Limb Lengthening Forum
Limb Lengthening Surgery => Limb Lengthening Patients Experiences => Topic started by: LittleLiam on August 28, 2014, 01:03:47 PM
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Well Folks,
Four days to go before I leave the land of OZ for the Orient and finally start the journey to realise a dream I have had since I was a short seven year old with one leg shorter than the other since birth and a desire to be a pirate one day.
(http://s5d4.turboimagehost.com/t/19747684_headmask.jpg) (http://www.turboimagehost.com/p/19747684/headmask.jpg.html)
I found out about LL 6 years ago and there hasn't been a day since then that I haven't visualised myself taller and normal. It is very hard to believe that I am about to do this as I have finally managed to save enough and a little extra for my return to survive until I find a job.
I expect to arrive bank in Australia at the end of the year 5 to 7 centre mitres taller taking me from 168 to 175 (or close enough).
(http://s5d4.turboimagehost.com/t/19747585_Liam_Before_with_Weights.png) (http://www.turboimagehost.com/p/19747585/Liam_Before_with_Weights.png.html)
In preparation I have spent the past two years getting my self healthy by giving up smoking and drinking completely. I have also lost 15 kilos so far and studied Mandarin with a native speaker in Beijing over Skype.
All that being said I am very nervous and look forward to your support during this time as I don't expect a rosy ride.
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All the best buddy! I look forward to your diary :)
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Really excited to get to read about your LL experience in the coming months!
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Good luck pal, btw get rid of that mask, it annoys me so badly, put something else please :P
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Hey dude
Am I getting this correctly, you are going to lenghten one leg only ? One of your leg is shorter than the other by 5-7 cms ?
Sorry if I misunderstood :p
Anyway, best of luck in your journey !
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You have our support! I hope that your LL journey will prove rewarding in more ways than you can imagine. Best of luck!
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Finally THE new Beijing diary we've all been waiting for. Thank you and good luck MATE ;D
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Great news! Wish you all the best, man. We're here to support you.
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Well folks,
I fly to China Tomorrow and said 'Au Revoir' to my girlfriend a few hours ago.
I repacked my luggage to reduce clothing and increase books. DVDs, vitamins, Protein powder and calcium etc
My right leg is only 2 centimetres longer so if I get 5 there and 7 on the left I'll be RIGHT ;-). To be 173-175 will be magic.
In no time in history since Adam and Eve was this possible!
Cheers
Little Liam
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G'day all,
I have called a taxi to the Airport and this is a quick note (not sure when I'll be online in China ?) to say 'Au Revoir' as literally Im on my way now, having said all goodbyes to family and friends. Nobody except you folks know i am about to do this. Not even my girlfriend.
I am excited, and a little sad as I am also saying goodbye to an old me :-(. There will be no excuses any more for being small. I won't be a cripple and I may be more confident as I have been fairly cowardly all my life being shorter than most men.
As part of the plan to do this secretly I have worn lifts for many years (one higher than the other) and have never gone swimming, lawn bowling , to houses where you have to take your shoes off etc.
I will be coming home without lifts!!!!
I am unsure whether I will be coming back as a different man mentally perhaps also ?
For those considering CHINA for LL I have attached the letter I used to get my 90 day visa. You need to bring 4 additional passport photos for your renewal visa while there.
Cheers.
(http://s5d2.turboimagehost.com/t/19883577_SmallBeijingLetter.png) (http://www.turboimagehost.com/p/19883577/SmallBeijingLetter.png.html)
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Welcome to China! 8)
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Good luck ! :)
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Hey man . Good luck!! . Try to go to 175cm man. I think is a good height! How tall are you with a 2cm lift in the shorter leg? 168?
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Good luck man. Looking forward to read you diary. Stay strong!
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Well folks,
I had my first operation yesterday and although I don't feel up to writing a lot right now I promise I will be more descriptive of my experience just before, during and after the operation when I feel better.
The operation went well and although I did not sleep at all last night the pain is not extreme. No need for pain killers right now as I feel similar to what it is like after a tough soccer match.
It is still a bit unreal for me but meeting patients here who have lengthened 8 and 9 and are very happy is inspiring and exciting.
Feel free to ask questions as my mind should be clearer in the next few days.
:-*
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congrats, so you are doing LATN? how much are you paying?
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Glad to hear from you again
1/ Are they still doing the surgeries at the same hospital or where is it now?
2/ How many foreign patients are there atm?
3/ Who does the surgeries now?
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Is Wang Bei as beautiful as I remember her? ;D
Seriously, I hope you're doing well but I know you're in good hands. I'll give you the same advice I gave to Canton when he first got to Beijing:
1. Wake up in the morning. Don't get into the habit of oversleeping and getting yourself into a situation where you'll be keeping weird hours. Staying up all night and sleeping all day will make you more socially isolated than you already will be as an LL patient.
2. Eat 3 meals a day, even if you're not hungry. At least try to eat something, even if you have to force feed yourself. You need to eat during this stressful time for your body.
Remember those two things and I think you'll be all right. You're in good hands.
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Hey Liam, good to read that your surgery went well. It must help having other patients there with you going through the same thing. How's the food there?
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How long will I shoot for ?
I flew to guangzhou on the 1st sep to spend two weeks in china with Lisa , my online gf before traveling on alone to Beijing. Meeting her face to face at the airport was exciting and good to have a friend in such a foreign land. We had met online and used Skype so we 'knew' each other and could already converse between basic mandarin and English. She was taller than I expected but I knew quickly by her she didn't find me height an issue and was physically comfortable with me.
For two weeks I emersed myself into Chinese culture speaking little English and ordering meals etc on my own. Lisa and I made a nice couple and we were noticed every where we went and folks approached us at restaurants asking how we knew each other and asking about me in particular. Chinese men constantly offer me cigarettes and ask where I am from and I am friendly in return but politely refuse their offer.
On Monday 15 sep I said goodbye to Lisa at the airport and flew to Beijing. She was crying and I was excited and prepared.
I arrived at Beijing at 5pm and within 15 minutes had collected my bags , found the driver with my name board and we were on our way through Beijings smogey streets to the new Yanda Hospital on the outskirts of the city.
We arrived at the impressive building , entered the below ground car park and took the lift to level 9 of the second wing. Two nurses sat at the ward counter and one was especially pretty. I was taken directly to my room and met my roommate, an international ll patient from Switzerland.
After taking a shower , getting into my hospital pyjamas and drinking a protein drink I had brought I had brought with me I was taken to the height measuring machine and I was 168.5 with my left heel slightly raised. I returned to my room ready to fast for my blood test and medicals the next day.
I spoke briefly with my roommate and he told me he was the only international patient until my arrival. There had been an American and a japanise who returned to have their rods removed but they both left weeks before.
With
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That's cool how you visited Guahgzhou and immersed yourself in the culture first. China was completely new to me and I didn't know ONE WORD of the language when I got to the hospital. How did you first meet Lisa?
LOL @ the cigarette thing; that happened to me a bunch of times too.
Too bad it's just you and the Swiss guy as far as international patients go. Wish they'd lower their prices back to 2007 levels. But I'm sure you'll make plenty of Chinese acquaintances while you're there.
It's good to hear you're doing well so far. Hope things keep going well for you.
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Wait what...? Didnt you say in an earlier post that you already had a girlfriend? Lol. Or did you mean online girlfriend or do you have both a real girlfriend and an online one, if so, nice!!
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I'm doing LATN and the cost for 4 months is 25,000 Euro. Although USD $33,000 has been advertised it is whatever the dollar equivalent depending on the daily posted Beijing rates is. So for me I got good rates on the dollar because I tracked for months and transferred foreign currencies as well as making a size able deposit to the hospital in advance to hedge against rate fluctuations.
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Rather than attend Chinese classes in my hometown I discovered a Chinese girl who was teaching mandarin over Skype for $20 per hour. She introduced me to Lisa who she went to university with and who had broken up with her Chinese boyfriend.
Over the course of several months Lisa and I skyped regularly and became good friends. I found her extremely attractive but also saw her as a friend and talked to her like I would my little sister. I also thought she was much younger as she dressed like a pretty teenager.
I planed to visit both Lisa and my tutor 3 months after the operation but had advice from MDOW that I may not be that able bodied at that stage. So I decided to spend a 2 week holiday before the operation and Lisa met me when I came through customs.
For the first week we spent loads of time together as friends And although I found her very sexy I did nothing. I think I grew on her as she felt safe and laughed a lot at my bad mandarin. Although I lost a lot of weight and have a flat stomach I don't have a great body (no abs) and am average looking.
There was strong chemistry and we held hands and hugged and on the Saturday night after dinner and a couple of SWAN beers she came back with me.
The rest of the second week we were intimate every night and morning so leaving after the second weekend was difficult.
I've exchanged two emails with Lisa since coming to Beijing but I feel things will Peter out.
I have a girlfriend at home who I love and adore and miss terribly. This thing just happened.
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That brings me back to when I spent a week in Beijing as part of a language program and ended up hooking up with a waitress next door each night. Man those were fun times :D
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I slept really well on my first night at Yanda International Hospital and was awoken by the nurse for my blood sample. My room mate had told me where the canteen was so I went alone for a huge breakfast of eggs, soup and breadrolls with meat and veg inside. I went back to my room and was soon taken down for heart monitoring and x-rays. I returned to my room again and this time Ronne was waiting for me. She looks after the international patients and we had communicated a lot over the previous six months so it was good seeing each other finally. Ronne and I discussed again my requirements and sorted out financials and other stuff, including how I could Make use of the hospital gym during my stay. As a martial artist I explained my need to also keep my upper body fit and strong. Tomorrow when the medical results are available we are to meet the famous Professor Xia for the consultation.
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Lol you better hope your girlfriend doesnt stumble on here and read those posts ;D But since she knows nothing about your surgery, I think you're good, carry on
Could you also ask if they'll do externals only instead of LON/LATN and if so how much would it cost?
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Yes, you don't have to have nails and can continue to consolidate at the hospital for an extra $1,500 per month or go home and consolidate for as long as you like and come back for frame removals.
I've been given the option to Not have nails inserted.
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Wednesday morning and as usual I'm awake at 6am and starving , however the canteen doesn't open until 7am. I do my morning stretches, calisthenics, pushups and isometrics and head into the bath room to smarten up for my consultation with Xia.
I forget to tell you folks that I met two chinese patients in the room beside the empty next room and had a chat about their experiences. The skinny one is already 6 on his tibia and the stockier one is almost 4 on his femurs. Neither have English names so I can't pronounce/ remember their names yet. However the femur guy painted a dim picture of the whole femur lengthening experience compared with tibia and explained it is more painful, restrictive in bed and sleeping , takes longer to recover and other stuff. He had also done tibia lengthening 4 years previously.
I also discovered from my X-rays that my discrepancy spread across both femur and tibia and either way would be an improvement but not total perfect alignment.
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So externals only is the same price as LON/LATN? China does seem more expensive now than all those years back when it was like the Nissan GTR in that it was the bargain of the century. With $33,000 or so I could do the entire lengthening and consolidation phase(9-10 months) in either India or Russia and stay at a hotel or hospital respectively... Where as China is an extra $1,500 a month on top
Still a decent price for LON/LATN I guess
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So externals only is the same price as LON/LATN? China does seem more expensive now than all those years back when it was like the Nissan GTR in that it was the bargain of the century. With $33,000 or so I could do the entire lengthening and consolidation phase(9-10 months) in either India or Russia and stay at a hotel or hospital respectively... Where as China is an extra $1,500 a month on top
Still a decent price for LON/LATN I guess
I see china really as a single product at a package price and that is tibia lengthening (not femurs) with LATN for as long as you need ;)
That's not to say you can't get femurs done or negotiate with extra months and no nail but their speciality is the above.
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Was talking about externals only on tibias, not femurs. I would never do externals only femurs :-\
So I agree with your statement above
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Ronne took me to a part of the hospital in what looked like a corporate executive office to wait for prof Xia.
We sat beside each other on single leather chairs in front of a huge expensive desk with nothing on it. I felt like we were in a judges chambers awaiting a private hearing with the judge.
Professor Xia arrived in and ronne introduced me. He has no English. I stood to shake hands and noticed he is taller than me and looks like a strong 170 and a sturdy 60 something man with good posture. He smiled and seemed amused that I was shorter than him and used his hand sideways moving up and down to emphasise the differences. I smiled too but wondered is this really surprising ? He asked how much I wanted to lengthen and said adjustments would be made along the way to ensure non-descrepancy. He recommended I do tibia and spent some time feeling, pressing and measuring my lower legs. He then left for 5 minutes and returned with a tall young man, I presume an apprentice and had the young man place external fixators on my legs and then fitted very well in length and circumference (I have thick calves).
When we left his office ronne asked me to wait in the hall outside as she needed to take a call and would collect me in 10 minutes to bring me back to my room. She had only left me for a minute when a young Chinese women introduced herself as Jennifer and asked me if I was going to have the surgery. When I said yes , she took me into a small room and she told me she wanted to be taller (she's already 165 so I'm surprised) but was very frightened and couldn't decide to commit and could she visit me after the operation. I said of course and we swapped phone numbers. I like her and with her little English and my mandarin we can chat. Later we become SMS buddies.
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Instead of incurring SMS/testing charges the 'wechat' iPhone application is popular with young Chinese folks as once youre within wifi range your messages are free. Already I have 35 new Chinese friends 10 of whom I found using the 'discover' option ;)
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Great story so far LittleLiam. Professor Xia's office seems to have improved since I was there. It was about as dumpy as the rest of Guang Ji Hospital when I got to visit him.
The Chinese are very conscious of their reputation for being short, which should explain some of Professor Xia's reaction and Jennifer's wanting to do the surgery even at 165cm. Tall people in China definitely have more opportunities open to them, especially when it comes to dealing with the outside world. International students and people in customer service positions "somehow" are all quite taller than the average Chinese person.
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Thursday 18 September
Could have had the operation this day but proposed friday 19 as my preference and used this day to shop for things I'll need during recovery and 'rest up'.
My maid yangjie took me by taxi to Walmart and she followed my shopping list converter to Chinese characters.
Ronne had also suggested a range of tinned foods (like kidney beans) for consumption after the operation during those days in a semi stupor and not able to eat full meals. You won't be able to go and do a poo for 4 or 5 days afterwards.
I wandered around myself adding various fruits and veg into the trolley and found some bargains (t-shirts for 15 rmb )
I spent close to 400 rmb and we were laden down with plastic bags walking for a taxi. Trolleys not allowed out to the car park!
We then drove to a mobile shop to buy a sim or 50 rmb.
When I returned to the hospital after cleaning up I went alone to the canteen and had a substantial meal of chicken legs, various Vegetables, soup, leeks and more.
About 8pm Doctor Ma (who would operate on me ) took me to the private room of a Chinese guy in his mid thirties who was at 3 centimeters and had good English to translate the contract.
The Chinese patient told me he was calling it a day at 3 and was going home ! He originally planned 7.5 but said his skin was too sensitive and between infections and soreness at pin points he had decided to get the rods inserted and go home. He showed me his x-rays.
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Friday 19 September - the operation
I awoke at six and felt nervous as hell about the operation. As usual here, you don't know basic things like your operation time etc. in any case I went to the toilet and fully relieved myself (1 and 2) and showered. I then waited and waited until two nurses came in and said 'operation'.
I made it clear to Dr. Ma that I wanted a full anesthetic and not an epidural which appears to be the norm
I was wheeled into the operating room and in addition to Dr. Ma and another doctor (don't know his name yet) were two anesthetists (I think). I was asked if my teeth were real and when I said yes the drip was inserted. Heart monitor was put in place and for about 5 minutes I was conscious and relatively relaxed.
Next thing I remember I am back in my room and the operation is complete and I can feel my legs.
:)
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It's Friday evening and I'm responding to the best wishes messages on WeChat including a long one from Jennifer. My maid has moved into my room to sleep on the couch beside me !
The two Chinese patients next door (femur and tibia) have come in for a chat. My roommate is talking a lot but I'd rather have peace and quiet. A small Chinese girl (aged 19) comes in on a wheelchair to 'wish me well' and 'keep me company'. I converse with her for about 40 minutes as her English is very good and we get on well together. Some people from other rooms appear also 'to have a look at me' , lifting my lower blankett to see my legs. Later this happens again on occasion where a complete stranger with no English comes in to look at me and my legs.....very strange.
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Sounds like fun. You can do the same to them once you start feeling better, just going around from room to room looking around and talking to random people.
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How are the external femur patients over there doing?
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Are you in erqu dong or yiqu dong (#2 wing or #1 wing) at the Guangji Hospital in Fengtai District or do they have you in the new hospital somewhere else in Beijing?
My bed was #20 in yiqu dong and my maid was Yangjie from Gansu Province. Send her my regards and tell her that David from Australia (who left there on June 22 this year after first arriving at the end of November last year) has returned to work and is walking OK.
About ten days after the operation they will allow you to stand with the frames attached to your legs and permit you to commence turning the fixator dials which stretch the leg (bone, muscle and tendon) gradually longer over the course of months. I lengthened at 4 turns a day, with two hours between each turn (6am, 8, 10, noon). They changed that to 3 hours after I went past 4cm (6am, 9am, noon, 3pm). There are four dials on each frame and each dial has six numbered positions.
About 3pm each day the maid should offer you 'baojia' ie. foot massage with soaked hot towels, hot as you can bear.
Make sure to get about and practice words from your Chinese phrasebook with patients, visitors, nurses, etc in the other rooms and other wings. The wheelchair will be faster but the walking frame will be better for rehabilitation.
Hawthorn defeated Sydney by a big margin in the AFL Grand Final yesterday.
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Sounds like fun. You can do the same to them once you start feeling better, just going around from room to room looking around and talking to random people.
From your diary and what others ( like Thegosis) have said this new hospital is a very different place. It is modern and very orderly and clean. There are regular inspections re oh&s and general cleanliness. ronne says in the old hospital the nurses listened more , whatever that means ;)
We are all in th east wing of the 9th floor and the west wing appears empty. However rooms can fill quickly as in the short time I've been here the two rooms on either side and accross from us have filled up with noisy patients. I'm looking forward to wandering around on my own soon and relaying back to you what I see and hear. In particular I want to meet the girl in room 11.
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From your diary and what others ( like Thegosis) have said this new hospital is a very different place. It is modern and very orderly and clean. There are regular inspections re oh&s and general cleanliness. ronne says in the old hospital the nurses listened more , whatever that means ;)
We are all in th east wing of the 9th floor and the west wing appears empty. However rooms can fill quickly as in the short time I've been here the two rooms on either side and accross from us have filled up with noisy patients. I'm looking forward to wandering around on my own soon and relaying back to you what I see and hear. In particular I want to meet the girl in room 11.
I guess you're getting something for the increased price, then, in the form of improved living conditions. The nurses at the old hospital would talk to you if you wheeled into the nurses' station and struck up a conversation.
"The girl in room 11." ;D That reminds me of trying to track down Lemon after meeting her in the hallway. Hope you have fun wandering the hospital and meeting people when you're done being bedridden. Doing that kept my spirits up probably more than anything else during my LL journey.
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Does China offer plating as an option?
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How are the external femur patients over there doing?
There are two patients during external femurs and they are doing it really tough compared with everyone else. External femurs is very inconvient and it appears to have other issues. The main disadvantages are not being able to lie on your side and showering is a problem because of the difficulty in keeping your pins dry.
Both of these patients are generally, in pain, frustrated, alternating Anger and depression. Both are Chinese one male the other female.
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Hi Liam, another boy from down under here :).
Just wondering if femur patients have ring/half ring externals, or telescoping externals - hard to tell from Xia's website.
Xia's website seems also to show LON femurs - but is LATN now the newer method ?.
Thanks
AimHigh
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Hi Liam, another boy from down under here :).
Just wondering if femur patients have ring/half ring externals, or telescoping externals - hard to tell from Xia's website.
Xia's website seems also to show LON femurs - but is LATN now the newer method ?.
Thanks
AimHigh
The Chinese guy doing femur lengthening has those telescopic externals on the outside of each thigh. He's going for 5 centimeters and will then consolidate without any rods. Brave guy with incredible determination. He already did 5 on tibias 4 years ago!
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Does China offer plating as an option?
I don't know but can inquire for you. What is plating? Is it an alternative to rods?
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I don't know but can inquire for you. What is plating? Is it an alternative to rods?
Yep. So instead of a nail through your knees you get plates which hopefully wont give the potential knee pains
Some info on the topic on the forum :
http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=389.0
http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=1002.0
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Tomorrow will be my fourteenth day of lengthening, 7 days of 6 turns and 7 days of 4 or 3 alternating. I must admit that I seem to feel the pain more or am more of a coward than folks here and those of you that have gone ahead of me. Although the pain is not acute I am constantly in pain and the only relief (somewhat less pain and some extra sleep) is when I do only 3 turns , like today. I can't walk yet with the walker and although I use and enjoy the wheelchair, my knees lock up after an hour in the chair and I'm temporarily in agony. I have not had a good nights sleep since I started lengthening and the single pain killer I'm permitted each night just gives me respite for about 4 hours, 9 until 1am. I struggle through each night lying in the dark focused on the pain and trying to move a little to relieve it. I have cried quietly a few nights.
Tomorrow I will get my first x-ray since the operation. Due to the Chinese national holiday my x-rays were postponed.
My room mate claims he did not experience pain ( that stopped him from sleeping) while doing 4 turns and only now gets pain since is went past 4 centre meters and that is due to skin stretching around pin sites.
Very interested in your views on my pain and whether I am just a wimp compared with you folks :(
I hadnt appreciated how difficult it is to get painkillers in china as you have to have a doctors prescription, apparently.
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You're not a wimp for being in pain or crying. It's all part of the grueling process. There were many sleepless nights for me due to constant aching and the inability to find one comfortable position to sleep in. Some nights I was even cursing myself for voluntarily getting my legs broken and pulled apart. Once distraction is over that pain will go away. Just think of it like you're in a long battle and that you're not going to let the obstacle of pain prevent you from your mission.
Are the doctors there not willing or unable to give you a prescription for more pain medication?
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Yep, that's how it is in China. They're very stingy with the pain medicine because of their society's troubled history with opium. I'm not sure if this will fly anymore, but back in 2007 if you kept bothering the nurses you could get more. I got 4 pills in one day with this method, then Wu Jie told me I'd had enough for that day. :)
LL hurts everyone. Don't think you're special in that regard. ;) Have they given you wood lock? You could try asking for it. We had to buy it back in my day, but it provides some relief and they'll let you have as much as you want.
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You're not a wimp for being in pain or crying. It's all part of the grueling process. There were many sleepless nights for me due to constant aching and the inability to find one comfortable position to sleep in. Some nights I was even cursing myself for voluntarily getting my legs broken and pulled apart. Once distraction is over that pain will go away. Just think of it like you're in a long battle and that you're not going to let the obstacle of pain prevent you from your mission.
Are the doctors there not willing or unable to give you a prescription for more pain medication?
Thanks Kilo, if the pain and aches don't get worse then I can manage and sustain this , I just wasn't sure as I expected the pain to go down when the number of turns we're reduced.
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Yep, that's how it is in China. They're very stingy with the pain medicine because of their society's troubled history with opium. I'm not sure if this will fly anymore, but back in 2007 if you kept bothering the nurses you could get more. I got 4 pills in one day with this method, then Wu Jie told me I'd had enough for that day. :)
LL hurts everyone. Don't think you're special in that regard. ;) Have they given you wood lock? You could try asking for it. We had to buy it back in my day, but it provides some relief and they'll let you have as much as you want.
Yes MDOW the mindset here is that if you take more than say 3 painkiller tablets in a day that you'll lose your sanity !
Better to be mad in pain than blissfully mad ;)
I was given a wood lock rub and it was nice but did nothing to relieve my 'growing pains'. I think it will be useful when I'm consolidating and latter to rub down when the nails are in maybe.
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Are you in erqu dong or yiqu dong (#2 wing or #1 wing) at the Guangji Hospital in Fengtai District or do they have you in the new hospital somewhere else in Beijing?
My bed was #20 in yiqu dong and my maid was Yangjie from Gansu Province. Send her my regards and tell her that David from Australia (who left there on June 22 this year after first arriving at the end of November last year) has returned to work and is walking OK.
About ten days after the operation they will allow you to stand with the frames attached to your legs and permit you to commence turning the fixator dials which stretch the leg (bone, muscle and tendon) gradually longer over the course of months. I lengthened at 4 turns a day, with two hours between each turn (6am, 8, 10, noon). They changed that to 3 hours after I went past 4cm (6am, 9am, noon, 3pm). There are four dials on each frame and each dial has six numbered positions.
About 3pm each day the maid should offer you 'baojia' ie. foot massage with soaked hot towels, hot as you can bear.
Make sure to get about and practice words from your Chinese phrasebook with patients, visitors, nurses, etc in the other rooms and other wings. The wheelchair will be faster but the walking frame will be better for rehabilitation.
Hawthorn defeated Sydney by a big margin in the AFL Grand Final yesterday.
Hey David, you did well being able to turn 4 times a day every 2 hours without painkiller right up to 4 centre meters. Right now I am waiting 3 hours between turns and struggling to get the 4th turn due to the stretching aches and pains.
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LOL yeah. My roommate Cloud took a lot of tramadol towards the end of his LL. He was actually paying one of the maids to steal it for him from the stockroom. Although she did it, she would say to him "Ni fungza. Ni fei chang fungza." That's how I learned all those words. :D
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It is now three weeks since my operation and the X-ray results look good. I am just over a centimeter 'taller' now (1.26616 on my spreadsheet) and my body is coping much better with the 4 turns per day with gaps of 2.5 hours. Wheelchair is easy to get around and I'm taking longer walks each day with the frame.
Two Chinese patients here have 'gone home' to consolidate. The Chinese girl, jennifer I met after consultation with Xia and her consultation decided to postpone her operation so I won't see her here. I met a 17 year old Chinese girl yesterday when I was out on my wheelchair and she is getting her legs fixed after a car accident. This is a full facility hospital with causality so ll patients are an exception and I noticed that x-ray staff are not experienced in treating ll patients.
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Interesting. Guang Ji was primarily an LL place when I was there, and we had the grunting Neanderthal x-ray tech who lived in a room next to the machine. ;D
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I have now lengthened just over 1 and a half centimeters. Unfortunately though over the last week my left knee in particular has become very painful to bend and I'm becoming incapacitated. Although I could just keep turning, I fear something is wrong. I was doing 4 turns every day with a lot of pain in the evenings and nighttime. Today I will do no turns at all and hope the rest will do my body some good abd hopefully see a start to recovery in knee movement.
Have any of you chosen to stop for a few days and if so were then difficulties in getting back to the routine later?
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Sorry to hear you're having difficulties. I had the same issue with my knees being stiff during lengthening and wondering if something was wrong. It was okay, just the body's natural reaction to the trauma of LL. I decided to keep going because the knee isn't where the lengthening is taking place, so there couldn't be a problem.
I took several breaks from turning, the longest being over a week if I remember correctly. Taking breaks really helps if you're having pain when lengthening. Nothing helped the knee stiffness, however, except cortisone injections.
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Hello Liam,
you better believe you get stiffness in your knees from any situation where your legs are enforced to be bound straight like after the second surgery and with a further infection after that I was informed just to stay in with the legs straight and elevated.
The 17 year old who has had a car accident sounds like Nancy who was 16 when I was last there in June. Nancy wears glasses.
Does anyone remember me, David from Australia, who was there Nov'13-Feb'14 & Apr'14-Jun'14? Ronne would.
I limp on my right leg which is limiting the speed of my walking. I took X-rays again this morning. Some ways to go for the bones to close up & I'm searching for a way to transfer those images off the CD and get them to Wang Bei (Ronne).
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Sorry to hear you're having difficulties. I had the same issue with my knees being stiff during lengthening and wondering if something was wrong. It was okay, just the body's natural reaction to the trauma of LL. I decided to keep going because the knee isn't where the lengthening is taking place, so there couldn't be a problem.
I took several breaks from turning, the longest being over a week if I remember correctly. Taking breaks really helps if you're having pain when lengthening. Nothing helped the knee stiffness, however, except cortisone injections.
So MDOW did you have cortisone injections while lengthening? How did you with stead the pain of knee bending without painkillers?
My knee stiffness means I can't use the wheelchair now as these wheelchairs require you to bend your knees at 90 degrees :(. I hear the wheelchairs at the old hospital were much better?
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Hello Liam,
you better believe you get stiffness in your knees from any situation where your legs are enforced to be bound straight like after the second surgery and with a further infection after that I was informed just to stay in with the legs straight and elevated.
The 17 year old who has had a car accident sounds like Nancy who was 16 when I was last there in June. Nancy wears glasses.
Does anyone remember me, David from Australia, who was there Nov'13-Feb'14 & Apr'14-Jun'14? Ronne would.
I limp on my right leg which is limiting the speed of my walking. I took X-rays again this morning. Some ways to go for the bones to close up & I'm searching for a way to transfer those images off the CD and get them to Wang Bei (Ronne).
David, I hoped you would be recovering well by now. What is the reason for your limp? Do you have poor bone consolidation?
I'll talk to ronne next week.
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So MDOW did you have cortisone injections while lengthening? How did you with stead the pain of knee bending without painkillers?
My knee stiffness means I can't use the wheelchair now as these wheelchairs require you to bend your knees at 90 degrees :(. I hear the wheelchairs at the old hospital were much better?
You have to bend your knees to 90 degrees, especially at the beginning or it will get only worse. Just put a lot of pillow under your feet and you knees will fall down and then stay like that for a few hours.
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So MDOW did you have cortisone injections while lengthening? How did you with stead the pain of knee bending without painkillers?
My knee stiffness means I can't use the wheelchair now as these wheelchairs require you to bend your knees at 90 degrees :(. I hear the wheelchairs at the old hospital were much better?
I had the occasional cortisone injection, but it's not good to have too many throughout lengthening. The fact that they worked showed that my stiffness was caused by inflammation and not by some severe biomechanical problem.
The wheelchairs at the old hospital were crap; probably the same make and model they gave you. Here was the advantage of lengthening with 30 other people. Lumberjack came up with this brilliant setup:
-Adjust the wheelchair's footrests as high as they'll go
-Put your table on top of the footrests
-Put your pillow on top of the table
Like this:
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Hey MDOW ,
Your wheelchair solution is great, thanks. I've created a similar solution with pillows and twine but no table. Our tables are on wheels beside the bed.
All,
I asked about medication for my knee and the dr had proposed a product with 'Artz Dispo' printed on it. I said I want to do research on it before being injected, probably tomorrow morning. If it allows me to bend my knee so that I can exercise and walk I will be delighted as I can get back to lengthening again.
Any advice appreciated.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical devices
As a pioneer in glycoconjugate research, Seikagaku uses its own technologies and know-how, and is well trusted as a pharmaceutical company that makes high quality products. Seikagaku manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products containing hyaluronic acid, a major component of glycoconjugates. As the society continues to age, these products improve people's Quality of Life.
Product Information
ARTZ Intra-articular injections for improving joint functions
Therapeutic Category Brand Name Generic Name Launch Date
Joint function improving agent ARTZ®25mg Purified Sodium Hyaluronate March 1987
Joint function improving agent ARTZ Dispo®25mg Purified Sodium Hyaluronate February 1993
ARTZ® is the world's first joint function improving agent whose main ingredient is hyaluronic acid. It was developed based on the knowledge that hyaluronic acid is an important component of joint fluid. By being directly injected into the joint, the drug can help improve ailments common among seniors, such as osteoarthritis of the knee, periarthritis of the shoulder, and knee joint pain of rheumatoid arthritis.
ARTZ Dispo® is a pre-filled syringe, eliminating the time it takes to aspirate the drug solution (hyaluronic acid) from the ampule.
ARTZ® has been approved in 17 countries, including Japan, the US, Europe, and several countries in Asia. It is widely trusted by medical society and more than 330 million injections have already been administered worldwide.
ARTZ®25mg ARTZ Dispo®25mg(Plastic Syringe) ARTZ Dispo®25mg(Glass Syringe)
Gel-One Cross-linked Hyaluronate Hydrogel for Knee Osteoarthritis
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Hey MDOW ,
Your wheelchair solution is great, thanks. I've created a similar solution with pillows and twine but no table. Our tables are on wheels beside the bed.
All,
I asked about medication for my knee and the dr had proposed a product with 'Artz Dispo' printed on it. I said I want to do research on it before being injected, probably tomorrow morning. If it allows me to bend my knee so that I can exercise and walk I will be delighted as I can get back to lengthening again.
Any advice appreciated.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical devices
As a pioneer in glycoconjugate research, Seikagaku uses its own technologies and know-how, and is well trusted as a pharmaceutical company that makes high quality products. Seikagaku manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products containing hyaluronic acid, a major component of glycoconjugates. As the society continues to age, these products improve people's Quality of Life.
Product Information
ARTZ Intra-articular injections for improving joint functions
Therapeutic Category Brand Name Generic Name Launch Date
Joint function improving agent ARTZ®25mg Purified Sodium Hyaluronate March 1987
Joint function improving agent ARTZ Dispo®25mg Purified Sodium Hyaluronate February 1993
ARTZ® is the world's first joint function improving agent whose main ingredient is hyaluronic acid. It was developed based on the knowledge that hyaluronic acid is an important component of joint fluid. By being directly injected into the joint, the drug can help improve ailments common among seniors, such as osteoarthritis of the knee, periarthritis of the shoulder, and knee joint pain of rheumatoid arthritis.
ARTZ Dispo® is a pre-filled syringe, eliminating the time it takes to aspirate the drug solution (hyaluronic acid) from the ampule.
ARTZ® has been approved in 17 countries, including Japan, the US, Europe, and several countries in Asia. It is widely trusted by medical society and more than 330 million injections have already been administered worldwide.
ARTZ®25mg ARTZ Dispo®25mg(Plastic Syringe) ARTZ Dispo®25mg(Glass Syringe)
Gel-One Cross-linked Hyaluronate Hydrogel for Knee Osteoarthritis
You don't really need any kind of injections for bending your knee, just do some physio, even if it's really really painful. That's LL :)
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It may or may not help, but I'd try it and see. The U.S. National Institute of Health has a paper that says it's a safe drug, at least, based on clinical trials.
You don't really need any kind of injections for bending your knee, just do some physio, even if it's really really painful. That's LL :)
Only if it's caused by tightness of the tendons, not because of inflammation in the joints. It's not about pain; the knee joint is just so stiff it won't move.
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Thanks 123 and MDOW for your advice and guidance. I have pain in both knees and expected that however the left knee is locked and huge now due to fluid retention compared with my right knee. With Physio and warm ups my right knee responds but my left doesn't and that's my concern as I can't continue with a locked left knee. The pins are not identically positioned and I suspect the the pin on the left penetrating the anterior ligament , the small one that connect patella with tibia, is a contributing factor. I've tried taking pain killer and the left knee stays locked. I've scheduled the injection for my left knee tomorrow so fingers crossed. Thanks for your support.
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Thanks 123 and MDOW for your advice and guidance. I have pain in both knees and expected that however the left knee is locked and huge now due to fluid retention compared with my right knee. With Physio and warm ups my right knee responds but my left doesn't and that's my concern as I can't continue with a locked left knee. The pins are not identically positioned and I suspect the the pin on the left penetrating the anterior ligament , the small one that connect patella with tibia, is a contributing factor. I've tried taking pain killer and the left knee stays locked. I've scheduled the injection for my left knee tomorrow so fingers crossed. Thanks for your support.
The pins can be brutal, I had also pain (maybe not as severe as you) but that's something that can happen, because the half-wires can damage some nerves/tendons etc.. So my tip is, put a lot of pillow under your foot (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BQ0YCKfPYrA/U7SPD6by0nI/AAAAAAAADrE/l3TeKcs4qtQ/s1600/Shock_Large.jpg (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BQ0YCKfPYrA/U7SPD6by0nI/AAAAAAAADrE/l3TeKcs4qtQ/s1600/Shock_Large.jpg)), so your knees will drop automatically, the next step would be leg raises but I guess that's too early for you. Just keep them like that while laying in bed, it will get better, trust me :). Unless you have some serious complications...
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How about your knee problem now?Hope your recover soon.
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Since my last post my left knee has become slightly looser from pt and heat treatment, but I still can't bend enough to get into wheelchair. I have continue to lengthen however and learnt to manage the pain by not straining. I am getting a much earlier than planned X-ray tomorrow to re-look at how the pins on my left leg have penetrated bone, tendons and muscle. I expect confirmation of almost 2.5 centimeters. Thanks for your support guys.
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Well I got my x-ray yesterday after 34 days of lengthening and I expected the results to be 2.3 for each leg as I was consistent in how I applied my turns. Instead the result is right leg : 2.2 and left leg : 2.7 !
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Well I got my x-ray yesterday after 34 days of lengthening and I expected the results to be 2.3 for each leg as I was consistent in how I applied my turns. Instead the result is right leg : 2.2 and left leg : 2.7 !
That's good progress LittleLiam. How's the atmosphere over there, are you still the only english speaking patient at the hospital?
Bsides, how would you rate the pain so far?
Leo
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That's good progress LittleLiam. How's the atmosphere over there, are you still the only english speaking patient at the hospital?
Bsides, how would you rate the pain so far?
Leo
I think I'm still the only patient with English as my first language. For several weeks I've been bed-ridden except for difficult trips to the bathroom for 'poo poo' and shower. However the good news is that my knees have loosened despite the continued lengthening and hopefully will bend enough for easy insertion of pins/nails. I've self calculated both legs at 3.5 now and have X-rays scheduled for Monday
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Hey Liam, hope your lengthening is going well.
What do you do throughout the day to keep yourself busy? Also which vpn do you use and how much do you pay for it?
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Hey little lamb, I am an Asian Male 167 cm in the U.S considering doing LL in China in February of 2015. Currently I am emailing Dr. Roger Li and doing my research. I hope you can enlighten me on how the payment process work and what was the steps when moving forward with the surgery.
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Hey Liam, hope your lengthening is going well.
What do you do throughout the day to keep yourself busy? Also which vpn do you use and how much do you pay for it?
After a difficult start with knee problems the lengthening process improved from 'light exercise' and PT.
Most days I take a few walks and a lot of wheelchair travel to other patients rooms to chat in English/Mandarin. People are coming, visiting and leaving all the time so if you want to make Chinese friends and improve your Chinese this is what I do daily.
The Internet is not fast and is unreliable at this hospital. They have no concept of service levels and we have had periods of a week without Internet and many weekends without Internet and this is due to the local area network and no change control.
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Hey little lamb, I am an Asian Male 167 cm in the U.S considering doing LL in China in February of 2015. Currently I am emailing Dr. Roger Li and doing my research. I hope you can enlighten me on how the payment process work and what was the steps when moving forward with the surgery.
I don't know Dr Li and the payment process may be different going forward. I made a small deposit before I travelled here as a gesture of intent rather than to meet a requirement. I suggest you correspond with Ronne also has she has good English.
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Little Lamb, thanks for the reply. If the Internet is unreliable why won't you subscribe to a cell phone service or prepaid data service? Also, do you know if their cellular is 4G? Nonetheless, how's your lengthening coming along and what is your goal?
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Dear LittleLiam - I would love to speak with you personally on your experience so far. I'm planning for this surgery and will appriciate your advice and insight on the experience you face until now. Would it be possible for us to schedule a phone call ? You can message me your number and preferred contact time. Thank you
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LittleLiam, or anyone that have Wang Beijing aka Ronnie contact information? Please post. I would like to give her a call and get more information on LL in China. Thanks.
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leglengthening@aliyun.com is her personal email address.
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Your leg is 2.3 and the to other 2.7? Isn't that uneven ?
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We've got a real math whiz here.
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I'm on the final leg of my journey ( no pun intended) having completed the second operation two weeks ago. The knee problem (couldnt bend left knee beyond 45 degrees since first operation) disappeared with the removal of the fixator! I do have a low pain in both knees but both can bend 90 degrees no problem.
While here ive concentrated on my health and recovery and pain management but also the unexpected enjoyment of the experience of making new friends and meditating and learning a lot about suffering and the pursuit of goals.
When I return to OZ in about a months time I'll upload my copious notes in chronological order and answer any questions online. I won't be divulging any personal information like my phone number or engage in 'chats' online or phone conversations for obvious reasons.
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Congratulations LittleLiam! I'm looking forward to seeing your writeup.
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Congratulation Little liam, it's nice to see u are doing good. I am curious how much distracting Or lengthening is allowed per day safety?
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When you get back to Sydney NSW get your GP to write you a referral to Calvary Rehabilitation Hospital in Ramsgate (ph 95533111, http://www.calvary-sydney.org.au/rehabilitation.html (http://www.calvary-sydney.org.au/rehabilitation.html)). Get someone from their assessment team to come see you, and then if you can swing it for a 2-3 week stay followed by outpatient visits to the day rehab unit you'll be throwing your walking frame away a lot quicker .. all covered 100% by Medicare!! Yanda Hospital doesn't have physiotherapists who put you on a program and a hydro pool and gym I bet.
Was pushed in there in a wheelchair and came out under my own power with calipers inside 3 weeks.
Think I already gave you this tip.
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How much centimeters have you gain in how much time?
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Liam,
I had the same stiffness and couldnt bend my knee for weeks while i was there.
Use heat treatments and a lot of massage and u will be ok.
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ps: could you tell Ronne to check her email for me? I will be coming to Beijing for rods removal next week. I hope to see u then.
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Hey Liam,
Just checking in to see what's up. How's your recovery going?
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Its just over three months since my second operation. Its taken me longer to recover than I had expected. Ive finally arrived back to my apartment today to live on my own again. I stayed with a gf since I arrived back to Sydney on Jan 1. I can walk / hobble without crutches but I still have some consolidation to go. Ive put on some weigh to 72 kilos which is good for 174. I haven't had the appetite to start uploading my diary as Im been too busy recovering and trying to earn money again. My life is definitely different though as I have a cool confidence and almost never get stressed or lose my cool. Men respect me totally even if they are drunk and women like when I smile at them. Life is good ;-)
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Glad to hear you're enjoying your new height and doing better. I don't think you're recovering slowly. 3 months after the 2nd surgery is about when I ditched the crutches too.
I can't want to read your LL diary now that it's all over.
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Have you got knee pain?
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Havn't signed on to this site for a long time. Its weird because for yearsI was on here nearly every night and originally the other site when I first got interested in LL about 5 years ago.
It's so good being normal height and on Friday a woman who had seen me before said I hadn't realised you were so tall ;-)
I really feel very lucky and especially that I went for Tibia lengthening considering the things I saw in China that happened to folks who went for external femur lengthening. Very bad. Don't ever anybody consider external femur lengthening with that monorail. The femur is too strong and at an angle so only internal will work satisfactorily for femurs.
Tibia takes a lot longer to heal but average surgeons can do a "good" job.
My life has changed dramatically for the better since the operation and I've been too busy living it to even want to spend updating this diary as I had promised many I would, sorry.
Now that I'm actively back at the gym and doing sports again and walking taller I hope I find the time over the next year to contribute back to the forum and help potential LL's the way I was helped and inspired.
Now some eight months since my rods were inserted my bones are stronger than before and have fully consolidated around the titanium rods.
I also got my best job ever on crutches for the interview in March and am earning twice what I was earning before and believe my height was a factor or perhaps my increased confidence.
If there's anything you want to ask or anyway I can help please sen me your questions or concerns
Liam
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No knee pain anymore, no pain at all, just normal now.
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Will you go back to Beijing to have the rods removed? When will that be?
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Never :-)
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Hi Liam, it's been quite a while that I've been on this website also. I'm glad that you had recovered. I was wondering if you can go back and put your recovery on a timeline such as those painfull phase of struggles you had to endure to where everything was back to normal. For example, the start date of surgery to end date of Lengthening, how long it takes you to stretch out your Bent Knee, how long it takes you to stretch out the umbrella feet problem, when you're able to use crutches, etc..