then suddenly I remembered... no they are adult.. you aren't the same height as before. People who were several inches shorter than me at my old height (5'6") were usually teenagers or kids. Its a really weird adjustment.
My life is slowly getting back to normal. I quit my job and got into heavy debt for this surgery. Now my schedule is booked with job interviews (yay). So far its looking really good. If everything goes right, I will start working in March (and hopefully making way more than what I was making before).
Overall, everything looks good.
Hey, man, awesome news.
Glad to hear your perspective in life (both literally and figuratively) already seems to be changing so much. You'll surely have some fun years ahead of you.
I hope everything continues on what looks like the track to a very smooth recovery.
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Hi Puru,
Thank you for the update. Glad to hear that you are happy and recovering well. All the best with your interviews, hopefully you'll be back to work soon in a better place.
Can you share with us what you feel the hardest portion of your journey has been so far? What would you change? Do you feel that being at 5'9" is enough for you?
Thank you again. Wishing you all the best.
LAGrowin
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Hi Puru,
Thank you for the update. Glad to hear that you are happy and recovering well. All the best with your interviews, hopefully you'll be back to work soon in a better place.
Can you share with us what you feel the hardest portion of your journey has been so far? What would you change? Do you feel that being at 5'9" is enough for you?
Thank you again. Wishing you all the best.
LAGrowin
No problem! Thanks for the wishes. My interviews are going better than expected. I think I may end up with a job that pays much more than what I was making before the surgery. I'll know for sure in a month..
Its hard to say what the "hardest" part of the journey was. Here are some of the "difficulties" I had:
1. Boredom from not being able to do too much
2. Constant level of dull pain
3. Lack of independence
4. Lack of sleep in the first few weeks was hard
5. Therapy started getting painful after 5 cm.
6. Being jobless while still making loan payments absolutely drains your finances. I'll sum up the full cost when I get a job so I can measure the amount accurately.
I wouldn't really change anything. Initially I thought that quitting my job for this was a bad idea because I wasn't sure how good of a job I'd get after. However now I'm getting so many interviews that I have trouble keeping track of them and literally have to turn people down. So thats not a concern anymore.
I was happy even at 5'8". 5'9" is definitely more than enough.
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Update:
I just had my X-Ray taken (this would be almost 5.5 weeks post lengthening). The bone looks pretty connected. I will upload it later when I'm emailing it to Dr. Paley.
Hopefully its consolidated and weight bearing. This would make my life a lot easier.
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Great to hear that your recovery is going well, and glad to hear that your job prospects are good. I guess it really is true that taller people make more money (https://www.livescience.com/5552-taller-people-earn-money.html)!
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Great to hear that your recovery is going well, and glad to hear that your job prospects are good. I guess it really is true that taller people make more money (https://www.livescience.com/5552-taller-people-earn-money.html)!
Thanks for your wishes, Android!
I know you are joking about the height and money thing, but I want to call that study into question. If they did that survey again in the USA the results may be different due to confounding variables (ie. some ethnic groups have above average incomes but below average heights .. Asians and Indians).
I should mention that its not unusual to have a big salary jump every few years in my industry. So far I only interviewed via Skype.
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Update:
I sent my X-Rays to Dr. Paley today. Dr. Paley replied in less than an hour. He says that my bone growth is great. I am fully weight bearing on my legs. I can walk around with 2 crutches (for minimal support) right away. In 2 weeks I can get rid of the crutches.
After getting that email, I walked around the house. It felt great. It was small baby steps. I was walking like a duck. My legs felt really heavy (because of weak muscles).
Yay!!!
Slowly and surely I will get my gait back.
I also went to the gym today (before I sent the pics to Paley). Mostly biked for 40 minutes and did some arm workouts. Nothing unusual. Bicycling is slowly getting easier.
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If they did that survey again in the USA the results may be different due to confounding variables (ie. some ethnic groups have above average incomes but below average heights .. Asians and Indians).
And now I wonder, are the taller Asians and Indians getting paid more than their shorter Asian and Indian peers? As mentioned in the article, taller people tend to be more confident, which leads to more fruitful negotiations.
Excellent news about getting rid of those crutches soon. And good on you for visiting the gym, I've been going every other day for over three years so it'll be tough to slow down once I take the CLL plunge.
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And now I wonder, are the taller Asians and Indians getting paid more than their shorter Asian and Indian peers? As mentioned in the article, taller people tend to be more confident, which leads to more fruitful negotiations.
Excellent news about getting rid of those crutches soon. And good on you for visiting the gym, I've been going every other day for over three years so it'll be tough to slow down once I take the CLL plunge.
Height is Asia is considered a very strong benefit.
I truly believe that a tall Indian or Chinese has way more chances compared toa short one because there being tall is much more rare than in the west.
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I agree, especially in performing arts
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Today is the first full day where I could walk around. It felt awesome. I tried walking without crutches as well. My crutchless gait is better than before but there is still some swaying.
When I use crutches for balance, I can walk like normal. I made every excuse to walk around. At the end of the day my legs are really tired. Progress is really fast.
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And now I wonder, are the taller Asians and Indians getting paid more than their shorter Asian and Indian peers? As mentioned in the article, taller people tend to be more confident, which leads to more fruitful negotiations.
Excellent news about getting rid of those crutches soon. And good on you for visiting the gym, I've been going every other day for over three years so it'll be tough to slow down once I take the CLL plunge.
Hmm. I wonder as well.
It will be a tough adjustment not working out, but once you start working out again, you will get back in your groove. Its only 3-4 months gap.
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Hi Purushrottam, I am in a similar situation to you, so this is an interesting read to me. Sounds like we have similar body build/height, industry, from CA, .etc, except that I am several years older than you (30's). I also saved up for this operation, am going to have it done with Paley, and I am going to look for a new job afterwards. (I initially wanted to do quads, but everybody talked me into just doing femurs. I don't have enough for quads, anyway.)
Were you doing interviews in consolidation (e.g., while still on crutches)? How was that? Did you get any questions about the length of time you were out of work or the nature of what happened to you?
Also, you said you stopped at 6.5cm? Isn't that roughly 2.5 inches? In your first post, you said you were about 5 foot 5 1/2 inches, so wouldn't that put you at 5'8 rather than 5'9?
I don't want to get too personal on a public forum, but I might PM you if you don't mind a conversation.
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Hi Purushrottam, I am in a similar situation to you, so this is an interesting read to me. Sounds like we have similar body build/height, industry, from CA, .etc, except that I am several years older than you (30's). I also saved up for this operation, am going to have it done with Paley, and I am going to look for a new job afterwards. (I initially wanted to do quads, but everybody talked me into just doing femurs. I don't have enough for quads, anyway.)
Were you doing interviews in consolidation (e.g., while still on crutches)? How was that? Did you get any questions about the length of time you were out of work or the nature of what happened to you?
Also, you said you stopped at 6.5cm? Isn't that 2.5 inches? Wouldn't that put you at 5'8 rather than 5'9?
I don't want to get too personal on a public forum, but I might PM you if you don't mind a conversation.
Hey NowAnAddult,
Thats interesting. Good luck to you!
I was doing interviews during consolidation (on crutches). So far I only had technical phone screens. Yes every recruiter asked about that. You have to answer diplomatically. I will be more comfortable answering that in more detail once I accept an offer.
I stopped at 6.5 cm, which is 2.7 inches. I started out at 168 cm, so I ended at 175 cm, which is a hair below 5'9". You can PM me, but I check this thread more often (because I don't have to log on). If you PM me, you can mention it on this thread so that I can log in and check my inbox.
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Update
I'm getting my strength and flexibility back pretty quickly. I finally became a member of a nearby gym. I was able to cycle around for 30 minutes with minimal fatigue. Walking (with crutches for support) still tires me out after a while, but its getting much better. I think my glute strength is slowly coming back. I tried walking w.o crutches as well. I can walk across the room before I start swaying from the lack of glute strength. According to Paley, I should be able to get rid of my crutches on the Wednesday after next (I'm still going to play it safe and send my X-Rays on that day).
I did some PT stretches with someone helping me. For the Thomas stretch I was able to get the full stretch in. For the knee bend, I got over 110 degrees+ (180 means I can touch my heels to my butt). For the hamstring, I'm able to lift my leg past 90 degrees. Slowly and surely I'm getting there. By the time I start working (late Feb or March), no one should be able to tell that I had any surgery/etc.
On a personal note, I have a date with a cute Indian chick on Friday. Normally I only match with fatties, so this is a pleasant change. I didn't realize it until now, but I lost a lot of weight due to LL. Walking on crutches all the time also made my arms and shoulders jacked. I looked in the mirror and suddenly realized that I actually look good now. I always imagined myself as being a short, "ugly" guy who had to rely on being funny/having a good personality. I haven't changed any pics on my online dating profile (other than updating the height to 5'9"). The girl is going to be in for a surprise when she finds out that her date isn't some chubby dude in the pics.
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Hope your date goes as smoothly as your recovery!
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Thanks Android!
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Hey congratz on your surgery. Im glad you found happiness and recovery so fast.
How supportive were your parents about this? How did you tell them that you were gonna do this?
And how much pain were you in?
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Hey congratz on your surgery. Im glad you found happiness and recovery so fast.
How supportive were your parents about this? How did you tell them that you were gonna do this?
And how much pain were you in?
Thanks, blacksheepwall!
Very supportive. I wouldn't have been able to do with without their support. They already knew about LL because someone else in my family was thinking about it. I remember they were talking about that person. After a few months I was like "Actually I was thinking of doing it too. Heres my plan [savings, schedule, preparations, et]. By the time I told them, I already had the logistics/finances figured out. My original plan was to save money and go to India and do it with Dr. Parihar. They told me that then they would not be able to help because its too far away. They convinced me that the cost difference isn't really THAT much, so it would be worth it to just do it here at the Paley center.
If you think about it, if you are taking a loan, the difference between $50k and $90k is very little monthly payments wise.
Pain:
The day after the surgery, my anesthesia was still pretty strong, so I had no pain. Then next 3 days there was a lot of discomfort. I had to be on painkillers every 4 hours. The period from hour 3.5 to hour 4 was particularly bad because the painkiller had started to wear out.
After discharge, there was a bit of pain for the first 3 weeks (more so during phyical therapy). I was prescribed a high dose of oxycodone. The first week, physical therapy was extremely painful due to surgical scars and leg swelling.
After week three, I stopped talking painkillers. The level of pain was low (but still enough to be annoying). It made going to sleep really difficult.
After week 6, the pain started increasing again (due to muscle tightness). Eventually on day 70, I thought that I had stretched enough (65 mm) so that I decided to stop lengthening.
After I stopped lengthening, the pain dropped instantly. In 3 days after stopping, my legs left like before surgery (without the flexibility, of course).
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Speaking of recovery, out of all the LL patients that were there, I seem to be having the fastest recovery/consolidation. As of right now, even people who stopped lengthening a month before I did have not been given the go ahead to walk unaided yet. I feel blessed in that regard.
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Roughly how much did the medications run you?
Also, if you wanted to game/work/surf the web during the process, could you comfortably do so in front of a desktop, or was it restricted to using a laptop while lying down?
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Amazing. Thank for sharing.
Judging from your post it seems that you had only moderate pain? I am very suprjsed u used the word discomfort to describe ur first 3 days...
On a scale of 1-10. What was the maximum pain you felt and how long did it last? Is the procedure as scary as you thought it was?
Hope you can move on to the next chapter of life and enjoy it to the fullest.
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Amazing. Thank for sharing. Hope you can move on to the next chapter of life and enjoy it to the fullest.
Thanks man! I'm excited!
Roughly how much did the medications run you?
Also, if you wanted to game/work/surf the web during the process, could you comfortably do so in front of a desktop, or was it restricted to using a laptop while lying down?
The blood thinner was about $440/month. The pain killer was about $40 a month.
No. Sitting on a desktop would be tough. Doing simple tasks like filling out forms was really hard for me during lengthening because of the constant dull pain (its low 1-2 pain, but its still annoying and hard to concentrate). It will be impossible to get dev work done during that time.
You can however game/watch videos/surf the web. I spent lots of time on Netflix/reddit/etc. I thought that I would work on some side projects/ learn some new frameworks/etc. That did not happen. Its really hard. However, the week after I stopped lengthening, I hit the ground running (figuratively) by working on side projects/learning new frameworks, brushing up on algorithms/data structures, etc.
During lengthening, sitting on the bed is fairly easy. I would have my laptop on my lap while on bed or in the wheelchair.
TLDR: While lengthening, you can do mindless work/videos/surfing. After you stop lengthening, you can do more cognitive work.
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You can however game/watch videos/surf the web. I spent lots of time on Netflix/reddit/etc. I thought that I would work on some side projects/ learn some new frameworks/etc. That did not happen. Its really hard. However, the week after I stopped lengthening, I hit the ground running (figuratively) by working on side projects/learning new frameworks, brushing up on algorithms/data structures, etc.
Exactly the same for me, so plan ahead on what type of work you can do. Administrative work, ideas etc...anything that doesn't require immense focus like programming and I think you'll be ok? But listen to your body in regards to sleep and so forth, health > work obviously...
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Very happy for you purshottam
Why dint you choose dr parihar? Why paley?
What do you think of dr mangal parihar?
I am planning on doing my cll with him
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Why dint you choose dr parihar? Why paley?
What do you think of dr mangal parihar?
Already answered here (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg80685#msg80685), first paragraph.
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Were you told about this before?
Yes, I was.
That's a little concerning.
Surgery is hard and stressful for the surgeon too. I find it reassuring that there are two doctors operating on me at the same time, rather than one getting tired after the first leg and being more error-prone on the second.
Puru, I wanted to read your AMA but saw that you've deleted all your posts. Curious as to why you decided to do that. Privacy concerns? But you did start the AMA in the first place, so I wonder what happened. I'm contemplating being rather public about my surgery, as all my friends know (why not? if they disapproved, they wouldn't be my friends), but happy to hear arguments to the contrary.
I don't know about the Indian culture specifically, but in Silicon Valley, people are super open (and intrigued even) by leg extension surgery and other cosmetic procedures (e.g. Miradry to reduce underarm sweat). The transhumanist movement and all that. Also, employers aren't legally allowed to inquire as to the nature of your medical leave (as if anyone cared; devs are worth their weight in gold).
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Very happy for you purshottam
Why dint you choose dr parihar? Why paley?
What do you think of dr mangal parihar?
I am planning on doing my cll with him
As Android mentioned, logistically it would be hard for me and my family to stay in India for 3 months. The cost difference between 50k and 90k isn't very much if you are making loan installments.
Yes, I was.
Surgery is hard and stressful for the surgeon too. I find it reassuring that there are two doctors operating on me at the same time, rather than one getting tired after the first leg and being more error-prone on the second.
Puru, I wanted to read your AMA but saw that you've deleted all your posts. Curious as to why you decided to do that. Privacy concerns? But you did start the AMA in the first place, so I wonder what happened. I'm contemplating being rather public about my surgery, as all my friends know (why not? if they disapproved, they wouldn't be my friends), but happy to hear arguments to the contrary.
I don't know about the Indian culture specifically, but in Silicon Valley, people are super open (and intrigued even) by leg extension surgery and other cosmetic procedures (e.g. Miradry to reduce underarm sweat). The transhumanist movement and all that. Also, employers aren't legally allowed to inquire as to the nature of your medical leave (as if anyone cared; devs are worth their weight in gold).
I deleted the AMA for 2 reasons:
1. Privacy. Reddit is a much bigger forum vs LL Forum. I would highly advise against telling others you got LL.
2. I got a lot of abusive responses on that sub. I made a follow up AMA a month after the original. I just talked about my recovery. People were not happy about it. So I figured that if anyone wanted to ask questions they can ask here.
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I got a lot of abusive responses on that sub. I made a follow up AMA a month after the original. I just talked about my recovery. People were not happy about it. So I figured that if anyone wanted to ask questions they can ask here.
Yeah, no kidding. I was lurking in that thread and upvoting the good responses, but it's harsh on that sub. Some are genuinely curious about CLL, plenty are supportive even if they won't consider surgery, but the signal to noise ratio favors the anti-CLL crowd. It's not a pleasant place to share your journey unless you have very thick skin.
Unlike celebrity AMAs which have assistants picking and choosing questions for the stars to answer, we're just one person, and there's only so much negativity you can take especially when you're still healing. Last thing you need is a mob ganging up to tell you that you're stupid for making such and such decision.
If I ever share my experience on Reddit, it'll be a long post after consolidation via throwaway account.
Glad you're here, glad you shared.
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Yeah, no kidding. I was lurking in that thread and upvoting the good responses, but it's harsh on that sub. Some are genuinely curious about CLL, plenty are supportive even if they won't consider surgery, but the signal to noise ratio favors the anti-CLL crowd. It's not a pleasant place to share your journey unless you have very thick skin.
Unlike celebrity AMAs which have assistants picking and choosing questions for the stars to answer, we're just one person, and there's only so much negativity you can take especially when you're still healing. Last thing you need is a mob ganging up to tell you that you're stupid for making such and such decision.
If I ever share my experience on Reddit, it'll be a long post after consolidation via throwaway account.
Glad you're here, glad you shared.
Yeah. That was a forum for people to deal with being short. This is a forum for people who are specifically interested in LL. So I figured that I could just answer questions here instead.
Update:
I no longer need my crutches. My walking is swayed due to weak glute muscles. Now that I am mostly healed bone wise, I'm going to focus my full efforts on regaining my flexibility and strength.
I've been hitting the gym almost every day, but the exercises I do are pretty limited. I want to be able to lift weights and do lunges.
I'm sending another set of X-Rays to Paley on Wednesday to ask whether or not I can lift weights/do lunges at the gym. Currently my workouts consist of just doing chest/shoulder/tricep pulls + exercise bikes.
Once my walking sway goes down, I'll start meeting my old friends. Then I will know if my height increase has been obvious (hopefully not).
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Yeah. That was a forum for people to deal with being short. This is a forum for people who are specifically interested in LL. So I figured that I could just answer questions here instead.
Update:
I no longer need my crutches. My walking is swayed due to weak glute muscles. Now that I am mostly healed bone wise, I'm going to focus my full efforts on regaining my flexibility and strength.
I've been hitting the gym almost every day, but the exercises I do are pretty limited. I want to be able to lift weights and do lunges.
I'm sending another set of X-Rays to Paley on Wednesday to ask whether or not I can lift weights/do lunges at the gym. Currently my workouts consist of just doing chest/shoulder/tricep pulls + exercise bikes.
Once my walking sway goes down, I'll start meeting my old friends. Then I will know if my height increase has been obvious (hopefully not).
congrats on the healthy bone consolidation and wish you a nice recovery man.
can you upload x ray? i think you said you were gnna upload
also, do your proportions look good?
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congrats on the healthy bone consolidation and wish you a nice recovery man.
can you upload x ray? i think you said you were gnna upload
also, do your proportions look good?
Hey Mirin,
Thanks! I'm a bit hesitant about uploading any files for privacy reasons. Image file metadata can give me away (even if I use a hosting site like imgur).
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I'm a bit hesitant about uploading any files for privacy reasons. Image file metadata can give me away (even if I use a hosting site like imgur).
How about you sketch your legs for us in Paint?
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How about you sketch your legs for us in Paint?
Haha funny :D. I was thinking of uploading a screenshot of my x-rays (it would be a .png file). However the file would still contain metadata about my computer.
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Haha funny :D. I was thinking of uploading a screenshot of my x-rays (it would be a .png file). However the file would still contain metadata about my computer.
Then upload it from a library computer haha man i dont think somebody would go to that extend in trying to find out who you are.
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Then upload it from a library computer haha man i dont think somebody would go to that extend in trying to find out who you are.
That's way too much effort. That's what everyone thinks. Then by chance they get famous and then people start digging into their past. I'd rather not take that risk.
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That's way too much effort. That's what everyone thinks. Then by chance they get famous and then people start digging into their past. I'd rather not take that risk.
many people have anonymously posted x rays and pictures for their diaries
even if you are concerned about metadata, i hope you know that there are many ways you can remove EXIF metadata from photos...
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So at 26years you already worked 3 years a 100k+ job in sillicon valley and you have concerns about posting an anonymous pic? Sorry, if it sounds rude, but your story sounds almost too good to be true
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So at 26years you already worked 3 years a 100k+ job in sillicon valley and you have concerns about posting an anonymous pic? Sorry, if it sounds rude, but your story sounds almost too good to be true
C'mon man,how do you dare to ask for some pics ?
This guy started a diary on a LL's forum but he fears that when he will be a superstar,he will be recognized by some xRays and pictures of legs because of CIA and FBI searching in databases
It is 100% logic
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So at 26years you already worked 3 years a 100k+ job in sillicon valley and you have concerns about posting an anonymous pic? Sorry, if it sounds rude, but your story sounds almost too good to be true
Doesn't sound rude at all. Ask FormerKidd. He's several years ahead in the same profession as I am. It's not that unusual for my college/major. Im actually in the middle of the pack with career progression relative to other people in my program. I'm actually a bit flattered that you think it's too good to be true.
C'mon man,how do you dare to ask for some pics ?
This guy started a diary on a LL's forum but he fears that when he will be a superstar,he will be recognized by some xRays and pictures of legs because of CIA and FBI searching in databases
It is 100% logic
This forum is fairly anonymous. Only the mods have access to my IP address. That's a bit of a risk and I accept that. Uploaded files not so much. I don't think I'll be a superstar but I am aspiring to be a conference speaker for some tech related topics. I'm not going important enough for someone to want to dig through my history. But you never know what can happen 10 years in the future. Why expose yourself unnecessarily?
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I'm not going to demand any photos because I doubt Dr. Paley needs even more publicity, but there are resources out there like this one (http://www.exifpurge.com/) to effortlessly wipe metadata if you're willing to share. I don't always have it enabled, but I often use VPN (https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/) as well.
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@purushrottam, you have yet to respond to me.
you can easily erase EXIF metadata from pics. Since you had a 100k+ job in silicon valley, I'm sure you knew this.
so this will make you completely anonymous.
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@purushrottam, you have yet to respond to me.
you can easily erase EXIF metadata from pics. Since you had a 100k+ job in silicon valley, I'm sure you knew this.
so this will make you completely anonymous.
Sorry man I forgot to respond. I knew you could erase the data but I was too lazy/ignorant on how until Android pointed it out. I'm sorry though I have decided against posting X-Rays.
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Sorry man I forgot to respond. I knew you could erase the data but I was too lazy/ignorant on how until Android pointed it out. I'm sorry though I have decided against posting X-Rays.
that makes your diary very fishy man. you say your not gnna post x rays because of metadata and how someone can trace that (very unlikely). Then when i point out you can erase metadata, you say you know how to erase it (very easy) but still won't post x rays.
This is exactly why I do my own research. It's very hard to believe some of the posters on here who make excuses for not providing validity to their diaries.
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that makes your diary very fishy man. you say your not gnna post x rays because of metadata and how someone can trace that (very unlikely). Then when i point out you can erase metadata, you say you know how to erase it (very easy) but still won't post x rays.
This is exactly why I do my own research. It's very hard to believe some of the posters on here who make excuses for not providing validity to their diaries.
I understand your concern. If you book a consultation with Paley, they will connect you with other people who have had LL done and you can ask them questions. I'm sure Rozbruch and Mahoubiab would do the same. Hope that helps.
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Heres my left leg xray from 2 weeks ago.
https://imgur.com/5bUFL8a
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thnx man
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How are the interviews going for you?
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thnx man
Np.
How are the interviews going for you?
Not as well as I'd like unfortunately. I overscheduled a bit and exhausted myself. This made me do worse at subsequent interviews. I have decided to give myself a break and not schedule them everyday.
I'm getting lots of interview requests though so lets see.
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Heres my left leg xray from 2 weeks ago.
https://imgur.com/5bUFL8a (https://imgur.com/5bUFL8a)
Looking good! Thanks for sharing.
Best of luck with the interview process. The constant mix of anticipation, delayed responses, and introductions can get oh so exhausting.
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Looking good! Thanks for sharing.
Best of luck with the interview process. The constant mix of anticipation, delayed responses, and introductions can get oh so exhausting.
Thanks man. BTW, do you work in Tech? Your username suggests that you do.
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yea, take it slow. remember, they should want you as much as you want them.
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Do you feel that your height helps you with confidence in interviews?
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Do you feel that your height helps you with confidence in interviews?
All my interviews have been on the phone so far. All the in-person interviews I've had in my life have led to offers (this was pre-LL). I always fake confidence during interviews. On my last job, a few months after I started, I casually asked about how my interview went. They said that I came off as really c*ky and confident. Oddly enough, I was pretty nervous during the interview.
Long story short, I have taught myself to subconsciously use confident body language during interviews.
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Just walked 1/3 miles without crutches. I was swaying like hell towards the end as I was getting tired.
I can go up and down the stairs as well now (with railings).
Flexibility is still pretty bad compared to DoingITForMe's diary. I need to stretch more.
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Haha funny :D. I was thinking of uploading a screenshot of my x-rays (it would be a .png file). However the file would still contain metadata about my computer.
Puru, you're a programmer, right? I'm surprised you didn't know that PNG files don't have interesting metadata, let alone about your computer. You could even take a screenshot of the X-rays and paste it at https://imgur.com or https://snag.gy, without any metadata possibly being leaked.
(Not sure if the image you posted earlier was of the X-ray; I only saw the link (https://imgur.com/5bUFL8a) now and the image appears to have been deleted.)
I'm considering going public about my surgery. Yes, it may polarize people, but as our friend Dr. Seuss says, "those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter". I don't care if some randoms on reddit are anti-CLL. I've told all my friends about my intention to have leg extension surgery and 95% were supportive (asked questions, offered to visit etc.) Those who weren't supportive wouldn't be good friends anyway, right? HIPAA protects you from having to tell your boss, but I told my boss anyway and he was supportive too. Re. women - you'll want to tell your gf at some point. If she has a problem with that - huge red flag. So not a reason either.
I'm being anonymous for now by default, and because everyone here has been anonymous. However, it's not clear to me why I wouldn't want to go public. Give me some reasons against being public about CLL.
Puru, you said you've faked confidence during interviews. You want real confidence? Own it. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjxugyZCfuw) Tell people you took matters into your own hands, 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒇𝒇, and worked hard to become a taller man. Confidence comes from accomplishments. Every challenge we face, successful or not, is building our confidence. We only get one life. This is it. This is you.
Those who can't understand are showing a lack of empathy, and can sod off. Your drive to get the money and the courage to go through with surgery, show much more about your character than how long your legs happened to be in the genetic lottery.
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I agree with everything you've said, fivefive, but the thing about being public about CLL is how public you intend to make it, and how famous you are. If it's just to the people in your life, I don't see a problem. Like you said, everyone who can't at least show empathy can beat it. The main problem is that beating your genetics and becoming taller sadly isn't an easy process yet, and more sadly, there are a bunch of money hungry, bad doctors willing to perform CLL. If a famous person went public with CLL, there's bound to be a bunch of youngsters butchering themselves with doctors like those. If people could only do CLL with Paley, I would see much less of a problem with anyone famous going public about it. The bad cases that would happen would be mostly ascribable to the bad luck and few bad cases that are inherent to life and the medical world, rather than general malpractice, incompetence, and negligence. I'd still have a small problem with it, but it'd be lessened a lot.
One century from now it'll be easy to increase your height and beat your genetics without much problem, although it'll still be costly. By then, I'd hope some of the people, including the famous ones, going through the easier CLL processes won't be shy about it. Creating a world where people can beat their genetics and be judged mostly by their character, rather than their looks, just seems a superior option than not.
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Puru, you're a programmer, right? I'm surprised you didn't know that PNG files don't have interesting metadata, let alone about your computer.
To be fair, not every programmer knows everything about a computer. For instance, many programmers don't know how to make a website even though they can make full-blown applications. And if you want to stay anonymous, doxxing is a reality and it's something you want to avoid. Better safe than sorry.
About anonymity, it's case by case. We're all different after all: some don't use social media, some lurk, some post food photos, some post selfies, some share every thought. We share personal information in varying degrees, and they're all fine.
I've told a couple people about my CLL plans, but I don't plan to go public. Don't ask, don't tell, but I won't deny. I mean, it's impossible growing at my age anyway!
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There was some error with this post. Mods, can you please delete this specific comment?
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Puru, you're a programmer, right? I'm surprised you didn't know that PNG files don't have interesting metadata, let alone about your computer. You could even take a screenshot of the X-rays and paste it at https://imgur.com or https://snag.gy, without any metadata possibly being leaked.
(Not sure if the image you posted earlier was of the X-ray; I only saw the link (https://imgur.com/5bUFL8a) now and the image appears to have been deleted.)
I'm considering going public about my surgery. Yes, it may polarize people, but as our friend Dr. Seuss says, "those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter". I don't care if some randoms on reddit are anti-CLL. I've told all my friends about my intention to have leg extension surgery and 95% were supportive (asked questions, offered to visit etc.) Those who weren't supportive wouldn't be good friends anyway, right? HIPAA protects you from having to tell your boss, but I told my boss anyway and he was supportive too. Re. women - you'll want to tell your gf at some point. If she has a problem with that - huge red flag. So not a reason either.
I'm being anonymous for now by default, and because everyone here has been anonymous. However, it's not clear to me why I wouldn't want to go public. Give me some reasons against being public about CLL.
Puru, you said you've faked confidence during interviews. You want real confidence? Own it. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjxugyZCfuw) Tell people you took matters into your own hands, 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒇𝒇, and worked hard to become a taller man. Confidence comes from accomplishments. Every challenge we face, successful or not, is building our confidence. We only get one life. This is it. This is you.
Those who can't understand are showing a lack of empathy, and can sod off. Your drive to get the money and the courage to go through with surgery, show much more about your character than how long your legs happened to be in the genetic lottery.
Hello fivefive,
I am indeed a programmer. Unfortunately I didn't know the specifics about file formats what metadata they store.
Going public about LL is not a problem for some people. However my personal choice is to not go public about it. Either choice is good. I'm afraid we have differing opinions on this. Once the scars are gone, its not that obvious that someone had LL.
I agree with everything you've said, fivefive, but the thing about being public about CLL is how public you intend to make it, and how famous you are. If it's just to the people in your life, I don't see a problem. Like you said, everyone who can't at least show empathy can beat it. The main problem is that beating your genetics and becoming taller sadly isn't an easy process yet, and more sadly, there are a bunch of money hungry, bad doctors willing to perform CLL. If a famous person went public with CLL, there's bound to be a bunch of youngsters butchering themselves with doctors like those. If people could only do CLL with Paley, I would see much less of a problem with anyone famous going public about it. The bad cases that would happen would be mostly ascribable to the bad luck and few bad cases that are inherent to life and the medical world, rather than general malpractice, incompetence, and negligence. I'd still have a small problem with it, but it'd be lessened a lot.
One century from now it'll be easy to increase your height and beat your genetics without much problem, although it'll still be costly. By then, I'd hope some of the people, including the famous ones, going through the easier CLL processes won't be shy about it. Creating a world where people can beat their genetics and be judged mostly by their character, rather than their looks, just seems a superior option than not.
You are right I suppose. I'm not sure how to respond to that.
To be fair, not every programmer knows everything about a computer. For instance, many programmers don't know how to make a website even though they can make full-blown applications. And if you want to stay anonymous, doxxing is a reality and it's something you want to avoid. Better safe than sorry.
About anonymity, it's case by case. We're all different after all: some don't use social media, some lurk, some post food photos, some post selfies, some share every thought. We share personal information in varying degrees, and they're all fine.
I've told a couple people about my CLL plans, but I don't plan to go public. Don't ask, don't tell, but I won't deny. I mean, it's impossible growing at my age anyway!
True. I know very little about how operating systems work (something I'm working to fix with all the free time I have :D).
My specific expertise is in AI (Machine Learning). Our field is so vast and diverse that people in one specific discipline of computing may not know much about other disciplines (ie. a web developer may not necessarily know much about OS implementations).
You are right that one can never be too careful with regards to doxxing. Even posting on this forum puts you at risk. Its a balance between informing other potential LL-ers about the experiences and staying anonymous.
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Update coming in a few minutes.
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Update
This is about 4.5 months post op (Surgery was Sept 26th 2017) and 2.25 months post lengthening (stopped lengthening December 1st 2017).
My gait is normal. I no longer sway when I walk. However, when I get up from sitting down for a while, I sway for a bit. I am able to walk at least 1 mile (on uneven terrain) without swaying (keeping proper gait).
I can now also go up and down the stairs normally (without having to hold on to the railing).
I lift weights occasionally (I carry up to 10 lbs at a time. I can probably carry more but I don't want to risk it). However, my most effective workout is just walking. Right now, just doing 1 mile of walking is enough to tire me out (muscles get sore).
I will ask if I can lift heavier weights/jog on my next X-ray (last week of February).
I went to another party and several people (who used to be my height) definitely commented that I look taller. So I suppose people do notice. I just brushed it off. Oh well. The big test will be when I see my friends who I have known for a long time. I still avoided them while I was recovering.
On the job front, I'm still looking. The process is very slow. I'm in the second/third round of interviewing for most of the companies that I was interviewing for in the last update. I have a few job offers but they are for backup.
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Update
This is about 4.5 months post op (Surgery was Sept 26th 2017) and 2.25 months post lengthening (stopped lengthening December 1st 2017).
My gait is normal. I no longer sway when I walk. However, when I get up from sitting down for a while, I sway for a bit. I am able to walk at least 1 mile (on uneven terrain) without swaying (keeping proper gait).
I can now also go up and down the stairs normally (without having to hold on to the railing).
I lift weights occasionally (I carry up to 10 lbs at a time. I can probably carry more but I don't want to risk it). However, my most effective workout is just walking. Right now, just doing 1 mile of walking is enough to tire me out (muscles get sore).
I will ask if I can lift heavier weights/jog on my next X-ray (last week of February).
I went to another party and several people (who used to be my height) definitely commented that I look taller. So I suppose people do notice. I just brushed it off. Oh well. The big test will be when I see my friends who I have known for a long time. I still avoided them while I was recovering.
On the job front, I'm still looking. The process is very slow. I'm in the second/third round of interviewing for most of the companies that I was interviewing for in the last update. I have a few job offers but they are for backup.
thats an amazing recovery bro!
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Congrats on recovering so quickly! Any tips on fixing your gait? I recently had LL done as well and am starting to walk and my gait is pretty bad, my hips sway alot. Is it just a matter of walking as much as possible, did you do any stretches to fix the hip sway?
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Awesome update, glad you're recovering so well. Your friends are in for some confusing moments. Good luck on your interviews!
Congrats on recovering so quickly! Any tips on fixing your gait? I recently had LL done as well and am starting to walk and my gait is pretty bad, my hips sway alot. Is it just a matter of walking as much as possible, did you do any stretches to fix the hip sway?
Not Puru, but I'd try these exercises.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyOINUmEQyQ
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I am finishing up my last week of therapy. They are teaching me to use crutches up and down the stairs.
Puru, that post I quoted above was 2.5 months in. You were walking with crutches during lengthening, right? Just not up and down the stairs.
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thats an amazing recovery bro!
Thanks man! I'm blessed in that sense. The others are recovering decently as well.
Congrats on recovering so quickly! Any tips on fixing your gait? I recently had LL done as well and am starting to walk and my gait is pretty bad, my hips sway alot. Is it just a matter of walking as much as possible, did you do any stretches to fix the hip sway?
Thanks, SLM. How's your recovery? I've found that walking a lot is the most useful, along with the regular stretching. I don't know what specific stretches will fix that. I'm just touching my toes to the fingers. I'm going to try the stretching on Androids video.
Awesome update, glad you're recovering so well. Your friends are in for some confusing moments. Good luck on your interviews!
Not Puru, but I'd try these exercises.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyOINUmEQyQ
Thanks Android! They'll be confused tomorrow. Thanks for the link as well. I'll try those.
Puru, that post I quoted above was 2.5 months in. You were walking with crutches during lengthening, right? Just not up and down the stairs.
Correct. I started using crutches pretty late. I think it was during week 8.
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What made you decide to do 8cm all at once? I heard it gets pretty painful after 5-6cm, like unbearably painful. Is that true? To hear that you're up and walking just a few months later is a big surprise, congratulations on the recovery!:)
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What made you decide to do 8cm all at once? I heard it gets pretty painful after 5-6cm, like unbearably painful. Is that true? To hear that you're up and walking just a few months later is a big surprise, congratulations on the recovery!:)
I stopped at 6.5 cm not 8 cm. My goal was about 6cm. Anything more was a bonus. It started getting really painful after 5cm.
This may be why my recovery is relatively fast.
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Update:
Not too much of a change. My flexibility is still very low compared to DoingItForMe (My heels are nowhere close to my butt when I do a standing knee bend). I still can't touch the floor with my fingertips when I bend down with legs straight. I'm getting much better in this regard, but very slowly. By comparison, my bone healing was phenomenal. I'm getting an X-Ray on Wednesday. I'm going to send it to Dr. Paley and ask if I can start jogging now.
As far as strength goes, I'm doing very well. At a slow (2 mph) pace, I can walk 1.3 miles w.o getting tired. Today at the gym I biked for 20 minutes and walked for 10 minutes at 3 mph. That got me sweating (120 heart rate).
I've started lifting weights as well. My arm and shoulder strength is much higher than before LL due to using the walker/crutches. I'm not sure how much weight I can carry so I do all my weightlifting in 10/5 lb increments (ie if I want to bench 135 lbs, instead of putting 2 45 lb plates on each side I put 4 10 lb plates and 1 5 lb plate on each side). It looks ridiculous but oh well.
I'm working out heavily now to try to get to my pre LL level of fitness (8.5 minute mile nonstop, 6 minute mile in 1 minute increments when doing HIIT, run 12 mph for at least 30 seconds, run 3 miles in under 30 minutes, squat 160 ish, deadlift 160 ish, and do 90 jump squats in 3 sets).
I met up with some of my old friends. They all said that I looked a lot skinnier. This is despite going from a situation where they were all taller than me to now where only one of them is 2" taller than me. They didn't think my gait was off despite us walking around the bar area for a long time (I didnt keep track of how much I walked but I didn't feel tired at all). I was walking/climbing stairs at the same pace as they were.
Still unemployed :/ Thankfully I have plenty of runway.
EDIT: I forgot to mention. My scars are slowly fading away. Yay !
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Update:
Not too much of a change. My flexibility is still very low compared to DoingItForMe (My heels are nowhere close to my butt when I do a standing knee bend). I still can't touch the floor with my fingertips when I bend down with legs straight. I'm getting much better in this regard, but very slowly. By comparison, my bone healing was phenomenal. I'm getting an X-Ray on Wednesday. I'm going to send it to Dr. Paley and ask if I can start jogging now.
As far as strength goes, I'm doing very well. At a slow (2 mph) pace, I can walk 1.3 miles w.o getting tired. Today at the gym I biked for 20 minutes and walked for 10 minutes at 3 mph. That got me sweating (120 heart rate).
I've started lifting weights as well. My arm and shoulder strength is much higher than before LL due to using the walker/crutches. I'm not sure how much weight I can carry so I do all my weightlifting in 10/5 lb increments (ie if I want to bench 135 lbs, instead of putting 2 45 lb plates on each side I put 4 10 lb plates and 1 5 lb plate on each side). It looks ridiculous but oh well.
I'm working out heavily now to try to get to my pre LL level of fitness (8.5 minute mile nonstop, 6 minute mile in 1 minute increments when doing HIIT, run 12 mph for at least 30 seconds, run 3 miles in under 30 minutes, squat 160 ish, deadlift 160 ish, and do 90 jump squats in 3 sets).
I met up with some of my old friends. They all said that I looked a lot skinnier. This is despite going from a situation where they were all taller than me to now where only one of them is 2" taller than me. They didn't think my gait was off despite us walking around the bar area for a long time (I didnt keep track of how much I walked but I didn't feel tired at all). I was walking/climbing stairs at the same pace as they were.
Still unemployed :/ Thankfully I have plenty of runway.
EDIT: I forgot to mention. My scars are slowly fading away. Yay !
Great to hear about the bone healing.
Do you feel pain anywhere when going down/upstairs at your friends' pace?
Cheers, Puru.
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Great to hear about the bone healing.
Do you feel pain anywhere when going down/upstairs at your friends' pace?
Cheers, Puru.
Thanks! I don't feel any pain going up/down the stairs. It is a bit awkward though. My walking however, is completely painless and normal (for about a mile).
I was planning on getting an X Ray today to see if I could go jogging. However I was sick today so I didn't go. I have interviews for the rest of the week so I won't get my next X rays until next week.
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Just emailed Paley my latest X-Rays (3 months post lengthening). I can job/squat/deadlift/play sports now.
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Congrats Puru, a new chapter has begun!
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Good job and well done for your fast consolidation.
The hard part is now gone.
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Congratulations Puru. Very happy to hear of your progress to this new stage. Enjoy it !
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Thanks a lot guys!
My flexibility is still a bit low compared to the other patients but much better than before. I'm going to go jogging on a nearby track after lunch. Let's see how it goes!
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Thanks a lot guys!
My flexibility is still a bit low compared to the other patients but much better than before. I'm going to go jogging on a nearby track after lunch. Let's see how it goes!
Good to hear Puru, just take it slow and little by little with the running shock to the legs as to avoid any issues, better safe.
Please do keep us posted. Thank you for taking the time. Cheers!
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Good to hear Puru, just take it slow and little by little with the running shock to the legs as to avoid any issues, better safe.
Please do keep us posted. Thank you for taking the time. Cheers!
Slow and steady is the way to go. I just jogged for 40 seconds, paused for a bit and then jogged for 20 seconds. That was enough to make my legs sore. My jogging gait wasn't too bad. It felt weird because the biomechanics are a bit different now. Walking however feels completely normal.
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Only 5 months since operation and already jogging.. what a great outcome, unbelievable! Paley is worth every cent.. Can you please upload some before and after pics?
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Sorry, forget the last question, forgot we asked that before
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Sorry, forget the last question, forgot we asked that before
No problem!
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Just emailed Paley my latest X-Rays (3 months post lengthening). I can job/squat/deadlift/play sports now.
How much can you squat compared to before? 160lbs is now, right? And is that 1RM, or 5x5 or... ?
My 1RM squat is 320lb pre-LL but that seems like a heck of a weight to squat with consolidated legs and frankly I'm afraid to squat more than say 100lbs (once!) until maybe after the rods are out.
Did Paley say anything about squatting ability?
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How much can you squat compared to before? 160lbs is now, right? And is that 1RM, or 5x5 or... ?
My 1RM squat is 320lb pre-LL but that seems like a heck of a weight to squat with consolidated legs and frankly I'm afraid to squat more than say 100lbs (once!) until maybe after the rods are out.
Did Paley say anything about squatting ability?
Hi fivefive, I'd like to hear from Puru as well, how has your muscle recovery been post lengthening? my legs looked liked twigs only 3 weeks post surgery and would like to get some muscle back asap once I'm cleared to weigh bear (still about 2.5 months away roughly).
Thanks. Hope you're continuing to recover well.
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How much can you squat compared to before? 160lbs is now, right? And is that 1RM, or 5x5 or... ?
My 1RM squat is 320lb pre-LL but that seems like a heck of a weight to squat with consolidated legs and frankly I'm afraid to squat more than say 100lbs (once!) until maybe after the rods are out.
Did Paley say anything about squatting ability?
Uhm. My squat is negative right now. I can not do a body weight squat w.o an assist. Prior to LL, I was able to squat 5 sets with 5 reps of 160. I just asked if I could squat, I didn't ask about the weight because thats pretty far off. I don't have the strenght for even a body weight squat. In my next X-Ray I will ask about weight limitations.
This is the workout I'm doing right now:
Bike for 10 minutes (machine) at 15 resistance at around 8 mph. (Heart rate is 130 ish, so its not like a light workout that it would be for non LLers).
Walk on treadmill for 10 minutes at .5 incline at 3.0 mph. This no longer tires me out. I might increase the incline or walk for longer.
Follow the Day 1-5 pattern on this:
https://www.mensfitness.com/training/build-muscle/get-jacked-x-men-style-like-hugh-jackman
My bench press is still not pre LL but I can improve quickly because theres no weight limit. Right now, I'm setting the max at 135 lbs for week 1.
For the squat, and front squat (day 2), Im doing just body weight squats (with assists). I was able to do the leg press machine (day 2, 4 x 10) with weights set to 80 lbs before feeling strain. I was able to do 3 x 12 with 270 lbs prior to LL (450 lbs max).
I haven't done Day 5 (more leg exercises like Deadlift) yet.
I only jogged once (2 days ago) for 1 minute (this is not part of my workout yet). My legs were a bit sore after and I didn't get a chance to jog yesterday. I'll jog today to see if theres any improvements. I can do a few jumping jacks now and then. My explosiveness is the same as before (but I can only do a few before tiring out). This is not part of my workout.
My end goal (to get to my pre LL fitness):
- Sustain 12 mph on a treadmill for 1 minute.
- Run 10 mph for 6 minutes in 1-2 minute bursts
- Run 1 mile in 8:xx minutes
- Squat 5 x 5 160 lbs
- Do 90 Jumpsquats (3 x 30)
- Deadlift (I forget my exact pre LL number) 160 lbs
- Be able to kick my foot up to my head level (for boxing)
Hi fivefive, I'd like to hear from Puru as well, how has your muscle recovery been post lengthening? my legs looked liked twigs only 3 weeks post surgery and would like to get some muscle back asap once I'm cleared to weigh bear (still about 2.5 months away roughly).
Thanks. Hope you're continuing to recover well.
My muscle recovery has been relatively quick. After lengthening, I was still on a wheelchair/crutches. At that time my legs bones were healing not not weight bearing. So I did very little leg strengthening exercises at the time (just stretching and crutch walking).
Once I was clear to walk w.o crutches (I think that was Jan 24), I had a bit of a sway for a few weeks. At that time, I spent 20-30 minutes a day walking with 1 crutch.
Even when my sway was gone, walking for .33 miles was tiring. Today I'm going to try walking for a longer period of time.
Once you start working your leg muscles out, the strength seems to come back fairly quickly. I am still not able to do a body weight squat but my core definitely feels stronger than the last time when I did the squats. I'll keep this diary updated whenever I do leg day.
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Awesome update Puru. Thank you.
Very helpful for what I'm hoping to go after in terms of post lengthening recovery. I certainly don't want to walk around on these twigs too long. Muscle atrophy is totally unavoidable.
Very happy for you. Hopefully you'll be back to your pre LL self in no time!
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Awesome update Puru. Thank you.
Very helpful for what I'm hoping to go after in terms of post lengthening recovery. I certainly don't want to walk around on these twigs too long. Muscle atrophy is totally unavoidable.
Very happy for you. Hopefully you'll be back to your pre LL self in no time!
No problem! Thanks!
Update:
I just jogged again today. I pushed myself a bit harder vs before. Last time, I jogged for 1:08 minutes (0.069 miles). Today I jogged for 1:43 minutes (0.12 miles) before my legs started hurting (I was out of breath too).
It may not seem like much of a difference, but I was able to jog about 50% longer and 15% faster than a few days ago.
Hopefully if I keep at it, I can see improvement in my jogging. My walking has improved quite a bit in the last month.
I'm going to try jogging in 1 minute bursts (with 1 minute breaks).
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Very helpful for what I'm hoping to go after in terms of post lengthening recovery. I certainly don't want to walk around on these twigs too long. Muscle atrophy is totally unavoidable.
I wonder two things:
1. What if Paley being conservative (see my Paley vs. Guichet recover post (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=5259.0)) gets misinterpreted as "Don't stress your legs too much", but actually you could very well do safe exercise like stationary bike training to maintain your leg muscles - Guichet patients are advise to do some stationary biking right after the surgery. Maybe that's extreme, but if I feel safe, I plan to bike every day for at least 10 minutes at a low rpm (50) in week one, then increase progressively.
2. What if many patients haven't been serious about caloric supplementation, and they've lost a lot of weight post-op, including muscle mass? See my thread Best diet for recovery post-CLL (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=5258.0).
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I wonder two things:
1. What if Paley being conservative (see my Paley vs. Guichet recover post (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=5259.0)) gets misinterpreted as "Don't stress your legs too much", but actually you could very well do safe exercise like stationary bike training to maintain your leg muscles - Guichet patients are advise to do some stationary biking right after the surgery. Maybe that's extreme, but if I feel safe, I plan to bike every day for at least 10 minutes at a low rpm (50) in week one, then increase progressively.
2. What if many patients haven't been serious about caloric supplementation, and they've lost a lot of weight post-op, including muscle mass? See my thread Best diet for recovery post-CLL (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=5258.0).
1. Paley is conservative in terms of safety and nail breakage, as he should be. During lengthening with Paley, you still end up biking 10 minutes per day every day that you have physical therapy.
2. Maybe. Thats always an issue with medical research. Test subjects don't always maintain a consistent diet/exercise regimen. A lot of behavior (that might impact the outcome of the experiment) is unreported.
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Small Update:
I jogged for 3 minutes yesterday (on a treadmill, in 1 minute bursts, 2.0 incline, 4.0 mph).
I'm holding off on doing deadlifts until I get my leg flexibility back (touch floor with fingers while standing up, touch toes while sitting down, etc).
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Small Update
I walked for 3 miles at a pace same as what my walking pace was prior to LL. I wasn't tired at all. I cut my walk short because I had a job interview. My goal is 5 miles then I'll know for sure that my walking is at pre LL level.
Thats one small thing that I can get off my checklist.
Now I'm going to focus on getting my jogging pace back to pre LL.
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Awesome Puruahrottam! All the best with your interviews!
Did the jogging feel ackward as some have described due to rhe Precise rod inside ?
It's now just over 3 months since you stopped lengthening ?
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Awesome Puruahrottam! All the best with your interviews!
Did the jogging feel ackward as some have described due to rhe Precise rod inside ?
It's now just over 3 months since you stopped lengthening ?
Thanks man! I thought I did pretty well. Fingers crossed now.
The jogging is a bit awkward simply because my legs get tired out. Part of the reason might be the rods weighing me down. Overall, for the first 30 seconds, my jogging feels pretty normal. Next time I go jogging, I'll see if I can get someone to take a video of me so I can see for myself if the jogging looks weird.
Yes, it is about 3 months since I stopped lengthening (14 weeks to be exact).
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Hey - congrats on a seemingly great outcome and fast recovery.
I'm just wondering based on what I've read about femurs being angled... You lengthened 6.5cm and do you know how much height that translated into? At least 6cm?
I'm like $15K USD off precise and your diary inspired me to possibly get a loan and have LL done this year. How is your new height feeling? Satisfied? Any chance you'll do tibias?
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Hey - congrats on a seemingly great outcome and fast recovery.
I'm just wondering based on what I've read about femurs being angled... You lengthened 6.5cm and do you know how much height that translated into? At least 6cm?
I'm like $15K USD off precise and your diary inspired me to possibly get a loan and have LL done this year. How is your new height feeling? Satisfied? Any chance you'll do tibias?
Hello SoonToBeInTouch,
Thanks for your wishes!
I haven't actually measured my height after lengthening. When you measure height, you stand with your legs together. In that sense, I'm assuming that it translated to a 6.5 cm height gain (therefore with me being 175 cm).
Yeah, the loan definitely sped up my LL timeline. Before I knew that was a possibility, I was hopelessly looking at the vast sum thinking "how the hell am I going to come up with the money?" or thinking of doing it in India (with Dr. Parihar), which would have been logistically very difficult/scary for my family. If you are wondering, I used SoFi and borrowed $80,000 at around 10% APR with a 7 year term (of course, I'm going to pay it off early to avoid the high interest. I made sure that there was no early payment penalty). They give loans of up to $100k. At my then income of $125k (I suddenly got a raise to $135k + bonus right before I quit) and rental expense of $2500/mo (They calculate your rent payment when deciding how much to lend to you), I was qualified for $82k. I'm currently paying $1350/mo for the loan.
I hope that these numbers help you plan/estimate what amount you might be able to borrow.
The new height feels great. I have discovered that the majority of people are within 2 inches of my height, so I don't feel short at all anymore. I have friends who are 6' and I feel barely any shorter than them (even though I'm 5'9"). Everyone I met says that I look better now (though they can't put it on me being taller. LOL).
Oh and I have an uptick in interest on my online dating sites/apps. Still haven't really gone out though.
Long story short, I no longer think about height/me being short as I'm going about my day. I am very satisfied. I am not interested in doing Tibias. This experience was taxing enough on my family. My main focus is now
1) Getting a new job and paying off my debt
2) Getting jacked/fit up to my pre LL stats (I've already reached this stat with walking pace/stamina).
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Definitely agree with you. I don't think a man really needs more than 5'9 if he has a lot of other things going for him. The main thing is just to get out of "short" territory.
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I used SoFi and borrowed $80,000 at around 10% APR with a 7 year term (of course, I'm going to pay it off early to avoid the high interest. [...] They give loans of up to $100k. At my then income of $125k (I suddenly got a raise to $135k + bonus right before I quit) and rental expense of $2500/mo (They calculate your rent payment when deciding how much to lend to you), I was qualified for $82k. I'm currently paying $1350/mo for the loan.
Interesting. I used SoFi too and have about the same income but only $1700/mo in rent... which they don't check! (FYI, for anyone else interested.) Got $100k at 10% APR. The cost of the loan is $40k, which spread over over the next 7 years is not really a concern. 7 years is a long time nowadays and a lot can happen.
edit: link edit
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I would save 10k € and get a 15k € loan too
or saving 15 k € and get a 10 k€ loan
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Mini Update
I just jogged for 3 minutes (1 minute bursts) outside on hilly terrain at an avg if 6.5 mph. Last time I jogged for the same amount of time on a treadmill (2.0 incline) at 4.0 mph.
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Thanks for the update, its great to hear you're doing so well!
I'm a few months behind you, and am hoping for a similar recovery.
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Thanks for the update, its great to hear you're doing so well!
I'm a few months behind you, and am hoping for a similar recovery.
Good luck! How much have you lengthened so far?
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I'm 3 weeks post-lengthening, I lengthened 6.3 cms. I think I'll be cleared to fully weightbear at my next doctor's appointment, I can't wait to walk again unassisted. It seemed to have taken you about a month to two to walk normally again, is that right?
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Mini Update:
Last week I walked about 6-7 miles every day (10k-14k steps). Wasn't tiring at all. Went clubbing as well. No issues there. I can run up and down the stairs easily now. I haven't jogged in a while so I'll try that tomorrow morning.
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I'm 3 weeks post-lengthening, I lengthened 6.3 cms. I think I'll be cleared to fully weightbear at my next doctor's appointment, I can't wait to walk again unassisted. It seemed to have taken you about a month to two to walk normally again, is that right?
Yeah a little under 8 weeks to be precise. A bit longer to get my gait back.
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Great progress, nice to hear that you're not feeling fatigued from those walks. Ah, the things we take for granted.
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Great progress, nice to hear that you're not feeling fatigued from those walks. Ah, the things we take for granted.
Thanks!
Another small update:
I can finally touch my toes bending down with my legs straight. Still not at pre LL flexibility but it took me a long time due to me not stretching enough during my recovery. I also didn't do as many leg workouts (leg press etc). After I increased my leg workouts, the flexibility started improving relatively quickly.
Other than that, for the past 4 weeks I was doing the Hugh Jackman workout from Mens Fitness [dot] com for about 2-3 hours a day.
I have exceeded my Pre LL upper body strength and muscle mass (even my legs technically have more muscle now than before. However they aren't strong as before).
Its going to take a while for my squat/ deadlift strength to come back. I still can't do a squat unassisted. I'm going to hold off on these until my leg flexibility is 100%. The only leg workouts I'm doing is assisted squats and leg presses.
On the leg press, I'm doing 2 plates (45 + 45) (4 X 10).
I still haven't jogged in a while because the weather is really bad.
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So happy to keep reading of your progress Puruahrottam!! Gives me hope. That's an awesome recovery.
Any lingering aches or pains? How are the knees?
I'm at 6cm now and my knees are killing me along with my tightness.
All the best!!
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So happy to keep reading of your progress Puruahrottam!! Gives me hope. That's an awesome recovery.
Any lingering aches or pains? How are the knees?
I'm at 6cm now and my knees are killing me along with my tightness.
All the best!!
Thank you! Hope your recovery goes well as well. I'm sure it will!
No aches/pains. My pains went away less than a week after I stopped lengthening. Sitting in certain positions was a bit uncomfortable (due to low flexibility) but that went away really fast. Sometimes my upper femurs hurt after I jog for a long time (but I haven't jogged in a while so I dont' know).
My knees are totally fine. They feel the same as if they were prior to LL (just sans flexibility... I can't kneebend very far. Hoping to fix that soon). At 6 cm I was in a lot of tightness/pain. I had slowed down to .75 mm/day.
I was traveling last week in a city with lots of tunnels/stairs. My pedometer counted about 14k steps (6 miles I think) daily and I felt no soreless/aches and pains (just a bit tired.. same as if I had walked that much before LL).
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Thank you Purushrottam. Counting the days now. So close.
Your recovery gives me so much hope that mine will be as smooth. I worry about the lingering pains and aches after consolidation. Seems your continued level of activity has really helped.
Happy to hear of the continuous process for you! Thank you for taking the time.
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This is a great diary. I stopped lengthening myself a few months earlier than you, back in August, and it seems you’re pretty much on track to how I was when I was recovering. I went to 7.6cm though. I can do everything I could do pre-LL besides Sprint, though I haven’t tried it yet lol. Squats and leg presses in the gym aren’t as heavy as before yet, for obvious reasons. Good luck with the rest of your recovery, very happy for you!
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Thank you Purushrottam. Counting the days now. So close.
Your recovery gives me so much hope that mine will be as smooth. I worry about the lingering pains and aches after consolidation. Seems your continued level of activity has really helped.
Happy to hear of the continuous process for you! Thank you for taking the time.
No problem! Thats awesome to hear. How much are you planning on lengthening? There were other patients in your age group. None of them seem to be having any lingering aches/pains. I can ask them to verify. They are recovering as well as I am (they lengthened 8 cm, 10 cm, and 7.1 cm).
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This is a great diary. I stopped lengthening myself a few months earlier than you, back in August, and it seems you’re pretty much on track to how I was when I was recovering. I went to 7.6cm though. I can do everything I could do pre-LL besides Sprint, though I haven’t tried it yet lol. Squats and leg presses in the gym aren’t as heavy as before yet, for obvious reasons. Good luck with the rest of your recovery, very happy for you!
Thanks! Thats good to hear! When were you able to do squats unassisted? Was there any workout you did to improve your squats (other than doing squats..lol)? How much do you squat/leg press now vs pre LL?
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Thanks! Thats good to hear! When were you able to do squats unassisted? Was there any workout you did to improve your squats (other than doing squats..lol)? How much do you squat/leg press now vs pre LL?
Nvm, got the ansnwer from Brb's diary.
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No problem! Thats awesome to hear. How much are you planning on lengthening? There were other patients in your age group. None of them seem to be having any lingering aches/pains. I can ask them to verify. They are recovering as well as I am (they lengthened 8 cm, 10 cm, and 7.1 cm).
Thank you! Yes if you don't mind asking, that would be great!
I decided to stop at 7cm. I am beyond tight not and experiencing some tough pain. I know it's normal in the 5-6cm range.
That's some serious lengthening for them. Wow!
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Thank you! Yes if you don't mind asking, that would be great!
I decided to stop at 7cm. I am beyond tight not and experiencing some tough pain. I know it's normal in the 5-6cm range.
That's some serious lengthening for them. Wow!
Yeah just heard back. They don't have any aches/pains. I should add that even though they were older (40s), their flexibility came back much earlier than mine did. It's because they stretched more. I had faster bone recovery.
Mini Update:
I just ran .27 miles in 2 minutes w.o stopping. That's 7:50 mile pace. I stopped because I was out of breath, not because of pain in my legs. I thought Iwas jogging slowly but I suppose the longer legs give you a slight speed bonus. That same pace felt like what 8:40 used to feel like pre LL. About to hit the gym for 2 hours.
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Hey Puru,
Following in your footsteps, I had my surgery a few weeks ago. You might be a cm or two taller than I was, but I may stop at around 6.5 as well.
Did you have any swelling or tightness in your knees? These have been my problems, but I don't recall seeing that mentioned in any of the diaries.
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Yeah just heard back. They don't have any aches/pains. I should add that even though they were older (40s), their flexibility came back much earlier than mine did. It's because they stretched more. I had faster bone recovery.
Mini Update:
I just ran .27 miles in 2 minutes w.o stopping. That's 7:50 mile pace. I stopped because I was out of breath, not because of pain in my legs. I thought Iwas jogging slowly but I suppose the longer legs give you a slight speed bonus. That same pace felt like what 8:40 used to feel like pre LL. About to hit the gym for 2 hours.
Thank you for checking with them, I appreciate it. That is very good to hear. Like I said, my legs feel like they just won't stretch anymore. Very tough last phase.
Glad to hear your running has improved so much!! Must feel good.
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Thanks! Thats good to hear! When were you able to do squats unassisted? Was there any workout you did to improve your squats (other than doing squats..lol)? How much do you squat/leg press now vs pre LL?
Thought I’d reply to this, even though you said you read my diary, just to give you a bit more info.
I was technically able to squat aince January, which was about 2 months after i started walking. The squats were really difficult though, my quads were tight and even doing the bar was hard. To build strength, I did 5 sets of 10 reps of leg press starting with an empty sled and then moving up 5 lbs every session. Eventually I got to 25 lbs plates on each side, which is when I moved on to squats.
In order to squat properly, I have to take a much wider stance than normal and point my legs outward to “trick” them into thinking theyre shorter. Look up how to squat with long femurs to see what i mean. I also wear lifting shoes with a heel, because ankle flexibility is poor after surgery. Stretching your quads is also super important, and 90% of the time my first set of squats feels very weird - super limited range of motion. But the second set always feels good, and so do the rest. You might feel better than me though since you did lengthen less.
For reference:
~300 lbs Leg Press pre-LL, currently ~150 lbs post LL (after 2 months)
205 lbs squat pre-LL, currently 105 lbs post LL (after 1 month, but after stengthening first from leg press)
Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions, i’ll be keeping an eye on your diary!
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Hey Puru,
Following in your footsteps, I had my surgery a few weeks ago. You might be a cm or two taller than I was, but I may stop at around 6.5 as well.
Did you have any swelling or tightness in your knees? These have been my problems, but I don't recall seeing that mentioned in any of the diaries.
Nice! Hope you are well so far. I am not sure if I can describe what I had as swelling. When you lengthen, your femurs push into your knees, making them very sensitive and vulnerable. I had some occasional sharp pain near my knees but it turned out that was nerve pain from my skin stretching. I didn't have any particular tightness in my knees. I was able to bend my legs past 90 degrees for most of my journey.
Thank you for checking with them, I appreciate it. That is very good to hear. Like I said, my legs feel like they just won't stretch anymore. Very tough last phase.
Glad to hear your running has improved so much!! Must feel good.
No problem, LAGrowin! Yeah push thru! Its short term pain thats totally worth it in the end. I forgot to add one of the patients (40s) that got surgery on the same day as I did is playing soccer now.
Thought I’d reply to this, even though you said you read my diary, just to give you a bit more info.
I was technically able to squat aince January, which was about 2 months after i started walking. The squats were really difficult though, my quads were tight and even doing the bar was hard. To build strength, I did 5 sets of 10 reps of leg press starting with an empty sled and then moving up 5 lbs every session. Eventually I got to 25 lbs plates on each side, which is when I moved on to squats.
In order to squat properly, I have to take a much wider stance than normal and point my legs outward to “trick” them into thinking theyre shorter. Look up how to squat with long femurs to see what i mean. I also wear lifting shoes with a heel, because ankle flexibility is poor after surgery. Stretching your quads is also super important, and 90% of the time my first set of squats feels very weird - super limited range of motion. But the second set always feels good, and so do the rest. You might feel better than me though since you did lengthen less.
For reference:
~300 lbs Leg Press pre-LL, currently ~150 lbs post LL (after 2 months)
205 lbs squat pre-LL, currently 105 lbs post LL (after 1 month, but after stengthening first from leg press)
Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions, i’ll be keeping an eye on your diary!
Thanks for answering! Wow I am doing something similar. However I am doing 4 x 10 on the legpress with 2 plates (45 + 45). I still don't have the strength to do an unassisted squat. It might be because I have a really heavy torso. I will try your suggestion. My quad flexibility is still pretty low though but its improving.
Small, minor update:
I jogged .4 miles yesterday at an 8:50 pace. No pain, just out of breath. I think the weaker/longer muscles require greater exertion vs before.
Still can't squat unassisted.
I'm not sure if these incremental updates are useful or not.
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I just noticed something really weird. I was walking down the sidewalk the other day. A large group of people were coming my way. Right as I noticed them, I was about to move out of the way. By the time I started, they all moved out of the way to make room for me. I was completely shocked. I was used to moving out of the way of people. I had to override my subconscious reaction of moving out of the way. Sometimes I would forget.
After that I noticed more and more that people were getting out of my way on the sidewalk. This did not happen before LL. Maybe I'm reading a bit too much into it.
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I just noticed something really weird. I was walking down the sidewalk the other day. A large group of people were coming my way. Right as I noticed them, I was about to move out of the way. By the time I started, they all moved out of the way to make room for me. I was completely shocked. I was used to moving out of the way of people. I had to override my subconscious reaction of moving out of the way. Sometimes I would forget.
After that I noticed more and more that people were getting out of my way on the sidewalk. This did not happen before LL. Maybe I'm reading a bit too much into it.
It could be you're subconsciously carrying yourself with much more confidence and giving that vibe, or it could definitely be because of the new height.
Either way, it's the kind of qualia we can only experience and notice after something about us visibly changes.
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After that I noticed more and more that people were getting out of my way on the sidewalk. This did not happen before LL. Maybe I'm reading a bit too much into it.
That's just how the world works apparently:
Human Height Is Positively Related to Interpersonal Dominance in Dyadic Interactions (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4342156/)
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That's just how the world works apparently:
Human Height Is Positively Related to Interpersonal Dominance in Dyadic Interactions (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4342156/)
To be honest, this seems to be a very Eurocentric study. Where I live, I only notice the shorter than average people have the worst jobs. Tall men don't give me the impression of being of higher social status than slightly above average ones. It seems like it could go either way. But good to have actual data on how height functions on a daily basis in the West!
I'd be interested if you found Japanese articles about height, and compared if they differ in conclusions and presentations from their Western counterparts.
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It could be you're subconsciously carrying yourself with much more confidence and giving that vibe, or it could definitely be because of the new height.
Either way, it's the kind of qualia we can only experience and notice after something about us visibly changes.
Hmm. That might be the case. I was still subconsciously acting on my previous habits of moving out of the way. Its just that the group of people was so large that I mentally hesitated in deciding whether to go left or right. By the time I "decided", the group split up in front of me. It was pretty surreal to be honest.
That's just how the world works apparently:
Human Height Is Positively Related to Interpersonal Dominance in Dyadic Interactions (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4342156/)
Interesting. Thanks for the article.
To be honest, this seems to be a very Eurocentric study. Where I live, I only notice the shorter than average people have the worst jobs. Tall men don't give me the impression of being of higher social status than slightly above average ones. It seems like it could go either way. But good to have actual data on how height functions on a daily basis in the West!
I'd be interested if you found Japanese articles about height, and compared if they differ in conclusions and presentations from their Western counterparts.
Thats a good question. I think the study discusses that this phenomenon is found across human cultures. In my particular example, the large group of people (who all moved out of my way) were Indian, and the group behind them (who also moved out of my way) was Caucasian. They weren't even shorter than me.
It might just be that now I look a bit scary because I grew my beard out (and have been working out intensely for 2-3 hours per day). My muscle mass is way higher and my % body fat is way lower than before. That may have had an impact as well.
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Hmm. That might be the case. I was still subconsciously acting on my previous habits of moving out of the way. Its just that the group of people was so large that I mentally hesitated in deciding whether to go left or right. By the time I "decided", the group split up in front of me. It was pretty surreal to be honest.
Interesting. Thanks for the article.
Thats a good question. I think the study discusses that this phenomenon is found across human cultures. In my particular example, the large group of people (who all moved out of my way) were Indian, and the group behind them (who also moved out of my way) was Caucasian. They weren't even shorter than me.
It might just be that now I look a bit scary because I grew my beard out (and have been working out intensely for 2-3 hours per day). My muscle mass is way higher and my % body fat is way lower than before. That may have had an impact as well.
Oh, it's definitely a worldwide trend. Bigger height and mass = someone you don't wanna get into a fight with (to put a metaphorical figure literally: "someone you don't want to cross paths with").
Actually, body mass is one of the most overlooked factors when discussing anything in this forum.
It's just all the other claims in the study that get me. A study from apparently the Netherlands, the tallest country in the world. No biases there. I'm sure the results would differ a bit more if it wasn't from the country with the highest selection for height in the whole world. I'm sure the trend would continue, but I don't think it'd be as strong.
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Hey Puru,
Did you stay in WPB for consolidation or go back to Silicon Valley? Did you continue to have PT done two or three times a week, and where do you find those PTs?
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Oh, it's definitely a worldwide trend. Bigger height and mass = someone you don't wanna get into a fight with (to put a metaphorical figure literally: "someone you don't want to cross paths with").
Actually, body mass is one of the most overlooked factors when discussing anything in this forum.
It's just all the other claims in the study that get me. A study from apparently the Netherlands, the tallest country in the world. No biases there. I'm sure the results would differ a bit more if it wasn't from the country with the highest selection for height in the whole world. I'm sure the trend would continue, but I don't think it'd be as strong.
Agreed. I'm about to travel around Europe and Asia before my new job starts. I guess I'll be able to see ( anecdotally at least) the impact of my new height.
Hey Puru,
Did you stay in WPB for consolidation or go back to Silicon Valley? Did you continue to have PT done two or three times a week, and where do you find those PTs?
Hello FormerKidd,
No I stayed at a different low COL location with my parents. I did the PT a few times a day (for the first month) by myself.
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sry im a little bit confuse so how much does it cost for the whole LL lengthening ? :-\
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sry im a little bit confuse so how much does it cost for the whole LL lengthening ? :-\
Bilateral Femoral Surgery: $90,000
Pain meds: $40/mo x 2
Blood Thinners: $400/mo x 3
Hotel: $90/day x 70
Food: $500/mo x 2
I'm going to come back in a few months to get my rods removed. I don't remember the price for that but I think it's $17,500.
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Correct, $17,500 for femoral hardware removal per http://paleyinstitute.org/centers-of-excellence/stature-lengthening/the-paley-method/nail-removal/
Great journey, Puru! I hope you stick around for a year or two after and tell us how close to pre-op your functionality is.
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Correct, $17,500 for femoral hardware removal per http://paleyinstitute.org/centers-of-excellence/stature-lengthening/the-paley-method/nail-removal/
Great journey, Puru! I hope you stick around for a year or two after and tell us how close to pre-op your functionality is.
Thank you OYG! I've been following your blog as well. Its very informative. I will definitely post for a year or two and update everyone with my functionality.
On a side note, are you planning on writing off some of the expenses that you have incurred during your LL journey during the next tax season? The rules about medical deductions for cosmetic surgery (and associated medical expenses) are relatively ambiguous. However it can be quite a financial relief especially if you are jobless.
This is the post I made where I was discussing that.
http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=5360.msg83937;topicseen#msg83937
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Thank you OYG! I've been following your blog as well. Its very informative. I will definitely post for a year or two and update everyone with my functionality.
Thanks! I need to update it some more, though I'm far less excited about LL now that I'm actually going through its pains, than I was before the surgeries.
And thanks for the research into tax write-offs! Super useful. I've bookmarked your post and will definitely look into it next year. Could save quite a chunk of money because I've been staying at Homewood Suites since March, which is in season - room prices over $200/day. Now they're back to $80, phew.
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Thanks! I need to update it some more, though I'm far less excited about LL now that I'm actually going through its pains, than I was before the surgeries.
And thanks for the research into tax write-offs! Super useful. I've bookmarked your post and will definitely look into it next year. Could save quite a chunk of money because I've been staying at Homewood Suites since March, which is in season - room prices over $200/day. Now they're back to $80, phew.
No problem.
I can totally see that. I actually didn't write that often when I was actually lengthening. The lack of sleep totally depresses you. You don't feel motivated to do anything... even physical therapy. You have to push thru. Its not really a physical thing. The majority of the process is mental (fighting your mental inertio). For inspiration, I looked at other LLers diaries to see how they were doing at that cm lengthened (I specifically was looking at DoingItFormE, ProgramDude, and Penguinn diaries). Especially reading about peoples' lives after LL. It also helps if you hang out with other LLers.
The first 3 weeks I was really antisocial. There was one Quadrilateral patient with us at that time. He especially had trouble sleeping due to the dorsiflexion boots. Just push thru. Life at 175 cm is so different. Its very hard to quantify.
Going back to the tax write offs, keep track of all your LL related expenses (including travel, lodging, etc). You can write off about $50/day for the hotel. Even though I paid $80/day. Their criteria is that the hotel should not be 'extravagant' and 'part of your recreational activity'. Meaning, don't go on 'vacations' while you are lengthening. Goes without saying. But it looks like I'll get about $8000 back as a tax refund which will definitely help with my expenses.
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No problem.
Life at 175 cm is so different. Its very hard to quantify.
Oh yes it seems like it will be. It's exactly where I ended up. I've only gotten a small taste of it but wow what a difference!
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I got hit with several bits of good news today.
1. I have a new job. I'll be making a lot more ($170k) than what I was making at a LOWER COST OF LIVING location. I'm going to pay my loan off aggressively (hopefully in 13 months instead of the 78 remaining). I'm trying to get at paying $4500/mo (my loan payment is about $1350/mo).
2. I got my tax refund. I had "run out" of my savings and was making minimum payments on my credit card bill for the last month. Combined with my new job, I will never "hit 0". There is no balance on my credit card now. I had withdrawn from my 401k a few months back to pay my living expenses/loan payments while unemployed. I still had a lot left in my 401k but I did not want to withdraw again as you forfeit a significant amount to early withdrawal fees.
3. Several of my co-LLers are now playing full contact sports (soccer and boxing.. with sparring). Despite my fast consolidation, my athleticism didn't come back as quickly because I wasn't as aggressive with stretching/cardio. The other guys are doing pretty well in that department. Awesome news that makes me hopeful. Once again, I'm not doing badly, but I'm not as strong/athletic as I want to be.
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Glad to hear the good news!
I had a question for you. Does Dr. Paley allow lengthening at home? I have family in Tampa, and it would cut down on living expenses if I could stay with them.
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Glad to hear the good news!
Thank you!
Does Dr. Paley allow lengthening at home? I have family in Tampa, and it would cut down on living expenses if I could stay with them.
Absolutely not. He will not operate on you if you are not willing to come to PT at Paley Institute. The only exception he will make is if there is a hurricane coming and we might be w.o power for a few days AND you are at risk for premature consolidation. Then he will let you lengthen at home for the duration of the storm/after effects (this really happened. I had LL in September during hurricane season). Otherwise, no.
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Absolutely not. He will not operate on you if you are not willing to come to PT at Paley Institute. The only exception he will make is if there is a hurricane coming and we might be w.o power for a few days AND you are at risk for premature consolidation. Then he will let you lengthen at home for the duration of the storm/after effects (this really happened. I had LL in September during hurricane season). Otherwise, no.
Good to know. Thanks for the reply.
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No update. I just can't believe how big of a freaking difference 2.7 inches makes in terms of attractiveness. I was expecting there to be some slight improvement but it's way more than I expected. I actually feel attractive now. I've never felt this way in my life before. I feel like I'm on top of the world.
I can't see why anyone who was complication free would regret doing this.
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Wow, I missed your update about your new job. Incredible salary, and lower cost of living... Congrats! Makes your decision to do CLL an even easier pill to swallow.
Glad that you're feeling good, to be on top of the world. I hope to start climbing that mountain soon.
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This whole diary is super inspirational. A reminder to everyone interested in this surgery to get their sh!t together if you havn't already.
You're living the dream brother
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Wow, I missed your update about your new job. Incredible salary, and lower cost of living... Congrats! Makes your decision to do CLL an even easier pill to swallow.
Glad that you're feeling good, to be on top of the world. I hope to start climbing that mountain soon.
Haha I snuck that info in a minor update. Thanks man! Blessed to have picked a profession that offers such flexibility/opportunities. Good luck on your journey, and keep us updated!
This whole diary is super inspirational. A reminder to everyone interested in this surgery to get their sh!t together if you havn't already.
You're living the dream brother
Wow, thats very flattering, thank you! Yes I do want to add, before doing this surgery, ask yourself if you have optimized your life to the fullest extent possible (job/career, personality, etc).
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Sounds like things are going well. Puru - I sent you a PM.
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Sounds like things are going well. Puru - I sent you a PM.
Answered!
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Small update:
Jogging no longer feels weird. Not working out as much as before due to my new job. My flexibility is getting pretty good. I walk 4-6 miles everyday (walk to and from work/etc). My next goal is to run 10 minutes nonstop on a treadmill at 6 mph with a 2.0 incline.
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Hey Puru,
I hope to begin consolidation soon. I didn't see too much from you in the interim, do you have any advice/suggestions for that phase? You were cleared to walk after six weeks, correct? How long did it take you to be able to bend your knees fully again and pull them to your chest, .etc?
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Hey Puru,
I hope to begin consolidation soon. I didn't see too much from you in the interim, do you have any advice/suggestions for that phase? You were cleared to walk after six weeks, correct? How long did it take you to be able to bend your knees fully again and pull them to your chest, .etc?
Hey FormerKidd, congratulations! The biggest thing I would say is, be patient. Don't push your body more than what the doctor authorizes. I started consolidating on Dec 1 and I was walking w.o crutches on I believe Jan 24 (I don't remember exactly, I'll have to look it up on this diary itself).
I slacked a bit on my flexibility exercises. I still can't bend my knees fully (but pretty close). I still can't pull them fully onto my chest. That being said, the others in my cohort got back to full flexibility BEFORE their bones consolidated. My consolidation was relatively quick, but my flexibility recovery was not as quick.
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Good to know.
Did you use the walker/crutches for most of your lengthening, or did you have to spend any time in wheelchair?
Was your bone growth good during lengthening?
Did you stay at 4 turns/day (1mm/day) for the entirety or did they ever slow you down?
Sorry for all the questions, thanks for the answers!
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Good to know.
Did you use the walker/crutches for most of your lengthening, or did you have to spend any time in wheelchair?
Was your bone growth good during lengthening?
Did you stay at 4 turns/day (1mm/day) for the entirety or did they ever slow you down?
Sorry for all the questions, thanks for the answers!
I used the walker for most of my lengthening. I got training to use the crutches during the last 2 weeks of lengthening. During consolidation I was exclusively using crutches (because I was getting lots of visitors. I didn't want to freak them out with a walker. It makes your situation look super serious compared to just using crutches). Dr. Robbins said that my bone growth was very good during lengthening. I was using Silican 1, 2 and Boost (along with drinking logs of drinkeable yogurt). I lengthened at 1 mm/day for the entirely of lengthening except for the last week. During the last week I slowed it down to 3 turns (.75mm/day).
No problem. Ask away.
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Please pm me your x rays. Thanks a lot.
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I can finally touch my toes bending down with my legs straight. Still not at pre LL flexibility but it took me a long time due to me not stretching enough during my recovery. I also didn't do as many leg workouts (leg press etc). After I increased my leg workouts, the flexibility started improving relatively quickly.
Other than that, for the past 4 weeks I was doing the Hugh Jackman workout from Mens Fitness [dot] com for about 2-3 hours a day.
During the Hugh Jackman workout, what did you do for stretching? Do you remember / have a log?
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During the Hugh Jackman workout, what did you do for stretching? Do you remember / have a log?
Touching my toes down, holding for 1 minute (3 sets)
Getting a stool, putting my foot up on it (varying heights), holding for 1 minute (3 sets)
Standing knee bends, holding for 1 minute (3 sets).
This is on top of regular physical therapy exercises recommended by the Paley Center therapists.
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Update:
Just ran a mile!!!!! It didn't feel weird at all. My legs weren't tired, I just got out of breath. My stamina from lack of cardio is the limiting factor, not my legs.
I didn't time myself because I didn't want to carry my phone with me. I'm excited about this. Quite a MILEstone.
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That's awesome Purushrottam! Good to hear that continue pushing and making progress to full recovery.
Since you say the running didn't feel weird, have you ever felt that stomping feeling others have described in their running step?
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That's awesome Purushrottam! Good to hear that continue pushing and making progress to full recovery.
Since you say the running didn't feel weird, have you ever felt that stomping feeling others have described in their running step?
Thanks! I'm not sure what they are referring to by stomping feeling.
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I'm not sure what they are referring to by stomping feeling.
I'm guessing it's because of the nail, adding rigidity to natural bones which have some flex to them.
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I'm guessing it's because of the nail, adding rigidity to natural bones which have some flex to them.
Ohh gotcha. I guess kicks do feel a little weird.
Update:
I haven't gotten X-Rays in a while due to my travelling (through Europe and Asia) and moving (to a new city for a job). I'm going to get an X-Ray at the next available chance to
1. Figure out when I can start martial arts (most likely boxing, as my kicking ability is limited, and my co-LLer has already started it).
2. Schedule my rod removal. My consolidation is relatively fast. I can probably do it any time after September, but I want to wait until December so I can do it during holiday season.
Other than that, I am "dating" someone now (not officially). For the first time in my life I feel like the girl is making an effort vs me always initiating everything. I actually had 2 different dates last weekend. This is way different from before.
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Update:
I haven't gotten X-Rays in a while due to my travelling (through Europe and Asia) and moving (to a new city for a job).
Nice! I also plan to travel after I can run (just in case I need to catch a bus :). Remote Year has an interesting program, and there's also Nomad Cruise for two weeks, though only twice a year.
2. Schedule my rod removal. My consolidation is relatively fast.
Hasn't your consolidation ended months ago? It's supposed to take as long as lengthening took, which for you if I recall correctly was about 3 months and ended in Jan.
Other than that, I am "dating" someone now (not officially). For the first time in my life I feel like the girl is making an effort vs me always initiating everything. I actually had 2 different dates last weekend. This is way different from before.
Congrats! It also helps to just be less interested in the girl (easier when you have options, which is easier when you're more confident). I've found certain "dating guru" programs (e.g. David DeAngelo, though a bit dated now) to actually help in developing a mindset for attracting and keeping women.
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Nice! I also plan to travel after I can run (just in case I need to catch a bus :). Remote Year has an interesting program, and there's also Nomad Cruise for two weeks, though only twice a year.
Yeah I need to look into that. I'm traveling with friends again later this year. Those sound like interesting programs. I might look into Nomad Cruise next year. I know several developers have tried working from cruises.
Hasn't your consolidation ended months ago? It's supposed to take as long as lengthening took, which for you if I recall correctly was about 3 months and ended in Jan.
It has indeed ended months back. However I still want a go ahead from Dr. Paley before I do anything extreme like boxing. I've been cleared to deadlify and squat for months now.
Congrats! It also helps to just be less interested in the girl (easier when you have options, which is easier when you're more confident). I've found certain "dating guru" programs (e.g. David DeAngelo, though a bit dated now) to actually help in developing a mindset for attracting and keeping women.
Thanks. I wasn't that interested at all (for the reason you mentioned). I actually made up an excuse to avoid going on a date/happy hour today so I could work out instead.
I've seen those programs as well. However its hard to have that (abundance) mindset when you legitimately have no other options (no matter how much self improvement you have tried). A short Indian dude in the Silicon Valley area (where theres so many similar dudes to begin with) really has a tough time (to be fair, its tough for all dudes, regardless of race). I remember a friend (who happened to be dating an Indian American dude) telling me that all her friends were basically telling her to break up with him, and that she could do so much better. That made me sick to my stomach. I am never going to live in the Bay Area/Silicon Valley again lol... no matter how beneficial it is for my career. Just not worth living in a place where you are not valued or appreciated.
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Atmosphere and values in workplace are so important and only shallow-minded chooses job by considering only a salary.
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I remember a friend (who happened to be dating an Indian American dude) telling me that all her friends were basically telling her to break up with him, and that she could do so much better.
That's so sad. The US is pretty nuts. Was that just because he was Indian-American? Do you think they would say the same if he was an African-American?
For the first time in my life I feel like the girl is making an effort vs me always initiating everything.
That's awesome, though!
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During lengthening with Paley, you still end up biking 10 minutes per day every day that you have physical therapy.
Did they put you on the stationary bike, or on one of the NuStep machines? I've found the NuStep machines to not really help with knee flexibility, even when I was reaching full knee extension. By contrast, walking on the AlterG machine[url] for the same 10 minutes helped way more.
And I can't find that post right now (maybe it wasn't yours?), but I remember seeing someone say that after biking on a stationary bike, he was a lot more flexible. Can you comment on that? (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=8912.msg90234#msg90234)
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It has now been over a month and a week since I stopped lengthening. I am visiting the X Ray technician tomorrow to get an X-Ray.
Hey Puru,
What kind of place did you go to to get your X-rays done and what did it cost? (I'm wondering if maybe an urgent care can do it, although I don't think all places are setup to do this.). Did they just give you a CD with some standard format images (JPG/PNG/.etc)?
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Did they put you on the stationary bike, or on one of the NuStep machines? I've found the NuStep machines to not really help with knee flexibility, even when I was reaching full knee extension. By contrast, walking on the AlterG machine[url] for the same 10 minutes helped way more.
And I can't find that post right now (maybe it wasn't yours?), but I remember seeing someone say that after biking on a stationary bike, he was a lot more flexible. Can you comment on that?
(http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=8912.msg90234#msg90234)
Whoops. Just seeing this!
I don't remember exactly. I think it was a stationary bike. It was modified a bit so that you could get on it from a walker (the seat could turn to face away from the bike, making it easy for people with walkers to get on).
I started walking on the AlterG on my last 2 weeks there. It was extremely tedious/tiring compared to the bike. The bike basically made the stretching easier after compared to when I was doing therapy at home (w.o riding the bike).
That was my comment on this diary itself. Basically I didn't go to the gym for the first month. After I went (and biked on the stationary bike, I felt a lot more flexible). I found it:
My flexibility has gotten a lot better. When I stopped lengthening, my knees could barely bend 90 degrees even with the therapists pushing me. Now I can bend them past that by myself (and even more if someone is pushing my legs).
I actually went to the gym today for the first time since the surgery. It felt really good. I wish I had gone earlier but was a bit scared. I mostly rode the bike for 20 minutes and then did 20 minutes of chest exercises (I tried doing the lat pulldowns but I had trouble getting my legs around on that machine. Maybe I'll wait until I can fully weight bear before doing that) and then a few minutes of stretching. My stretch after doing the bike for 20 minutes was phenomenal. I realize that I should have been cyclying a lot earlier. Oh well.. never too late to learn.
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Hey Puru,
What kind of place did you go to to get your X-rays done and what did it cost? (I'm wondering if maybe an urgent care can do it, although I don't think all places are setup to do this.). Did they just give you a CD with some standard format images (JPG/PNG/.etc)?
I searched for a medical imaging center. It was a standalone place that was not affiliated with any hospital. I called around to ask about the pricing. They gave me the CD. The format was something unusual (not a typical image format). I think all doctor offices use that format. I basically converted them to PDFs and emailed them to Dr. Paley.
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My stretch after doing the bike for 20 minutes was phenomenal. I realize that I should have been cyclying a lot earlier. Oh well.. never too late to learn.
Yes, this! Thank you.
I searched for a medical imaging center. It was a standalone place that was not affiliated with any hospital. I called around to ask about the pricing. They gave me the CD. The format was something unusual (not a typical image format). I think all doctor offices use that format. I basically converted them to PDFs and emailed them to Dr. Paley.
Correct, only imaging centers take x-ray orders from other doctors. Urgent care centers that are fully able to do x-rays, only do them if they themselves deem you need one. Their loss...
The images on the CD are in DICOM format (https://www.lifewire.com/dicom-file-2620657). Those from the Paley Institute were in a folder named "DICOM" on the CD, and were numbered files without extension (1, 2, 3, etc.). I use the excellent open source image viewer and manager XnView MP (https://www.xnview.com/en/xnviewmp/) to open them. From there, you can save them as JPG. Not sure yet what format Dr. Paley prefers, but I suspect DCM because it has more metadata, likely scaling information (pixels vs. centimeters).
BTW, DICOM files may include metadata such as your name and DOB, so be careful whom you share them with.
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Yes, this! Thank you.
Correct, only imaging centers take x-ray orders from other doctors. Urgent care centers that are fully able to do x-rays, only do them if they themselves deem you need one. Their loss...
The images on the CD are in DICOM format (https://www.lifewire.com/dicom-file-2620657). Those from the Paley Institute were in a folder named "DICOM" on the CD, and were numbered files without extension (1, 2, 3, etc.). I use the excellent open source image viewer and manager XnView MP (https://www.xnview.com/en/xnviewmp/) to open them. From there, you can save them as JPG. Not sure yet what format Dr. Paley prefers, but I suspect DCM because it has more metadata, likely scaling information (pixels vs. centimeters).
BTW, DICOM files may include metadata such as your name and DOB, so be careful whom you share them with.
Interesting.. I didn't know that. I'm going to get a final X-Ray next week to confirm when I can get the rods taken out.
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Hey Puru,
How far into consolidation did you start driving? Any difficulty? (The folks I talked to there seemed to suggest it was better if you waited, although I think a lot of people do drive before they can walk.)
Also, at what point were you able to do things like bend down to the ground to pick something up, and tie your own shoes? (Seems tough to get my feet close to me still.)
Oh - and did the rods set off metal detectors for you?
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Hey Puru,
How far into consolidation did you start driving? Any difficulty? (The folks I talked to there seemed to suggest it was better if you waited, although I think a lot of people do drive before they can walk.)
Also, at what point were you able to do things like bend down to the ground to pick something up, and tie your own shoes? (Seems tough to get my feet close to me still.)
Oh - and did the rods set off metal detectors for you?
My bad for the late (and now probably useless) reply. I started driving immediately after I stopped lengthening. Getting into the car was tough at first due to low flexibility, but my car was luckily very low set. Later on, I figured out how to get into it with my crutches.
I don't remember when I was able to bend down and pick things up. Probably around late Feb/early march (2-3 months post lengthinig).
Dr Paley said that the rods won't set it off. He can give you a signed note for the TSA. I opted for the pat down instead.
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My bad for the late (and now probably useless) reply.
Check your PMs :) I've sent you one about how to get notified when you get a PM, and there's a setting to receive email notifications when there's a reply posted to the thread as well.
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Check your PMs :) I've sent you one about how to get notified when you get a PM, and there's a setting to receive email notifications when there's a reply posted to the thread as well.
Sorry! Forgot to respond. Yeah I used a burner email for this unfortunately.
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I woke up a few weeks ago and for the first time in a long time I didn't feel angry at the world. I am 99% sure it had to do with this surgery.
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Mini Update
I started playing casual (social) soccer in a league. The first day my running felt weird and my legs felt wobbly when I was changing directions. Now my running is pretty normal, at least for short bursts. I can jog for several minutes at 6 mph with no problem. I don't feel any pain or weirdness. I just get tired quicker. Everything else feels the same.
My flexibility is back for my hamstrings. My quads are still not 100% as I can't bend my knees all the way yet. However I have been stretching aggressively now. I still haven't gotten my leg strength back but thats because I stopped working out.
Overall though, life feels so much better. I'm not 100% convinced if its because of the surgery, or because I'm in a new city, or because I have a new job. I used to always get depression, thinking my life wasn't going anywhere. I was a dude with a really good career and everything about my life was good on paper... except for having 0 luck dating (or even eliciting any female interest). It was really frustrating seeing people put in less effort than me but getting a lot more in return. This was slowly turning me into a bitter person. I remember when I was in the pool at Homewood Suites, in the middle of the lengthening... I was afraid I was going to be a really bitter, angry person "Why do I have to go through this to have a normal, well adjusted life?!? Lifes not fair".
That NEVER happened. While during recovery, I was a little resentful, now that I am fully recovered, I feel so blessed. Almost everything in life is going my way now. The previous post I made on this thread may seem a bit random, but I don't remember every being depressed/angry since then.
I find it pretty easy to make friends now. Getting dates with women I'm interested isn't too hard either. Pre LL me would have been nervous as hell before a date, thinking I had to be on top of my game to keep her interest (and usually that was the case. If you are unattractive, you do have to be the best version of yourself to maintain her attention). Now I'm never nervous before a date, no matter how much of a 'catch' I think the girl is. I just go there, act like myself (still make an effort though.. everyone deserves that from their date) and let things take their course. Before that I used to get ghosted all the time.
It feels like a great weight has been lifted off my shoulder. I no longer spend time moping about being short/hating the world/etc. I've become a much more positive person overall. Small things that used to piss me off (ie. Uber driver taking the wrong exit for the airport by accident when I'm late for a flight) just don't bother me anymore. I noticed that change when my driver made a wrong turn. I was just like "hey, don't worry about it... we all make mistakes". It came out so naturally. Pre LL me would have been silent but would have thought "omg you ****ing retard how did you mess that up?!?"
I am not going to have as many updates from now on as there isn't really much to say. I still frequent the forums though, so if there are any questions I can answer them (prefer not PMs though. I don't get email notifications). Overall, if you had a complication free experience, I can't fathom why anyone would regret this surgery. The several month gap in my career meant nothing. I don't think it affected me at all. Now that I'm working again, its as if I've been working the whole time.
I'll have one when I have my rods removed. In September it will be 1 year post op. I need to get it removed within 2 years. I can't believe time flew by so quickly.
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Mini Update
I started playing casual (social) soccer in a league. The first day my running felt weird and my legs felt wobbly when I was changing directions. Now my running is pretty normal, at least for short bursts. I can jog for several minutes at 6 mph with no problem. I don't feel any pain or weirdness. I just get tired quicker. Everything else feels the same.
My flexibility is back for my hamstrings. My quads are still not 100% as I can't bend my knees all the way yet. However I have been stretching aggressively now. I still haven't gotten my leg strength back but thats because I stopped working out.
Overall though, life feels so much better. I'm not 100% convinced if its because of the surgery, or because I'm in a new city, or because I have a new job. I used to always get depression, thinking my life wasn't going anywhere. I was a dude with a really good career and everything about my life was good on paper... except for having 0 luck dating (or even eliciting any female interest). It was really frustrating seeing people put in less effort than me but getting a lot more in return. This was slowly turning me into a bitter person. I remember when I was in the pool at Homewood Suites, in the middle of the lengthening... I was afraid I was going to be a really bitter, angry person "Why do I have to go through this to have a normal, well adjusted life?!? Lifes not fair".
That NEVER happened. While during recovery, I was a little resentful, now that I am fully recovered, I feel so blessed. Almost everything in life is going my way now. The previous post I made on this thread may seem a bit random, but I don't remember every being depressed/angry since then.
I find it pretty easy to make friends now. Getting dates with women I'm interested isn't too hard either. Pre LL me would have been nervous as hell before a date, thinking I had to be on top of my game to keep her interest (and usually that was the case. If you are unattractive, you do have to be the best version of yourself to maintain her attention). Now I'm never nervous before a date, no matter how much of a 'catch' I think the girl is. I just go there, act like myself (still make an effort though.. everyone deserves that from their date) and let things take their course. Before that I used to get ghosted all the time.
It feels like a great weight has been lifted off my shoulder. I no longer spend time moping about being short/hating the world/etc. I've become a much more positive person overall. Small things that used to piss me off (ie. Uber driver taking the wrong exit for the airport by accident when I'm late for a flight) just don't bother me anymore. I noticed that change when my driver made a wrong turn. I was just like "hey, don't worry about it... we all make mistakes". It came out so naturally. Pre LL me would have been silent but would have thought "omg you ****ing retard how did you mess that up?!?"
I am not going to have as many updates from now on as there isn't really much to say. I still frequent the forums though, so if there are any questions I can answer them (prefer not PMs though. I don't get email notifications). Overall, if you had a complication free experience, I can't fathom why anyone would regret this surgery. The several month gap in my career meant nothing. I don't think it affected me at all. Now that I'm working again, its as if I've been working the whole time.
I'll have one when I have my rods removed. In September it will be 1 year post op. I need to get it removed within 2 years. I can't believe time flew by so quickly.
Well, that's one great update! Just the kind we all hope to hear here. Choosing the best doctors pays off.
Glad your life has improved so much and you didn't have to deal with major complications. :)
Android is in Russia, so I'll just steal it from him (some more): onward and upward!
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Well, that's one great update! Just the kind we all hope to hear here. Choosing the best doctors pays off.
Glad your life has improved so much and you didn't have to deal with major complications. :)
Android is in Russia, so I'll just steal it from him (some more): onward and upward!
Thank you! What are your LL plans?
A side note: One of my new co-workers is actually named Purushottam (how my username is actually supposed to be spelled. I typed it wrong). Just a funny coincidence.
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Awesome update Puru! Positivity is flowing out of you like a geyser. You deserve it!
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Awesome update Puru! Positivity is flowing out of you like a geyser. You deserve it!
Thanks Android! Hang in there!
Mini Update:
I'm working hard to get my body to the level it was at prior to LL. The only way to know how close I am is by measuring some standard metrics.
So here are the stats from my latest run (treadmill).
Incline: 2.0.
Duration: 8:00 minutes
Average Speed: 5.9 mph.
This is however says nothing about how strenuous the activity felt. Prior to LL, running 10 minutes at 6.0 mph and 2.0 incline got my heart rate at 150 bpm. Basically it felt like a moderate activity.
However, running at 8 minutes at (almost) 6.0 mph and 2.0 incline got my heart rate at 180 bmp. This indicates that its an extremely strenuous activity for me. This means that I have a long way to go before I reach my prior level of athleticism, but it is totally doable.
EDIT: On a side note, after I ran, I told my parents about my running stats. They were like "cool story... why are you telling us this?" Then it hit them. They totally forgot that I was hospitalized for LL (they were with me during the entire time). This goes to show how forgettable the experience is, less than a year after LL. I too am starting to forget most of my LL experiences (which is a good thing. moving on with life).
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Hi Purusrhottham,
Great to hear that your recovery is going very well !!
How was your sleep during lengthening, and has it improved now?
Wish sou all the best!
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Great to hear buddy! Im happy for you!
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Hi Purusrhottham,
Great to hear that your recovery is going very well !!
How was your sleep during lengthening, and has it improved now?
Wish sou all the best!
Hello! Thank you!
During lengthening sleep was pretty bad. The dull pain makes it hard to sleep. However after a few days after I stopped lengthening, my sleep went back to normal as there was no pain.
Great to hear buddy! Im happy for you!
Thanks!
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Mini Update
I started playing casual (social) soccer in a league. The first day my running felt weird and my legs felt wobbly when I was changing directions. Now my running is pretty normal, at least for short bursts. I can jog for several minutes at 6 mph with no problem. I don't feel any pain or weirdness. I just get tired quicker. Everything else feels the same.
My flexibility is back for my hamstrings. My quads are still not 100% as I can't bend my knees all the way yet. However I have been stretching aggressively now. I still haven't gotten my leg strength back but thats because I stopped working out.
Overall though, life feels so much better. I'm not 100% convinced if its because of the surgery, or because I'm in a new city, or because I have a new job. I used to always get depression, thinking my life wasn't going anywhere. I was a dude with a really good career and everything about my life was good on paper... except for having 0 luck dating (or even eliciting any female interest). It was really frustrating seeing people put in less effort than me but getting a lot more in return. This was slowly turning me into a bitter person. I remember when I was in the pool at Homewood Suites, in the middle of the lengthening... I was afraid I was going to be a really bitter, angry person "Why do I have to go through this to have a normal, well adjusted life?!? Lifes not fair".
That NEVER happened. While during recovery, I was a little resentful, now that I am fully recovered, I feel so blessed. Almost everything in life is going my way now. The previous post I made on this thread may seem a bit random, but I don't remember every being depressed/angry since then.
I find it pretty easy to make friends now. Getting dates with women I'm interested isn't too hard either. Pre LL me would have been nervous as hell before a date, thinking I had to be on top of my game to keep her interest (and usually that was the case. If you are unattractive, you do have to be the best version of yourself to maintain her attention). Now I'm never nervous before a date, no matter how much of a 'catch' I think the girl is. I just go there, act like myself (still make an effort though.. everyone deserves that from their date) and let things take their course. Before that I used to get ghosted all the time.
It feels like a great weight has been lifted off my shoulder. I no longer spend time moping about being short/hating the world/etc. I've become a much more positive person overall. Small things that used to piss me off (ie. Uber driver taking the wrong exit for the airport by accident when I'm late for a flight) just don't bother me anymore. I noticed that change when my driver made a wrong turn. I was just like "hey, don't worry about it... we all make mistakes". It came out so naturally. Pre LL me would have been silent but would have thought "omg you ****ing retard how did you mess that up?!?"
I am not going to have as many updates from now on as there isn't really much to say. I still frequent the forums though, so if there are any questions I can answer them (prefer not PMs though. I don't get email notifications). Overall, if you had a complication free experience, I can't fathom why anyone would regret this surgery. The several month gap in my career meant nothing. I don't think it affected me at all. Now that I'm working again, its as if I've been working the whole time.
I'll have one when I have my rods removed. In September it will be 1 year post op. I need to get it removed within 2 years. I can't believe time flew by so quickly.
how long a gap you took in your career? were you asked any questions about the gap during your interviews? thanks
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how long a gap you took in your career?
The gap was over half a year.
were you asked any questions about the gap during your interviews?
Sometimes. I just said it was for a medical reason and kept it ambiguous. Medical privacy (HIPPA, et al.) dictates that they don't ask much further. I also offered references to some companies (indicating that I had resigned and had not been fired).
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Update:
Don't neglect your P.T. stretches post lengthening. After stretching aggressively last couple of weeks, I can see really good improvements in my flexibility.
I can squat unassisted now, several times. I can kick pretty high up. My hamstring flexibility is still not as high as pre LL and I still can't bend my knees all the way (but sooooo close dammit). I've noticed that after my stretches, my legs feel weaker (and my stamina seems to be lower). I wonder if its because the longer muscle is weaker and has to be strengthened again? If you follow my updates, it seems like my running has gotten worse (the timings, not the gait). It might be because I'm not working out as aggressively as I used to when I was unemployed.
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Hey man, glad to hear about your recovery and I hope my questions don’t stress you out or discourage you.
Are you able to disclose the interest rate on your loan? What did you offer as collateral? Was it your high paying job? How soon do you plan on paying it off? I think you said 5 years right? So i’m Assuming you’re allocating maybe ~20% of your annual income to repayment?
I’m thinking of financing my LL with Paley through a loan as well, just looking for any and all advice/info you can give. I can’t imagine going to a bank and saying to their face I need $100,000 for cosmetic limb lengthening, so I was wondering how you went about this.
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Hey man, glad to hear about your recovery and I hope my questions don’t stress you out or discourage you.
Are you able to disclose the interest rate on your loan? What did you offer as collateral? Was it your high paying job? How soon do you plan on paying it off? I think you said 5 years right? So i’m Assuming you’re allocating maybe ~20% of your annual income to repayment?
I’m thinking of financing my LL with Paley through a loan as well, just looking for any and all advice/info you can give. I can’t imagine going to a bank and saying to their face I need $100,000 for cosmetic limb lengthening, so I was wondering how you went about this.
Your questions don't stress me out at all.
My loan interest rate is 10.4 % (I don't remember exactly) compounded annually. It's a 7 year alone and I have 6 years left. My monthly payment is about $1350. That's about 9.5% of my monthly income.
It's an unsecured loan from Sofi, meaning that there is no collateral... hence the high interest rate.
My income when I applied was $150k, which approved me for 80k max. My income is now $170k. I plan on paying it off aggressively (2 years instead of 6) by making extra payments.
OverrideYourGenetics also used the same loan provider.
The only advice I have is to have spotless credit and relatively high income. When I decided I wanted to get LL (3 years ago), I was only making $80k/year. More on this later as I'm about to lose internet for a few hours.
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Are you guys in IT or having your own businesses? Those salaries in Europe are massive.
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What us your effort regarding stretching - time comittment per day, per week?
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Are you guys in IT or having your own businesses? Those salaries in Europe are massive.
Puru and I were software engineers in Silicon Valley. Salaries are high, but the cost of living is disproportionately higher. Puru moved out of here, and I plan to do so too.
My loans - https://overrideyourgenetics.com/cost/
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Actually i got an offer to move there but i am still thinking. Still I am fine being freelancer in Europe and doing stuff for Benelux countries which pay well. May i ask You something? Why do you want to leave Silicon Valley?
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Puru and I were software engineers in Silicon Valley. Salaries are high, but the cost of living is disproportionately higher. Puru moved out of here, and I plan to do so too.
My loans - https://overrideyourgenetics.com/cost/
Correct.
Actually i got an offer to move there but i am still thinking. Still I am fine being freelancer in Europe and doing stuff for Benelux countries which pay well. May i ask You something? Why do you want to leave Silicon Valley?
Yeah the salaries are much higher compared to anywhere I've heard of in Europe. I used to work with immigrants from France, UK, Spain, Germany, and Australia... all developed countries but with low salary prospects for Software Engineers. Although, an Indian colleage of mine had gotten an offer for a $180k/year job with a utility company in Norway but he turned it down because he didn't want to live in rural Norway and didn't want to give up his progress with US immigration.
I left for many reasons. Because a lot of people make those salaries (10 % of people make more than $180k there), everything is expensive. Even a couple where each person is making $150k + will not be able to buy a house in an area with good schools and short commutes. It's a ty life. A lot of my Silicon Valley friends are moving out for similar reasons.
It's also boring as hell. Outside of SF most of SV is a giant suburb.It's the worst place to spend your 20s as a single dude. I hate to sound like Trump but it really is a sh(I)thole in my perspective.
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That's interesting. Thank You for your opinion. I mean these salaries are possible in Switzerland or Norway but its expensive to live there aswell.
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Yes to go to paley it costs absolute bank.
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That's interesting. Thank You for your opinion. I mean these salaries are possible in Switzerland or Norway but its expensive to live there aswell.
No problem. I realize that it is a bit extreme of an opinion. The place has good weather and is great if you love outdoorsy stuff. Just not my cup of tea.
Yes to go to paley it costs absolute bank.
Agreed. Don't forget though, time is also money. External methods might be "cheaper", but if the recovery/time away from work is longer, then the actual cost is higher (opportunity cost).
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Mini update
Jogged 2 miles yesterday. Legs were really sore all day today.
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Hey Puru,
I've posted a timeline of your progress (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=5352.msg95446#new) on my diary since someone claimed my recovery was slow and I wanted to compare it with yours. Thank you for being an inspiration!
How recovered would you say you are at this point, vs. your pre-CLL abilities?
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Hey Puru,
I've posted a timeline of your progress (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=5352.msg95446#new) on my diary since someone claimed my recovery was slow and I wanted to compare it with yours. Thank you for being an inspiration!
How recovered would you say you are at this point, vs. your pre-CLL abilities?
Wow thats a very thorough timeline. Thanks for posting!
I'd say I'm maybe 100% recovered as far as day-to day activity is concerned (I can walk for at least 7 miles in a day at a regular pre LL pace w.o getting that tired).
However athletically I'm more at about 60%. However thats because I don't run/train my legs as much as I should. Other LLers in my batch who had more time are close to 90-95%.
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Today is my one year anniversary of the LL surgery. It has been quite a journey.
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Today is my one year anniversary of the LL surgery. It has been quite a journey.
And how do you feel?
Pain ,AGILITY,gait
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And how do you feel?
Pain ,AGILITY,gait
Pain: 0
Gait: Completely normal when walking, Completely normal when jogging.
Agility: Really bad. While my strength and speed is getting back, I haven't been training my agility as much (ability to change directions quickly). When I was playing basketball, I was pitifully bad at defending.
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Hey, im recently 17 years and 1,68, the same height you had.
Nowadays, can you run, jump without problems ?
Do you feel any pain in ramdom moments ?
You know, im a little worried about this surgery, you know.. eventually have some problems and can never use your legs as before.
And how is it going your relationship with girls ? did you become more looked by ?
im too curious man, i would like to have an answer
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This diary is honestly fantastic. I am exactly the same height as you. You are really making me want to do this! Ahah
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Hey, im recently 17 years and 1,68, the same height you had.
Nowadays, can you run, jump without problems ?
Do you feel any pain in ramdom moments ?
You know, im a little worried about this surgery, you know.. eventually have some problems and can never use your legs as before.
And how is it going your relationship with girls ? did you become more looked by ?
im too curious man, i would like to have an answer
Hello!
I do everything I used to do before, but maybe a bit slower. I have no trouble running and jumping (but at a lower jump distance and speed). No pain whatsoever.
As far as dating goes, its way different. I've been asked out a few times. This never happened before. I definitely feel more confident with dating (but I am also a lot more muscular now ... 15% bf @ 170 lbs). I used to be like 24% bf before LL (@160 lbs).
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This diary is honestly fantastic. I am exactly the same height as you. You are really making me want to do this! Ahah
I'm glad to hear you think so! Whats your plan?
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Are you going to tell a future spouse about this?
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Are you going to tell a future spouse about this?
I don't know. Probably not.
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Mini Update:
By the end of February I will be 'financially recovered' from this procedure (meaning my assets would be equal to what they were prior to LL). My loan amount is still outstanding, but I make more per month at my new job than what I made at my old job + monthly loan installments. Basically, my cash flow is higher than it was prior to LL.
Now this is my gold standard for physical recovery to pre LL levels:
8.5 minute mile nonstop (I think this is 7 mph),
6 minute mile in 1 minute increments when doing HIIT (1 minute bursts at 9mph with 30 second breaks in between),
run 12 mph for at least 30 seconds,
run 3 miles in under 30 minutes,
squat 160 ish, deadlift 160 ish,
90 jump squats in 3 sets.
This is where I'm at now:
12 minute mile nonstop (5 mph),
10 minute mile in 2 minute increments when doing HIIT (2 minute bursts at 6 mph with 30 second breaks in between),
run 9 mph for at least 60 seconds,
haven't attempted long distance running.. I will attempt it when the weather gets better
squat 65 lbs ish (4 sets of 5 reps), deadlift 85 lbs (4 x 10) .. don't know my max, haven't attempted it.
haven't attempted jump squats but I can do 40 body weight squats in 4 sets.
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My next milestones are:
1) Full financial recovery, which means my net assets reach a level they would have been if I had continued saving and not gotten LL surgery. So basically for me to be financially as if I never had LL at all.
2) Full physical recovery ... same thing. To be physically as if I never had LL at all.
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Awesome Puru..Great progress..You have reached a break-even point..Can I PM you to get your email by any chance?
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Hi Puru. Are you planning to have the rods removed any time soon?
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Awesome Puru..Great progress..You have reached a break-even point..Can I PM you to get your email by any chance?
Thanks! Sorry I don’t give my contact for anonymity purposes.
Hi Puru. Are you planning to have the rods removed any time soon?
I get my raise, bonus, and tax return by the end of February. After that I will have a better picture of my cash flow. Then I will take a loan and get it done.
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Update
So I got a bit of a raise. My income is now a hair over $200k.
That took me a good while to digest. I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d be earning that much. This totally accelerates the timeline for my financial recovery...
I’m definitely aiming at paying off the loans by the end of this year. Getting my rods removed as soon as I get my tax rebate.
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Update
So I got a bit of a raise. My income is now a hair over $200k.
That took me a good while to digest. I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d be earning that much. This totally accelerates the timeline for my financial recovery...
I’m definitely aiming at paying off the loans by the end of this year. Getting my rods removed as soon as I get my tax rebate.
You’ll probably get faster after the rods are removed. Running feels a lot smoother. Leg strength stayed the same though lol, that’ll definitely take a while to get back. Great diary btw!
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You’ll probably get faster after the rods are removed. Running feels a lot smoother. Leg strength stayed the same though lol, that’ll definitely take a while to get back. Great diary btw!
Thank you, Brb! I read in your diary that you had your rods removed in Aug 2018. How long was it after that when you could start running/lifting weights/etc after the nail removal? I've been hitting the gym religiously for the past few months and I don't want this to stop my flow.
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It was probably a month before I went back to the gym after rod removal. I might’ve been able to go back sooner though, maybe 2 or 3 weeks after, but life kept getting in the way. It did mess up my “flow” a bit, but after a week or so I was right back into my previous numbers. Unfortunately they haven’t progressed the way they should’ve since then though.
Of course the #1 limiting factor in getting back to my pre-LL strength and conditioning is just that.. I don’t have the time anymore, lol. And i’m Sure you’ve already realized this yourself too. It was easy to maintain a standard before a big surgery, but now it takes work to get it all back and I just haven’t been able to put that kind of work in yet.
I’m interested in your numbers though, so please keep updating if you can. After rod removal I don’t really think about LL anymore but I still lurk from time to time like this lol.
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It was probably a month before I went back to the gym after rod removal. I might’ve been able to go back sooner though, maybe 2 or 3 weeks after, but life kept getting in the way. It did mess up my “flow” a bit, but after a week or so I was right back into my previous numbers. Unfortunately they haven’t progressed the way they should’ve since then though.
Of course the #1 limiting factor in getting back to my pre-LL strength and conditioning is just that.. I don’t have the time anymore, lol. And i’m Sure you’ve already realized this yourself too. It was easy to maintain a standard before a big surgery, but now it takes work to get it all back and I just haven’t been able to put that kind of work in yet.
I’m interested in your numbers though, so please keep updating if you can. After rod removal I don’t really think about LL anymore but I still lurk from time to time like this lol.
Wow a month is a long time. But I'd rather get this over with sooner than later.
I will keep updating this thread with numbers. Its definitely hard to maintain a rigorous workout schedule when you also have a full time job. I can't wait to see how my running gets after rod removal.
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Sorry if some of these questions have already been asked + answered and they may seem a bit ignorant.
If you had the finance to do two surgeries, what stopped you from doing two?
Was there an element of fear (1) of doing two or was it because you feel like you would be satisfied at 5'9?
Would you ever consider doing another surgery to gain more height, or are you satisfied?
Do you feel like the height you've achieved is essentially all you wanted or is there a chance you might come back for more?
Would you ever have chosen another LL doctor?
I mean, if you didn't have the finance for Dr Paley, would you without question have endeavored to raise enough for him?
(1) With fear I mean factors such as recovery-time, how much you recover and proportions etc.
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Sorry if some of these questions have already been asked + answered and they may seem a bit ignorant.
If you had the finance to do two surgeries, what stopped you from doing two?
Was there an element of fear (1) of doing two or was it because you feel like you would be satisfied at 5'9?
Would you ever consider doing another surgery to gain more height, or are you satisfied?
Do you feel like the height you've achieved is essentially all you wanted or is there a chance you might come back for more?
Would you ever have chosen another LL doctor?
I mean, if you didn't have the finance for Dr Paley, would you without question have endeavored to raise enough for him?
(1) With fear I mean factors such as recovery-time, how much you recover and proportions etc.
I can finance another surgery with the raise that I just got. However I'm not going to do it. It was a really taxing experience overall. Going from 5'6" to 5'9" was a huge change. Going from 5'9" to 5'11" isn't really that big of a deal to me
I essentially achieved all that I wanted. Now I'm focusing on my career and other aspects of my life.
I was originally considering going to India with Dr. Parihar. The cost was about $45,000 at the time. However my parents convinced me to go to Dr. Paley, arguing that when you take a loan, the monthly payments between $40,000 and $80,000 aren't that different. Even though I am Indian (and family friends with Dr. Parihar), going to another country would have added more stress to this already taxing experience.
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I can finance another surgery with the raise that I just got. However I'm not going to do it. It was a really taxing experience overall. Going from 5'6" to 5'9" was a huge change. Going from 5'9" to 5'11" isn't really that big of a deal to me
I essentially achieved all that I wanted. Now I'm focusing on my career and other aspects of my life.
I was originally considering going to India with Dr. Parihar. The cost was about $45,000 at the time. However my parents convinced me to go to Dr. Paley, arguing that when you take a loan, the monthly payments between $40,000 and $80,000 aren't that different. Even though I am Indian (and family friends with Dr. Parihar), going to another country would have added more stress to this already taxing experience.
Do you think Dr. Parihar is a good doctor from what you know outside this forum and that you would have had a comparable outcome?
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Hey Paru - as you know we are the same height.
Are there ever days you wake up and think 'did I really go through with this?' like look at your femurs and think damn did I really do doing something so drastic.
Now I'm certainly not saying that in a negative way - as you know already, I want to do this.
Secondly, I know you've said you don't have regret - but when you think about the things that are important to you in life - do you think this was one of those achievements you had to try achieve. I look at this in terms of improvement - as in I want to maximise my career, my ability in my hobbies (e.g. tennis football) , my funniness and social skills and also my aesthetics; with height being arguably the most important for a man.
Also what is it like at family gatherings?!
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Hey Paru - as you know we are the same height.
Are there ever days you wake up and think 'did I really go through with this?' like look at your femurs and think damn did I really do doing something so drastic.
Not really. I honestly don't think about it that much. Also my femurs don't really look that weird anymore. After the surgery my legs were abnormally skinny compared to my upper body. I looked like one of those frat bros who only worked on 'vanity muscles' while having chicken legs. Now my leg muscles have grown quite a bit and my body looks 'normal'.
Now I'm certainly not saying that in a negative way - as you know already, I want to do this.
I know, don't worry about offending me.
Secondly, I know you've said you don't have regret - but when you think about the things that are important to you in life - do you think this was one of those achievements you had to try achieve. I look at this in terms of improvement - as in I want to maximise my career, my ability in my hobbies (e.g. tennis football) , my funniness and social skills and also my aesthetics; with height being arguably the most important for a man.
Its sort of hard to answer that. Prior to LL, I thought I had done everything possible in terms of improvement (career, hobbies, social skills). I had a pretty decent life. However I had a nagging feeling on the back of my mind that I had to make up for my lack of height. It used to be frustrating because that is the one thing you can do nothing about (other than race). Its a lot more important than people think it is. Now I get the sense that whenver something bad happens, its not because of my height, its something else that can be IMPROVED upon. There is a sense of hope.
I'm not entirely sure if I answered your question
Also what is it like at family gatherings?!
Same as before. I'm not sure if I follow
Do you think Dr. Parihar is a good doctor from what you know outside this forum and that you would have had a comparable outcome?
KiloKahn and Penguinn seem to think so. I know he isn't salesman-y and isn't that money minded (otherwise he would have raised the price of surgery to keep up with inflation). He mostly focuses on accident victims and people with deformities. I don't think there are that many cosmetic patients with him. I think you are better off asking those 2 users. Penguinn had a slower consolidation but you can probably attribute it to the air pollution in Mumbai (smoking hinders bone growth. Air pollution in Mumbai is not bad by Indian standards but still higher than what you would experience in US or EU. Akin to smoking a few packs a day).
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Yeah I get you and thanks for answering my questions.
So in hindsight - do you ever think that you could of been okay if you just didn't do it?
For example I see this as expectation management - I'm sure you could've got a nice wife, nice job etc without this but did you do this because you wanted more but you think your height was restricting you? I feel like that tbh.
I know if I just reduce my expectations I could have a very happy life without LL but honestly I want the best for myself and the older I get the more I see the importance of height or more specifically I should say the negative of being short.
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Puru, how do you explain your suddenly becoming taller to your close friends and family? diet, exercise and improved posture? just curious, thanks.
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Puru, how do you explain your suddenly becoming taller to your close friends and family? diet, exercise and improved posture? just curious, thanks.
Pretty much.
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KiloKahn and Penguinn seem to think so. I know he isn't salesman-y and isn't that money minded (otherwise he would have raised the price of surgery to keep up with inflation). He mostly focuses on accident victims and people with deformities. I don't think there are that many cosmetic patients with him. I think you are better off asking those 2 users. Penguinn had a slower consolidation but you can probably attribute it to the air pollution in Mumbai (smoking hinders bone growth. Air pollution in Mumbai is not bad by Indian standards but still higher than what you would experience in US or EU. Akin to smoking a few packs a day).
Few packs a day? Dude that is not true! I did some reading and it seems to be about 3-4 times in Mumbai than in the US. And it might be 3-4 cigarrates a day but not a few packs a day.
Anyway it is interesting how no one has brought up air pollution as a possible factor. Maybe using an air purifier might help.
ALso I have read both the diaries in great detail but I wanted to know if you know anything more about the doctor from outside of this community. From my research and asking a few other ortho docs he seems to be considered one of the best in India.
One more question, did you meet any real LL patients before your operation? I think I would get courage to do this only if I met a few real patients.
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Few packs a day? Dude that is not true! I did some reading and it seems to be about 3-4 times in Mumbai than in the US. And it might be 3-4 cigarrates a day but not a few packs a day.
Anyway it is interesting how no one has brought up air pollution as a possible factor. Maybe using an air purifier might help.
ALso I have read both the diaries in great detail but I wanted to know if you know anything more about the doctor from outside of this community. From my research and asking a few other ortho docs he seems to be considered one of the best in India.
One more question, did you meet any real LL patients before your operation? I think I would get courage to do this only if I met a few real patients.
My bad, that was a typo. I meant to say several cigarettes a day, not packs. I dont smoke so I assumed that it was the same thing. Mumbai's pollution is not that bad compared to any other Asian metro of that size, but it is enough to impact your bone consolidation.
I don't know anything else about the doctor other than what you said, that he is considered amongst the best in India.
I met several LL patients in Florida. The Paley Insitute lets you talk to current patients and former patients. When I came to the hotel I was staying at, several other patients were there. Before my surgery, I met them and spoke to them. If you are in India I'm sure Parihar will introduce you to former patients as well.
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Yeah I get you and thanks for answering my questions.
So in hindsight - do you ever think that you could of been okay if you just didn't do it?
For example I see this as expectation management - I'm sure you could've got a nice wife, nice job etc without this but did you do this because you wanted more but you think your height was restricting you? I feel like that tbh.
I know if I just reduce my expectations I could have a very happy life without LL but honestly I want the best for myself and the older I get the more I see the importance of height or more specifically I should say the negative of being short.
Hey bud - did you get a chance to reply to this?
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Hey bud - did you get a chance to reply to this?
Oops. I forgot to hit ‘Post’
Yeah I get you and thanks for answering my questions.
So in hindsight - do you ever think that you could of been okay if you just didn't do it?
For example I see this as expectation management - I'm sure you could've got a nice wife, nice job etc without this but did you do this because you wanted more but you think your height was restricting you? I feel like that tbh.
I know if I just reduce my expectations I could have a very happy life without LL but honestly I want the best for myself and the older I get the more I see the importance of height or more specifically I should say the negative of being short.
In hindsight I would not have been OK. I used to get insanely pissed off at the fact that I had to do so much to make up for the fact that I was 5’6” and Indian. 5’6” isn’t even a bad height lol. I had a very good life on paper but I was still miserable. I kept wondering what else could it possibly be?
It was definitely leading me to a dark path ...
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Do you feel differently about a man's height and its relation to everything else now, Puru? Or did the real world reaffirm your old views and beliefs, whatever they were?
Thanks.
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Do you feel differently about a man's height and its relation to everything else now, Puru? Or did the real world reaffirm your old views and beliefs, whatever they were?
Thanks.
This is a really good question - surely the original beliefs were re-affirmed.
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Oops. I forgot to hit ‘Post’
In hindsight I would not have been OK. I used to get insanely pissed off at the fact that I had to do so much to make up for the fact that I was 5’6” and Indian. 5’6” isn’t even a bad height lol. I had a very good life on paper but I was still miserable. I kept wondering what else could it possibly be?
It was definitely leading me to a dark path ...
Thanks for answering pal
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This is a really good question - surely the original beliefs were re-affirmed.
Life is far from black and white, and Puru is a really intelligent dude. Eager for his response.
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Do you feel differently about a man's height and its relation to everything else now, Puru? Or did the real world reaffirm your old views and beliefs, whatever they were?
Thanks.
This is a really difficult question. Sorry for the delay. I had to really think about this.
Honestly, the only place where a man's height matters is probably in dating and relationships. And even then, it helps to just not be short. Being average is fine and being tall is a bonus. I go out with friends who are 6'1, 6'2, and 6'9 in different social settings. At my height I don't really feel at a disadvantage with them. When I was 5'6", I knew literally 0 people who looked like me who were in good, healthy relationships. That can make you feel really hopeless. I don't feel hopeless anymore. As a consequence, I try harder at everything else (job, gym, etc). Small things like that make you even more confident and the cycle just continues. Its like a virtuous cycle (opposite of a vicious cycle).
Career wise, I'm doing way better than I thought I'd ever do but considering that I have over 5 years of experience and live in an expensive location its not that much of a leap.
I never had trouble making friends before and I don't feel any differently now so I don't think my height really had an effect on that.
I hope that answers your question.
Life is far from black and white, and Puru is a really intelligent dude. Eager for his response.
I'm flattered that you think so, man!
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I am having a tough time with relationships and casual dating with my current height at 5 foot 6(Puru's previous height)..My friends who are dating gorgeous women are all 5foot 8 and above...At times,I say it is what it is and move on.Other times,I get angry, depressed and really frustrated..But hey, who said life is fair?
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I am having a tough time with relationships and casual dating with my current height at 5 foot 6(Puru's previous height)..My friends who are dating gorgeous women are all 5foot 8 and above...At times,I say it is what it is and move on.Other times,I get angry, depressed and really frustrated..But hey, who said life is fair?
Thats exactly how I felt. The worst part is, very few people will know what you are talking about and just give you dumb plattitudes. I wasn't having trouble dating before, but it was chicks that I was not really attracted to.
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Update:
I am 'financially recovered' from the surgery. I have the same amount of money now that I had before LL. Loans still pending though.
I finally got the money for rod removal. I'm scheduling it with Rozbruch this month. Looking forward to the next chapter in life.
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Update:
I am 'financially recovered' from the surgery. I have the same amount of money now that I had before LL. Loans still pending though.
I finally got the money for rod removal. I'm scheduling it with Rozbruch this month. Looking forward to the next chapter in life.
Congratulations Purushrottam ! You're did it, man! I have one question. Did Dr. R happen to mention how soon you are able to walk after rod removal? I have always been curious about how much down time would be required after that surgery. Any feedback is appreciated. Congrats again!
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Congratulations Purushrottam ! You're did it, man! I have one question. Did Dr. R happen to mention how soon you are able to walk after rod removal? I have always been curious about how much down time would be required after that surgery. Any feedback is appreciated. Congrats again!
Thanks! Yeah I can walk out of the hospital. I just have no not fall/lift heavy weights for 6 weeks. I'm going to be a bit wary though. ProgramDude had a bone breakage almost 2 months after rod removal.
I'll keep this diary updated after the rod removal.
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Thanks! Yeah I can walk out of the hospital. I just have no not fall/lift heavy weights for 6 weeks. I'm going to be a bit wary though. ProgramDude had a bone breakage almost 2 months after rod removal.
I'll keep this diary updated after the rod removal.
Great to hear about walking out of hospital. Good call on keeping a close eye on things and playing it safe. Looking forward to learning more.
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Hi Puru,
Thanks for your great diary.
Sorry if I missed this somewhere else but is there any reason you’re going to Rozbruch over Paley for rod removal?
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Great to hear about walking out of hospital. Good call on keeping a close eye on things and playing it safe. Looking forward to learning more.
Yup I'll keep you updated!
Hi Puru,
Thanks for your great diary.
Sorry if I missed this somewhere else but is there any reason you’re going to Rozbruch over Paley for rod removal?
Its a lot more convenient for me. I'm temporarily assigned to a project right next to his hospital. My hotel is literally 15 minutes from that center. Its a routine outpatient operation where I can literally walk out the hospital when I'm done. I thought this was a good opportunity to get my rods removed with minimal disruption to my regular life.
When looking at life altering surgery, cost should never be a factor. However, Rozbruch is cheaper at $10,000 instead of $17,500, and insurance will likely cover a portion of it (what portion I will find out after the surgery is done).
I already 'recovered' financially and have the money to do it with either doctor. If Rozbruch doesn't have an open surgery slot this month I'll go ahead and book with Paley.
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Hi there! I have a question about your recovery. Before surgery, did you do any sports or training? If so, have you been able to do those things since you go surgery? Also, at what point after the initial surgery were you able to start working again? I'm sorry if you've already answered this before.
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Hi there! I have a question about your recovery. Before surgery, did you do any sports or training? If so, have you been able to do those things since you go surgery? Also, at what point after the initial surgery were you able to start working again? I'm sorry if you've already answered this before.
Yeah I used to work out intensely (1-2 hours per day). I used to be pretty active in sports as well (boxing). My workout routine is now back to what it was before. I play soccer and basketball regularly now. I'm going to start boxing once my nails are removed (and my bones are healed).
I had my surgery on Sept 26. I stopped lengthening on Dec 1. I started job hunting on Dec 10. I was able to do on site interviews around early February.
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Update:
I have scheduled myself for nail removal with Rozbruch on March 22nd. I'm going to work out and stretch as hard as possible until then (because I probably won't be able to hit the gym for a while after that).
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Puru, Wow, the big date finally comes!
Waiting for your update after nails removal.
Best wishes!!!
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Puru, Wow, the big date finally comes!
Waiting for your update after nails removal.
Best wishes!!!
Thanks for the wishes! Yeah I'll keep updating.
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Way to go Purush. It really takes a brave person to go through this procedure and endure its many challenges. I am currently 5'4-5'5. I don't want to lengthen too much. I'm looking for 2 inches on my femur through Dr.Paley (I've heard he is the one with the best outcomes). 2 inches may not seem worth all this, but I'm honestly fine with it if there is an easier path of recovery and a higher realization of pre-LL Athleticism. Even if there is a noticeable downtick in athleticism, I'm ok with it because, at my current height, i'm having trouble going out in public, let alone participate in sports.
That would put me at roughly 5'6-5'7, which I know is your starting height, but honestly, I never minded being short, I just didn't like being especially short, and I feel this surgery would do wonders to get me out of that really short range and improve my self-image. I have 2 questions.
1. Do you think gaining a complete 2 inches at my height is worth it?
2. Do you think you would have recovered better had you opted for 5.1 cm as opposed to 6.5 cm?
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Way to go Purush. It really takes a brave person to go through this procedure and endure its many challenges. I am currently 5'4-5'5. I don't want to lengthen too much. I'm looking for 2 inches on my femur through Dr.Paley (I've heard he is the one with the best outcomes). 2 inches may not seem worth all this, but I'm honestly fine with it if there is an easier path of recovery and a higher realization of pre-LL Athleticism. Even if there is a noticeable downtick in athleticism, I'm ok with it because, at my current height, i'm having trouble going out in public, let alone participate in sports.
That would put me at roughly 5'6-5'7, which I know is your starting height, but honestly, I never minded being short, I just didn't like being especially short, and I feel this surgery would do wonders to get me out of that really short range and improve my self-image. I have 2 questions.
1. Do you think gaining a complete 2 inches at my height is worth it?
2. Do you think you would have recovered better had you opted for 5.1 cm as opposed to 6.5 cm?
Thanks a lot FMB! Honestly I wasn't too worried because I knew the doctor's track record was pretty good. It was my parents who were really worried (and their worries went away after talking to the surgical team during the pre - op).
2 inches (5 cm) should be really easy. Lots of people with deformities (one leg longer than the other) get lengthening on 1 leg for that amount. The chance of risk is minimal and your recovery will be really quick (probably 2 months post surgery). When I was at the 2 inch mark, I was pretty satisfied. I wouldn't have minded stopping at that point either. However, going from 5 cm to 6 cm isn't really a big leap (10 more days). By the you have gotten used to the lengthening process where 10-15 more days of lengthening doesn't make much of a difference psychologically.
Paley says that you can reach your pre LL level of athleticism (granted it would be much faster with just 5 cm). There was a golfer (college level) who had 4 cm in one leg. He was competing again after that.
There was a dude lengthening with me who was about your height. He did the entire 8 cm (so he became 5'8"). He was 18 and trained really hard after. He started boxing (and winning international competitions). I'm not at my pre LL level, but I haven't been training as hard (full time work gets in the way). But its definitely possible whether you lenghten 5cm, 6.5cm, or even 8cm.
So to answer your questions:
1. In terms of percentiles, whether or not it will be worth it depends on what you want. You will shift from 6th percentile (5'4.5") to 19th percentile (5'6.5"). If do 6.5 cm, you will go to the 26th percentile (5'7.2"). If you do the entire 8 cm you will be 32nd percentile (5'7.8"). I personally think it will be worth it.
Source: https://dqydj.com/height-percentile-calculator-for-men-and-women/
2. Yes but I don't think it would have made a huge difference. An extra month or two is not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.
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Great answer Puru..
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How difficult is to change your clothes? Or take a shower? Or make number 2?
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Right now? Or after surgery?
Right now it’s the same as before. My surgery for nail removal is this Friday. Hopefully not too difficult. I’ll let you know on Saturday.
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I'm so looking forward to your newest post of nails removal. Waiting online everyday. Hahaha...
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I'm so looking forward to your newest post of nails removal. Waiting online everyday. Hahaha...
I appreciate that man. I am pretty excited to be honest..
A dumb reason I'm looking forward to this is that broken bones consume a LOT of calories. As long as I keep working out my upper body, I'll look really cut for the summer :D
All joking aside, it will be awesome to see what running/kickboxing/sports will be like after. I want to start playing sports as soon as I can (probably will be May).
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Right now? Or after surgery?
Right now it’s the same as before. My surgery for nail removal is this Friday. Hopefully not too difficult. I’ll let you know on Saturday.
During the lengthening phase.
Congrats to your nail removal.
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After nail removal, how long you need to stay away from lifting weights (squats) or practicing sports like soccer?
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Puru, do you think you could handle a quadrilateral lengthening with stryde in both femurs and tibias (4cm each) or only one segment is hard enough?
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How difficult is to change your clothes? Or take a shower? Or make number 2?
During the lengthening phase.
Pretty difficult. I wasn’t able to put my socks on. They give you a stick with a grabber that helps you out clothes on.
Taking a shower is hard too. You need a special shower chair. Sitting down is uncomfortable because of the leg 🦵 inflexibility. Same with going to the bathroom. The painkillers make constipation really bad.
After nail removal, how long you need to stay away from lifting weights (squats) or practicing sports like soccer?
The doctor said 6 weeks.
Puru, do you think you could handle a quadrilateral lengthening with stryde in both femurs and tibias (4cm each) or only one segment is hard enough?
No. One segment is enough. Quad patients have nerves that are being stretched twice as much. Thy shut hurts.
Congrats to your nail removal.
Thanks!
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https://paleyinstitute.org/centers-of-excellence/stature-lengthening/costs-financial-considerations/
I'm thinking about doing two stages quadrilateral lengthening because I want to gain something like 15cm, but I'm afraid it's too much.
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https://paleyinstitute.org/centers-of-excellence/stature-lengthening/costs-financial-considerations/
I'm thinking about doing two stages quadrilateral lengthening because I want to gain something like 15cm, but I'm afraid it's too much.
It is too much in my opinion. You can get 14.5cm in 2 separate surgeries. How do you plan on paying for this?
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It is too much in my opinion. You can get 14.5cm in 2 separate surgeries. How do you plan on paying for this?
I'm not very young anymore, so I want something that will make difference fast.
I have the money to pay for Paley, but I was thinking doing with Giotikas (it would be 120k euros the 8 surgeries).
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Why do you need 8 surgeries? I don't know about Giotikas but there seem to be several Giotikas diaries on this forum.
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Why do you need 8 surgeries? I don't know about Giotikas but there seem to be several Giotikas diaries on this forum.
It's how its done with two stage quadrilateral. You break two legs (lets say tibias) and 3 weeks later you break the femurs. You lengthen for 4cm each and consolidate. One year after you break your legs again ang lengthen for more 4cm (16cm at total) It's 4 bilateral surgeries actually. If Paley offers this option, I assume it's ok.
There are two diaries of Giotikas here. Both are not complete yet and they are external tibia. I had a web consultation with Giotikas and I liked him.
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Oh I see. I think Paley offers that option too but its extremely expensive (I think in the $300k+ range). What is your starting height? This is a very extreme variation of LL.
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Oh I see. I think Paley offers that option too but its extremely expensive (I think in the $300k+ range). What is your starting height? This is a very extreme variation of LL.
It's US$280k.
I'm 1,65m.
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Update
I decided to be a little crazy and tried an intense 1 hour workout conditioning class. I was surprisingly able to keep up with the rest of the class (even with leg workouts and flexibility). I was even able to do front kicks better than some of the other participants (not as good as I was able to do before though. I used to do martial arts and had trained myself to kick pretty high).
Other than getting tired after running, I was in pretty good condition. This makes me think I've been 'playing it safe' for way too long and need to be more aggressive in my workouts. Once my 8 weeks pass, I want to get back into my groove.
I've been stretching aggressively for the past month. My flexibility is back to 100% for everything other than my quads. I'm able to bend my knees all the way (until my heel touches my butt), but I can't bend it by using leg muscles alone (I have to use my hands to pull it up). I'm going to be aggressive on that. Other than that, my flexibility seems to be back 100%. I can even do a proper 'heel sit' with both legs. This is a huge win for me as my quads were the last muscle group to remain inflexible.
https://goo.gl/images/xrSdjN
I think by summer (May) I should be pretty close to 100% (maybe not with leg strength). I'll go to the gym on Thursday (before nail removal surgery) and try to record my running stats to get a good benchmark for where I need to get to after the surgery.
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You are my inspiration ! Way to go Purush!
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You are my inspiration ! Way to go Purush!
Thanks man!!!
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All the best with the nail removal surgery! I'm glad it worked well for you and I'm now considering this in the near future.
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All the best with the nail removal surgery! I'm glad it worked well for you and I'm now considering this in the near future.
Thanks for your wishes! Good luck on your journey!
Update:
Yesterday’s workout was intense. My legs feel like rubber. I guess running up and down 20 stories wasn’t the best idea. On the bright side, I know what I need to do to recover my strength quickly:
Stop using elevators..
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Purushrottam,
I hope I'm at your condition once all of this settles. Impressive!
I know you have probably answered this questions many times; so I'm sorry if you are repeating...
Am wondering at about what month post-op, were you able to:
Walk..
Jog..
Run..
Thank you again and in advance for any feedback.
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Purushrottam,
I hope I'm at your condition once all of this settles. Impressive!
I know you have probably answered this questions many times; so I'm sorry if you are repeating...
Am wondering at about what month post-op, were you able to:
Walk..
Jog..
Run..
Thank you again and in advance for any feedback.
Hey IFS,
I think you will be in a better conditioning because you will have faster consolidation and recovery.
This is the timeline of my progress compiled by OverrideYourGenetics:
- 2017-Sep-26 - femurs surgery (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg76611#msg76611)
- 2017-Dec-02 - stopped lengthening (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg79108#msg79108)
- 2018-Jan-09 - mobile with crutches (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg80380#msg80380)
- Jan-21 - walk without crutches (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg80923#msg80923)
- Jan-30 - walk 1/3 miles (1/2km) without crutches (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg81345#msg81345) ("swaying like hell towards the end as I was getting tired")
- Feb-08 - normal gait and going up/down stairs (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg81647#msg81647) at only 2.25 months after stopping lengthening
- Feb-27 - jogging for 1 minute (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg82441#msg82441) made legs sore
- Mar-03 - can't do body weight squats unassisted yet (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg82506#msg82506)
- Mar-08 - walk for 3 miles without tiring (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg82760#msg82760)
- Mar-25 - walk 6.5 miles/day, run up and down stairs easily (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg83441#msg83441). This was ~4 months after stopping lengthening.
- Mar-27 - can touch toes while bending with knees straight (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg83514#msg83514). Still can't squat unassisted.
- Aug-09 - can squat unassisted (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg93448#msg93448)
- Aug-17 - jogged 2 miles, legs sore (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg93904#msg93904)
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Hey IFS,
I think you will be in a better conditioning because you will have faster consolidation and recovery.
This is the timeline of my progress compiled by OverrideYourGenetics:
- 2017-Sep-26 - femurs surgery (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg76611#msg76611)
- 2017-Dec-02 - stopped lengthening (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg79108#msg79108)
- 2018-Jan-09 - mobile with crutches (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg80380#msg80380)
- Jan-21 - walk without crutches (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg80923#msg80923)
- Jan-30 - walk 1/3 miles (1/2km) without crutches (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg81345#msg81345) ("swaying like hell towards the end as I was getting tired")
- Feb-08 - normal gait and going up/down stairs (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg81647#msg81647) at only 2.25 months after stopping lengthening
- Feb-27 - jogging for 1 minute (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg82441#msg82441) made legs sore
- Mar-03 - can't do body weight squats unassisted yet (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg82506#msg82506)
- Mar-08 - walk for 3 miles without tiring (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg82760#msg82760)
- Mar-25 - walk 6.5 miles/day, run up and down stairs easily (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg83441#msg83441). This was ~4 months after stopping lengthening.
- Mar-27 - can touch toes while bending with knees straight (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg83514#msg83514). Still can't squat unassisted.
- Aug-09 - can squat unassisted (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg93448#msg93448)
- Aug-17 - jogged 2 miles, legs sore (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg93904#msg93904)
Excellent. Thank you
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Hey Paru - your diary is excellent and very enjoyable to read through.
I have experimented with elevator shoes and whilst at the beginning it was fine - I've started to feel the shame of wearing them.
My question to you is two things if you don't mind answering.
Could you give further detail on how dating is different from before to now - perhaps you have a comparable example in your head that you can share from recent times.
Secondly - do you agree that sometimes the height difference doesn't feel like a big deal when you are by yourself i.e. getting changed? For example, when I put my shoes on today I felt like - really am I going to spend all this money just to be this much taller - but then when I was around other people the difference was felt properly.
Look forward to hearing from you.
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SimonFuller,
I’ll get back to you
Update:
I had my nails removed today. I’ll give a more detailed update when I’m rested.
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Update: Nail Removal March 22 2019:
I finally got the Precice nail removed. The surgery was pretty straight forward. I arrived there at 8:30 to be processed (paper work, consent forms, etc). They thoroughly check that you are you and what the procedure is (so that you don't get the wrong operation.. ). While I was waiting for my operation room to be prepped, I was given IV.
The experience was completely different because I knew I wouldn't be crippled for the next 4 months. I was pretty calm last time, but still a little worried about how my life was permanently going to change. Now I was just waiting there bored, like I was at the DMV.
I also literally walked into the operating theater (last time my entire bed was rolled into it, and I was sedated before I was moved there). Consequently I met the entire team that would be operating on me. My first thought was DAMN a lot of people are involved in this surgery. TV shows make it look like its just 1 or 2 surgeons. In reality it was several surgeons, an anesthesiologist, therapists, and nurses (7-8 people total). No wonder these things are expensive if done carefully and thoroughly.
I was out of the OR in 2 hours. When I woke up, there was a little bit of pain at the hip sites (and none at the femur screw sites). I would rate it at 1-2 out of 10. Barely noticeable. Its like when you are playing tag as a kid, trip and scrape your hip. That level. I think that could be because the anesthesia was still in effect.
I still had to wait there for 4 more hours because they wanted the anesthesia to completely wear out (so that I don't accidentally fall). I was given an extra dose of anesthetic because my operation had a risk of going longer than the alotted time. So I was just laying there in bed for 4 hours. As the anesthesia was wearing off, I did notice some pain at the nail sites. The best comparison would be when you work out a muscle really hard after a long time of not working out. The sore muscle feels painful to move for the next few days. Thats what I'd compare it to. Nothing to bad.
After 4 hours I was wheeled to the Uber (even though I had clearance to walk). My walking was a bit wobbly when I got out of that bed so there was a risk of me falling. So the nurse gave me crutches. Now that I am home, my walking balance is fine. I am walking like a duck now. My left leg doesn't hurt at all. My right leg is still painful when I bend it (or walk with it). I've been told that the surgical site pain mostly goes away in 3-4 days.
EDIT: I forgot to mention:
I've been prescribed pain killers but I haven't taken any (other than Tylenol). I haven't really felt the need for it yet (and I don't think I will). I do have medication to reduce the surgical swelling though. (My thighs are really swollen.. just like last time).
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Hey Paru - your diary is excellent and very enjoyable to read through.
I'm happy to hear that!
I have experimented with elevator shoes and whilst at the beginning it was fine - I've started to feel the shame of wearing them.
I've tried the same. They were very uncomfortable and didn't seem natural to me. Honestly think the long term effects of wearing them are probably worse than actually getting CLL. They just didn't look normal on me. I actually threw them away (they were pricey as hell too)
Could you give further detail on how dating is different from before to now - perhaps you have a comparable example in your head that you can share from recent times.
Well for once thing, I've literally been asked out by girls now. That almost never happened to me. I've literally never been in a situation where I had to politely reject someone. I get 'ghosted' a lot less. The women I meet actually make an effort to hang out/meet again. I used to think it was normal to always 'try hard' and that the onus was on the dude to make the effort. In reality, I just wasn't seen as that attractive so I was never priority number 1 these women. Now its a bit different. Its also fairly easy for me to hook up at clubs now. I never 'initiate' it (I'm a lot more buff now though, sort of on the chubby side though: 17% body fat... not sure how accurate). All those rejections sort of instilled a personality where I don't pursue women unless they clearly indicate that they are interested in me. I'm slowly trying to change that.
Secondly - do you agree that sometimes the height difference doesn't feel like a big deal when you are by yourself i.e. getting changed? For example, when I put my shoes on today I felt like - really am I going to spend all this money just to be this much taller - but then when I was around other people the difference was felt properly.
I dont know the answer to this. It mostly felt like a big deal when I would go clubbing or to a bar or a social event. Being short never bothered me when I was hanging out with my taller friends. Only when hearing about how easy it was for them to date. Height is definitely a social thing. Whether or not you are tall or short depends on the people around you. There was a 5'10" Dutch guy who got LL. He was probably the taller patient who got cosmetic LL with Paley.
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Hi Purushrottam
Congrats on finishing all the journey!! Finally you are the free man from not only nails but also from the concern of height!! I am so happy for you!!
Enjoy your height. I wish you the success and happiness!!
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Hi Purushrottam
Congrats on finishing all the journey!! Finally you are the free man from not only nails but also from the concern of height!! I am so happy for you!!
Enjoy your height. I wish you the success and happiness!!
Thanks man! I’m loving the positivity! I read in another post that you also finished LL. How was your post LL life overall? I think that topic is scarcely discussed here because most veterans leave after recovering.
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I just finished consolidation so I am behind you. ;D My case is not really different from others so I am not really thinking to write my diary.
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I'm happy to hear that!
I've tried the same. They were very uncomfortable and didn't seem natural to me. Honestly think the long term effects of wearing them are probably worse than actually getting CLL. They just didn't look normal on me. I actually threw them away (they were pricey as hell too)
Well for once thing, I've literally been asked out by girls now. That almost never happened to me. I've literally never been in a situation where I had to politely reject someone. I get 'ghosted' a lot less. The women I meet actually make an effort to hang out/meet again. I used to think it was normal to always 'try hard' and that the onus was on the dude to make the effort. In reality, I just wasn't seen as that attractive so I was never priority number 1 these women. Now its a bit different. Its also fairly easy for me to hook up at clubs now. I never 'initiate' it (I'm a lot more buff now though, sort of on the chubby side though: 17% body fat... not sure how accurate). All those rejections sort of instilled a personality where I don't pursue women unless they clearly indicate that they are interested in me. I'm slowly trying to change that.
I dont know the answer to this. It mostly felt like a big deal when I would go clubbing or to a bar or a social event. Being short never bothered me when I was hanging out with my taller friends. Only when hearing about how easy it was for them to date. Height is definitely a social thing. Whether or not you are tall or short depends on the people around you. There was a 5'10" Dutch guy who got LL. He was probably the taller patient who got cosmetic LL with Paley.
Thanks for the response buddy. Really lengthy and really useful.
You must have this down as one of the best decisions of your life. Can I ask what your parents think? They must've been very scared to see their boy do something so drastic - do they regret it or are they indifferent or are they glad?
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Update: Day 2 after nail removal:
I feel much better. I am able to walk around a lot more. I can start walking normally with little sway (but it gets painful at the hips/nail sites. Other than that there is absolutely no pain in my left leg and hips. My right leg still hurts at the nail site when I try to bend it. However I am able to bend it much further than I could yesterday.
I still haven't taken any painkillers (and probably won't need to). I'm only taking meds to reduce the swelling at the surgical site.
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I just finished consolidation so I am behind you. ;D My case is not really different from others so I am not really thinking to write my diary.
Fair enough. Good luck with that! Have you met people who knew you from before? I started meeting my old friends right after my consolidation. It was interesting to say the least...
Thanks for the response buddy. Really lengthy and really useful.
You must have this down as one of the best decisions of your life. Can I ask what your parents think? They must've been very scared to see their boy do something so drastic - do they regret it or are they indifferent or are they glad?
No problem! This definitely was the best decisions in my life. I am way more positive now. My parents supported me all the way. They initially tried to get me to reconsider but I was already set. I was originally planning on doing it with Dr. Parihar in India but they suggested I do it with Paley instead (and suggested I take a loan). They are also glad with the results. They are even hinting that my sibling (who is also 2 sd shorter than avg) might be happy with doing this too.
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Puru:
It's so wonderful that you had accomplished the whole process.
Those former CLLers said it would take roughly a couple of weeks to get fully recovered from the nails removal surgery.
So I assume it would be around mid-April that you would be as good or even much better as before this removal surgery.
Don't abandon this thread please once you get fully recovered and get back to normal life :-)
We are all inspired by your diary!
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Fair enough. Good luck with that! Have you met people who knew you from before? I started meeting my old friends right after my consolidation. It was interesting to say the least...
Hi Puru
So far I have not met anyone who knows me after this surgery, because I moved out to a long distant from anybody I know. Here I am very new. For now, I am fine but a little concerned when I need to meet people I know. Well, I don't plan to meet anybody soon. Let's see how it turns out, when they see me someday.
Good luck for you facing this awkward situation!
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Fair enough. Good luck with that! Have you met people who knew you from before? I started meeting my old friends right after my consolidation. It was interesting to say the least...
No problem! This definitely was the best decisions in my life. I am way more positive now. My parents supported me all the way. They initially tried to get me to reconsider but I was already set. I was originally planning on doing it with Dr. Parihar in India but they suggested I do it with Paley instead (and suggested I take a loan). They are also glad with the results. They are even hinting that my sibling (who is also 2 sd shorter than avg) might be happy with doing this too.
That's so great to hear bro!
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Puru:
It's so wonderful that you had accomplished the whole process.
Those former CLLers said it would take roughly a couple of weeks to get fully recovered from the nails removal surgery.
So I assume it would be around mid-April that you would be as good or even much better as before this removal surgery.
Don't abandon this thread please once you get fully recovered and get back to normal life :-)
We are all inspired by your diary!
No problem! I will continue updating the diary. May not be as frequently though.
Hi Puru
So far I have not met anyone who knows me after this surgery, because I moved out to a long distant from anybody I know. Here I am very new. For now, I am fine but a little concerned when I need to meet people I know. Well, I don't plan to meet anybody soon. Let's see how it turns out, when they see me someday.
Good luck for you facing this awkward situation!
There will be a lot of confused expressions...
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Update: Day 3 after nail removal:
My duck walk is gone. It still hurts a little to walk without swaying. My left leg is totally normal. My right leg still hurts to bend. I'm going to walk around outside today and go to work tomorrow (Monday). I only took 1 day off from work for the nail removal. No painkillers taken..
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Nice going Puru, and also good to hear Dr. R is doing good work as usual.
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Update: Day 3 after nail removal:
My duck walk is gone. It still hurts a little to walk without swaying. My left leg is totally normal. My right leg still hurts to bend. I'm going to walk around outside today and go to work tomorrow (Monday). I only took 1 day off from work for the nail removal. No painkillers taken..
Impressive sir - good job on not using the pain killers.
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Hi Puru
I am impressed that you are taking only 1 day off from work for nail removal!! But be conservative after nail removal. At least for 2 months (I know Dr. said 6 weeks in general), don't do any serious sports or standing/walking too long. Your bones have holes inside.
BTW, when you have time, could you write how people reacted your new height especially from people who know you before?
Thanks!
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Paru,
Here's a question for you - what would you say to your old self to make him get over the height issue without the surgery?
Let's say in my hypothetical scenario that it wouldn't be possible to gather the funds to pay for the surgery at any time.
I'm asking this because it could perhaps help people who do not have the funds. Moreover, coming from you it means more than from a psychologist because you've experienced the difference (granted it's only been a matter of months :) ).
Thanks!
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Update: Day 4 post surgery
I went to work today. No one noticed anything different about my walking. The pain in my right leg has gone down quite a bit and I can bend it a lot further. I was able to climb up and down stairs (but it was a little difficult).
I was initially uncomfortable because I still had heavy gauze and bandages on my hips. However midway through the day I got a call from Roz's clinical nurse saying that I can take them off. Once I did that, I became a lot more comfortable.
I logged 7,200 steps (2.5 miles) so far. Didn't really feel that tired. Nothing was out of the ordinary about my day other than the fact that I didn't do an intense workout (I might try to do body weight exercises like pushups later today though).
I feel completely normal other than the fact that I can't bend my legs all the way without some pain. I scheduled a follow up with Rozbruch to get my stitches removed. My legs feel a lot lighter and nimble. I'm pretty sure I feel as if I never had LL (minus the current surgical pain). I can't wait until I can start playing sports again. I'm going to go hard at it once I get cleared.
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Hi Puru
I am impressed that you are taking only 1 day off from work for nail removal!! But be conservative after nail removal. At least for 2 months (I know Dr. said 6 weeks in general), don't do any serious sports or standing/walking too long. Your bones have holes inside.
BTW, when you have time, could you write how people reacted your new height especially from people who know you before?
Thanks!
Thanks! I definitely will be super careful. I know ProgramDude had a bone breakage about 2 months after the nail removal. I walked about 2.5 miles (7200 steps) today. When I started feeling sore I called a cab in (even though I was only a block away from my hotel).
How different people reacted:
- (confused expression) Did you loose a lot of weight?
- (confused expression) Did you get taller? - this was mostly girls and dudes who are now my height.
- Damn you look better
- (confused expression)
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Paru,
Here's a question for you - what would you say to your old self to make him get over the height issue without the surgery?
Let's say in my hypothetical scenario that it wouldn't be possible to gather the funds to pay for the surgery at any time.
I'm asking this because it could perhaps help people who do not have the funds. Moreover, coming from you it means more than from a psychologist because you've experienced the difference (granted it's only been a matter of months :) ).
Thanks!
5'6" isn't THAT short in the grand scheme of things. You are still within the 'normal' range. Cultivate a characteristic about you that makes you not just another short brown engineer (ie get really good at a martial art). Before LL, I was pretty quick at picking up skills in kickboxing competitively. I would have hypothetically pursued that further. Start volunteering somewhere consistently and try to find some purpose in life.
Note: I'm doing those 2 things now anyway, but thats what I would have told that person to do.
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5'6" isn't THAT short in the grand scheme of things. You are still within the 'normal' range. Cultivate a characteristic about you that makes you not just another short brown engineer (ie get really good at a martial art). Before LL, I was pretty quick at picking up skills in kickboxing competitively. I would have hypothetically pursued that further. Start volunteering somewhere consistently and try to find some purpose in life.
Note: I'm doing those 2 things now anyway, but thats what I would have told that person to do.
That's really helpful Paru.
forgive me if my inference is wrong - but your response infers to me that ultimately height is important but you just have to cultivate a characteristic that differentiates you in a different way to compensate.
Man - I just need to do this - my mind is made up lol
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Do it then. Just reasearch take up consultations with some top docs, weigh the pros and cons and talk to some people who underwent this surgery.
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That's really helpful Paru.
forgive me if my inference is wrong - but your response infers to me that ultimately height is important but you just have to cultivate a characteristic that differentiates you in a different way to compensate.
Man - I just need to do this - my mind is made up lol
No it’s correct. My decision was made up in a similar way. I was tired of working really hard to distinguish myself just to be considered acceptable.
Now that your mind is made up start planning for this. When I decided I wanted to do this, I was only making $80k/year. I didn’t think I had the money to ever finance this.
Figure out what you can do to earn more (unless you opt for cheaper, external methods.. then you will pay more in opportunity cost because of longer recovery time).
Plan how you can take a break from working and plan how much money you will need for this while unemployed. If you need to take a loan, figure out what documentation you will need. They usually want a proof of address so if you are subleasing, get that living situation sorted out.
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No it’s correct. My decision was made up in a similar way. I was tired of working really hard to distinguish myself just to be considered acceptable.
Now that your mind is made up start planning for this. When I decided I wanted to do this, I was only making $80k/year. I didn’t think I had the money to ever finance this.
Figure out what you can do to earn more (unless you opt for cheaper, external methods.. then you will pay more in opportunity cost because of longer recovery time).
Plan how you can take a break from working and plan how much money you will need for this while unemployed. If you need to take a loan, figure out what documentation you will need. They usually want a proof of address so if you are subleasing, get that living situation sorted out.
Thanks for the advice bro.
I've done alot of this thinking already to be fair. I'm in a new job and started in March 2019. I have 2 potential options;
a) Continue in job - take 5/6 month career break once I feel its a good time for the firm and I feel I can ask. Could be September 2020
b) There is a masters I want to do which will mean a career change. In this case, I'd time LL for 4/5 months before the masters start date. C Sept 2020 or Jan 2021
No way would I do external. Giotkas Stryde wants about £40k GBP to do it. I can afford it now but I'd get a loan in any case.
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Update (Day 5 post Nail Removal):
I think these updates might be a bit redundant now. I may have gone a bit too hard yesterday. My legs were really sore this morning and my right leg wasn't bending as far (before pain). However as the day went on it got better. I ended up walking about 4 miles today. My legs didn't hurt at all. I still can't bend my right leg all the way though.
I still have trouble climbing up stairs.
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Thanks for the advice bro.
I've done alot of this thinking already to be fair. I'm in a new job and started in March 2019. I have 2 potential options;
a) Continue in job - take 5/6 month career break once I feel its a good time for the firm and I feel I can ask. Could be September 2020
b) There is a masters I want to do which will mean a career change. In this case, I'd time LL for 4/5 months before the masters start date. C Sept 2020 or Jan 2021
No way would I do external. Giotkas Stryde wants about £40k GBP to do it. I can afford it now but I'd get a loan in any case.
I'm glad to hear that. It looks like your plan is in place.
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Hi Puru
Thanks for your update! I just have one question. Apparently you work out much more than I do. I honestly don't do any workout, because I can't make time for it. However, I am a bit surprised to hear that you still have trouble climbing upstairs. I understand this word of trouble is very subjective term. So how hard is it for you to climb upstairs?
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I'm glad to hear that. It looks like your plan is in place.
Thank-you pal.
Looks like you're doing well on the recovery from the nail removal.
When I broke my kneecap - it felt so good to have the wiring removed a year after my first operation - like I could really feel the difference - is that how you feel?
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Hi Puru
Thanks for your update! I just have one question. Apparently you work out much more than I do. I honestly don't do any workout, because I can't make time for it. However, I am a bit surprised to hear that you still have trouble climbing upstairs. I understand this word of trouble is very subjective term. So how hard is it for you to climb upstairs?
I have trouble climbing stairs right now because my right leg hurts to bend. That’s due to the nail removal surgery. A few days before, I ran up and down 20 flights of stairs (was tired though).
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Thank-you pal.
Looks like you're doing well on the recovery from the nail removal.
When I broke my kneecap - it felt so good to have the wiring removed a year after my first operation - like I could really feel the difference - is that how you feel?
Yeah my legs definitely feel a lot lighter and limber.
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I have trouble climbing stairs right now because my right leg hurts to bend. That’s due to the nail removal surgery. A few days before, I ran up and down 20 flights of stairs (was tired though).
Hi Puru
Thanks for answering my question! Looks like after nail removal, there will be some pain lasting for 1-2 weeks. I am glad that now you are much better!
Good luck!
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No problem. I think my right leg got worse though.. I can bend it a lot less before it starts to hurt.
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No problem. I think my right leg got worse though.. I can bend it a lot less before it starts to hurt.
Oh sorry to hear that your right leg got worse. Don't push too hard to work out or to walk. Try to be easy on your legs until they get better.
Hope your legs, especially right one, get better soon.
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No problem. I think my right leg got worse though.. I can bend it a lot less before it starts to hurt.
sorry to hear that, your recovery has been amazing, take good care and follow doctor's advice and i am sure it will be all good. btw puru - may I ask a question? you wrote you are in AI/Machine learning , did you study computer science or statistics/analytics and are you more like data scientist or software developer? just curious :) (since I want to get into AI/ML and make good bucks but confused between stats/analytics/data scientist path or CS/software developer path). thanks a lot.
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sorry to hear that, your recovery has been amazing, take good care and follow doctor's advice and i am sure it will be all good. btw puru - may I ask a question? you wrote you are in AI/Machine learning , did you study computer science or statistics/analytics and are you more like data scientist or software developer? just curious :) (since I want to get into AI/ML and make good bucks but confused between stats/analytics/data scientist path or CS/software developer path). thanks a lot.
Lolz...the forum name should be changed to Limb Lengthening cum Career Counseling forum.
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Not just another brown engineer :)..That made me smile..
Anyway,to become a good Data Scientist,I believe that you should have good programming skills(ideally Python) buttressed by strong knowledge of statistics,linear algebra, multivariable calculus etc..Some companies stress more on one versus the other but most want you to have good breadth in each of the above..Good luck
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The major in most cases usually doesn't matter...It is the skills that matter and networking of course with the right people..
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Update: Day 6 after surgery
My right leg still hurts like hell when I try to bend it. It looks like my progress went backwards in that sense. It makes it hard to walk without a limp. I had trouble sitting in cars today. I get sharp pains in my muscles at the nail spot when I try to bend it. I'm calling the nurse tomorrow morning to ask if thats normal.
My left leg is totally normal. I took an oxycodone a few minutes ago. I want to see if that makes it easy to bend my leg. Otherwise I'm just keeping it elevated. It doesn't look swollen at all, but feels like it is swollen.
I probably shouldn't have walked so much on Monday and Tuesday (7200 and 10000 steps).
Oh sorry to hear that your right leg got worse. Don't push too hard to work out or to walk. Try to be easy on your legs until they get better.
Hope your legs, especially right one, get better soon.
I agree man. After work I'm just sitting in bed with my legs elevated. I cancelled all my plans this week. I'm just going to sit at home and rest.
sorry to hear that, your recovery has been amazing, take good care and follow doctor's advice and i am sure it will be all good. btw puru - may I ask a question? you wrote you are in AI/Machine learning , did you study computer science or statistics/analytics and are you more like data scientist or software developer? just curious :) (since I want to get into AI/ML and make good bucks but confused between stats/analytics/data scientist path or CS/software developer path). thanks a lot.
I will!
I may have mischaracterized my job when I said I used to do AI/Machine learning. I developed a platform for a company to do Machine Learning. I didn't develop the actual ML models. I worked with the Data Scientists who did that. My main job was 'full stack web developer' focused more on the backend systems. I have a similar job now, but its more focused on front end.
For most of those jobs I dont think the major matters as much as your experience (as Realistic said). However in order to have your foot in the door, I highly recommend getting a Computer Science degree from either a top 10 program or from a big state school (like University of Washington, etc). Then again, there are so many different paths to get into that field. I think the best option is to somehow get your foot int he door and find a good mentor to hone your skills with. This sounds easy but is actually really hard. If you work at a big company in a software role, I think it can be easier to network and find your way into a ML/Data scientist role where you can find a mentor and learn best practices. It probably wouldn't hurt to take a few courses by Andrew Ng on Udacity or Coursera in order to at least be conversant in the field (this will make networking easier, and show that you are enthusiastic about it).
There really is no 'correct' answer on how to break into this career. People take many different paths. Mine was a pretty straightforward one (Get into a good engineering school -> get a job).
Lolz...the forum name should be changed to Limb Lengthening cum Career Counseling forum.
I don't mind. I think theres a lot of software engineers on this forum. ShortLivesMatter and OverrideYourGenetics are both SWEs as far as I know.
Not just another brown engineer :)..That made me smile..
Anyway,to become a good Data Scientist,I believe that you should have good programming skills(ideally Python) buttressed by strong knowledge of statistics,linear algebra, multivariable calculus etc..Some companies stress more on one versus the other but most want you to have good breadth in each of the above..Good luck
Agreed. Theres a lot of knowledge to cover and it can seem overwhelming at first. I used to wonder if I'm learning the correct thing or wasting my time learning something irrelevant. Thats why I think its very important to find a mentor. Maybe if you are still in college, try to find a professor who needs help with this in one of his/her lab projects. It might give you experience that can be leveraged to get a 'foothold' into the field.
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Take my career advice with a giant grain of salt. Everyone's situation is different.
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Thanks all. This website is good in the sense that it not only focuses on LL discussion but issues like life challenges, being successful economically, being successful in dating - all kind of knowledge to a lesser degree (LL being main theme).
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It's US$280k.
I'm 1,65m.
Where do you come from?If u comes from Asia,175cm is already enough.Otherwise,desire will eventually dig a tomb for yourself.
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Where do you come from?If u comes from Asia,175cm is already enough.Otherwise,desire will eventually dig a tomb for yourself.
Brazil.
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Update: 1 week post nail removal
My right leg still hurts. I called the nurse. She said its completely normal for the 2 legs to feel different. The pain I'm feeling is normal surgical bruising. I need to put an ice pack on it, elevate it, and take it to its full range of motion (which hurts like a *****).
I'm going to try doing some cycling to see if it allows me to bend my right leg further before the sharp pain starts.
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Update: 1 week post nail removal
My right leg still hurts. I called the nurse. She said its completely normal for the 2 legs to feel different. The pain I'm feeling is normal surgical bruising. I need to put an ice pack on it, elevate it, and take it to its full range of motion (which hurts like a *****).
I'm going to try doing some cycling to see if it allows me to bend my right leg further before the sharp pain starts.
Good luck bro - just take it easy if you can
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Update: 1 week post nail removal
My right leg still hurts. I called the nurse. She said its completely normal for the 2 legs to feel different. The pain I'm feeling is normal surgical bruising. I need to put an ice pack on it, elevate it, and take it to its full range of motion (which hurts like a *****).
I'm going to try doing some cycling to see if it allows me to bend my right leg further before the sharp pain starts.
Good on you bro for completing your journey and removing the rods. I am surprised that you have quite abit of pain thats a demotivator to remove my rods and i have 4 in tibias and femurs.
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Update: 1 week post nail removal
My right leg still hurts. I called the nurse. She said its completely normal for the 2 legs to feel different. The pain I'm feeling is normal surgical bruising. I need to put an ice pack on it, elevate it, and take it to its full range of motion (which hurts like a *****).
I'm going to try doing some cycling to see if it allows me to bend my right leg further before the sharp pain starts.
This really concerns me. After about a week, I was close to walking 100% normally with almost no pain. And I certainly don’t remember having one leg doing so much better or worse than the other. Please keep us posted and I wish you the best of luck! Sending positive thoughts your way man.
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This really concerns me. After about a week, I was close to walking 100% normally with almost no pain. And I certainly don’t remember having one leg doing so much better or worse than the other. Please keep us posted and I wish you the best of luck! Sending positive thoughts your way man.
I'm a little concerned too. I actually had less pain the day after the surgery. On Day 2 I walked 7200 steps and on Day 4 I walked over 10,000 (including stairs). However the next day my right leg started hurting when I bent it too far. It hasn't really gotten that much better since then. My nurse said its the result of surgical bruising. I need to try to keep taking the anti imflammatory drugs and keep trying to bend the leg fully (even though it hurts like hell).
In the past 2 days I can bend it a little bit more. I'm going to do some physical therapy and see if that makes it better.
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Good on you bro for completing your journey and removing the rods. I am surprised that you have quite abit of pain thats a demotivator to remove my rods and i have 4 in tibias and femurs.
Yeah. My left leg was totally normal since day 2. I think I may have pushed my right leg too hard in the days after the surgery. I think its getting a little better though.
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Bump
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Good on you bro for completing your journey and removing the rods. I am surprised that you have quite abit of pain thats a demotivator to remove my rods and i have 4 in tibias and femurs.
Why you didnt remove your tibia nail yet after so many years?
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Update
1 week, 1 day:
So decided to do what my nurse said: try to get the leg to bend to its full range of motion.
I went to the gym and did 30minutes of cycling. I initially had the machine set so that my knees would barely bend. Every pedal motion hurt like hell. After a few minutes, I was able to change the setting so that my knees would bend a little more on each pedal motion. The first time I changed the settings, every pedal motion felt like a dagger going into my lag. However after a few minutes the pain got reduced. Thats when I changed the setting to make my knee bend even more.
I kept doing that for 30 minutes. I didn't feel any different but when I sat on a chair, I noticed that my right leg could bend A LOT FURTHER before it started hurting.
So thats good news. The more I bend my knee repeatedly, the better it gets. I'm going to try to get at least an hour of biking daily for the next couple of days. Each pedal motion hurts like hell (I was wincing a lot at the gym), but the progress is incredible.
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Update week 1 day 1 part 2:
The improvement in my right leg after my afternoon workout was really encouraging. I decided to go work out again at night. I biked for 30 minutes at a setting that made my knees bend really far during each pedal. It still hurt like a ***** on every motion but I was able to bend my leg much further this time.
I didn't want to lose my gym progress since December (I've been workout out at least 4 times a week or more since December 22) so I decided to do some light bodyweight exercises (leg lifts, pushups, planks). This wasn't nearly as intense or hardcore as the workouts I used to do prior to my nail removal surgery. I just didn't want to lose my gym streak.
I ended the session with a workout I did the Thursday before my surgery:
Climb up and down 20 flights of stairs. I walked, not ran (as I didn't want to take any crazy risks).
It didn't tire me at all. Climbing up the stairs was actually really easy. Climbing down was really hard (because my right leg had to bend a lot) and painful. I could only climb down 7 floors before giving up and taking the elevator.
Overall, I'm not that disappointed with my post nail removal outcome.
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Update week 1 day 1 part 2:
The improvement in my right leg after my afternoon workout was really encouraging. I decided to go work out again at night. I biked for 30 minutes at a setting that made my knees bend really far during each pedal. It still hurt like a ***** on every motion but I was able to bend my leg much further this time.
I didn't want to lose my gym progress since December (I've been workout out at least 4 times a week or more since December 22) so I decided to do some light bodyweight exercises (leg lifts, pushups, planks). This wasn't nearly as intense or hardcore as the workouts I used to do prior to my nail removal surgery. I just didn't want to lose my gym streak.
I ended the session with a workout I did the Thursday before my surgery:
Climb up and down 20 flights of stairs. I walked, not ran (as I didn't want to take any crazy risks).
It didn't tire me at all. Climbing up the stairs was actually really easy. Climbing down was really hard (because my right leg had to bend a lot) and painful. I could only climb down 7 floors before giving up and taking the elevator.
Overall, I'm not that disappointed with my post nail removal outcome.
Hi Purush! Thank you for the detail. I'll be honest, ever since I joined the forum back in August of 2018... I was never able to get a clear idea of what the post nail removal would be like. Your Diary is an outstanding resource for me and all. To me it sounds like things are going pretty darn great. I mean wow, 10,000 steps on one day, etc. Soreness, etc can be expected any time a doctor goes into your body. You're handling business the right way.
One question - Is the nail removal through the same way as the initial insertion of the nail? And are the glutes muscle impacted in a similar way during the nail removal procedure as they are during the CLL surgery? My glutes vanished almost immediately post CLL surgery.
Thank you again for your time.
-IFS
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Hi Purush! Thank you for the detail. I'll be honest, ever since I joined the forum back in August of 2018... I was never able to get a clear idea of what the post nail removal would be like. Your Diary is an outstanding resource for me and all. To me it sounds like things are going pretty darn great. I mean wow, 10,000 steps on one day, etc. Soreness, etc can be expected any time a doctor goes into your body. You're handling business the right way.
One question - Is the nail removal through the same way as the initial insertion of the nail? And are the glutes muscle impacted in a similar way during the nail removal procedure as they are during the CLL surgery? My glutes vanished almost immediately post CLL surgery.
Thank you again for your time.
-IFS
Hey IFS! I had a lot of trouble finding post nail removal diaries too. I think ProgramDude had one. A lot more got added after I had LL I think (YellowSpike, Brb6FtTall, etc).
It was the same way for me (through the hip).My glute muscles weren't really impacted much at all. Most of my 'pain' was at the pin sites on my femur, and that too mostly on the right leg. My glutes vanished during CLL too. They didn't seem to impacted that much by the nail removal.
Hope this helps!
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Hey IFS! I had a lot of trouble finding post nail removal diaries too. I think ProgramDude had one. A lot more got added after I had LL I think (YellowSpike, Brb6FtTall, etc).
It was the same way for me (through the hip).My glute muscles weren't really impacted much at all. Most of my 'pain' was at the pin sites on my femur, and that too mostly on the right leg. My glutes vanished during CLL too. They didn't seem to impacted that much by the nail removal.
Hope this helps!
Thanks, Purush. Okay, good to know.
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Hey Puru, sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble after your nail removal. I had mine removed with Dr. Rozbruch back in October and was limping/swaying for the first 2-3 days but besides that I did not have any difficulty in ROM or pain and after a week I was completely back to normal. I think you might have pushed yourself too hard right after as I did not do any intense physical activity and just rested after surgery. Hope you recover and get back to 100% real soon buddy.
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Update: 1 week 3 days post nail removal
I may have worked out too hard yesterday. I woke up sore as hell. My walking was really bad. However by evening I was fine and went to the gym for cycling. My right leg bends further now (past 90degrees). I can climb stairs fine now.
Hey Puru, sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble after your nail removal. I had mine removed with Dr. Rozbruch back in October and was limping/swaying for the first 2-3 days but besides that I did not have any difficulty in ROM or pain and after a week I was completely back to normal. I think you might have pushed yourself too hard right after as I did not do any intense physical activity and just rested after surgery. Hope you recover and get back to 100% real soon buddy.
It’s no problem. I’m still going about my life as normal. Thanks for your wishes.
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Update: 1 week 3 days post nail removal
I may have worked out too hard yesterday. I woke up sore as hell. My walking was really bad. However by evening I was fine and went to the gym for cycling. My right leg bends further now (past 90degrees). I can climb stairs fine now.
It’s no problem. I’m still going about my life as normal. Thanks for your wishes.
Good to hear bro - you are a strong chap - I have full confidence you will be fine and back to normal in a few days.
I have had wiring removed for a previous operation - so despite it being much lighter than the original operation - I still needed to take it easy.
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Good to hear bro - you are a strong chap - I have full confidence you will be fine and back to normal in a few days.
I have had wiring removed for a previous operation - so despite it being much lighter than the original operation - I still needed to take it easy.
Thanks man! Good to know!
Update 2 weeks, 2 days after nail removal:
Sorry for my slow updates. There isn't really much to report on anymore. My legs feel totally normal. I walked 8 miles yesterday and 6 miles today. I'm doing light workouts at the gym. Other than the fact that I know my bones still have holes in them, they don't feel any different. I am not going to do any heavy physical activity until May. That bums me out a little bit because I've been working hard to get a summer body by summer. 6 weeks w.o lifting weights is not good lol.
Once I start playing sports again, I'll start updating this diary about how my legs feel. I sort of forgot what it was like to have rods in my legs so I don't have a good comparison anymore.
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Do you still have any pain? Why don't you work hard on your upper body for summer?
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I am not going to do any heavy physical activity until May. That bums me out a little bit because I've been working hard to get a summer body by summer. 6 weeks w.o lifting weights is not good lol.
Hi Purushrottam
Thanks for the updates! I am so happy for you that you already feel quite normal, which is great! I am so looking forward to removing my nails too.
By the way, I think you can still do a lot of weights like Abs, arms, shoulders, etc but not like deadlift, squatting, or anything heavy on your leb. That could be enough for the summer :)
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Do you still have any pain? Why don't you work hard on your upper body for summer?
No pain whatsoever. I'll get to the second part of your comment in my next update.
Hi Purushrottam
Thanks for the updates! I am so happy for you that you already feel quite normal, which is great! I am so looking forward to removing my nails too.
By the way, I think you can still do a lot of weights like Abs, arms, shoulders, etc but not like deadlift, squatting, or anything heavy on your leb. That could be enough for the summer :)
Thanks man! Living nail free feels great. And yes I've been doing planks and pushups.
Update: 18 days post nail removal:
I had my follow up appointment with Dr. Rozbruch. We looked over the X-Ray. I can start doing high impact sports in 6 weeks. He cleared me to lift heavy weights/do squats, etc. This is great news. I can work out again. I only had an 18 day gap of not working out.
So, long story short, I'm back to life pre LL other than running. I'll take my running stats once I'm cleared to run.
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Congrats, man! I love it.
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No pain whatsoever. I'll get to the second part of your comment in my next update.
Thanks man! Living nail free feels great. And yes I've been doing planks and pushups.
Update: 18 days post nail removal:
I had my follow up appointment with Dr. Rozbruch. We looked over the X-Ray. I can start doing high impact sports in 6 weeks. He cleared me to lift heavy weights/do squats, etc. This is great news. I can work out again. I only had an 18 day gap of not working out.
So, long story short, I'm back to life pre LL other than running. I'll take my running stats once I'm cleared to run.
Smashedddd it! Congrats bro
Can I pm you a question on proportions please?
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Hey Puru! And hi everyone.
It's been a year after my surgeries (see my diary (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=5352.0)) and thought I would give some answers to the same questions that Puru got since I've stopped updating my diary, so you guys can compare outcomes. I hope Puru doesn't mind (and I'll also reply to a few posts of his)! And I know I should do a full update on my on diary - promise I'll do that!
Quick summary of my stats vs. Purus: late 30's, 5'5 -> 5'8, quadrilateral, used to lift a lot more, but haven't been as serious as I should have about training post-surgery. Don't do what I did. Do what Puru did.
Now (April 2019): waling is pretty normal. Nobody seems to notice anything unusual. I can jog but for 2 minutes max; can't really run, except on sand (see my Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/BusLu9Pn6hb/)). Can do 40 jumping jacks. Pain in the right knee when squatting or going down stairs, esp. if the stairs are tall. Dr. Paley said not to do deep squats, but do leg presses until the knee pain disappears. I don't know when and if that will happen - so keep in mind that even with the best doctors, there can still be complications, especially if you're older. The left knee has no problems whatsoever - so my right knee pain isn't because I haven't trained properly - I assure you that I trained both knees equally. :) Dr. Paley did acknowledge a risk of permanent knee pain after the tibia surgery:
Very little if any knee pin[sic] in our patients with CLL after tibial lengthening. I think it has to do with the minimally invasive we[sic] we insert the rod and avoid damage or irritation to the patellar tendon.
Dr. Robbins told me that removing the rods won't improve the knee, and I should see a knee specialist.
Surgery isn't an exact science. Just like Puru - his left leg was totally normal after the rods removal surgery (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg104571#msg104571), but the right one was in pain.
A week ago I started training hard, every day, so let's see what that does. Already I ended up with severe right knee pain one day after training (I was limping), but it went away with ice and after a good night's sleep.
I also have trouble stretching. Pain level 3-5 if I try touching my toes with knees locked. I can't do a heel sit (https://goo.gl/images/xrSdjN) - there's ~3cm between my heels and the butt. Puru can.
After the surgery, I had no sensation in the left calf. That's been coming back slowly, but it's still at ~70% compared to the right calf.
I know if I just reduce my expectations I could have a very happy life without LL but honestly I want the best for myself and
the older I get the more I see the importance of height or more specifically I should say the negative of being short.
In my case, that was actually the opposite. In my late 30s, nobody gives a about my height, or anyone's. For context, the crowd I'm in are intelligent, Westerner or well-traveled people, with occupations related to high-tech. Not just software engineers, but also marketers, program managers, startup founders etc. They're from the US or Europe, or have lived there enough to be culturally acclimated. Not sure what it would be like in other cultures or demographics.
Anyway, I've told pretty much EVERYONE I've met about my surgery, along with the real reason (in maybe 10% of the cases I said I was born with one leg shorter than the other because I didn't have time or didn't want to get into a conversation and didn't care about the person). Some people were curious, others mildly impressed, but no negative reactions whatsoever. In general, people care much less about us, than we think they do. There was a famous experiment in which a guy walked around a university wearing a really weird t-shirt that made him feel self-conscious, and then the researchers asked those who saw him if they remembered anything unusual.
Puru, how do you explain your suddenly becoming taller to your close friends and family? diet, exercise and improved posture? just curious, thanks.
I'm curious if Puru wants to share some background about his family or friends. Maybe they're very conservative. I respect his choice to not mention the surgery. Myself though, I tell everyone who asks, the truth. However, very few people noticed my 3" increase in height.
I never had trouble making friends before and I don't feel any differently now so I don't think my height really had an effect on that.
Yup. Same here. The extra height basically has only helped me not feel weirdly short by comparison to women.
I wasn't having trouble dating before, but it was chicks that I was not really attracted to.
Same here. I used to win women with my personality. Problem was, they weren't very physically attracted to me, and that showed in one way or another (e.g. temptation to cheat). I was also not very physically attracted to them, because I "settled". This was even worse - after a while, I would want out of the relationship. Now I know I can do better. Haven't started yet because I'm focused on recovery and launching my own startup.
Before surgery, did you do any sports or training? If so, have you been able to do those things since you go surgery?
I used to practice martial arts 3 times a week. No way can I do that now. My agility is poor, so anything like dribbling in basketball, or dancing fast, are not something I can be good at.
Paley says that you can reach your pre LL level of athleticism (granted it would be much faster with just 5 cm). There was a golfer (college level) who had 4 cm in one leg. He was competing again after that.
I haven't practiced golf, but it doesn't seem to be that intense on your legs. You swing a gold club while staying in one place, then walk around the golf course. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is far weaker of a proof for recovering athletic ability than, say, a skier, basketball player, or boxer.
There was a dude lengthening with me who was about your height. He did the entire 8 cm (so he became 5'8"). He was 18 and trained really hard after. He started boxing (and winning international competitions).
That's better proof, but the guy was 18 - still growing.
You will shift from 6th percentile (5'4.5") to 19th percentile (5'6.5"). If do 6.5 cm, you will go to the 26th percentile (5'7.2"). If you do the entire 8 cm you will be 32nd percentile (5'7.8"). I personally think it will be worth it.
Source: https://dqydj.com/height-percentile-calculator-for-men-and-women/
At 5'8", I'm in the bottom 25% percentile, rather than 34%.
Source: Paley Institute (https://paleyinstitute.org/centers-of-excellence/stature-lengthening/what-is-stature-lengthening/).
Here's a question for you - what would you say to your old self to make him get over the height issue without the surgery?
Excellent question! The truth is that I could have had the surgery when I was 29. I was an idiot and didn't do it. So I'd tell myself,
"If you're under 30, do it ASAP. Don't worry about the money too much you'll make it up after. But if you're after 35... it's gonna be worth less and less. People mature, and put more emphasis on your personality than your looks. (Or if they don't, you might want to surround yourself with different people.) The older you are, the slower the recovery. If you're in a happy relationship with someone who loves you despite your height, consider not doing it."
I don't mind. I think theres a lot of software engineers on this forum. ShortLivesMatter and OverrideYourGenetics are both SWEs as far as I know.
I'm also a full stack software developer. Quick career counseling for those interested in programming: start to learn JavaScript. It's the most popular programming language, and the only one that runs in browsers. Here is a JavaScript tutorial that doesn't require prior programming knowledge (https://eloquentjavascript.net/). See how you feel about it while you go through it. Some people have a natural talent for programming. I started from basically zero and got to the top few in my country within less than 6 months. It was fun and even effortless. But when it comes to sports or dancing, I don't have any sort of natural talent. See where you are on that scale. There's nothing wrong with having natural talents for other careers. Capitalize on those.
The more I bend my knee repeatedly, the better it gets. I'm going to try to get at least an hour of biking daily for the next couple of days. Each pedal motion hurts like hell (I was wincing a lot at the gym), but the progress is incredible.
Yep. Had the same experience after the insertion surgery. Cycling made the legs a lot more flexible.
Yeah my legs definitely feel a lot lighter and limber.
This.
This made me decide to have the nail removal surgery ASAP. Dr. Paley said you can have it 2 or 3 years after insertion, but I'd rather get those rods out and work on recovering my original body, not one with rods in. Plus, I can do it now without disrupting my life too much (3-6 weeks without heavy workouts or running is fine now). That might not be desirable later.
Puru, how would you say your agility is now?
Do you expect it to improve beyond the level that was possible with the rods in?
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Hey Puru and hi everyone.
It's been a year after my surgeries (see my diary (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=5352.0)) and thought I would give some answers to the same questions that Puru got since I stopped updating my diary, so you guys can compare outcomes. I hope Puru doesn't mind (and I'll also reply to a few posts of his)! I've also posted a longer update on my diary.
Quick summary of my stats vs. Purus: late 30's, 5'5 -> 5'8, quadrilateral, used to lift a lot more (deadlift ~325lbs, squat ~300), but haven't been as serious as I should have about training post-surgery. Don't do what I did. Do what Puru did.
Now (April 2019): walking is pretty normal. Nobody seems to notice anything unusual. I can jog but for 2 minutes max; can't really run. Can do 40 jumping jacks. Pain in the right knee when squatting or going down stairs, esp. if the stairs are tall. Dr. Paley said not to do deep squats, but leg presses until the knee pain disappears. I don't know when and if that will happen - so keep in mind that even with the best doctors, there can still be complications, especially if you're older. The left knee has no problems whatsoever - so my right knee pain isn't because I haven't trained properly - I assure you that I trained both knees equally. :) Dr. Paley did acknowledge a risk of permanent knee pain after the tibia surgery:
Very little if any knee pin[sic] in our patients with CLL after tibial lengthening. I think it has to do with the minimally invasive we[sic] we insert the rod and avoid damage or irritation to the patellar tendon.
Surgery isn't an exact science. Just like Puru - his left leg was totally normal after the rods removal surgery (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg104571#msg104571), but the right one was in pain.
A week ago I started training hard, every day, so let's see what that does. Already I ended up with severe right knee pain one day after training (I was limping), but it went away with ice and after a good night's sleep.
I also have trouble stretching. Pain level 3-5 if I try touching my toes with knees locked. I can't do a heel sit (https://goo.gl/images/xrSdjN) - there's ~3cm between my heels and the butt. Puru can.
After the surgery, I had no sensation in the left calf. That's been coming back slowly, but it's still at ~70% compared to the right calf.
I know if I just reduce my expectations I could have a very happy life without LL but honestly I want the best for myself and
Be aware that CLL will also negatively impact your life. There's always the risk of complications, and depending on what "the best" is for you, you might find out that you can no longer enjoy it (e.g. martial arts, fast-action sports, effective self-defense, running, competitive dancing etc.). It's extremely rare to recover 100% of your athletic abilities after this surgery. From what I've read, only very young individuals who trained very hard, managed that. Of course, if your desired life doesn't involve activities like the ones I've mentioned (e.g. you plan to golf instead of playing basketball), you may still have 'the best".
the older I get the more I see the importance of height or more specifically I should say the negative of being short.
In my case, that was actually the opposite. In my late 30s, nobody gives a about my height, or anyone's. For context, the crowd I'm in are intelligent, Westerner or well-traveled people, with occupations related to high-tech. Not just software engineers, but also marketers, program managers, startup founders etc. They're from the US or Europe, or have lived there enough to be culturally acclimated. Not sure what it would be like in other cultures or demographics.
Anyway, I've told pretty much EVERYONE I've met about my surgery, along with the real reason (in maybe 10% of the cases I said I was born with one leg shorter than the other because I didn't have time or didn't want to get into a conversation and didn't care about the person). Some people were curious, others mildly impressed, but no negative reactions whatsoever. In general, people care much less about us, than we think they do. There was a famous experiment in which a guy walked around a university wearing a really weird t-shirt that made him feel self-conscious, and then the researchers asked those who saw him if they remembered anything unusual.
Puru, how do you explain your suddenly becoming taller to your close friends and family? diet, exercise and improved posture? just curious, thanks.
I'm curious if Puru wants to share some background about his family or friends. Maybe they're very conservative. I respect his choice to not mention the surgery. Myself though, I tell everyone who asks, the truth. However, very few people noticed my 3" increase in height.
I never had trouble making friends before and I don't feel any differently now so I don't think my height really had an effect on that.
Yup. Same here. The extra height basically has only helped me not feel weirdly short by comparison to women.
I wasn't having trouble dating before, but it was chicks that I was not really attracted to.
Same here. I used to win women with my personality. Problem was, they weren't very physically attracted to me, and that showed in one way or another (e.g. temptation to cheat). I was also not very physically attracted to them, because I "settled". This was even worse - after a while, I would want out of the relationship. Now I know I can do better. Haven't started yet because I'm focused on recovery and launching my own startup.
Before surgery, did you do any sports or training? If so, have you been able to do those things since you go surgery?
I used to practice martial arts 3 times a week. No way can I do the legwork part of that now. My agility is poor, so activities like dribbling in basketball/soccer, boxing, or dancing fast, are not something I can be good at.
Paley says that you can reach your pre LL level of athleticism (granted it would be much faster with just 5 cm). There was a golfer (college level) who had 4 cm in one leg. He was competing again after that.
I haven't practiced golf, but it doesn't seem to be that intense on your legs. You swing a gold club while staying in one place, then walk around the golf course. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is far weaker of a proof for recovering athletic ability than, say, a skier, basketball player, or boxer.
There was a dude lengthening with me who was about your height. He did the entire 8 cm (so he became 5'8"). He was 18 and trained really hard after. He started boxing (and winning international competitions).
That's better proof, but the guy was 18 - still growing.
You will shift from 6th percentile (5'4.5") to 19th percentile (5'6.5"). If do 6.5 cm, you will go to the 26th percentile (5'7.2"). If you do the entire 8 cm you will be 32nd percentile (5'7.8"). I personally think it will be worth it.
Source: https://dqydj.com/height-percentile-calculator-for-men-and-women/
At 5'8", I'm in the bottom 25% percentile, rather than 34%.
Source: Paley Institute (https://paleyinstitute.org/centers-of-excellence/stature-lengthening/what-is-stature-lengthening/).
Here's a question for you - what would you say to your old self to make him get over the height issue without the surgery?
Excellent question! The truth is that I could have had the surgery when I was 29. I was an idiot and didn't do it. So I'd tell myself,
"If you're under 30, do it ASAP. Don't worry about the money too much you'll make it up after. But if you're after 35... it's gonna be worth less and less. People mature, and put more emphasis on your personality than your looks. (Or if they don't, you might want to surround yourself with different people.) The older you are, the slower the recovery. If you're in a happy relationship with someone who loves you despite your height, consider not doing it."
Yeah my legs definitely feel a lot lighter and limber.
This.
This made me decide to have the nail removal surgery ASAP. Dr. Paley said you can have it 2 or 3 years after insertion, but I'd rather get those rods out and work on recovering my original body, not one with rods in. Plus, I can do it now without disrupting my life too much (6 weeks without heavy workouts or running is fine now). That might not be the case later.
I don't mind. I think theres a lot of software engineers on this forum. ShortLivesMatter and OverrideYourGenetics are both SWEs as far as I know.
I'm also a full stack software developer. Quick career counseling for those interested in programming: start to learn JavaScript. It's the most popular programming language, and the only one that runs in browsers. Here is a JavaScript tutorial that doesn't require prior programming knowledge (https://eloquentjavascript.net/). See how you feel about it while you go through it. Some people have a natural talent for programming. I started from basically zero and got to the top few in my country within less than 6 months. It was fun and even effortless. But when it comes to sports or dancing, I don't have any sort of natural talent. See where you are on that scale. There's nothing wrong with having natural talents for other careers. Capitalize on those.
The more I bend my knee repeatedly, the better it gets. I'm going to try to get at least an hour of biking daily for the next couple of days. Each pedal motion hurts like hell (I was wincing a lot at the gym), but the progress is incredible.
Yep. Had the same experience after the insertion surgery. Cycling made the legs a lot more flexible.
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So what is the sensation that stops you from jogging more than 2 minutes? Normal fatigue? Soft tissue pain? 2 minutes is nothing, not being able to even jog for 5 minutes a year later is a scary thought.
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So do you think the recovery could have been different if you would have used Strydr only on Femurs.
Also when eas the first time you walked post surgery with assistance as well as without assistance.
Thank you and brst wishes.
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Hi Puru. Do you know how much the rods weight? And any update on your recovery?
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Hey buddy - how are you getting on? Hope all is well
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Bro - hope you're doing well! Any update for us?
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Hi Puru. Its been a while since your last post. Are doing well?
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Hi Puru. We didn't hear from you in a while. Please , let us know if you are ok since your rod removals.
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Would like an update as well! Hope life is normal now and you've forgotten about LL, that would be the best update
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I have a feeling something happened after nail removal. Maybe a fracture or something. He was a very active and positive member why would he disappear?
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Hi Paru - everything okay bro?
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So what is the sensation that stops you from jogging more than 2 minutes? Normal fatigue? Soft tissue pain? 2 minutes is nothing, not being able to even jog for 5 minutes a year later is a scary thought.
Pain when landing on each foot. Dr. Paley just told me this week that I need to strengthen my quads, but should not do deep squats. Keep the knee angle to at most 45 degrees, so do leg presses and knee extensions.
Hi Puru. Do you know how much the rods weight? And any update on your recovery?
I'll tell you next week (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=5352.msg163399#msg163399). I had the same rods inserted, just four of them :)
So do you think the recovery could have been different if you would have used Strydr only on Femurs.
Also when eas the first time you walked post surgery with assistance as well as without assistance.
Don't be lazy and ask repeat questions! Read the thread. I've done all the work (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4823.msg104068#msg104068) for you.
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Hey bro - are you all good?
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@overrideyourgenetics
Any word from puru?
Puru - could get get a bump? Things looked great after rod removal - I just want to hear that you've forgotten about LL
Looking forward to any info and my Paley consult.
Hows athletic recovery?
I am pushing for 5cm and be able to be athletic after
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Hey everyone! Sorry for the long delay w.o updates. I was really busy with work and travel. I'll write a new reply answering all your questions/comments. Honestly my legs feel like nothing ever happened. They feel lighter w.o the rods. My running is pretty normal.
Stand by for an update..
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Congrats, man! I love it.
Thanks man! I hope you are doing well. I'm going to read your diary after I finish answering all the questions on here.
Smashedddd it! Congrats bro
Can I pm you a question on proportions please?
Thanks! You can, but I don't check my inbox very often. You might as well post it on this thread.
Hey Puru! And hi everyone.
It's been a year after my surgeries (see my diary (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=5352.0)) and thought I would give some answers to the same questions that Puru got since I've stopped updating my diary, so you guys can compare outcomes. I hope Puru doesn't mind (and I'll also reply to a few posts of his)! And I know I should do a full update on my on diary - promise I'll do that!
Wow OYG, your replies are very informative and thoughtful. I can tell you put a lot of thought into your posts. Thanks for outlining my milestones. Sorry about the delayed response.
Now (April 2019): waling is pretty normal. Nobody seems to notice anything unusual. I can jog but for 2 minutes max; can't really run, except on sand (see my Instagram). Can do 40 jumping jacks. Pain in the right knee when squatting or going down stairs, esp. if the stairs are tall. Dr. Paley said not to do deep squats, but do leg presses until the knee pain disappears. I don't know when and if that will happen - so keep in mind that even with the best doctors, there can still be complications, especially if you're older. The left knee has no problems whatsoever - so my right knee pain isn't because I haven't trained properly - I assure you that I trained both knees equally. :) Dr. Paley did acknowledge a risk of permanent knee pain after the tibia surgery:
Good to know your gait is normal. The jogging stamina will return. You may have to try HIIT. That was my "secret sauce" for increasing my running stamina before and after LL. I'm guessing that you tire out after 2 minutes because your heart is working extra hard to help your body move those weak limbs. Stronger cardiovascular health and stronger leg muscles will improve your jogging stamina before you even realize it (if you remain consistent with your workouts). I'm sorry to hear about your knees. Hope you get better!
In my case, that was actually the opposite. In my late 30s, nobody gives a about my height, or anyone's. For context, the crowd I'm in are intelligent, Westerner or well-traveled people, with occupations related to high-tech. Not just software engineers, but also marketers, program managers, startup founders etc. They're from the US or Europe, or have lived there enough to be culturally acclimated. Not sure what it would be like in other cultures or demographics.
I'm with a similar crowd. I have a colleague who is significantly shorter (male, 5'3"). Literally no one has brought it up. Ever. He's known for his professional accomplishments and passion for the work. I'm starting to think that the issues I've had with height may have been selection bias on my part. I'm seeing it more and more now that I am recovered. Lots of short (under 5'5") dudes who live completely normal, happy, fulfilling lives. It might also be that I'm getting older. I can confidently say that being short is not THAT big of a deal. I thought differently when I was 23. I'm still glad I did the operation though. Its hard to describe the feeling.
I'm curious if Puru wants to share some background about his family or friends. Maybe they're very conservative. I respect his choice to not mention the surgery. Myself though, I tell everyone who asks, the truth. However, very few people noticed my 3" increase in height.
No problem. My family is Indian. My friends are half Indian and half American (of all backgrounds). I've only told my parents, my sibling, and a couple of my friends about the surgery. The last friend I told was visibly confused and told me he was mind f**ked because he used to remember that I was shorter than him (now I'm slightly taller). Then he asked.. did you do this surgery? My facial expression gave it away. Everyone I told was very supportive... and very curious about the process. It made me realize that I have a very unique experience that not many people in the world have. Its a weird feeling in itself.
That being said, my favorite part about this is definitely meeting people again after having LL. Their initial confused expression is amazing.
I haven't practiced golf, but it doesn't seem to be that intense on your legs. You swing a gold club while staying in one place, then walk around the golf course. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is far weaker of a proof for recovering athletic ability than, say, a skier, basketball player, or boxer.
Agreed. I signed up for a ton of sports leagues this summer (volleyball, soccer, basketball, boxing, tennis). My first game (tennis) is this weekend. Fingers crossed. I'm curious to see how my athletic ability is now.
Hi Puru. Do you know how much the rods weight? And any update on your recovery?
No I forgot to ask the doctor before surgery. My update is that I feel fully recovered. I can run as fast as before (i'm trying to hit a 6 minute mile). I'm not squatting as much as before but I'll get there soon. I don't feel any different.
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@overrideyourgenetics
Any word from puru?
Puru - could get get a bump? Things looked great after rod removal - I just want to hear that you've forgotten about LL
Looking forward to any info and my Paley consult.
Hows athletic recovery?
I am pushing for 5cm and be able to be athletic after
Hello CYL, thanks for your concern! I'm doing fine. I honestly have forgotten about LL. My leg feel much lighter after rod removal. The stiffness is no longer there when I'm running. It feels the same as before. Good luck on your consultation with Paley. I had mine in Oct 2016. Feels like ages ago.
My athletic recovery is decent. I played soccer last summer and I was ok at it. This summer I'm doing other sports. My first game is this weekend (tennis). I'm not at the same level I was before but I'm more athletic than the average person my age.
Athletic reovery at 5 cm should be fairly quick.
Hey bro - are you all good?
Yup! Thanks for your concern and I'm really sorry for the delay.
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I have a feeling something happened after nail removal. Maybe a fracture or something. He was a very active and positive member why would he disappear?
Hello cena! I'm totally alright. Thanks for your concern! If I had a fracture or any complication, it would be my moral responsibility to inform everyone on the forum (so that everyone is aware of the possible risks of this operation).
I'm really sorry for not updating in a while.
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Hi Paru - everything okay bro?
Yup!
Hi Puru. We didn't hear from you in a while. Please , let us know if you are ok since your rod removals.
Bro - hope you're doing well! Any update for us?
I'm really touched by your concerns. I'm doing well. I apologize for not updating.
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Update:
Sorry for the delayed post. I honestly don't spend that much time online anymore (which is probably a good thing). I'm filling my free time with social sports, vacations, classes, and volunteering. Suffice to say, you can count this diary as a successful outcome. I had a slight scare when after my rod removal, one of my legs was having trouble bending (I don't even remember which one now).
Physically I can say I'm pretty recovered. I can run 9mph on the treadmill (for at least 2 mins), which is the same as before. I can run a 10 minute mile with a 150 bpm heart rate (same as before). My squat isn't as high as before (but I'm not focusing hard on it). I'm more physically fit than before (more muscle, less fat, better cardiovascular profile).
Financially, my assets are already more than what they were before LL (85k vs 60k I think). I took an $80k loan for the survery and a 17.5k (only needed 7.5k) loan for the rod removal. I have 56k left to repay for the first loan and 6.5k left for the second loan. I can make extra payments every month to pay them off early but I want to spend the cashflow on 401k, travel, and recreation.
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Hey everyone! Sorry for the long delay w.o updates. I was really busy with work and travel. I'll write a new reply answering all your questions/comments. Honestly my legs feel like nothing ever happened. They feel lighter w.o the rods. My running is pretty normal.
Stand by for an update..
Hi, I'm interested in having Dr. Paley lengthen my femur to correct a length discrepancy of 5.5 cm from a congenital problem. I have a November 14, 2019 surgical date. I'm an avid hiker and have a goal of backpacking the Pacific Crest Trail (2,600 miles Mexico to Canada) after the surgery. Do your legs really feel like nothing every happened? No pains, no flexibility problems, no issues at all? Any advice on pt? Did you do anything special or just follow Dr. Paley's recommendations? Thanks so much for your help. I loved reading about your experience.
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Hi, I'm interested in having Dr. Paley lengthen my femur to correct a length discrepancy of 5.5 cm from a congenital problem. I have a November 14, 2019 surgical date. I'm an avid hiker and have a goal of backpacking the Pacific Crest Trail (2,600 miles Mexico to Canada) after the surgery. Do your legs really feel like nothing every happened? No pains, no flexibility problems, no issues at all? Any advice on pt? Did you do anything special or just follow Dr. Paley's recommendations? Thanks so much for your help. I loved reading about your experience.
According to Paley, patients who are doing LL to fix a discrepancy have an easier time because the body's muscles/soft tissues are already longer (but limited by the bone growth). Your recovery will also be rather swift because you are only doing 5.5 cm. If you are doing it with a weight bearing nail like Stryde, even better.
My legs really feel like nothing happened. I went on several hikes after LL (not as intense as the PCT though). I haven't done any long hikes but I haven't had any trouble walking 10+ miles within a city 3 days in a row. I usually walk 4-6 miles daily in my commute+daily routine (I don't drive anymore).
My flexibility isn't as good as before, BUT it is pretty close. I think I'm more flexible than the average male my age. The only movement I'm not flexible in is the side kick (for kickboxing). For all other movements, I have the same ROM as before. No pains.
Advice on PT: Follow your PTs and Doctors instructions. Don't skimp on it. Being bed ridden tends to make you lazy and demotivated. Fight through your inertia to do the PT. The low level dull pain will also make it hard to concentrate on cognitive tasks. If you are working while doing LL, you will have a really hard time (although some Stryde patients have managed to do it pretty well... ask InFullStryde). The biggest thing for me was not the pain, but the boredom. Find some way to pass time. For me it was Netflix.
More importantly, listen to the doctors and physical therapists. If they say don't take drug A with B, DONT. There was a diary I read where a patient almost died because he took some drug that reacted badly with his blood thinners. You will be on a some painkillers. They don't react well with other drugs/medications and alcohol.
I'm glad you enjoyed reading my diary!
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Update:
Sorry for the delayed post. I honestly don't spend that much time online anymore (which is probably a good thing). I'm filling my free time with social sports, vacations, classes, and volunteering. Suffice to say, you can count this diary as a successful outcome. I had a slight scare when after my rod removal, one of my legs was having trouble bending (I don't even remember which one now).
Physically I can say I'm pretty recovered. I can run 9mph on the treadmill (for at least 2 mins), which is the same as before. I can run a 10 minute mile with a 150 bpm heart rate (same as before). My squat isn't as high as before (but I'm not focusing hard on it). I'm more physically fit than before (more muscle, less fat, better cardiovascular profile).
Financially, my assets are already more than what they were before LL (85k vs 60k I think). I took an $80k loan for the survery and a 17.5k (only needed 7.5k) loan for the rod removal. I have 56k left to repay for the first loan and 6.5k left for the second loan. I can make extra payments every month to pay them off early but I want to spend the cashflow on 401k, travel, and recreation.
Good to hear you are doing so well. It is crazy to see you now see Height as not THAT big a deal. The key key question is could you've come to this conclusion without the surgery? If yes, tell me how please and save me all this money lol!
Are you able to conclude as to whether this was worth it taking all things into consideration? My inference from your updates is yes - but I do not want to put words in your mouth!
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Congrats on a successful outcome Puru! Overall with your career, traveling, hobbies, and volunteer work- it truly seems like you were able to free yourself of whatever the height neurosis was doing to you to enable you to live the life you want. Happy for you bro.
I'm with a similar crowd. I have a colleague who is significantly shorter (male, 5'3"). Literally no one has brought it up. Ever. He's known for his professional accomplishments and passion for the work. I'm starting to think that the issues I've had with height may have been selection bias on my part. I'm seeing it more and more now that I am recovered. Lots of short (under 5'5") dudes who live completely normal, happy, fulfilling lives. It might also be that I'm getting older. I can confidently say that being short is not THAT big of a deal. I thought differently when I was 23. I'm still glad I did the operation though. Its hard to describe the feeling.
I'd love to hear more about the psychological aspect of this. Can you think back to when you were 5'5 and your height neurosis to where you are now?
The quality of your life pre and post op seem to have significantly improved: hindsight is 20/20 and perspective is everything, would you say the actual 3 inches of growth made the difference or would you say it was more the psychological aspect of getting this thing done and being content with having done everything you can to address your height neurosis and being at peace with it / moving on with life? I ask cause other member of this forum who complete LL seem to continue to have neurotic behavior, i.e. they just replaced height neurosis with another form of neurosis.
Thanks man!
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Good to hear you are doing so well. It is crazy to see you now see Height as not THAT big a deal. The key key question is could you've come to this conclusion without the surgery? If yes, tell me how please and save me all this money lol!
Are you able to conclude as to whether this was worth it taking all things into consideration? My inference from your updates is yes - but I do not want to put words in your mouth!
I probably woudln't have come to the same conclusion. Height used to occupy my mind 100%. Now I rarely think about it. I personally think it was worth it, but it could also be post facto rationalization. I just remember being angry all the time.
Congrats on a successful outcome Puru! Overall with your career, traveling, hobbies, and volunteer work- it truly seems like you were able to free yourself of whatever the height neurosis was doing to you to enable you to live the life you want. Happy for you bro.
I'd love to hear more about the psychological aspect of this. Can you think back to when you were 5'5 and your height neurosis to where you are now?
The quality of your life pre and post op seem to have significantly improved: hindsight is 20/20 and perspective is everything, would you say the actual 3 inches of growth made the difference or would you say it was more the psychological aspect of getting this thing done and being content with having done everything you can to address your height neurosis and being at peace with it / moving on with life? I ask cause other member of this forum who complete LL seem to continue to have neurotic behavior, i.e. they just replaced height neurosis with another form of neurosis.
Thanks man!
Thanks! Yeah I was not in a good place psychologically when I was 5'5/5'6". Its totally possible to resolve those issues w.o surgery but I didn't really feel like going in that direction.
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Hi, puru,
Personally I have the same feelling as yours. Now I rarely keep thinking about my height every now and then. The issue on increasing a few cms on my height used to occupy a lot in my mind. It is really a psychological matter. It's like something in your brain being haunted as long as you don't realize it. However, you just feel normal as nothing once you really get it. This also applies to many areas in your life, such as your first 100 millions, a dream place you want to travel, your dream car, a man/woman that occupies your mind, etc.
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I probably woudln't have come to the same conclusion. Height used to occupy my mind 100%. Now I rarely think about it. I personally think it was worth it, but it could also be post facto rationalization. I just remember being angry all the time.
Thanks! Yeah I was not in a good place psychologically when I was 5'5/5'6". Its totally possible to resolve those issues w.o surgery but I didn't really feel like going in that direction.
Thanks Paru - can we hear some examples for moments where you thought, I would've been angry now had I not done this op (i.e. at a wedding) and examples when you still think about your height now.
I appreciate this is something you probably cba to talk about but it is really important for all of us to hear your POV (in detail!) thanks bro :)
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The prodigal son has returned. This diary is definitely a success. Your diary was one of the first I've ever read.
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Puru, if you do not mind sharing this may I know how did you explain to your potential new employers (while interviewing) the 6 months gap in your career? I mean do not they assume the worst by default (that is you were laid off/fired)? thanks.
Quote from you "My life is slowly getting back to normal. I quit my job and got into heavy debt for this surgery. Now my schedule is booked with job interviews (yay). So far its looking really good. If everything goes right, I will start working in March (and hopefully making way more than what I was making before)."
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if you don't want to post here, plz pm me, thanks a lot.
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Puru, if you do not mind sharing this may I know how did you explain to your potential new employers (while interviewing) the 6 months gap in your career? I mean do not they assume the worst by default (that is you were laid off/fired)? thanks.
Quote from you "My life is slowly getting back to normal. I quit my job and got into heavy debt for this surgery. Now my schedule is booked with job interviews (yay). So far its looking really good. If everything goes right, I will start working in March (and hopefully making way more than what I was making before)."
I basically told them that I left for medical reasons and left it at that. I actually did my first interview in crutches (this was in March before I could walk around 100% unassisted). The demand for software engineers is such that people will overlook a lot of red flags when hiring. At my current job (which I joined after my LL break), another candidate was hired at the same time as I, in a similar circumstance (long gaps of unemployment). It became very clear why said candidate had long gaps of unemployment and why companies are wary of hiring people who have long gaps.
However, gaps (whether its for medical reasons or for travel related sabbatical) after several years of employment don't look as bad.
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Thanks Puru, much appreciated.
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Update: .
I'm working out heavily now to try to get to my pre LL level of fitness (8.5 minute mile nonstop, 6 minute mile in 1 minute increments when doing HIIT, run 12 mph for at least 30 seconds, run 3 miles in under 30 minutes, squat 160 ish, deadlift 160 ish, and do 90 jump squats in 3 sets).
This September 26th marks the 2nd anniversary of my LL surgery. I’m making it a goal to reach these stats by then. I’m pretty close. I haven’t kept track but I think I have a faster mile time (I’ll verify next week when I recover from the flu). I managed to run at a 5:18 pace for.1 miles. I’ve been training ridiculously hard for the past 2 months.
I’ll post my stats on that day.
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.. 5:18 mile, I got high 5 minutes before the surgery at best, dang lol... make a video bro! pleaseee
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.. 5:18 mile, I got high 5 minutes before the surgery at best, dang lol... make a video bro! pleaseee
If that number sounds too good to be true it is...
I was using Runkeeper. Apparently it’s ridiculously off. I measured the distance again properly. My actual time was actually 5:50 minutes/mile pace. It’s better than my pre LL time but I want to sustain that speed for at least a mile...
I got way too excited when I saw 5:18... damn...
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Some bad news. I was down with the flu for the past week so I was not able to train. I don't think I'll meet my goals by Sept 26th. I was trying to get to my pre LL athletic status by my 2 year anniversary.
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Hello Puru, I'm from India. Can you tell me about your current athletic status? Can you run? Walk? Do normal things? Do you fit into the normal world?
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If that number sounds too good to be true it is...
I was using Runkeeper. Apparently it’s ridiculously off. I measured the distance again properly. My actual time was actually 5:50 minutes/mile pace. It’s better than my pre LL time but I want to sustain that speed for at least a mile...
I got way too excited when I saw 5:18... damn...
5:50 still very good even if it's just one tenth of a mile
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Hey....Maybe you are busy...Bt I'm very curious at this point and can you pls post your latest x-ray ????
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Hey....Maybe you are busy...Bt I'm very curious at this point and can you pls post your latest x-ray ????
I don't have any more x rays. I didn't ask Dr. Rozbruch to email them to me.
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Update:
Today is the 2nd anniversary of my limb lengthening surgery. I'm about to go to the gym later to see how fast I can run a mile. I'll post it later. I was sick for the past 2 weeks so was not able to train/reach my goals.
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Atleast can you tell me about your current athletic status? Can you do all the things like an average person, have you got back to being normal?
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Update:
I got some running stats.
After lightly jogging at 6 mph for 10 minutes (2.0 incline), my heart rate was about 194 (very high). Pre LL it would have been about 160 -ish. So clearly there is still more work to do.
On the bright side, I ran .5 miles at a 7:16 minutes/mile pace. I don't think I reached that pace even before LL. I'm doing a 5 mile run tomorrow so I'll have stats for that later.
I didn't start seriously training cardio until July so it really wouldn't have taken this long to get to my pre LL stats.
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Great news and congrats on your progress.
I’m sorry if you have already covered this somewhere else, but how do you walk and run now? Normal gait (like pre-LL)?
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pretty nice Puru! keep going bro
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Hi Puru,
As a dude of Indian ethnicity who happens to be around 5 foot 6 and living in North America, how hard would it be to be successful in romantic relationships as well as career in leadership roles etc?
It is a tough question to answer but I would like to know your perspective.I have been rejected for dates because of my height.All this crap saying that girls are shallow for rejecting on the basis of height is ludicrous.Height is one of the important traits of human attractiveness.If you do enter the arranged marriage market, it gets multiplied because you cannot impress anyone with your personality.It is a numbers game there if you get what I mean.
All this is fine but I don't have the time to do LL.I might get money but have no f..ing time.I just do not know on how to start ACCEPTING this .Any inputs?
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Update:
I can say I've financially recovered from the surgery (meaning I'm financially where I would be if I had never done the surgery in the first place.
I thought that it would be interesting to visualize the financial impact of LL.
https://imgur.com/n0b2ozO
(https://imgur.com/n0b2ozO)
The chart shows my assets (bank accts + investment portfolios) from 2014. You can see a giant spike in May when my $80k loan gets disbursed to my account, and then the drop after the "LL Event", and a period of joblessness.
I added a red line to show how my assets were trending upwards and how my current assets are back to the level they would have been had I never done LL.
Note: The app I'm using for the visualization has buggy data before May 2016. The increase was pretty gradual for the entire duration, even though it shows a huge increase at the point where the red line starts.
The other fluctuations are a result of the stock market going up/down.
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Heres another link showing the change in my net worth (not fully recovered):
https://imgur.com/xuXU4xW
(https://imgur.com/xuXU4xW)
You can clearly see it tanking when I take the loan and pay for the surgery. Its not clear from the chart, but my net worth is still not at where it was prior to LL ($59k). It is currently at $21k, increasing by about $35k every year.
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Really interesting analysis.
How old were you when you did the op again?
Is it safe to say this was a decision you are very happy you took?
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Would you ever go back for your Tibias?
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Hi Puru,
Happy New year - Im wondering about proportions. I work in Finance and wear pants with a shirt tucked in, and wondering if my legs will look really long/small toros after LL. Will it look obvious when tucking in your shirt and wearing fitted clothes? Any thoughts?
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Hi Puru,
Happy New year - Im wondering about proportions. I work in Finance and wear pants with a shirt tucked in, and wondering if my legs will look really long/small toros after LL. Will it look obvious when tucking in your shirt and wearing fitted clothes? Any thoughts?
Some people have longer legs, some people have shorter legs, there's a lot of natural variance. I wouldn't worry too much. The femur/tibia ratio can look off sometimes, but this is mainly an issue when you're wearing little to no clothing (i.e., at the beach).
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Really interesting analysis.
How old were you when you did the op again?
Is it safe to say this was a decision you are very happy you took?
I was 26. I"m happy I took this decision. I'll explain in the update.
Would you ever go back for your Tibias?
Nope. No need.
Hi Puru,
Happy New year - Im wondering about proportions. I work in Finance and wear pants with a shirt tucked in, and wondering if my legs will look really long/small toros after LL. Will it look obvious when tucking in your shirt and wearing fitted clothes? Any thoughts?
Happy belated new year! People on the forum really overestimate how it will impact their proportions. It really won't. People have variations in leg length.
Some people have longer legs, some people have shorter legs, there's a lot of natural variance. I wouldn't worry too much. The femur/tibia ratio can look off sometimes, but this is mainly an issue when you're wearing little to no clothing (i.e., at the beach).
Precisely.
Update:
Its been 1 year since the rod removal. I've made a full athletic recovery and financial recovery. Through intense training, I'm able to run much faster than what I used to run before. I'm also in a weekly running club where we run 5 miles. I have no trouble keeping up with the other runners.
I've also managed to get my net worth to what it was just prior to starting LL (59k).
So to recap, surgery was on Sept 29 2017. In 2.5 years you can make a full financial and physical recovery (and get rods removed).
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That's awesome Puru! hope to be there as well with you in the Fully Recovered Hall of Famers ASAP
your diary was actually one that has inspired me and gave me hope that a full recovery is possible, and as every day goes by in my journey to full recovery it seems more and more attainable with good work ethic and drive, so for that I thank, and congratulate you. Cheers LL brother.
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Update:
Its been 1 year since the rod removal. I've made a full athletic recovery and financial recovery. Through intense training, I'm able to run much faster than what I used to run before. I'm also in a weekly running club where we run 5 miles. I have no trouble keeping up with the other runners.
I've also managed to get my net worth to what it was just prior to starting LL (59k).
So to recap, surgery was on Sept 29 2017. In 2.5 years you can make a full financial and physical recovery (and get rods removed).
Wow - A full financial and physical recovery is inspiring Puru. What an amazing outcome. You definitely earned it. I love how you not only covered the physical rehab aspect of this but also the financial/career aspect as well. It's been a joy following your journey and it served as a guiding light during some of the most difficult and darkest times of my journey. You've set the standard through consolidation and rehab post nail removal and I'm going to put in the work to follow in your foot steps in my own recovery! Happy for you! Cheers man!
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Puru is literally my life fuel. Soft dev as well (at least hopefully) and similar stats. Height Neurosis has been hitting me since Pre-K when I was literally 2nd percentile in height and I'm not a dwarf or anything, completely normal, just have short parents. I'm so glad for your success Puru. You are my inspiration, and don't worry this isn't making me want to do LL, I've always wanted to be taller and height neurosis never goes away.
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awesome puru hopfully you can share with us some inf
sir what was yr initial femoral lenth
how long you can walk without the need to stop and rest like walking with friends and enjoying your life or does muscle get tired super easy
do you have still have stiffness
theortically can you do the tibia
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Hey Puru,
Great Diary. Completed reading the whole diary for the 3rd time and took notes. My surgery is going to be scheduled soon and I will follow some of your foot steps. Congrats on your height gain, financial recovery, and rod removal. Cheers brotha.
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Hey Puru,
Great Diary. Completed reading the whole diary for the 3rd time and took notes. My surgery is going to be scheduled soon and I will follow some of your foot steps. Congrats on your height gain, financial recovery, and rod removal. Cheers brotha.
Thank you! Good luck to you!
On a lighter note, I found an orthopedic surgeon with my username. Lol
https://www.valleychildrens.org/find-a-doctor/profile/purushottam-gholve
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Hey Puru! It's so great to hear from you! Kind of miss your updates on the forum, you are like an inspiration for me and many others...
How is life? How are you?
Any updates about your fitness? General health?
Anything about your legs?
How does it feel to be of the height that you always wanted to be?
Do you feel like you have gotten to the pre-ll level, like nothing ever happened ???
Looking forward to hearing from you!