Limb Lengthening Forum
Limb Lengthening Surgery => Limb Lengthening Patients Experiences => Topic started by: InFullStryde on January 07, 2019, 10:26:27 PM
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Greetings every one!
I wanted to announce that I have officially completed the Stryde nail limb lengthening surgery last week with Dr. Shahab Mahboubian of North Hollywood, CA. The surgery itself went very smooth and I have now began to proceed down a pathway toward an increased height. My goal is to increase my height by appropriately 3 inches (8 centimeters). I chose Dr. Mahboubian because he is professional, has an excellent track record, is personable with his patients and is also very local and offers a very convenient process for me (If you can ever call CLL convenient, lol)
A bit about me:
I'm a 37 year old male and a successful business entrepreneur, attractive, and in a relationship with an attractive woman (inside and out). My reason for pursuing the height increase surrounds my desire to be at a height range that I would be most comfortable at. I am currently 5'1.25" (156.21cm). An increase of 6.5 cm - 8 cm places me at about 5'4" and with my typical footwear, around 5'5/5'6. I'm very comfortable with this height. I also, recently lost my parents, sadly to disease and cancer, respectively; so more than ever I realize that one has to do all possible to live their very best life; while they still can. I actually met with Dror Paley about the potential of CLL back in 1999; and decided against it at 17 years old. I didn't pursue at that time because i didn't want my parents to have to refinance their home and go through so many life changes in order to pursue the procedure. My dad would of had to stay in CA to work and my Mom would have been taking care of me in Florida. No way I was going to put them through this. Ultimately, 20 years later, I was able to afford to have it done myself, had all the time and resources and felt that now was a good time to Stryde with Mahboubian. I want 8 centimeters.
I will be as detailed as possible with my day-to-day updates and I ask for constructive feedback always.
"The Surgery" Arrived at 5:30. Was admitted by administrators into the hospital (30 minutes), Brought into a room and had basic medical tests performed and IV connected (1 hour), and then met with Dr. Mahboubian and Anesthesiologist (10-15 minutes). Eventually you are wheeled off while in stretcher type bed; waiving to your family goodbye; and in my case it was my sister as they brought me to the operating room. They connect you to some anesthetic and the next thing you remember is being in the recovery room being tended to my friendly nurses ensuring your comfort is good to go. After setting up my legs nicely with ice, covering me with warm blanks and running a few more tests with me; I was wheeled into my hospital room. The pain level was 2 maybe 3; at this point as I was pretty well induced with morphine and anesthetic. Barely any swelling on my legs at all. I felt so very well cared for and taken care of to be honest. In speaking with the doctors and other medical professionals at the hospital, as well as administrators; you truly gain a sense that nothing about this procedure is taboo. This is medical and when done right its successful. The surgery prep, implementation, and wrap-up takes about 4 hours in total. After my surgery was completed, Dr. Mahboubian, met with my sister who was standing by in the waiting room and she received the good news. My Surgery went great. Everything smooth and order. More challenges are ahead; but to hear that the surgical portion was now checked off; well that's just fantastic to know.
I have to get some work done now and will try to update my first 5 days post surgery tonight, as well as provide a detailed descriptive of how I'm pulling this all off, including care, transportation, etc. I hope to provide a valuable insight on ways to pursuit the surgery with leverage. So far, I will say that I really like Dr. Mahboubian. You'll learn more about him, me, and the life changing procedure each day as I conquer it along side my brilliant Doctor, and the rest of the care team!
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I am happy to hear the surgery was successful.
I hope your lengthening and recovery is just as successful!
37 years old is not old at all. You have many years u will enjoy your new height!
en entire lifetime! Your life starts over again the day you finnish lengthening!
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good luck in your journey !
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Hi InFullStryde,
Wish you best of luck in your journey. I am going to do CLL Stryde with Dr.M soon. Your journey would be really helpful for future LLers. Please provide all details as much as you can.
Thank you.
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Wow!cheer ! In full Stryde you are the first Stryde patient of Dr. Mahboubian.
Thanks for your sharing.
Keep strong!
Could I ask you a question? What is the estimated total price?
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You're in great hands! I am almost a year post op with Dr. M, and am happy with my choice and decision to pursue this surgery.
Happy for you! All the best with your journey!
Reach out if you need anything at all. I am local.
LAGrowin - surgery 1/18/18
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Awesome, man I have a question that I pmed you, plz cehck, thanks
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Hey, thanks for doing a diary of your experience. Im also thinking about getting this done with a dr in the U.S. and been lurking on this forum for a few months now and it really helps so appreciate you and the others who do this. Hope the best for you during this process and hope you reach your goal.
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Day 1 - A Great Start
The first day, includes the morning of surgery. Honestly, it was a good one. I was starting to feel excited about taking this step forward. I met my initial nurse for that morning/afternoon, Mario and he was a super nice guy. He even mentioned that I was his favorite patient that day (LOL). I think it's because I really didn't bother much and I know how busy the nurses get in hospitals. My pain level was on average a 2 or 3. I was able to lift my legs and do heel drags as well. The tightness is definitely there; but not over whelming. I was able to bend my knee, approaching a right angle; so the future feels indeed bright. I will say that my left leg was far more sensitive to movement than my right was. My right felt ready to go from the start; however the passive left leg, not so much.
The rest of the day included meals, attentive care and a PT session. Moment of truth... Baring weight on the Stryde nail.... Once I was able to get on both of my feet, i tested this carefully by simply letting go of my walker for a brief few seconds while being spotted by the nurses and it is indeed true that Stryde will hold you strong. The key is however; for your legs to be able to hold your own weight. This will take some time for most of us. After a traumatic surgery; its best to not push it. I was able to take about 4 steps foot dragging, mummy steps, lol and then back to bed. Pain at this point during the first walk was about a 8. It hurts for obvious reasons.
The rest of the day was calm. I continued to push the pain button to ensure that I was getting a steady dose of Morphine as the Antithetic was wearing off. My pain never exceeded a 3.5 on day one while in a rested state (non PT).
The day finally ended for me at about 11:00 pm, when the Nurse pulled out my catheter. It was definitely a strange feeling but it came out quickly. I admit i cringed; but it was over before I knew it; just like the LL surgery was.
Day 2 - The Letter P
Oh my, the 2nd day definitely brought the drama. Before getting into that; let me mention that early morning, my kind and smart, Orthopedic Doctor and Surgeon, Dr. Mahboubian, came to see me. Wanted to see how I was doing and all I was good except for my left leg which was painful when applying movement or pressure. The Dr. performed some light stretching with me and felt good with range of motion; however he was able to see the pain. He mentioned to give it some time as it could take up to a week or even a little more with some legs. No one leg is built alike (even your own legs). Whew, so we push on....Okay now.... The almighty peeing situation post catheter is a fun one. At around 4:00 am, I reported to the nurse that I was struggling to "pee" and felt uncomfortable in the bladder area. Ultimately, she performed a quick bladder scan and found over 1000 cc's i believe of urine...my bladder/lower stomach was extended out and she didn't have much of a choice...She had to insert a straight catheter. Without a doubt one of more painful experiences of my life. This move cleared out the urine and I felt a lot better afterward. This is just one of those things that are hard to avoid sometimes. She then had to remove the catheter because the strait catheters are only temporary and cannot be left in for very long...that hurt too; but not as bad. Now the race to pee ASAP into a normal urinal was on. I did not want to have another cat put into me.... Hours went by and I still struggled to go number 1. Then it was PT time.... This was a particular struggle for me on day 2. My left leg was just not up to speed with the right one yet and felt very sore with any kind of movement or weight baring. With a desire to pee however; I still willed my self to the restroom..slowly, mummy foot dragging steps, step by step on the walker, I made it; but it was rocky...and guess what. I still couldn't go number 1! The nurses; we're very nice and wanted to avoid the catheter for me as well...so they stood me up 2 more times and held the urinal in front of me hoping that it would help me in doing the deed. Still couldn't do it...My last hope was even PT.... Good guy, Allen.... Once more we struggled to get the rest room due to a sore left leg....but this time, once I arrived to the toilet, I finally was able to pee. It felt like the biggest accomplishment of my life :) The rest of the day; I was able to pee while laying down in a urinal. Again, despite all the education and accolades and huge business success that I had earned over my life; this felt like my greatest accomplishment. I was the Peeing Champion of the World. Rest of the day ended uneventfully. listened to some music on my headphones and was able to sleep soundly through the night.
I will summarize day 3 of discharge and my first four days at home, later tonight for all of you. As it stand now, the biggest struggle I have is that my left leg is not strong enough to hold my weight yet; so I cannot enjoy the sweet euphoria of taking walker steps... Having said that, I am stretching 3 times a day and keeping my legs moving as to improve range of motion, stay loose, and gain strength back little by little. I just had two bones broke, after all right? Stay turned for more laughs and drama in the coming days.
Talk soon, Guys.
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congrats on starting your journey!
Could you post any pictures or videos?
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Congrats man! The hardest part is that after one month or two months you get tired of the routine and stop stretching. Whatever you do, do not stop ,not even for a day. I took a 2 day break and lost about 20-30 degrees on my hamstrings and never really got it back :p
Also, take it easy the next couple of weeks don’t try to force yourself to weight bear too much or you’ll aggravate a lot of surgical pain. Your strength will come back fast, don’t rush it. Trust me!
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Day 3 - Discharge Day
My final day in the hospital started out nicely. I slept very well through the night and was able to pee into the urinals with no issue at all. Later in the evening on Day 2, my nurse had taken me off the Morphine and now had me taking Norco, since this was the pain management I would be using at home. The Norco seemed to do a fine job at regulating my pain, especially when not moving my legs. Honestly, my pain level was at a 1-3 maximum while in a resting state. After a pretty chill morning, the friendly nurses came in and offered me a big breakfast; actually she hooked me up with two breakfasts because I was starving. Dr. Mahboubian came in to check on me; which was pretty awesome, considering that it was Saturday. All in all, our chat was great as he reinforced that all looked good in the legs, very little swelling. I raised the question about my left leg pain and the Doctor felt pretty confidence that I should see improvement over the next week or two. Doctor emphasized the importance of keeping the weaker leg, especially, stretched as to ensure that range of motion did not take a hit during this first week. That was that. I was pretty much coasting until now and was set to discharge at 3:00pm. I did, however at about 11:30am, have a PT session. It went pretty good. I learned more vital stretches and was able to get up on the walker. Again, unfortunately, the left leg soreness prevented me from doing to much damage to the floor while on the walker...lol. I took about 4 to 6 mummy like steps and was put back into the bed. The PT's said it was very normal to have difficulty walking or doing much activity on your legs immediately after surgery. The strength and flexibly will come back quickly with physical therapy. I knew this and was satisfied with the answer. At about 3:00pm my transport van came and picked me up and took me back home to my apartment. Fortunately, I live only about 50 minutes from the Doctors offices so it really does feel like a simple outpatient kind of procedure for me. I chose a wheelchair van transport since absolute safety was the only option i would accept for myself; especially in the post - operative state, I was in. I arrived home to my brother and sister who were waiting for me. I rolled in through the front door; greeted with love and smiles. It was a bit rough at first since I was not able to weight bare at all... They had to carefully transfer me to my wheel chair and eventually to my bed. I think it must have taken about 30 minutes per transfer. It really is just a brand new thing that takes a bit of getting used to. Having said all this, the discharge day was great and I was glad to be back at home. My Sister and Brother switch off on the AM and PM duties of caring for me for the first few weeks; or until I can safely get around without a wheel chair. My sleeping on this night was just okay. I didn't sleep much; primarily because I was thinking about so many things...mind was racing! With this in mind, I managed to get some good sleep eventually and experienced very little pain throughout the night.
Day 4 - My first full day at home
Ah, yes...the wonderful feeling of waking up in your own bed..... only difference this time is that I can't move. LOL! All in all, a decent day. I was transferred out of bed by my brother into a wheel chair and it was a bit painful. Since I'm not able to put any weight on my left leg yet; there isn't much of an ability to support myself while getting up into the walker. You can't push off at all; so I'm sure you can imagine this. It's still very early; so my bro did most of the work. Once in the wheelchair, I did all the normal things people do on the weekend... watched some TV, ate good food, caught up on some work stuff and spent a bit of time on my balcony. Pain was minimal when not moving my legs. We're talking pain levels at 2 or 3 at maximum. I'm getting pretty good at moving around in my wheelchair too! I can maneuver my entire place with no issue. I cannot wait to graduate to the walker in a week or two, however. One scare did occur later in the night... My legs started to swell a bit; and I panicked i believe, since up until now; i had barely any swelling. I actually called the doctors office to leave him a message; and wow.... at 10:00pm at night; the staff actually connect him through. I can't say enough about that... my Doctor taking a call that late is pretty rare and very appreciated. Dr. Mahboubian suggested some additional ice packs and that would likely help and to just reach him if the swelling didn't come under control. I applied Ice and within minutes swelling was down. Went to bed soundly moments later.
Day 5 - Subtle improvement in Left Leg and meeting with a home care aide
The left leg has become a growing theme so far as I am really counting on it to get better right now so that I can begin using a walker. I'm happy to report some slight improvement after my first PT session. The PT specialist went light and focused on range of motion and strengthening. By later in the day; I felt less pain in the movement of the leg. Later this day, I also met with a home care representative. I wanted to make sure I had a backup plan in place in case a friend or family member was not available to assist me throughout any days in the coming few weeks. It is vital that someone be home with you for the first few weeks. Very rarely is one able to support themselves all alone, immediately after this surgery. The rest of my day was filled with the normal stuff, working, spending time with siblings and taking it easy. I had 2 PT sessions on this day (Counting my sister stretching me) and plan on stretching 3 times per day 7 days a week until I'm back to tip top shape.
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Congrats man! The hardest part is that after one month or two months you get tired of the routine and stop stretching. Whatever you do, do not stop ,not even for a day. I took a 2 day break and lost about 20-30 degrees on my hamstrings and never really got it back :p
Also, take it easy the next couple of weeks don’t try to force yourself to weight bear too much or you’ll aggravate a lot of surgical pain. Your strength will come back fast, don’t rush it. Trust me!
Thank you CJ1 ! I'm already starting to feel improvement; and have just been focused on keeping range of motion and safe leg strengthening exercises during my first week post - op. I am hoping that in another week or so; I can comfortable weight bare. I do not want to push it. The post surgery impact is no joke and you're right; I should take it easy. Thanks Man. Would love to talk to you if you're open to that.
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Sure - PM’d you
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Day 6 - More subtle improvement in left leg
Little by little my left leg and right leg for that matter has showed improvement. One key point that I want to emphasize for future LLer's is that after surgery; TAKE IT EASY...don't try to jump on the walker and race yourself around. It's likely that you will only be able to take a step or two due to the post-surgery pain. Here is analogy for you. When you're out on the football or any sports field and you sprain/break your ankle...you're hopping right? You're not putting even one gram of weight energy on that leg because you simply cannot bare the pain. Well, imagine now 2 broken legs right? In talking to other LL'ers I have realized that the first 2 - 3 weeks of this is really tough and you have to count the minor victories and maintain a strong motivated stance. The most important thing to do starting out for the first 2 - 3 weeks is keep your range of motion in check and stretch, strengthen 3 times a day. You'll be back on your feet and in the walker more regularly soon enough. No reason to push it at the very start. Once you heal from surgery in week or two..its time to push for those inches! I'm excited about that. In other news, this day was pretty straight forward. I had 2 PT sessions with my sister and 1 PT session with a professional Home PT staff. This helped. The Pro PT staff recommended some additional stretches to help build my strength and smooth out the soft tissue. Additionally, since I'm at home for this entire process, I put in a normal full work day. In knowing that I was going to pursue this surgery; I purchased a brand new computer (8th Gen Processor) and 3 27" monitors with all the remote connections I needed. I'm 100% functional to work and continue to grow my company as I go through this long and tough process of CLL. In fact, my mindset is that the 1st quarter of 2019 should be the highest earning for my company in its history! I have found that by doing other things while you're engaged in CLL helps you better manage the pain and other aspects of this. I slept well this night, little to no pain, and making little progress each day.
Day 7 - Officially One Week Post Op
Well, my friends. It's officially one week post operations. I'll be to the point. 2 PT Sessions today + my own stretching. Eating healthy and taking all my needed drugs and other vitamins like vitamin D, C, and multi-vitamins. I even got a GYM session in. I setup a home gym in my apartment. My brother spotted me on the dumb bells and I used cables for the rest. I'm determined to come out of with lean and looking good physique just like before the surgery. As the pain subsides from my legs and my left leg specifically; I'll be able to do more for the upper body and I cannot wait. Pain was at 2 - 4 today when not moving legs. 5-7 when moving and I'm careful not to plant full weight on my leg as it ill only aggravate the post surgical pains at this point and set me back. Fortunately, other than when I'm obviously trying to place weight on my broken legs; I barely have any pain what so ever. I am able to sleep easily through the night and the prescribed Norco has been effective.
Update on my left leg; its a little better. The subtle movements that used to result in a painful shreeks are subsiding. Right leg is strong and I sense it could likely do its part in supporting me on a walker. Left leg still has a bit longer to go.
Guys, tomorrow is a big day. I meet with Dr. Mahboubian for the first time since my surgery to assess my freshly cut legs and to BEGIN GROWING! I will meet with the representative from the Nuvasive company I believe to review the process with the lengthening machine and ask up any questions I might have. I assume they will test the machine on me; so I should be a .33 milometers taller after my appointment tomorrow! I'll provide update soon. This is starting to get real interesting!
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Amazing news - best of luck!
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Day 8 - Post Op Visit with Dr. Mahboubian and First Lengthening Treatment... I'm 0.33mm taller now. It's a start right?!
Time sure does fly by. It's hard to believe that its been 8 days since my CLL surgery with Dr. Mahboubian. Today is a big day for me as I visit my Doctor for the first time since my surgery. I arrived at his offices and their very kind nurse Donna, greeted me warmly and asked me a few questions on how I was doing. She said that all i was describing was perfectly normal and began to take off the wound bandages that lay on my stitches. She also mentioned that they would be taking off my stitches today. I was happy about this for a few reasons. Number 1, the bandages and tape they use on the incision areas are pretty big; so you feel like you have paper padding on your butt and thighs and its uncomfortable. Secondly, It's just great to know that your wounds have healed well enough to a point that stitches can be removed. Donna did a great job taking care of me. One funny moment... there was one stitch area that was a bit scabby; and Donna escalated to Dr. Mahboubian to assist. He came in and like a boss removed it in 2 seconds. I can remember saying... "You're going to call the anesthesiologist right?", before he did anything...haha I just know that when Dr. M touches me it hurts! lol. All joking aside, he has a good relationship with his staff and that is so important. I was stitches free!
Now it was time to get down to business. Dr. M examined me and said that all was looking good. Little to no swelling and he was also very pleased with my strength and ability to raise either leg all the way up with authority. This showed strong legs, post surgery. He did note however; that I need to work on the knee raise and bend. I will most certainly do that daily. Additionally, I explained the issues I had with my left leg being behind as far as pain tolerance compared to right leg. He acknowledged that this was normal and it could be another week or two until the left leg pain began to clear away. Dr. M emphasized that I need to be on my walker as soon as possible even if its just a few baby steps. The walking promotes bone growth and strong bone growth at that; so it is vital that I press forward and overcome the left leg issue as soon as possible.
After examining me and saying that I was looking pretty darn good (better than many of his LL patients), he allowed the NuVasive rep to show me the Lengthening machine and how to lengthen. It's very simple. Put the machine on the mark written on your legs and push a button. Wait 2 minutes and you're done. Now its time for other leg. I did my first treatment right there in the office and now I'm officially 0.33 mm taller! It feels good to grow, let me tell you. To be honest, you can't feel anything while the lengthening is actually going on.
The Doctor has prescribed that i lengthen 0.33 mm 4 times a day for the first 5 days. After that, I am to lengthen 0.33 mm 3 times a day. I will be having my next follow up appointment in 2 weeks from now and I should be a 1/2 inch taller?! Let's hope so. Also, let's hope my left leg cooperates for me. I'll update again shortly on how my weekend goes.
Thanks guys and talk soon,
Other Key Notes:
-Lengthening is being done 100% at my apartment
-Lengthening prescription is as follows: Goal 8cm on each femur - 0.33mm 4 times per day for first 5 days. 0.33mm 3 times per day there after.
-The first 2-3 weeks, where Care giving is needed, I have my brother who comes during evening to help and my sister during the morning. I have connected myself as well to a care giving agency that can spot me if I ever need help. I just need to give them 12 hours notice.
-My Transportation to Doctor Appointment was in a Wheelchair Van Transport. Safety first for me.
-I Take Norco every 4 hours for pain
-Xarelto Daily to help prevent blod clots
-Vitamin C and Vitamin D daily to promote bone grown
-Healthy, rich diet with protein, calories and overall balance diet for good health in order to promote the bodies nature regeneration factory
-Protein Drinks with whole milk
-I am PT with my sister every day 5x per week and with a professional home health PT 3x a week. I plan to expand the professional home health to 4x or 5x
-I am still working full time and then some...I am able to be 100% productive and functional at home via internet, 3 monitors and a great computer. I'm tied into my offices via cloud technologies, web cam and VPN for data access
-My workouts continue for upper body and cardio. I have bar bells and bow-flex for upper body and stationary bike for cardio and other leg exercises.
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Great diary! Keep on!
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Day 9 - Bring on the Aches and hello to my Right leg [1.32mm Taller]
Greeting guys. Day 9 brings further healing to my left leg which is great. I plan to reattempt the walker on Wednesday. I'm going to give myself just a few more days of natural body healing before I reignite that post surgery inflammation pain. I continue to do my stretching and strength excercises 3 times a day and throughout the day I keep my legs moving up and down, side to side, etc. I may try the walker a day or two sooner at my discretion. I know it's very important to get walking ASAP; so I'm looking forward to taking this step. I want to reemphasize for future LL'ers that the first 2 - 3 weeks are very tough. I have consensus from several past LL'ers that I have talked to regarding the procedure that its best to "take it easy" and not push to hard the first 2/3 weeks. It's good to work on range of motion and perform strengthening exercises; but if you try to put to much weight on your surgically impacted legs; the inflammation from the surgery is going to linger and create havoc for you.
As much I have been bragging about how great my right leg feels as compared to my left leg...well scratch that. I think you're officially introduced to the LL procedure when for no logical reason your leg starts to hurt, lol. My right leg has been going through a fairly painful and annoying cramping since Friday night. The pain level on Friday night was Level 7/8. The pain lingered into the following day and hovered around a 6/7. No fun at all. The answer to the pain was popping a Norco pill. 1 hour later, roughly, my pain was manageable and down to about a 2/3. I will say that on Friday morning, I actually did aggravate my right leg by...guess what?....Putting weight on my right leg by accident. I have a feeling that I'm going to stick by my opinion of taking it slow and easy for the first 14 days post surgery.
My lengthening is going smooth so far. I lengthened 1.33 mm as per Dr. M's prescription and will continue at this rate for 4 more days and then proceed to lengthen at 1mm a day there after. Guys, so far, I can say that each day has gotten a little better. I hope this trend continues.
Additional Notes - Good things to have
1. Portable Sink and someone to wash your hair. For the first two weeks you will likely not enter into most showers for 2 - 3 weeks since it's extremely dangerous to try to get into one. - https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Shampoo-Treatment-Height-Adjustable/dp/B07F2LQK5V/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1547412297&sr=1-5&keywords=portable+sink+for+hair+washing
2. If you must get into the showers, purchase a transfer chair. This will allow you to slide from outside your shower, then into your shower easily while sitting https://www.amazon.com/Transfer-Disabled-Sliding-Cut-Out-Handicap/dp/B000NGUD94/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1547411612&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=transfer+chair&psc=1 .
3. Walker - https://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Button-Folding-Walker-5-Inch/dp/B001HOM4U2/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1547411671&sr=8-3&keywords=walker
4. Reclining Wheelchair - Get one that allows you to fold the back of your seat 180 degrees....this way you can easily nap and change positions without having to transfer. The first week or two...transfers will be a long ordeal for you and likely very painful. Make it easy on yourself. https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-SSP20RBDDA-Wheelchair-Detachable/dp/B005JIKB70/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1547411691&sr=8-3&keywords=reclining+wheelchair
5. Keep those legs moving while you're at your desk - https://www.amazon.com/d/Exercise-Bikes/DeskCycle-Exercise-Pedal-Exerciser-White/B00B1VDNQA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1547411777&sr=8-3&keywords=desk+bike
6. Overbed Table: https://www.amazon.com/Medical-Adjustable-Overbed-Table-Wheels/dp/B074DK5P6F/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1547411891&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=over+bed+table&psc=1
7. Vitamin D: https://www.amazon.com/Medical-Adjustable-Overbed-Table-Wheels/dp/B074DK5P6F/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1547411891&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=over+bed+table&psc=1
8. Extra long Grabber to help your reach things as needed - https://www.amazon.com/RMS-Rotating-Mobility-Extension-Wheelchair/dp/B00THEDK0C/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1547412379&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=grabber%2Bfor%2Bdisabled&th=1
9. Bed side commode - Useful; but eventually you will be able to walker yourself to the toilet - https://www.amazon.com/Medline-Portable-Microban-Antimicrobial-Protection/dp/B07H7MQWPW/ref=asc_df_B07H7MQWPW/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241947247648&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=889894857316808302&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031600&hvtargid=pla-530517749653&psc=1
I'll add more items later; but this should get your ideas going. I currently have incorporated all the above and its definitely been a great help.
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Day 10 - More subtle improvement in post surgery pains. Dull pains introduce themselves in both legs [2.31mm Taller]
Happy to report that the left leg pain and overall sensitivity of joints and muscles through out my legs continue to come under control with each passing day. My right leg and now my left leg, has just started to experience a dull type pain that lingers in and out. Pain level 5/6. At this current moment I'm doing okay....took Norco about 30 minutes a go. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the pain levels out in both legs over the next couple of days. From my conversations with LL'ers of the past, the pain and healing really start to kick during week 3 (after 2 weeks)... So I'm doing all I can to be prepared to progress.
All-in-all, I can envision myself coming into a routine over the next several days.
My hopes and goals for the up-coming week:
- Take legitimate walker steps
- Pain to come under control for both legs
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It’s sooooo exciting to read your diary :D :D
Thank you very much for taking your time and effort to describe all details.
What Dr M says about walking rehab now?
I heard that Paley actually encouraged patients with Stryde to walk as soon as possible after surgery, but I totally agree with you guys taking it easy not giving too much load on broken bones for the first few weeks.
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It’s sooooo exciting to read your diary :D :D
Thank you very much for taking your time and effort to describe all details.
What Dr M says about walking rehab now?
I heard that Paley actually encouraged patients with Stryde to walk as soon as possible after surgery, but I totally agree with you guys taking it easy not giving too much load on broken bones for the first few weeks.
Hi Temaki! Dr. M is actually very strict on saying that he wants me weight bearing as soon as I can tolerate it; even if its just a few baby steps. Most if not all of his patients are able to weight bear and are out and about on their walker shortly after surgery. The first few days after surgery, I used the walker to take a few steps here and there; but I felt like the pain was extreme 9/10 level. Dr. M says that walking as much as tolerated is important because it helps promote healthy bone growth and also is good for mucles and soft tissue.
The primary issue with me is that I had the weak left leg that needed to catch up with my right leg. I'm going to re-introduce walking with the walker on Wednesday morning and hopefully this stays on permanent rehab option going forward. I'm actually excited to try since my leg is feeling a lot better than they did a week ago. Further more, once I can tolerate; the Styrde nails can hold my weight; so I will be working toward shedding any assistive device once its 100% safe.
I will keep you posted!
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Congrats on your journey, 2019 will surely be exciting year for you!
I really enjoy reading your diary filled with many information, just one thing: how much have you spent so far in terms of the procedure and hospital expenses?
You may also want to substitute vitamin D for enriched whole food like sardine with bone-in and spinach, because vitamin supplements are synthetic drugs, or at least try to get ones from natural harvest food based vitamin.
I will be flying to Germany in mid May this year to have consultation with Dr. Betz and potentially going forth with procedure afterwards if i feel confident with what i hear and see overthere.
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Thank you for the kind words, ShortPainLongGain, and the great advice. I'll be taking you up on this advice because it's definitely better to consume Vitamin D the natural way. I'll do this in addition to the supplements.
Day 11 - More of the Same, Subtle improvement in all areas - [3.30mm Taller]
Good day, my friends. I hope everyone had a productive day and for those of you out there currently in the LL process; I certainly hope you're coping with your day -to-day quite well. Today my legs felt less "dull" pain than the prior two days. I'm not sure what brought on these aches; but from what I have heard from other diaries, aches, cramps, spasms, etc...are par for course and normal for this type of procedure. Pain was down from what I would call a 6/7 to about a 4/5 which is a lot easier to tolerate. I am still staying consistent with my Norco; but I am going to conscientiously ween myself off of Norco and preserve this drug for night time sleeping if needed. I plan on switching over to Tylenol PM in the coming day and also incorporate "Icy Hot" cream in home to slow down the aches and better manage the pain. I do not want to experience any Norco complications related to addiction, etc; so I am going to be very careful.
Physical Therapy was good. Again, I emphasized to my professional home health PT that I prefer to wait until Wednesday before we start the walker again. The surgery pains are just about subsided...well they will linger, i know, but the major pains are much more under control and I do not want any set backs due to a walker related injury/extreme inflammation due to my inability to properly stabilize. I continue to lengthen little by little. Pain level is currently fine and I'm looking forward to hopefully being up to weight bare or at least partially weight bare on my walker this week. Everyone send me some good luck vibes!
One more note; I think after I am able to get on my walker okay I will likely do outpatient PT. I'd like to take advantage of everything a PT facility has to offer versus the convenience of staying at home. Plus, I'm really wanting to get out of the house more... So this may be a great choice for me. I'll keep everyone up to date on my status and will check in tomorrow. Have a great day!
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Glad you’re doing so well! Can you tell me how much the cost of stryde is with Dr M? If someone is flying from another country can they go home & lengthen? And can you ask Dr M if an 8.5 mmm stryde nail will be releasing?
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Glad you’re doing so well! Can you tell me how much the cost of stryde is with Dr M? If someone is flying from another country can they go home & lengthen? And can you ask Dr M if an 8.5 mmm stryde nail will be releasing?
Hi Ayesha,
Private Message me when you can and I'll share details. One of the advantages and reasons I chose Dr. M was because he allows patients to lengthen and do physical therapy from home. This is important to me. He does require me to see him every 2 weeks for x-rays and assessment; however he may be flexible to you as long as you can provide him further detail on how you could manage providing x-rays etc from home. I'm not sure. Here is Dr. M's email. Please feel free to reach him. He responds to email fairly regularly to prospects and he answers his patients emails right away. Shahab Mahboubian <ortho126@yahoo.com>
I'll have today's update shortly.
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Day 12 - Dull pain continues, left leg still behind right leg; but improvement, day-by-day we continue to grow. [4.62mm Taller]
It was a fairly typical Tuesday for me as far as typical goes in the post - op world of CLL. Highlights included a dul level 5/6 pain in both upper leg areas. I managed pain with Norco and stretching. I will continue to explore ways to conquer the pain issue. If I can over come the pain issue; this will get a lot simpler to handle. All in all; not terrible though. No cries or moans; just don't like to have it there; but I do understand why it is there. It's still early, only 11 days post - op. I'm almost 50% of 1 centimeter and I believe I can actually feel "something"... I can't say its tightness of course; because I have barely lengthened, but I do feel something happening in both femurs now after I do a lengthen. It's awake in there.
Other that this; everything is normal for CLL standards. I am able to lift my legs 180 degrees with pretty good authority at the moment and can bend my knees while sitting past 90 degrees with no issue. It's pretty tight and I'm working on it. I worked out my upper body again with cables. I'm just trying to maintain some upper body strength while I'm going through this stretch marathon. I did 3 - amateur PT sessions, 2 with myself and 1 with my sister. Guys, wish me luck..tomorrow I meet with my home health PT and he and I will bust out the walker and take some steps. If you have followed the diary so far; you have gotten an idea that my left leg has responded a bit more slowly as compared to my right. It's true; my left leg is just not that strong at this point; but it's doing much better since the surgery date. We'll start out with baby steps tomorrow and it is my hope that I can build upon this; daily until my legs are fully healed from surgical pain, reaction and inflammation.
No more updates available for today; but tomorrow I will have big news on my walker results.
Other items on my mind
-Looking forward to walking again
-Planning on going back to work in early February, so long that pain is under control and I'm walking okay via walker and/or crutches. I work remotely every day; but I miss my team and I want to go outside!
-In week 3 or 4, I will begin outpatient PT at a local PT clinic. I want to take advantage of all the facilities available to me. I also, just want to get outside more and interact with people and things.
-Looking forward to working out harder at gym beginning in a few weeks after surgery pain is under control.
-Thinking of ways to manage pain better. Norco isn't helping me very much. Some but not much. Any ideas are appreciated.
Have a great evening and I'll be in touch tomorrow.
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Hi InFullStryde,
Best of luck tomorrow. I know it’s hard, but you can do it.
It’s awesome if you can give us a video as you walking on a walker or a picture of your legs. It will help us having better visualization how LLer doing after only 13 days post-op. Hopefully your pain level will go down soon as well.
Stay strong
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Hi InFullStryde,
Best of luck tomorrow. I know it’s hard, but you can do it.
It’s awesome if you can give us a video as you walking on a walker or a picture of your legs. It will help us having better visualization how LLer doing after only 13 days post-op. Hopefully your pain level will go down soon as well.
Stay strong
Hi Be Strong! Thanks for checking in. I like your screen name. It's a reminder of what we have to be during a life changing procedure like this one! I will definitely take some pictures and soon video. As reference with words, on day 13, my legs are barely have any redness, swelling or bruising at all. My stitches are removed, and only small little band-aids are covering the incision areas. Dr. M appears to have given me a clean cut or what they call a "Hollywood" scar in these parts. Ha Ha. No redness, No real tightness and just very little swellling, limited to my "upper and inner" thighs. I can even sit on my butt and lay on my side without feeling pain in these areas...which is surprising because mostly everyone I have read about through diaries struggle to sleep on sides and butt due to the nail site pain. I will add however, that I am still sleeping on my back because my legs aren't quite flexible or strong enough to sustain a position where I am on my side. My PT is in one hour where I will begin my build up toward walking again, first via walker. I'll update later this evening on the status and how all this goes.
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Day 13 - Pain subsiding, left leg stronger, I took my first REAL steps in the Walker [5.61mm Taller]
Good Day LL'ers!
Today was a great day. It didn't start out great, however. I woke up early morning last night around 2:00am with 8 level pain in my right leg; but was able to extinguish the pain in about an hour or so with a Norco. I got past it; and when I woke up in the AM around 5:00am, the pain was hovering around a 5. It continued to mellow out and I was able to enjoy most the day at a pain level of 3. My left leg continues to feel better. My legs feel like they are coming back together. I mind you, right after CLL surgery, your leg isn't going to feel like your own legs. They are awkward feeling...They feel heavier, they feel like they are aligned differently, and your leg muscles are so very tight. Your hamstrings and quads are wound up so very tightly...and its just something you want to expect and be ready for so you don't take it as anything more than a temporary side effect of this life changing surgery. Once you begin PT, the next day, everything starts to build back to normal...but not only do you get to enjoy your legs returning to normal; you also get to enjoy added millimeters of height, each day! Today was a good day as I mentioned.
A big part of today's drama was.... Would I be able to take steps in a walker? I know that I need to take steps in order for the bone to grow back strong and fast... I know I need to take steps in order for me to return to normal walking gait and to have strong legs to match my new height... Week 3 is just around the corner; and I will be entering into my 1st new inch of height soon and I'll need to be pushing hard at my PT in order to get that 2nd and 3rd inch...so the pressure was on today. I wanted to walk so badly, but my left leg had bothered me so badly the first 10 days. Each day, I trained my left leg...I stretched it... I did muscle exercises and I remained positive. I told my self.... I CAN.... I WILL.... and I MUST.... My PT came into my apartment and we did some warm ups in my wheelchair and then he asks me. Are you ready? Let's walk. I said... "Let's go". He got the walker and instructed me on the proper way to deploy into the walker. I put both arms on my wheelchair handles, bent forward with my momentum facing the walker, and placed my right hand on the walker... I then postured and placed my left hand on the walker and I stood up straight. With some instruction, I begin to walk step-over-step....20 steps in all to my rest room and back. Then I walked to my living room and back twice. I took a total of nearly 50 steps. They were natural steps. Each step had a smooth knee bend and I was able to 100% weight bare on my shiny new Stryde nails while supporting my balance and weaker left leg with my walker. I did it! I walked and now I'm ready to take major steps...just in time for week 3. I was so proud to see myself come so far. It will take a week or few before I can shed the walker, but today was a major step forward!
As far as the rest of the day goes; I was able to work well remotely, ate normally, and listened to good music. My pain was lower than it had been in days and I have so much gratitude for this day and the opportunity to "Stryde".
Other thoughts
-I asked Dr. M for a suggestion on alternative pain medication for Norco and we both arrived at Tramadal. I'll start that up tomorrow and I think it may work pretty well. "MY Evolution", another LL'er on here said that the combination of Tramadal and Tylenol was a great help to him. I'm going to try that out!
-I have lengthened for 5 days straight now and, each time I lengthen, although I can't feel any stretching, while the ERC is running...i feel a dull pain immediately after. Does that mean it's working? lol.
-I'm looking forward to walking again. I will wait until my Pro Home PT session happens on Friday.
Have a great day guys. I'll keep you posted as time wears on and feel free to ask me any questions you might have.
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Hi InFullStryde,
This is probably the best diary ever ! Thanks so much!
1) How heavy and big is the ERC device? Is it portable in a backpack?
2) Do you manage working during this adventure? I read you wanted to work from home
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Hi InFullStryde,
This is probably the best diary ever ! Thanks so much!
1) How heavy and big is the ERC device? Is it portable in a backpack?
2) Do you manage working during this adventure? I read you wanted to work from home
The ERC Device is pretty good size. I'd say (https://cdn.nectarpd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/ellipse-ERC-final.jpg)
It's about 5 lbs or so and the company will provide you a rolling type case for it. It reminds me of a rolling brief case. So the device is portable; but its not "fun-sized". Its like carrying around a brief case.
I am working from home and 100% effective this way. Since getting home from hospital after a three day stay after surgery, I have worked an average of 8 hours per day. Stretching, PT, and lengthening are just done in between work.
Let me know if you have any further questions!
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Day 14 - Little improvement each day; continues. [6.93mm Taller]
Time goes fast doesn't it? It was a little over two weeks ago since my surgery morning. One of my later life credence's is to place yourself into a process that will ultimately lead you to what you desire/want in your life. Once placed, it is only time and effort now that is needed to get you to that exact place. Well, here I am. I've placed myself into a process and time goes by so quickly...(where does the time go?) and I'm doing everything I can to succeed in this process. Today was a decent day. I did have dull pain in my legs again at about level 5...which is very comfortable. In a bit a daze as well, since I been using the Norco pills regularly; but I'm all out of them and I'm glad I am. The pain isn't too bad at the moment and I'm switching to Tramadol and Tylenol PM. My hope is that I can get my pain under control very soon. I understand that I'm still in the initial difficult weeks. The first 3 weeks of LL based upon the diaries and conversations I have read and had are the most challenging and they test you in ways you could have never imagined. Today, I worked a full 8 hours, I am transferring from bed to wheel chair to walker to bed on my own and I'm ready to take major "steps" forward in the up coming 3rd week. My left leg is still the "weaker" leg; but it gets better daily. I don't want to brag to much about my right leg; but I feel like I can kick field goals with it. All joking aside, it's recovering too; but feels great. Little by little my friends.
My status at end of week 2:
Pain Average:
1/10: 5%
2/10: 5%
3/10: 13%
4/10: 25%
5/10: 25%
6/10: 20%
7/10: 4%
8/10: 1%
9/10: 2%
10/10: 0%
Walking Status:
-Walking very slowly and carefully on a walker. Slightly favoring weaker left leg. Mostly fluid steps and full range of motion. Balance is still off and a bit wobbly. Will take some time; but should resolve shortly.
Flexibility and Strength:
-Can lift both legs to full extension while sitting down and laying down
-While sitting, can bend knees beyond 90 degrees up to about 110 degrees ( i think)
-While sitting, with bended knees can lift close to chest with no issue. Right leg is stronger than left however
-Need to work on bending knee while legs are lifted. Have not tried to bend leg to touch butt with foot yet. Advanced movement that I will introduce in week 3.
-Slow and safe side way, leg movements, and nice to see mobility returning with fwd , back, and sideways movement of legs. Ways to go; but it is returning.
-Overall Legs are still tender; but as I mentioned, improving every day and haven't pushed hard with PT yet (won't push for first 2 weeks), week 3, we start to go harder.
Guy's, other than that, just going day by day. Let me know if you have any questions. Onward and upward.
Best Regards,
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Awesome Diary so far ! I'm going to be doing my surgery with Dr. Mahboubian as well since I reside in East LA!
Keep pushing! I'll be following your diary sending positive vibes and support
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Very good diary!
Forgot to mention one tip that happened to myself and a couple of friends, later on during your lengthening we started missing cycles, and started having leg discrepancy.
I’m not sure why my friends had it, but for me, I stopped lengthening in the bed but rather started sitting in the chair. Well what happens when you do that is you flex your quadriceps. When this happens the magnet has less ability to make good contact. Toward the end I went 14 days on my right leg and only had 3 days worth of length. So advice, do it in bed and relax your quad for maximum contact, also give it slight pressure for good contact. If I had to guess, it happened in my friends because you start to regain your quadriceps and if you have big quadriceps magnet contact becomes an issue. Infant for me, immediately post op they had me lengthening from the side before going on top because I started out with big quads.
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Very good diary!
Forgot to mention one tip that happened to myself and a couple of friends, later on during your lengthening we started missing cycles, and started having leg discrepancy.
I’m not sure why my friends had it, but for me, I stopped lengthening in the bed but rather started sitting in the chair. Well what happens when you do that is you flex your quadriceps. When this happens the magnet has less ability to make good contact. Toward the end I went 14 days on my right leg and only had 3 days worth of length. So advice, do it in bed and relax your quad for maximum contact, also give it slight pressure for good contact. If I had to guess, it happened in my friends because you start to regain your quadriceps and if you have big quadriceps magnet contact becomes an issue. Infant for me, immediately post op they had me lengthening from the side before going on top because I started out with big quads.
This sounds like a great expert tip to me! I have been doing my lengthening, so far, from my chair, with partially straitened leg since the wheelchair had elevated foot rests. My quads are not large and I do apply a bit of pressure myself. That is so interesting that they had you lengthen by placing the device on the side! I suppose, that so long that the device is lined up properly that it will elongate regardless of where the ERC is placed. I place on top of the leg, central to the area where Dr. M drew the line on my legs. Friday, January 25th, will be x-ray day and I'll report back on if any issue occurred for me while lengthening and sitting!
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Awesome Diary so far ! I'm going to be doing my surgery with Dr. Mahboubian as well since I reside in East LA!
Keep pushing! I'll be following your diary sending positive vibes and support
Awesome, man. I could use all the support available! So far, so good with Dr. M! Follow close and I'll be as detailed as possible. It's important that everyone knows what to expect when it comes to CLL. We can eventually connect over the phone to review once I'm deeper into the process here.
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Day 15 - Walking taller and continuing to Stryde [7.92mm Taller]
I surely hope that each of you had a great week. My week was pretty decent and of course, it was like no other week I have experienced in my entire life.
Basic summary of the day...
-Worked a complete 8 hour work day.
-Had a great PT session
-My friend brought over some fish taco's yum
-Pain level was at average a 2 or 3! Tramadol worked much better for me then the Norco and I don't feel the harsh side effects that Norco brings
Highlight of my day...
Well that would definitely have to be the thrill of the PT Session. I assume that in another month or so the days are going to become quite routine and perhaps even boring; however, during the early stages of CLL, the CLL'er is always looking for every tiny glimpse of improvement. Today, at PT, i walked well over 100+ steps, with the walker...high knees, leg over leg... So that was great. One minor little issue at the moment however. My notorious left leg has a tendency of wanting to bend inward a bit and hence my feet are too close together when I walk. My right leg, is strong and no issue at all. This is just one of those post surgery things that should eventually go away once all the muscles reactivate, are strong, and ready to go. In talking to other LL'ers, who have experienced similar issues and hear that this typically goes away in and around week 4/5. The key is to keep walking and focus on keeping the leg outward. It's important to note that my leg isn't stuck inward; it just seems to want to go that way. I can keep it outward if I'm conscious about it. Either way, I'll have Dr. M look at it next Friday during my follow up visit.
All-in-All a good day guys. Lower pain, walking with the walker, getting stronger and mastering a routine hopefully that will allow me to gracefully glide through these next few 4-5 months in "Stryde". One other fun note. You have to love the new Stryde nail. I was fullly weight bearing on it, while on the walker. The walker mainly just kept me balance. It's a real workout for your legs when you can have that body weight bearing down on those legs. Once I am able to balance well enough on my legs I should be on crutches and cane. That could be 1 month from now, or 2, not sure; but just going to play it safe and focus on doing my part correctly.
As far as lengthening goes, I do feel tighter; but nothing major. I am massaging the soft tissue and continuing to stretch around the clock.
Okay, Guys...That is all I got for now but please feel free to ask questions.
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Excellent to hear!
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Bonus Update
Hi guys, just a bonus update. I woke up a bit ago and did my lengthening and all worked out well. I will still do my day 16 update later this evening; but I wanted to include this bonus update since its a positive thing to share. I finally got a good night sleep! My switching over to the pain medication, Tramadol, away from Norco, and taking 2 Tramadol's every 4 hours and then at about 1 hour before bed time, I took 2 Tylenol PMs'.....this combination provided for a rested night and my legs did not bother me much at all. I just wanted to share this, in case any current or future CLL'ers struggle with pain, especially within the first few weeks. My pain level, which had been on average between 4-6/7...is down to a 2/3..sometimes 1. It has only been 1 day; but I will let you all know if this trend continues; especially as I get into the 4th/5th cm.
I'll be back later with more update on how Day 16 went.
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Day 16 - Another Day in the Books. Very low pain level, left leg still being a pest [8.91mm Taller]
Good day LL'ers. Today was pretty mellow and not a ton to report. I kept myself pretty comfortable; however I was stretching my legs the entire day it felt like. Sometimes; I find myself stretching just to test the leg out; especially after a lengthening. My pain level is the lowest it has been since the surgery and that is making this process a lot easier to deal with. I would say that my pain was at average a 1 or 2 today and at most a 3. The change in my medication has been key for me. I am taking 2 Tramadol every 2 hours and a 2 Tylenol Pm's before bed time. It's on the higher side of the dosage meter; but it's safe and this is a big time for me in getting past the rough pain section of this procedure (The first 3 to 4 weeks).
All the walking I did yesterday just fostered a minor set back... My left leg/knee is bothering me. Its really around the nail site and up the leg. I'm going to chalk this up to surgical inflammation guys and the fact that my left leg was likely weaker going into this procedure. I can remember 2 weeks ago when I first had the surgery; I could barely even touch my left leg w/o letting out a shrieking sound. Well, now, I can lift it up, touch it and even put some weight on it while walking w/ the walker and it does fine. The balance is off however...so I have to be very careful while walking. Also, my ability to take agile steps to the side is limited still. It's all about forward and backward steps right now. Guys, this is all apart of the process of recovery. Only the strong will survive and I know I am one of the strong ones and I'm sure you are too. Feel free to ask me any questions you might have. Tomorrow will mark 1 centimeter of growth and I'm excited to report that here on the boards with all of you tomorrow evening.
Nothing else is really note worth for today.
Here are additional thoughts below:
-Buy a good walker that fits your size well. If you are on the shorter side of the spectrum like me (5'1.25"), then its worth getting a jr walker so that you can adjust the height to fit you. No shame in that; get what will fit you well.
-I want to reemphasize to all CLL'ers that you will need someone with you who is supportive and on your side and willing to help you for up to at least 3 weeks and ideally 4 weeks. The pain and tenderness of your legs after surgery is such that you would be safest to have someone near by to assist you with complicated tasks that require bending, reaching, etc.
-Keep those legs moving! Check this out - works well https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B1VDNQA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-A belt that you should have on when your caregiver is helping you walk - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YW8USKI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 If you start to lose balance or fall, they can lift you with this belt.
-Jr. Walker that Fits shorter height level men (4'6" to 5'5") Its alot more affective to have a walker that fits you snug vs. trying to fit the standard - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A3RAAFU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-Another tid bit; you will not be able to move around much; so i recommend getting a portable cooling fan, and portable heater and have them near by your resting area; so that you can climate control your space. From a Wheelchair or when you are not very mobile; you may not be able to reach the A/C or heater button. Think ahead and if you can have these things remote controlled even better.
-Feedback so far on Dr. Mahboubian. He get's an A so far. I cannot feel the nails in my legs which is good. I have barely any pain after 2 weeks. He answered my one 10:00pm call the day after surgery because I was concerned with swelling. He told me to apply ice and swelling was gone in 15 minutes. He answers every email same day or next day. He prescribed me alternate pain medication same day requested, when I told him Norco wasn't working. So far so good, guys.
Question to CLL'er Community
Any tips on muscle/joint pain relief? Creams? Oils? Techniques? etc.
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Overall, how easy is it to bear the pain? Would you describe the pain as unbearable or do you think it's pretty manageable and definitely worth it?
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Pain isn't too bad at all. It's worth it. 3 inches of height is worth the amount of pain I'm going through. If i can stay strong for 2.5 more months, this will be worth it.
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Day 17 - Good day. [9.99mm Taller]
Good day overall. Watched some good football and kept my leg stretched out look forward to some physio tomorrow. I'm in the wheels chair and walker at the moment. Hoping that I can graduate off the wheel chair in 2 - 3 weeks. Hope you all had a great day! I have reached 1 CM.
Best regards,
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Hello infullstryde, can u pls post some photos and x rays, that would be very good for the people on the forum.Hope your recovery and lenthening keeps on getting better.
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Hello infullstryde, can u pls post some photos and x rays, that would be very good for the people on the forum.Hope your recovery and lenthening keeps on getting better.
My first post surgery x-rays which include my lengthening is on Friday, January 25th. I will try to take some pictures of those and post for the community.
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My first post surgery x-rays which include my lengthening is on Friday, January 25th. I will try to take some pictures of those and post for the community.
Indeed that would be very helpful brother. Keep strong and achieve your goals. Lenthen and recover with the same positive mindset (it's kind of rare on this forum these days) that u have right now.
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You mentioned you hired an caretaker.
May I ask what specific things the caretaker do?
- Making food
- Helping you with stretching ?
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You mentioned you hired an caretaker.
May I ask what specific things the caretaker do?
- Making food
- Helping you with stretching ?
Hi BladeRunner,
It is absolutely needed that you have a supportive person whether it be family or caretaker for the first 3 weeks. I recommend up to 4 weeks, at least. If you can have someone with you for the entire distraction phase that is even better.
My current approach is the following:
My Sister helps me get started in the day - picks up things around my apartment, cleans dirty dishes, refreshing my vanity, fresh water and makes sure everything I need is within easy reach of my arms. She also helps me with PT. Basically, she pushes me to stretch more deeply, which is important.
My brother helps me in the evening and is spending night in my apartment also. In the beginning he helped me get to bed, and cleaned up around my place and prepared me for the evening. My brother also helps me with PT
I also, interviewed a care taker service and met with a care taker one time. I wanted to know what was available. I haven't used very much; but I have an agency I can call now and pay about $25/hour to take care of me on some hours where I need special assistance and no family member is available for me.
I do formal PT with Physical Therapist Home Health 3 days a week at the moment.
A Caretaker basically should take care of anything you need; including helping you transfer to bed, toilet, prepare meals, etc. I have my meals home delivered to me so that there is very little prep. I also use the Amazon Fresh for random groceries and things. I have tried to make everything as streamlined as possible. I will create a "game plan" for all future CLL'ers so that they are ready when they decide to go forward with this.
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Day 18 - Challenging PT Session, Left leg started out rough, ended well and using walker more and more [1.122 Centimeters Taller]
Greetings LL'ers. Day 18 was a pretty decent one. I will say this... My left leg remains my biggest challenge. It is very sore at the knee and quad area and slows me down a bit. I will say this; the left leg IS still able to weight bear and I'm able to do wide range of motion stretches with it. When it comes to walking; the left leg is still tender. I'm going to keep working on it. This is just one of those things you discover the hard way; but you get through it. Each day the left leg gets a bit better; slowly yet surely.
Physical Therapy today was rigorous! My PT Pro, had me up on my legs with no walker, doing stretches to my chest, side stepping, holding onto my kitchen counter for dear life and circling it! ..You name it he had be doing it haha. I guess PT really does stand for pain and torture! All joking aside; he gave me a good work out and I learn about new PT training tips each time he comes and apply them to my private rehab. Remember WALKING is the best mode of PT. If you're walking all the time and you can tolerate it; you are doing 75% or more of what is needed to maintain your lengthening goals. Having said that; DO NOT push it the first 1 -3 weeks. Take it easier. Let those surgery pains and inflammation heal and settle a bit.
Other than PT; I am able to easily transfer to my bed. I'm using my walker to get to my bathroom sink, use the toliet, and I hope to conquer the shower by the end of the week. Still figuring this one out a bit. Another thing I'm going to try; since I'm getting fairly comfortable on the walker, Is working out on my BowFlex. This is a pretty decent workout machine; but it was hard for me to use it the first couple of weeks since it requires you to stand and sit. Tomorrow, I may give this a shot. I'll keep you all posted.
Other things I did today while LL'ing... I worked a complete work day of 8 hours, sat outside for a bit, and watched some YouTube videos. Everything is pretty calm. I'm hoping that this week I really see some magical 3rd week healing of my left leg. Once that is resolved; I'm going to be an excellent shape. I love the Styrde nail by the way. I am able to fully weight bear which is making for a great productive workout.
Pain level today was 2 or 3. Pain really was not a factor today. Hoping this trend continues.
Okay guys, I'm over 1 centimeter...every 10 days means another centimeter. Send me some good vibes for that left leg to get stronger! The right leg...well like I said before...I can kick a field goal with it...It's pretty strong.
Take care and best regards, talk to you tomorrow!
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Day 19 - Another day in the Books. 100% walker and 100% Weight bearing! (But I do like to roll around in the Wheelchair, sometimes)....Healing slowly; but key word is "Healing" [1.188 Centimeters Taller]
How we doing today LL'ers? I have said this quote in the past and I'll put it up on the board again and likely will put it again.... In life there are things we want to change in someway...sometimes its your height, maybe it's your income, your relationships, etc...it can be anything.. The key to resolving any matters of the heart is to place yourself into a "process". Once you're in the "Process", your effort and the inevitable passing of time shall carry you forward. I have barely blinked and I'm already 18 days into this. I'm almost 25% complete with the distraction phase. You have to take chances in this life. You only get ONE chance at this life. Perform your due diligence and go for it! Okay, I'll get off my soap box now here is the summary for the day.
My Pain Level Today = 2 Max...Here is my not so secretive concoction.... 2 Tramadol over 4 hours (when pain is reduces over several days reduce to 1 tablet..and adjust to 6 hours)...about 1 hour before bed, take 2 Tylenol PMs.
My Left Leg Issue = No pain while resting, tenderness when bending and putting weight on it, 100% weight bearing, but requires support and slower movement when walking. Requires Walker also. I have a feeling the left leg issue will take a bit more time to resolve. With this in mind; I'm going to continue to stretch it out and build strength and weight bear on it. It will catch up with my right, in time.
My Walk = Slow, but nice. I'm 100% weight bearing on my walker. Walker is used to keep me balanced and to assist in exercises. There are many muscles within my legs that are not yet activated. Until those are strong again; my walk will not be where it needs to be. This will take time. Oh, let's not forget the whole I have 2 broken legs part to. :-)
My Typical Day: Wake up at 5:00am Lengthen, Take medication, work out on bow-flex machine, walker myself to bathroom and prep for day, Sit my butt at my home office chair and put in a full 8 hour work day so that my company continues to strive. Mixed in with this is constant stretching, walking using walker, Self-PT and Pro PT as well as family PT. Wind down the night with a movie or maybe some Madden.
Sleeping: Slept very good last night. No aches and pains. Still sleeping on back. The nail site/incision areas are still painful to move. I anticipate being able to sleep on side in 2 - 3 weeks, maybe sooner. I'll be conservative with my estimates. What helps me? Tylenol PM, a cool wind fan blowing on me (not sure why, but i tend to get hot at night, esp after this procedure), and some sleep/meditation music flowing through my headset.
The process will get easier and easier and the process will have it's tough spots as I get tighter and tighter; but I'm going to try my best.
Guys, let me know if you have ANY questions. So far my experience has been just fine and I'm excited about my brand new 1 centimeter of height. I have a brother who is my exact same height and we stood next to each other and he said to me.. "dude you're taller than me".... Made me smile.
Best regards and I'll update again tomorrow
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Great journal! Great to hear the process has been good for you thus far.
Some questions:
When are you expected to start walking relatively normally? I read about this nail a while ago and was under the impression recovery times are supposed to be substantially quicker and "normal" walking is supposed to take place relatively soon...
Sorry if I missed it, but are you in California? I imagine most people would need to take a flight back after their surgery. Sounds a little daunting.
Are you supposed to go back at some point and have the nail removed?
Thank you :D
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Great journal! Great to hear the process has been good for you thus far.
Some questions:
When are you expected to start walking relatively normally? I read about this nail a while ago and was under the impression recovery times are supposed to be substantially quicker and "normal" walking is supposed to take place relatively soon...
Sorry if I missed it, but are you in California? I imagine most people would need to take a flight back after their surgery. Sounds a little daunting.
Are you supposed to go back at some point and have the nail removed?
Thank you :D
Hi there Psilocybe! I'm glad to answer any questions for you. I am expecting to really start to get my walk back in a couple or even a few weeks or so; which would be a bit north of 1 month. To be honest, my right leg is ready to really take off; but apparently my left leg just took the surgery a little bit tougher than my right so it's slowing down my gait recovery. I can fully weight bare, meaning, i can stand straight up and down for probably an hour or more (haven't tried), without any support. I'm thinking during month 2 of this process that the muscles in my legs will re-activate and I'll really start feeling good about my walk soon. The main difference with the new Stryde nail is that it is weight bearing; meaning you can put your full weight on the nail without worrying about it breaking. One must still be able to tolerate their own weight however. That is where the healing in my left leg comes in. I just need a bit more time.
I'm actually fortunate enough to live about 45 minutes from Dr. M; so normal transporation is good enough. In fact, my recovery so far has been 100% in the comfort and privacy of my own home.
After one year post-op; it's best to have the nail removed. I hear it's a quick procedure and you're out same day.
Best regards,
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Thank you for the response.
Wow, that's convenient! How do you think you'd feel if you had to of gone out of state (like Vegas, or Florida) for the procedure?
I'm assuming full weight bearing means your entire body's weight on the one nail (not both legs splitting your weight). I think I read something like the new Precise nail can take up to ~250 pounds?
I wonder what would happen if you didn't get the nail removed...
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Yes - exactly. Full weight bearing means that even one nail can withstand my body weight.
The process would likely be a lot more difficult on me psychologically if I had to leave home. I would be out of pocket completely to my family life, work, etc. These things are helping this process go by a lot quicker for me.
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Hey buddy - this is a great diary and thanks for taking the time to write it.
My question is about tramadol - I broke my kneecap 4 years ago and I was given tramadol for the first couple of weeks to pain manage.
For the first couple of days I took 2 tablets at a time and that stuff would be so hard to stay awake on - do you get that same drowsiness? I’m impressed you’re able to work a full day with that stuff.
1 tablet at a time effected my concentration - and definitely would’ve impacted my work output to some degree - how are you finding the affect?
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Hi Michael Jose,
Thanks for your question. There is no doubt that Tramadol will make you drowsy. I have the same symptoms after taking it. For me, I had to pick my challenges there. The pain was at a dull resting state of 4-6; so I was willing to fight through the drowsy state vs. struggle against the pain. My advise would be to battle against your pain first; the best you can and then ween off to 1 every 6 hours and eventually, maybe 1 every 8 to 12 hours, and even stop taking the medication all together once your pain is under control.
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Hi Michael Jose,
Thanks for your question. There is no doubt that Tramadol will make you drowsy. I have the same symptoms after taking it. For me, I had to pick my challenges there. The pain was at a dull resting state of 4-6; so I was willing to fight through the drowsy state vs. struggle against the pain. My advise would be to battle against your pain first; the best you can and then ween off to 1 every 6 hours and eventually, maybe 1 every 8 to 12 hours, and even stop taking the medication all together once your pain is under control.
One question - what is problem with drowsiness? that is better right? I mean sleep helps recover the body and rather than watching tv for 8 hours out of 24 I would rather sleep for 12 or 14, so is not it (drowsiness) a benefit? or am i missing something here?
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One question - what is problem with drowsiness? that is better right? I mean sleep helps recover the body and rather than watching tv for 8 hours out of 24 I would rather sleep for 12 or 14, so is not it (drowsiness) a benefit? or am i missing something here?
Hi 7231! I agree with you. When in heavy pain, especially, I prefer to be drowsy and enjoy sleeping through much of the episode. In this case, I believe MichaelJose is referring to when at work, he is trying to avoid being drowsy. So far, I have been fortunate enough to be able to work despite being drowsy. I feel pretty wired right now with everything going on with the CLL procedure; so that could be what is keeping me up.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I'll update my diary tonight with how today went. Each day is another adventure.
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Day 20 - Concluded Home Health Physical Therapy, Signed up for Outpatient PT (Starting next Thursday!) Long Slow Walk, Ouch - Hurt my Hip Flexor, Recovering, Okay. [1.297 Centimeters Taller]
Today was decent. It did not start out well, however. Piece of advice for all CLL'ers. Sleeping is going to be its very own adventure for you during the early stages of CLL. I suggest having some great pain killers, sleeping medication, etc and making sure that the environment is as comfortable and calming as possible. AND do not twist around or TAKE ANY CHANCES with hurting your legs when turning off lights, reaching for things etc. There is just no reason to aggravate your pain. Last night, while reaching to turn off the light (a very basic and common movement); I aggravated my left leg pin site around the hip flex-or. OUCH! It went into a cramping cycle for most of the next day. When you strain or aggravate your leg, esp, after surgery, your muscles and surrounding muscles go into protector mode...so your entire leg starts to tighten up whenever you move that area. Needless to say it was rough. My left leg did battle through it however as i forged on with my home health physical therapy. The leg is actually feeling okay now. I just iced it on and off all day and I anticipate it feeling good again by Friday.
I'm up on my walker now and performing all needed tasks at home on my feet. Albeit, I'm walking slowly; but I'm walking and I'm full weight bearing on the Stryde Nail. The right leg is so strong and working great. Left leg is trailing behind and we'll just keep building its strength and working toward catching up with the right leg. Today was actually my last day of "Home Health Inpatient Physical Therapy". My PT Jason, did a good job getting me back on my feet, keeping me stretched out and getting me through his initial phase of the CLL process. I'll be stretching and using all the skills I learned from Jason for the next week on my own and with my Brother and Sister....prior to my outpatient PT starting up. I'm looking forward to the outpatient PT...finally I'll be going outside around people; other people battling with physical challenges and getting some great fresh air to. I anticipate doing outpatient PT with formal PT Professionals 3 times a week and then the other 4 days of the week; consistently stretching, walking and performing my self-trained PT skills on my legs. As far as today was concerned I walked the length of about 1/2 a football field! I walked all that way on my new 1/2 inch of height. That's right. I'm 1/2 inch taller!
Today, I also worked a full 8 hour work day and worked out my chest on my bow-flex home gym.
Other notes, in case you are wondering. Once you are comfortable with your walker; you are able to pretty much do all the needed things required to sustain a decent life routine through this process. I prepare my meals, I can move things around (carefully), I'm able to get into my shower chair (carefully); and showering is good to go. I can get on the toliet...no problem. I'm 95% walker and i just use the wheel chair whenever I feel like I need to rest any post surgical pain that is lingering. I'm actually looking to shed the wheel chair within the next few weeks.
Here is a brief overview of "MY" transitions. These are unique to me and not necessarily what everyone else can expect.
- Week 1 - 100% Wheelchair and needed full time assistance
- Week 2 - 50% Wheelchair and 50% Walker and needed someone to watch over me a bit for safety purposes - My weaker left leg was finally able to deal with movement and weight bearing; so I began to explore using walker and became much more independent.
-Week 3 (This week) - 95% Walker and only using wheelchair when I want to fully rest a surgical pain. I could be 100% walker if I wanted to. I am 95% independent as well. I only require assistance for any objects that require a more awkward type of movement.
-Week 4 Goals (Next week) 100% Walker, Further smooth out the walk and have a more stronger left leg to work with during my first outpatient PT next Thursday.
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Guys, all in all. Everything is fine at the moment. Dr. M has done a good job with my legs. No swelling at all; nice soft calm legs. You woudn't even know anything had been done to them unless you saw me walk. Had it not been for my left leg being a bit weaker (unforseen); I believe that I could probably walk without any assistance already on these great Stryde nails. I literally stand up without any assistance all day long with perfect balance. How is that for some great PT? Full weight bearing and standing!
Okay, I'm going to sign out for now. My first x-rays will be on Friday. I hope to see that 1/2 inch that I'm measuring on my own.
Best regards,
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great diary man. Hope you reach your height goal without any pain or complications along the way. I wanted to ask you if you resided in a different state that required you to take a flight back there what day after your procedure do you think you would be able to take the flight back without it feeling like a major hassle. Like a 4 hour flight in particular.
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great diary man. Hope you reach your height goal without any pain or complications along the way. I wanted to ask you if you resided in a different state that required you to take a flight back there what day after your procedure do you think you would be able to take the flight back without it feeling like a major hassle. Like a 4 hour flight in particular.
Good day Megatron! Thank you for the question. I really want everyone to ask questions because I think it's so important that everyone truly understand what this surgery is all about for a fairly typical candidate (myself).
Megatron, I had my surgery on the morning of January the 3rd. I was actually fortunate enough to be living and settled only 45 minutes away from Dr. M; so its quite convenient and almost feels like a regular doctors visit.
Let's be hypothetical and imagine what it would be like if I had to take a plane flight home. Okay, I would say, after a 3 day day in the hospital; I would probably hang around town for at least the first follow up visit with Dr. M. Knowing that you are going to be leaving soon; he may even schedule initial x-rays earlier than he did for me. My first x-rays aren't until Friday (again, me and Dr. M are neighbors practically). I would say at about day 7-10 you should be able to fairly swiftly travel via plane. You will want to make before hand accommodates with the airport and airline for a full 360 accommodate to your condition. I know money is always tight; but budget appropriately. Travel comfortable for yourself and keep yourself safe. So, 7 Days is cutting it close to travel, 10 days a bit better, 14 days is really nice because you will be feeling much better by this time (not perfect, but better). Ask Dr. M and staff questions, questions, questions... do not leave California without knowing everything you need to know; especially since you will not be here after surgery for the most part. Let me know if any additional concerns or questions you may have and I'll provide the best feedback possible.
Directly answering your question - 4 hour flight should be fine at day 7 or beyond, take some pain pills and make sure you have accommodations ready for you at the airport so that you transition smoothly. I would use wheelchair van transport to get you to Airport and to pick you up and take you home.
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Day 21 - Three Weeks completed. [1.386 Centimeters Taller]
Good day LLer's
Three weeks are officially behind me and I'm over 1/2 inch taller and it makes a difference; it really does. Tomorrow will be my 3 week check-up and initial x-rays so I'm hoping to hear good things. I expect all should go just fine. Today, was my best day. My left leg felt a lot better; not yet at the level of my right leg; but a steady improvement. I walked a good bit and performed my stretches just about the entire day.
Here is what I able able to do so far at my 3rd Week w/ Stryde Nail Procedure.
1) I can stand straight up and down on both legs at the same time for many minutes at a time with no assistance, walker, or anything.
2) I am 100% Walker with little to no pain. I do not walk normal by any means yet nor can I walk unassisted yet. I do not have my balance quite at this point. Muscles through out my quad, hamstrings, hips, and gluts still need plenty of work; but they are coming back nicely. I honestly don't expect to walk 100% normal until the 5 or 6 month point. This process takes time; but I do anticipate getting better EVERY DAY. At least I am up and about on a walker with little pain to worry about (so far).
3) I am able to shower on my own and do all the needed daily prep on my own such as shaving, brushing my teeth etc.
4) Can prepare my own meals
5) Can reach for most things needed, and things out of my reach; I can just use an extend grabber
6) I'm working a full work day at home remotely, and expect to go back to work in a few weeks at least a couple a days per week.
7) Can safety sit down on my bow-flex machine and get a pretty decent upper body work out daily
8) Pain level during the day is at about a 3, it peaks at a 4 or 5 only in rare situations where I, by accident, sting a joint or surgery area. Pain at night is still a bit cumbersome and usually only for one leg at a time. I'm working on it; and expect that to subside soon. Honestly, by end of week 3; pain isn't a big issue at the moment. I hope it continues to get easier.
9) Can safely transfer to car, bed, toilet, couch, etc.
10) Favorite pain medicines so far are Tramadol and Tylenol PM combination.
11) Fun Fact: Yes; you will lose your flexibility (You feel tight and stiff in your upper legs) and most muscle strength in your legs after surgery; but with physical therapy performed by both you and your therapist; these things will come back each day. Literally, each day; you feel better. So far; I have had a positive progress point each day...which makes this process much more bearable when you can see improvement.
12) I have the tininess little scabs you have ever seen as far as the incisions are concerned. When they heal up totally; I doubt they will be noticeable at all, esp when hair grows over the light scaring.
Overall I'm feeling good. I'm going to keep stretching, keep standing up straight and as tall as I can and practice my walking. I know that I'll begin to feel that tightness once i hit the 2cm+ range; but I won't think about that too much. Just keep going strong because I have a goal.
I hope you guys are doing well and I'll check back in tomorrow evening and let you know how my 3 week check up went. X - Rays coming soon. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
Best Regards,
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Great update - good news to hear you're doing well!
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Day 22 - My 3 week post-operation follow up with Dr. Mahboubian
Greetings LL'ers,
It was a bit of an exhausting day but got through it well. Day started fine enough; was able to get out of bed smoothly with no issues. I will note; for future LL'ers that the night time and morning can be one of the tougher parts of the entire LL process. Your legs are going to feel at there stiffest at this point. My best advice would be to try to be "awake" a bit earlier then when you actually have to get up so you can begin to perform some stretching and leg exercises while in bed. During which time; would be good to switch on the heater during those colder mornings and give your legs time to soak in the added heat. The chill definitely impacts the way your legs feel. I may even advise that, if you can pull it off, to wear pajama bottoms that are warm and comfy. This might make you hot; but its better to have your legs warm throughout the night. To combat the added heat; its a good idea to have a fan near by to blow cool air on you.
Today, I met with Dr. Mahboubian for my 3 week follow up and everything went great. It is a one hour drive from my apartment to Dr. M's offices and one hour drive back; so although it's not a airplane ride; its still a trip that can spend some energy, lol. I got through it, okay. I went in for x-rays and they also performed a high level assessment on how I was doing. Overall, Dr. M said he would say I'm doing better than most of his patients who engage this procedure. That is good to hear. I hope that the future LL'ers can say the same. I had one surprise.. It turns out that they measured my lengthening so far at 1.7 centimeters; which is a few mm more than I had measured myself! I was relieved to know that both legs were equal and that my nails are working just fine. I think my biggest fear with this entire process would be nails that don't work. Anyhow, all is looking good. Dr. M performed some flexibility tests and overall was pleased. He did however want me to work on one range of motion where my leg bends backwards toward my hamstring/butt. I will really try to put an increased effort into that going forward.
Here are my x-rays below which show both femurs, lengthened 1.7 centimeters in 13 day span.
(https://i.imgur.com/dec9BXT.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/wRWHNLi.jpg)
Dr. M has instructed me to lengthen .33mm, 3 times a day for 3 weeks and then we will meet again. I'll be over 1.5 inches taller by my next appointment with him; which is an absolutely huge difference in my perception. Hard to believe that I'm gaining 1 inch per month. That really isn't a very long time to wait. It feels like yesterday that I was waking up in the post surgical recovery room...22 days ago. One must just do there best to organize their life and time around the CLL process.
I'm open to any feedback or questions.
Thank you and best regards,
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Have not seen a decent diary in a long time man. Great to see you doing so well. Keep it up and you have my best wishes mate!
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Have not seen a decent diary in a long time man. Great to see you doing so well. Keep it up and you have my best wishes mate!
Hamiltonzac -I really appreciate your kind words, friend. My goal is to bring us all through journey together each and every day. The Process of CLL is unique and special, and there is so much value to telling the story. Thank you again, man. I'm going to keep trying my best.
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Which diameter Stryde nails are these?
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Which diameter Stryde nails are these?
These are the 10mm nails for Stryde. Dr. M said it was a great fit.
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InFullStryde-
What price did you pay for cometic lengthening of the femurs using Stryde?
What was included in the price?
Did health insurance cover any of the costs?
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Good wishes for you man
What a such nice story dude, i hope you'll do well
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InFullStryde-
What price did you pay for cometic lengthening of the femurs using Stryde?
What was included in the price?
Did health insurance cover any of the costs?
Hi Leggs,
I'm not 100% sure of what the cost is right now; since I was quoted in September of 2018. The prices are increasing due to increased market demand and increased popularity, technological advanced and safety measures; of the surgery, however, here were my costs.
$700 Pre - Consultation - Includes X - Ray, Examination of your body and medical history. Non-pressure and non-rushed 1:1 meeting with Dr. M to ask as many questions as you want. He goes through the entire process and is vested to make sure you're in good understanding of the surgery and process.
$30,000 Surgeon Fee (Full amount Due 2 weeks before surgery and $5000 deposit must be made to secure a surgery date)
$40,000 Hospital Fee (Full amount Due 2 weeks before surgery)
$1,700 Anesthesia Fee (Full amount Due 2 weeks before surgery)
Insurance MAY help to cover $10,000 Nail removal to be completed 1 year after surgery (I don't remember exactly, but price is close to this. Costs are not due until this surgery takes place).
Insurance Covers - Physical Therapy, Wheelchair, Walker, Crutches, Medication
Housing, Food, transportation and other accommodations such a care taker is not covered.
I suggest budgeting about $2000 - $3000 more to cover other incidental items you might need such as muscle cream, ice packs, special transportation urinals, fans, massage blankets, etc, etc. You want to think comfort and convenience and any item that can prove to be a great necessity during the recovery months.
I live only 1 hour from Dr. M offices, so I am able to actively participate in CLL from the comfort of my home. If you do not live close, then one will have to budget for accommodations. I THINK, but not sure, that Dr. M might allow you to lengthen from a far away (non-local) home but this would be best to ask him directly.
Let me know if you have any other question!
Thank you and best regards,
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Good wishes for you man
What a such nice story dude, i hope you'll do well
Thank you so much Jaubartt169. This process is a very special one. I thought 6 months would feel like a long time; but in one blink of my eye, one month is already over. Thank you so much for your support. Every bit of support will help our CLL friends.
Best regards,
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Day 23 - Three Weeks completed. [1.584 Centimeters Taller]
Good evening LL'ers,
I hope the day has gone good for each of you. I'm wrapping it up here. Today was a good day. One of the things that I accomplished was really focusing on how I organize my living space while I am LL'ing. Make sure to create a very "accessible" and well rounded living space. For example, for work, I invested in good computer and 3 monitors so I could easily work remote and also enjoy the benefits of a great computer system to help me spend time usefully and with enjoyment as well. I purchased a bow-flex home gym; so that I could easily do cable resistance workouts and stay in shape with my upper body. The machine coupled with some free weights will tide me over nicely until I recover enough to return to the gym. Even the way I have my bed prepared so that the sheets are already pulled over; just to make it easier for me to slide in with no issues of having to tug and pull the covers. Each day, as I have engaged this process of CLL, I have identified little things here and there that I could make more accessible with "hacks" so to speak and it has gone along way. In addition to the above and other items throughout my apartment; I have all my meals and groceries home delivered. I want to keep things as convenient as possible. I have removed any and all obstruction to my balcony so I can easily get to the outside and soak some sun. We need the healing and vitamins of the sun for our mind and body. My advise to everyone who is soon seeking CLL is to really play out in your mind the situation you will be in.
Today was pretty good. I'll organize key points going forward for easier reference below:
Pain: 2-3 - Dull pain really, nothing sharp. I'm over 1/2 inch tall and not feeling too tight; however I do feel the difference now in my legs. They are tighter; so let the show begin. I restocked on Tramadol and it seemed to help me.
Sleep: It was rough but much better. I'm probably about 2 -3 weeks away from being able to comfortable sleep on my side. The cramping like pains when you try to put one leg over the other is what gets you. You DO NOT want to get stuck with a cramp like pain when one leg is dangling over the other. I slept off and on about 4-5 hours. It will improve.
My Left Leg Situation: Left leg is feeling much better. It trails the right leg; but not by that much; in fact my left leg feels looser then my right leg. I'm wondering if maybe the "releases" that were performed on me to help with my flexibility may have just impacted my left leg a bit more dramatically. All in all, left leg if feeling better.
Mobility: I am showering, using the restroom (for number 1 and 2), and getting around my apartment with no issue with walker. I can even take some very small, baby like, kinds sad looking steps, haha, non assisted; but I would not dare try to do more. My leg strength and balance is still a few weeks way before it will be ready to be aggressive with movement un-assisted. All in all things are going well.
Not to much to report today, guys. So far, without fail, each day has gotten a little bit better. I'll update with more tomorrow and feel free to reach out with any questions.
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This is an awesome diary, thanks for keeping us up to date with so much detail man! I was in your similar position, about 5'1.5 and did femur lengthening to 5'4. I am now considering going again and do tibia with STRYDE. Have you thought about it? If everything goes smoothly with a complete recovery, would you consider doing tibia as well?
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Wow, that gap looks huge (in your x-rays)! I'm so confused. I thought the process was to widen the gap, let the bone partially start to heal, then repeat. Is the process of widening more to accommodate for stretching (muscles, tendons, flesh, etc)? Or, is the .33mm tied to your body's ability to heal the bone? Again, that gap looks huge and it's baffling to me how your body knows to keep growing the bone... I wonder what would happen if you lengthened the entire length in one day? Other than the pain of instantly stretching, I'm curious if your bone would still grow as well as it would compared to what you're doing now.
Also, I'm curious/confused as to what the process of lengthening is supposed to look like for you.
If you're doing 0.33mm 3x per day, that's ~2 and a half months or so of lengthening. Are you expected to walk normally at any point during this time? 75% 50%? Or, after the lengthening is over, your bone completely heels, THEN you walk normally? In other words, I'm curious when you're supposed to expect normal (or relatively normal) physical activity and how that relates to the lengthening phase...
Again, thank you for putting this much effort into sharing your journey. Incredibly informative and considering this is done with a new nail, it's very interesting to observe. You're a pioneer or sorts!
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This is an awesome diary, thanks for keeping us up to date with so much detail man! I was in your similar position, about 5'1.5 and did femur lengthening to 5'4. I am now considering going again and do tibia with STRYDE. Have you thought about it? If everything goes smoothly with a complete recovery, would you consider doing tibia as well?
ShortlivesMatter, it's my pleasure, man. I'm really enjoying the opportunity to inform the community and especially the prospect, future LLs. I have definitely thought about going for Tibias. I would have to consider my position once the femur process is concluded and assess how feasible it would be to be away another extended period; but I would not rule out the possibility of doing it again for Tibias, merely due to the fact that the femur process is starting to smooth out now. After 3 weeks and counting I have discovered that CLL can be tolerated and that the time goes by a lot faster then one may think. It's awesome to have met someone just like me. Let's stay in contact!
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Wow, that gap looks huge (in your x-rays)! I'm so confused. I thought the process was to widen the gap, let the bone partially start to heal, then repeat. Is the process of widening more to accommodate for stretching (muscles, tendons, flesh, etc)? Or, is the .33mm tied to your body's ability to heal the bone? Again, that gap looks huge and it's baffling to me how your body knows to keep growing the bone... I wonder what would happen if you lengthened the entire length in one day? Other than the pain of instantly stretching, I'm curious if your bone would still grow as well as it would compared to what you're doing now.
Also, I'm curious/confused as to what the process of lengthening is supposed to look like for you.
If you're doing 0.33mm 3x per day, that's ~2 and a half months or so of lengthening. Are you expected to walk normally at any point during this time? 75% 50%? Or, after the lengthening is over, your bone completely heels, THEN you walk normally? In other words, I'm curious when you're supposed to expect normal (or relatively normal) physical activity and how that relates to the lengthening phase...
Again, thank you for putting this much effort into sharing your journey. Incredibly informative and considering this is done with a new nail, it's very interesting to observe. You're a pioneer or sorts!
Psilocybe, great questions! Okay, if you look very closely at the x-rays, you will notice a very dim, lighter white shading in and around the bone at the break/incision area. This is very easy to x-ray and see through at this point since it's still very early (3 week), but this whitish area is callous and/or other formation of healing around the break areas. Given more time and a stoppage in lengthening this area, soft callous is going to mineralize, become a stronger white and turn into strong bone.
If all goes well, I should be walking close to normal in 6 months roughly, possible sooner, according to Dr. M. the primary difference with the Stryde nail is that there is no weight bearing limitation for most since the nail can hold well over 100lbs per leg even in the smallest nail (10mm); one may place as much weight on your legs during the CLL process that is tolerable. This fact allows a patient to participate in physical activities which help to bring back the strength and flexibility that is lost durign the CLL surgery and hence you're back to walking faster than before.
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Day 24 - Best day I've had during the CLL process [1.584 Centimeters Taller]
Good evening guys,
Not much to report today; but I will say that it was the best day I've had overall, body chemistry wise since my CLL journey started. I woke up...and my legs were not stiff and frozen. I was comfortable the entire day with low pain. I was able to get around with my walker with ease and my stretches felt good. Also, mentally, my mind wasn't rushing with thoughts or preoccupied with CLL or anything to that affect. I was calm, relaxed, comfortable and felt primed for what lay ahead. That's it for today. I'll update again tomorrow. Any questions for me; please feel free to reach out.
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Thanks for the flight/recovery info. it really helps
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Thanks for the flight/recovery info. it really helps
I'm glad to be able to assist Megatron. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
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Day 25 - Best day I've had during the CLL process [1.617 Centimeters Taller]
Good day LL'ers
Just want to keep you all updated. Today went good. At day 25, my pain is at level 1-3. I am able to take steps, albeit awkwardly, with the walker since my muscles and flexibility are still building; but the steps do not look bat at all. I'm getting stronger every day. I can get around 100% on the walker. Also, I am finally able to turn to my side; for sleeping. I'm not sure if I will do this yet; for safety reasons; but I have no issue turning to the side of my body now.
At over 1/2 inch taller, not feeling to much tightness; but you do begin to feel "different". The half inch mark is your first "Hello, you're stretching your bone out moment". Lol. We'll see how I'm feeling when I get to 1+ inches!
All is all, I'm doing well. I had a full work day today at home 8 hours and a good 1 hour work on my bow flex machine.
I performed PT independently today; since my outpatient PT does not start until Thursday. As a reminder, I did home health PT for the first 3 weeks of my recovery and boy did it help. I went from..."OUCH, don't touch my left leg" to fully mobilized on a walker and a much much much stronger left leg. Also, one not so dramatic twist!... I had a home PT therapist call me to do an evaluation of me and propose his services..so I may meet with them as well. They offer the full PT at home (Post Home Health)... I love the added convenience, but I just want to make sure that the next 8 weeks of my PT positions be for maximum gains possible during this distraction phase.
Okay, if you have any questions please feel free to reach out. Onward and upward (literally).
Best Regards,
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Great news - hope everyday continues to be the best day since the surgery 💪🏾
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Hey again, i have a question for you
Until now, do you have any regret ?
Im not that short, some guys even told me this and i should try lifts, but you know... Im really thinking about doing this surgery when become older. I dont wanna have to deal with complications of my legs in future, however my tibias or femurs. I do wanna still run ''as before'', do sports, things like those, you know. If i'd do this surgery, at the end, I would like to have my leg bones strong as before, i dont even know much about this surgery yet, but i appreciate to have an answer from guys who did it.
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Hey again, i have a question for you
Until now, do you have any regret ?
Im not that short, some guys even told me this and i should try lifts, but you know... Im really thinking about doing this surgery when become older. I dont wanna have to deal with complications of my legs in future, however my tibias or femurs. I do wanna still run ''as before'', do sports, things like those, you know. If i'd do this surgery, at the end, I would like to have my leg bones strong as before, i dont even know much about this surgery yet, but i appreciate to have an answer from guys who did it.
Hi Jubart1169, Great question. First, I think it's fair that you want to be taller; even if you "aren't that short'. I believe that people should be able to become whatever they want to be as long as it isn't hurting the well being of other innocent people. I for one have zero regrets about going forward with CLL and at least trying to resolve my height dysphoria. You only live one life and after watching my parents pass away suddenly over the past 4 years; I have realized more than ever that my time will soon come and I must act right now and not later; in resolving any ongoing/painful issue that I have in this life. If there is a chance to be happier; you should always take it.
Now in terms of cosmetic limb lengthening; this does feel a bit different than other changes you can make in your life. It feels different because it is. Unless you have been in an accident where you have had a few breaks; you haven't experienced anything like CLL before. Immediately after the surgery and for the next several weeks especially, your flexibility and leg strength will be drastically reduced. From that point forward, you must start over so to speak and strengthen and re-flex your legs so that you can reach that athletic point again. Even with Stryde nail, do not expect to walk unassisted prior to week 6 or beyond. You will get around well with a walker. The physical aspect of CLL is a challenge; but the psychological aspect is by far a lot more difficult. Attributes that go a long way to resolving the CLL matter would include, discipline, commitment, strong resolve, patience, well-routined, self-confident, self-sufficient, emotionally stable, and well-supported. These attributes are just a few. I have said this to some close family and I'll say it again; CLL is not a procedure for someone who is deeply depressed or emotionally unstable. As for myself, for my entire life, I have been determined to find ways to achieve and have everything I wanted despite my challenges, including my 5'1.25" stature. I'm happy to report that I was successful in over coming my stature in this life. Having said that; I wanted to now remove the issue entirely on my own....So I positioned my life in a way where I could go out and pursue this life changing surgery. I'm already over 1/2 inches taller and it makes a huge difference for me, specially since my starting height is where it is at. The stadiometer actually reads over 5'2.. so perhaps I'm even taller then I thought, slightly.
Either way... I'm 37 years old; so now I suppose I'm of the age where I can offer some advice to the younger... You rarely will regret the chances you took so long that you performed the due diligence and careful thought that each of those chances deserved. You will however, regret the chances you never took because of fear, or being too obsessed about what others think of you and your decisions. The only opinion that matters, young man, in this life regarding YOUR LIFE, is your own opinion. Ultimately, I advise that you GROW NOW. First, GROW your confidence, GROW your physical fitness, GROW your career, and GROW your empathy, by meeting and talking to others in the world who require assistance and could use your help. Height really is truly a matter of perspective. The more perspective you have; the greater confidence you will have regarding your decision to go forward with the surgery or decide against it. You are okay at the height you are RIGHT NOW...there is nothing wrong with you and your potential is the same... Adding height later will be a personal decision and you can be proud of each and every decision you make.
I hope my answer helped, buddy.
Feel free to ask me any questions. NO REGRETS EVER!
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Great news - hope everyday continues to be the best day since the surgery 💪🏾
@MichaelJose - Thank you for your kind words and support, man. It truly helps me.
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InFullStryde,
It is absolutely one of the best diaries in this forum. Awesome responses and details. Thanks for your time and efforts to help future CLLers. Stay strong 💪🏻 and best wishes to you.
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Yeah, i think your answer puts me on the way.
You ''were'' a 5'1'' guy and have been doing well, you're successful business entrepreneur, have an attractive woman on your side giving support to you, and I don't even know much about you, but by the way you write and deal with the life, makes me think you are a fking winner. I'm 5'6'' and have been blaming myself and even my parents sometimes because of my stature. Things like stature, eye colors, genes in general, just drive me crazy, I'm even not ugly actually, but i'm perfectionist, i'd like to more..you know... For example, all my dad's family has blue eyes, and almost everyone in my mom's family has blue eyes as well, but she has a grandmother who has dark eyes, and there i go, i fk pulled her genes, the worse was when i figured out this greatgrandmother has some tall relatives, so basically i pulled her eyes, but didn't in stature, what a failed man. I always have dreamed about the perfect body which i could have, like 6 ft, blue eyes... this fking sucks. What really influenced in my height dysphoria was the fact i prefer tall girls, and by evolutionary theory they won't be attracted to a shorter guy, and even any girl really falls in love for me, i couldn't handle it, i feel the necessity of being taller than her. I really could get girls who are 5'0 5'1 5'2 or even 5'3, but sincerely, i wouldn't like it. Since younger, I feel i need to be a presenceable man.
But you really made it, thats why i think you are winner, the short stature that you have didn't influenced in your success. I guess this way doesn't work for me at all, or I'm really sick about my height to the point i can't make things work right. This seems be too much grumbling of my part.. but that's it.
I do need to clean a lttle bit my mind. Make some goals im my life, like making a lot of money. I'll study more about it, and if i pretend do this surgery.
I wish you good luck and plz keep us informed about you, i mean... log in this forum after some years of your last post, i do wanna know how are you doing. Reporting us If you had any complications or..whatever.
God bless you.
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I find it really hard to believe how a start 5'1 man can act this positive
You could even be 5'5 and it's still a hard world out there to short people.
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I find it really hard to believe how a start 5'1 man can act this positive
You could even be 5'5 and it's still a hard world out there to short people.
For sure this is admirable
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Day 26 - Let the growing pains begin! [1.716 Centimeters Taller]
Before I go into my day....
I find it really hard to believe how a start 5'1 man can act this positive
You could even be 5'5 and it's still a hard world out there to short people.
For sure this is admirable
Guys, I really appreciate the acknowledgement. I won't go into great length about how I was able to overcome the extreme short stature; but I will say this. I decided to focus on what I had; instead of what I did not have. I shifted my obsession toward my strengths instead of obsessing on my weaknesses. This allowed me to strive despite my stature. My height never distracted me away from my desired outcomes and it allowed me to maximize potential. Having said that; I always worked hard to look nice, be smart, and well established. Here I am at this point in my life; and it struck me as a great time to "try" to change my height. Now, I know that 5'3 or 5'4 is still very short; but perspective is everything. I love my self at 5'1"; so if you put me at 5'3 or 5'4" I'm just going to smitten with joy. Regardless of what height you are or I become; it doesn't change who you are on the inside; but rather can unlock a part of you that has been suppressed. Many of us simply lack confidence and by increasing height; that confidence is unleashed. There is no doubt that being taller has its advantages. My opinion is that you get some "Free" passes" when you're taller. As a extremely short male; I had to really think about things a bit more; I had to calculate; perform due diligence on my approaches and as result, I became sharper and wiser at living life. When I see a short male out in the world that is living his life with no regrets and giving it all he has; I admire that guy. That guy is a "Warrior" and not a "Worrier". He chose to use his strengths to better his conditions rather than obsess on weakness; which always results in stalling; holding patterns; and excuses of why one "can't". We're all just fine the way we are. Our decision to increase our heights is a personal one that we make because we deserve to be taller. We've earned the opportunity to be taller. Guys if you have questions for me and the procedure please feel free to reach out. I'm enjoying getting to know each of you!
Now, as for Day 26...Guys it went well. Smooth day. Worked out upper body, Self PT by stretching all day, Worked, and Lengthened. I didn't have much pain at all while resting my legs...1 - 3 pain. However, now that I am pushing toward 1 inch; I feel the stretch of my muscle now. Don't get me wrong, I have decent range of motion, and I'm not feeling super tight; but I do feel the difference. I become a bit sore after I do the .33 lengthening each time during the day. I'm going to push the stretching in Physical Therapy. The heightening game has began!
I'll let you all know how it goes tomorrow; but so far its been an eye opening 26 days!
Best Regards,
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Hi, are you in LA right now?
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Hi Cool! I'll PM you.
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I have a question regarding Dr M's approach to the nail insertion. Where is he doing from? Knee or hip.
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Hi Concerned Mom. It's through the Hip.
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Day 27 - Journey Continues... Race to one inch [1.782 Centimeters Taller]
Greetings LL'ers. I am 7 days away from 1 inch taller. I am 32 days away from 2 inches taller and I am 57 days away from 3 inches taller. What a race it is it. A race against yourself, that is. So, I'll break down where I am at so far.
Remember that pesky left leg that had been slowing me down from the start? Well it feels good now. It's loose and I can just about bear full body weight on it. As luck would have it; it is now my "strong" right leg that is being a pest! LOL Perhaps its due to the lengthening; I am not sure; but I am feeling tight cramping like feeling near the side of the right quadriceps; near the hip flex-ers. Fortunately, it isn't a dull pain while resting. While resting my leg; I feel no pain as of now. However, some movements that require reaching over and when I try to weight bear...., some pain there. Hopefully this subsides and begins to improve. Tomorrow I start my 1st day of the outpatient physical therapy at the clinic; so I anticipate progress as they dig into my muscles with great stretches and massages. All-in-all, my path to my first inch is pretty clear. I'll get there with no issue. The all so important 2nd inch; that inch that makes this entire procedure worth it to me....ah, well that will be a grand challenge! I will push and push with all my might. The 3rd inch...well that is the bonus inch. Every little bit toward inch 3 that I can get; will be the cherry on top for me.
My pain at resting state is at a 1 - 2. I am very comfortable right now.
I am very mobile via the walker; even with the right leg cramping. I am able to bear full weight on both the left and right leg; however...my left leg is still slightly tender (remember it was having some difficulty post surgery) and my right leg is cramping...so I will not attempt unassisted steps until both of my legs are feeling great at the same time. I am stretching all day. I think for many of us; once we enter CLL; we are obsessed with stretching and exercising our legs. That's a good thing. I am careful not to push to far.
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All in all guys, I feel like the game has began. My Superbowl of increasing my height has is in full swing.....I'm just in the 1st quarter right now and It's time to rally the team and put everything we have out there on the field. I remind myself how long I have thought about this process and achieving my goal. I'm going to leave all my effort out there on the field. Win or Lose; I'm going to try my very best.
If you guys have any questions. Feel free to let me know! I'll check in tomorrow after my outpatient PT is concluded and let you know how it went.
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Great update as always man, yeah when I went thru LL, my stronger leg switched back and forth between each leg. Have you been using stairs yet?
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Great update as always man, yeah when I went thru LL, my stronger leg switched back and forth between each leg. Have you been using stairs yet?
You can say that again. I'm hoping that I can have my left and right at the same time at some point here. I haven't done stairs yet. I may chance them soon!
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So is the (primary) limitation of mobility mainly due to your muscles, or is this because of your bones? I'm wondering what kind of effect the IT band release would have on someone who didn't get LL.
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So is the (primary) limitation of mobility mainly due to your muscles, or is this because of your bones? I'm wondering what kind of effect the IT band release would have on someone who didn't get LL.
I would have to say the muscles. After surgery, your muscles get very weak and tight. Flexibility is vanished. From day 1 of the CLL process; you're doing all you can to rebuild your muscle strength and flexibility. The key is good physical therapy and don't give up to easily!
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Hi Cool! I'll PM you.
Hi InFullStryde! did you get my PM?
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Day 28 - Another Day in Another Way... One inch count down - 6 more days! [1.848 Centimeters Taller]
Hi LL'ers. I'm just checking in for another update on how the process is going. Whew, boy, this is really a special process. Today was a big day for me since it was the first day of my outpatient Physical Therapy at a great clinic. Not sure if you recall, but the first 3 weeks, I had a home health PT professional come in and really start me off slowly. I'm thankful to that PT pro because he helped me with my initial stretching and also was key in getting me mobilized onto a walker, and helped me learn to perform important transfers into bed, and into shower. The PT Clinic I chose is very popular and you can tell they know what they are doing. So many different patients there..so the expertise is flying all around. Today, I received a deep tissue massage on my upper leg area and it helped to break down and loosen those soft tissues. They tested my range of motion and we will be working on that together 3 days a week. Of course, PT is actually 7 days a week for me; not 3 days.. The PT Clinic Pro's went through some great strength and mobility stretches that I can easily do at home with my sister and brother during the other days I'm not at PT. I'm glad to be out of the house; especially since I have been mostly cooped up inside the for the past month.
Pain Status: My left leg is much stronger, good rotation and feel good. It is now my right leg that is giving me issues and I'm pretty sure it is due to the almost 1 additional inch of height I am reaching. Basically, the pain mainly is felt during rotation movement. When I move straight up and down or forward and back, not really any pain is felt. LL'ers we all have to remember that as you lengthen your muscles strech and like a rubber band; they get weaker. I will push through the pain and stay dedicated to physical therapy and hopefully my right leg can (I'm laughing because I was just talking about my left leg) can catch up with my left leg. Dr. M mentioned that it is likely my IT band is scaring in now; so all is good. I need to be sure to continue stretching and place cold compress / icing on the area after ther cramping sensation. This will help.
I feel like it's top secret around here on what physical therapy exercises look like (Ha ha!); so I'm going to go ahead and be the "SPOILER ALERT" guy...here are the exercises! Have fun.
Physical Therapy - List of Exercises:
* Starts off with a good 10-15 upper leg deep tissue massage *
1. Hamstring Stretch - Supine 30 Seconds / 2 Sets / 1 -2 times a day
While lying on your back, raise your leg and hold the back of your knee until a stretch on your hamstrings is felt.
2. Prone Quad Stretch -Supine 30 Seconds / 2 Sets / 1 -2 times a day
Lie down flat on your stomach. Wrap a strap (belt, towel, dog leash) around the top of one of your feet and pull the strap across your opposite shoulder so that your knee starts to curl up to your body. Pull until a stretch is felt across the front of your thigh.
3. Single Knee to Chest Strech - SKTC -Supine 30 Seconds / 2 Sets / 1 -2 times a day
While lying on your back, hold your knee and gently pull it up towards your chest
4. Supine Hip Abduction - 10 Times / 2 Sets / 1 -2 times a day
Lie on your back with opposite knee bent with your other knee straight, bend your leg out and back again. Repeat.
5. Adductor Squeeze MET - 10 times / 2 sets/ 1-2 times a day
Lying on your back with knees bent, place a ball between your knees. Squeeze your knees together with moderate force and hold for 10 count.
6. Bridging Elastic Band Abduction - 10 times / 2 sets/ 1-2 times a day
While lying on your back, place an elastic band around your knees and pull your knees apart. Hold this and then tighten your lower abdominals, squeeze your buttocks and raise your buttocks off the floor/bed as creating a "bridge" with your body.
7. Wrapped up with Stationary bike for 10 minutes
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Okay guys that is it. One month down almost, and 2 more months to go!!
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions for me.
Best regards
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delete
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The exercises seem easy enough to do by yourself :)
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The exercises seem easy enough to do by yourself :)
Very simple and straight forward I'll keep the community posted on what goes on inside PT so that everyone is aware of what to expect here.
The deep tissue massage is a great thing to have from a good PT.
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Day 29 - Slight improvement in right leg. Another day down [1.914 Centimeters Taller]
Hi LL'ers,
Not going to spend to much time on an update today; but do want to touch base. My right leg is feeling slightly better. I'm still able to get around on the walker despite the cramping of the right leg. Since my right leg has been giving me the recent issues; I haven't been able to thank my left leg for recovering so nicely. Thank you, Left Leg. Don't know what I'd do without you right now. I was able to get my PT done as well. I stretched on and off all day. I also made a couple of PT item purchases. I bought a stretching rope, a stretch band, a roller, and a mini ball. These will help me.
Pain is pretty absent while I'm resting. Maybe 1 - 2. When moving; I have the right leg to tend with; so that would bring it to a 5'ish. I do all I can to avoid hurting myself. Going to continue to push forward with all my might. 1 Month is just about over. 2 more months of distraction and I'm through it. I always remind myself of what my goal is and why I started this process and it makes the challenges well worth it.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions for me guys. I'll keep you updated on my right leg and more on my CLL Journey, tomorrow.
Best regards,
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as far i know, the stryde was developed because precice 2 didnt have weight bearing capability. The surgeons noticed that callous growth and recovery was weaker without weight bearing.
This is the biggest selling point of the Stryde.
Considering you are not weight bearing after day 29, why did you not go for precice 2, it would have been cheaper?
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Hi Blade! Great question to ask and important for the community to understand the answer to.
You are indeed correct. The primary difference with the Styrde nail is that a person can place 100% of their weight on the nail and not worry about the nail breaking. Other than this difference, the Precise 2 and Stryde are quite similar.
To clarify where I am at in terms of standing and walking, with the Styrde Nail.... I am able to stand straight up and down for probably a half hour or longer, full weight-bearing, unassisted, meaning no walker or anything to support me, before having to take a brief rest. Then I can stand again with no issue, unassisted, after that rest. When I am taking steps on the walker, I have both hands on the walker to help me maintain my balance; but I do not have to place weight on the walker and I am able to take steps forward. The walker allows me to to practice my walk/gait training, safety. Right now, the muscles in my legs, especially my hips and glutes, have some training to go before I am able to fully balance and support my legs in order to walk without risk. What the Stryde nail does, which is essential, is allow me to place full body weight while performing steps with my walker, and these nails also allow me to stand up, unassisted, to do routine activity items such as brush my teeth, take a shower, prepare food, etc. The time at which each person can take natural, strongly gaited steps with Stryde will depend on each individual case. In my case, I have had to nurse my weaker left leg; so taking unassisted steps will take a bit longer for me. With that in mind, I am still able to and being encouraged by Dr. M and others to walk, full weight-bearing; but use the walker to support my balance as to remain safe. I hope that makes sense. Now that my left leg is coming around, I feel pretty strong that I'll be able to practice some unassisted steps this month if it feels safe enough.
With this in mind, I would strongly recommend, that anyone considering the internal nail opt to go Stryde nail. The ability to walk unassisted after the first month or so will vary from case to case but; the new nail allows you to leverage the walker or crutches almost immediately. You're immediately mobilized for the most part. For me; I had to use the wheel chair for the first week due to the left leg being weak. By week 2, I was using the walker almost 100% and could stand on one leg unassisted for quite some time. When I use the walker, I avoid pressing down as to allow my legs to absorb and begin getting used to my body weight. It all depends on what your body can tolerate. Nice thing is that I'm able to fully weight bear, but require the walker for now. It's helping my legs get stronger and more flexible; much more quicker than precise 2.... Since those patients had to press down pretty strongly on their walker; avoid full weight bearing under any circumstances, and maintain a wheel chair for those initial 3 -4 months.
Hope this provided some more insight. I feel strongly that Stryde nail is worth the extra money under almost any circumstance.
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Will Dr Mahboubian use stem cells to speed up the consolidation?
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Will Dr Mahboubian use stem cells to speed up the consolidation?
Hi Wannagrowtaller! - Yes, I have heard that stem cell technology is definitely an option that Dr. M will use if anyone is having problem growing the new bone.
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But he doesnt use it in every patient?
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But he doesnt use it in every patient?
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That's a good question. He might have during my surgery. He said that my bone growth was good. I'll ask him during my next visit and let you know.
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Can you send me links about this stem cell treatment for faster consolidation?
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Hey fullstryde, how are you doing ?
I just watched this video of Dr Mahboubian's channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb0s6zhA-Wg
It's Alex's story, which one i appreciate. He went from 5'3'' (1,61) to 5'6.5'' (1,69), with Dr Mahboubian's accompaniment...
When i was watching it, i remembered of your story. So more and more curious i have got
I got some questions:
1. Does Dr. Mahboubian just operates people (in this case, i mean men) who are really short, like under 5'3'' only ?
2. I have done some researchs about Vitamin K, So i figured out this Vitamin makes the calcium go directly to the bones and teeths, vitamin D just regulates the calcium absorption, but it does not send the calcium necessarily to the bones and teeths, is this true ?
3. How about your tibia ? Do you consider do a lenghtening again, but this time on tibias ?
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Hey fullstryde, how are you doing ?
I just watched this video of Dr Mahboubian's channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb0s6zhA-Wg
It's Alex's story, which one i appreciate. He went from 5'3'' (1,61) to 5'6.5'' (1,69), with Dr Mahboubian's accompaniment...
When i was watching it, i remembered of your story. So more and more curious i have got
I got some questions:
1. Does Dr. Mahboubian just operates people (in this case, i mean men) who are really short, like under 5'3'' only ?
2. I have done some research about Vitamin K, So i figured out this Vitamin makes the calcium go directly to the bones and teeths, vitamin D just regulates the calcium absorption, but it does not send the calcium necessarily to the bones and teeths, is this true ?
3. How about your tibia ? Do you consider do a lenghtening again, but this time on tibias ?
Hi Jubartt169,
1. I'm happy to answer your questions Jubartt and I hope you're doing well! Dr. M will operate on most heights. He identify's a mans desire for height as an indication of his height dysphoria and is trying to provide support to resolve that. Doesn't appear that he has a restriction as to the height he will operate on.
2. I'm not sure on your second question. If you find out; please PM your answer.
3. I may lengthen tibias after some time. My current surgery will increase me to 5'3+ or 5'4+...which is a big difference from 5'1. One more surgery may bring me to 5'6 or 5'7. I will consider it.
Best regards to you! Feel free to ask more questions or provide feedback.
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Day 31 - One Month Post Op - What a special experience this is - [2.112 Centimeters Taller]
Well, today marks the conclusion of the 1st month for me with the CLL process. It's been a special month.
I'll be very direct to begin my post:
Pain: When resting and not applying movement and pressure to legs Pain is 1 - 2. Barely any pain while not using the legs. When placing weight on legs and being more active/mobile such as during stretching or really testing the legs. I'm at a 3-4. Sometimes, If I'm not being careful, I can experience a 5+ pain when I am applying undue pressure in a manner that my body isn't quite ready to deal with yet. Toughest movement at this time is rotational movement and/or circular type movement of the legs. Forward and back, as well as side to side is fair or better. I believe the healing process of the IT bands especially, create the sensitivity here. Will take some more days to resolve.
Walking: Today, i tested walking without a walker for the first time and of course I had people there to support me and prevent any falls. I was able to take fully weight bearing baby steps. My balance and leg strength is not in a place to start take authoritative steps; but the Stryde nail will support you unassisted. On the walker, I'm taking big lunging steps and getting around very easily. Another advantage of Stryde nail... I am only using the walker to balance me. I am using 100% of my body weight which allows me to better recovery my legs. Overall my legs still need to build strength. I predict that the coming weeks will bring that strength.
Physical Therapy: 1 Week Self PT, 3 Weeks Home PT, and now I'm doing a progressive outpatient PT at a clinic. So far, the experience has been great. Do the stretches all day and show up to every PT session with the Pro.
My Height Progress: As of today I am 2.112 centimeters taller by my count. Interestingly enough based on my Stadiometer, I'm right at 1 inch taller; so maybe I'm actually taller than I thought I was; or my count is off. Either way, Ill be officially "1 GIANT inch" taller in 4 days. What I feel? Okay from them mental stand point; 1 inch is a huge difference; especially when you haven't grown since age 13. I can feel a big difference as I stand next to my sister who was about 1.5 inches taller then me. Once I reach and advanced beyond her height it will be fun to experience. She is rooting me on. As mentioned before, my Mom passed away in 2015 and my Dad passed way just this pass December. My Dad wanted to be here to support me through this... but he didn't make it. My Sister has been my rock and my supporter; so guys...its a great help to have someone by your side through this tough process. Now, physically, I feel stretched...lol. It's not to tough yet; but at 2cm, at least for me, you can feel the rubber started to go "boing, boing". I have 120 degree range of motion when flexing my knee at this time and I can straighten my leg; but the tightness can be felt when I stand and walk. I will be working as hard as I can to maintain an honest flexibility to get through this.
Dr. M Review so far: Great Doctor. Answers my emails within 24 hours or less. Friendly man, smart, and keeps a cool head. He knows this process is tough and he'll encourage you to get through it. He wants whats best for your body and for your height dreams too. Really, the "Surgery" is the most important part of the process with CLL. If the surgery is done right; you're just time and PT, some effort away from your dreams. I had no swelling, my legs were clean and all bruising was gone and I can just say that I feel like the surgery was done properly. Now, it's on me. I have to stretch and withstand the pressure. I'll do my best!
This experience has been something special. I want to emphasize that Styrde nail is the way to go. I would be in much worse shape right now if I was confined to my wheel chair and not able to stand full weight bearing. With this nail you can at least stand, full weight, up and down to do things like shower, brush your teeth, etc. After some weeks; you should be able to walk unassisted. Make sure you have a care giver during the first few weeks to help and before you go forward, think through all the supplies you will need so that they are ready to go from day 1. I will begin working on a master list for future LL'ers; so that they can check off as they go.
Thank you guys. AND do you have any questions? Please feel free to take advantage of my experience. When I was on the other side looking in; I just wanted to know so much about what I was getting my self into. I'm willing to answer anything you guys ask...I want to help you. I know how important this is to you.
Best Regards, and I'll be back with more updates.
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Interesting, i think doing on tibias is not a bad idea, as long as you do not exceed your limits. If my opnion has some worth for you, I would not go above 5cm on tibia in myself, i have seen some stories of patients who did above 6cm on tibias and some of them have complications later: nerve pain, permanent damages..etc. I think 4cm on tibia would be great and safe, but thats just my opnion.
About the vitamin K, i think it's important you do your own research about it and do your own conclusion. Especially the Vitamin K2. But here are some links below so you can have a summary. If you have a free time, i recommend you check it.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-k2#functions
https://www.drstevenlin.com/vitamin-k2-benefits/
https://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/060113p54.crapml
https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2008/3/Protecting-Bone-And-Arterial-Health-With-Vitamin-K2/Page-01
As you doing the lengthening process, which consists in breaking your leg bones, Vitamin K2 would be good, once you have a good vitamin D and calcium levels. Basically, the vitamin K2 is the ''GPS'' of calcium. It grabs the calcium of soft tissue and takes it to the teeths and the bones. According some studies of the calcium, it has no ''GPS'', he goes to the valve of the heart, he goes to the coronary, he goes to the kidneys, he may does renal complications, he goes to the liver that causes calcification hepatic, he goes to the brain... he does not necessary go to the bones. So the Vitamin K2 is recommended if you want strong teeths and bones, that's what medicine says.
Otherwise, our body is too very complex, and maybe, when your brain ''know'' you have broken bones, it grabs the calcium (which is in your supplementation or even in those part of the organs) of the calcium stock and takes it to bones, which in your case is broken and need to be healed. So, maybe Vitamin K2 is not that worth once your brain do this work... I have been studying a lot of medicine and nutrition, but i cannot claim what can happen in this case. So, before you try anything, do have a chat with your Doctor. Ask him about the vitamin K2 and if is it necessary in your case. But i can do claim that you can do supplementation of vitamin K2 after the consolidation of the bones. Most people have no vitamin K1 deficiency, which one helps blood, but most part of people have Vitamin K2 deficiency, this vitamin is a very important one to your bones and teeths.
I didn't PM you because i think it's important people know that. The vitamin K is not as that known as it should be nowadays..
Send me a me a message whenever you want..
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@Jubartt169 - Thank you for taking the time to present this! Excellent information. I will definitely ask my doctor for his thoughts.
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@Jubartt169 - Thank you for taking the time to present this! Excellent information. I will definitely ask my doctor for his thoughts.
There we go. Hope to receive an answer as well.
Good luck in your journey.
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Day 32 - Journey Continues - [2.178 Centimeters Taller]
Greetings LL'ers,
Well not much to report as I am now in a full fledged LL routine. I'm over 2 cm and just a few days from my first inch. I'm starting to feel some tightening; but still have good range of motion. Physical Therapy does a good job with massage as well as stretching me out. One thing about PT is they see pain as an opportunity and not something to avoid. Case and point... I have some rotational pain with my right leg; so my PT goes and rotates that baby! Lol. Slowly; but he wants me to push through it. It's important to stretch it out and begin to push through soreness. I'd say I'm still getting stronger every day. There is always something going on with one leg or the other; but so far, I can report that each day; an overall improvement can be seen in leg strength and flexibility. Guys, I'll report back again tomorrow. So far so good on this journey.
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Congratulation on your first 2 cm my friend!!! I am about 3 weeks behind you but my goal is a bit less than yours, so its possible that we will finish our lengthening at the same time ;D ;D I am starting to read your diary now. Questions might come soon ;D ;D
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Congratulation on your first 2 cm my friend!!! I am about 3 weeks behind you but my goal is a bit less than yours, so its possible that we will finish our lengthening at the same time ;D ;D I am starting to read your diary now. Questions might come soon ;D ;D
Thank you Singapore! CLL is a very special process of the mind and body. I wish you the best also and will be following your diary. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
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Day 33 - Journey Continues... 2 more days to 1 inch! [2.277 Centimeters Taller]
Greetings LL'ers,
Just wanted to check in and say hello. Today was pretty decent. Here is my status
Pain: While resting - 1 to 3 While walking 2 - 3 Stretching and pushing my PT - 4 to 5. Taking Tramadol every 4 to 6 hours. As I push toward the 3cm mark, I can feel some pain immediately after lengthening. It's a dull pain and it goes away about 1 - 2 hours after lengthening
Activities today: Worked 8 hours, worked out for 1 hour, rested, and mainly stretched and did PT
Flexibility and movement: I can walk with tiny baby steps, unassisted. Unfortunately, my right leg is a bit sore at the moment; so it's hard to really gauge what I can do. Overall, need to build strength in legs. Using walker, fairly effortlessly. I can still straighten my legs and I have about 120 degree bend in the knees. I'm going to keep pushing it!
My Goal: 6.5 centimeters (2.5 inches) I will go higher than this if I am physically able.
Feel free to ask me any questions you may have! Have a great rest of your day.
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awesome update bro! hope everything keeps going well for you
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Dear InFullStryde
Thank you very very much for detailed diary everyday :D
It’s really exciting to read this!!!
Do you use dorsiflexion boots at night?
LL veterans say these boots are tough to sleep with
How do you manage sleeping with them?
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Good update Fullstryde. I am curious about the working out part as I am also interested in training my upper body during this process. May I ask what kind of exercises did you do? Do you think its possible to train with weight at this stage? I want to work on my chest. Thank you!
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Dear InFullStryde
Thank you very very much for detailed diary everyday :D
It’s really exciting to read this!!!
Do you use dorsiflexion boots at night?
LL veterans say these boots are tough to sleep with
How do you manage sleeping with them?
Hi Temaki! My pleasure to keep everyone updated! Since I am lengthening my femurs; I don't believe the boots are needed. Currently, I just stretch and walk with walker as much as I can tolerate. I also get deep tissue massage for my upper legs 3 times a week to help break down restricted muscles. My sleeping was pretty bad for the first 2-3 weeks, but now, I'm so tired that I fall asleep pretty good.
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Good update Fullstryde. I am curious about the working out part as I am also interested in training my upper body during this process. May I ask what kind of exercises did you do? Do you think its possible to train with weight at this stage? I want to work on my chest. Thank you!
Hi Singapore! I know what you mean about wanting to work out. I have lost several lbs and some upper body muscle the first 3 weeks. I am starting to work out again. I use this tool for my upper body: https://www.bowflex.com/home-gyms/x2se/100334.html?adID=DOFG2GFEED1&psearch=1&ds_rl=1261912&gclid=Cj0KCQiAheXiBRD-ARIsAODSpWNeqEp-lbTSVQpNS6umzPte_DLof3xSi6b85o0HkGMSQvOjLuxXB3QaAnNzEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
I found one used for about $799. I am able to work out all upper body safely. The key for me was to maintain and maybe do some building; but to remain 100% safe. After I am done with LL i will hit gym hard again. I think this machine will maintain me pretty good. Cables are safer then free weights, right now.
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Did you ask him about stem cell treatment for all patients?
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Did you ask him about stem cell treatment for all patients?
Hi Wannagrowtaller. I'll see him next Friday during my check up and will ask him for us. Have a great day!
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Thanks, bro.
If its not a lot, ask him how he treats equinus deformity/ballerina foot with stryde on tibia. If he performs achilles tendom lengthening.
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Oh Wow.. Its such a convenience for you to be able to do it at home :D I was just thinking about lying on the bed and use some light weight dumbbells for exercises :D
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Oh Wow.. Its such a convenience for you to be able to do it at home :D I was just thinking about lying on the bed and use some light weight dumbbells for exercises :D
Hi Singapore! Yes, I'm very lucky I am able to do my lengthening from home. I live only about 45 minutes from the Dr. office and the hospital also. In my home, I have setup a home gym for fitness during CLL and a office with computer and 3 monitors, for remote working. This has helped me very much.
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Day 34 - Journey Continues... 1 more day to 1 inch! [2.377 Centimeters Taller]
Greetings LL'ers,
Another day is out of the way. I'm 1 more day away from being at 1 inch taller. It feels good to be a bit taller.
Here is my status for today:
Pain: For most of the day while resting legs, low pain 1 - 3. While Walking, 3 -4... My PT session has caused me to feel pretty sore. The most painful movements for me are anything that involves rotation of my legs outwardly. I feel soreness and pains on the outer side of my hips and needless to say it stings. Nonetheless, the PT pushes me through the pain and he still proceeds and contorting my body. He knows I need to go that ways; so he makes it so. I ended up walking (with the walker), a bit much today as well. So I'm just feeling beat up; in a good way. I always say that if you feel a bit tired and beat up after PT; they are likely doing their job well. I'd say my pain level at PT was about a 5/6 at times and afterward, I'm feeling a dull pain of about 3....its uncomfortable but bearable.
Activities today: Worked 8 hours, worked out for 1 hour, rested, and did PT.
Flexibility and movement: Nothing new to report here. I still have decent range of motion, meaning, I can bring my knee up to my chest, while laying down, I can go past 90 degrees when bending my toe back to my butt (while laying doing), and I can still keep my legs straight. I am starting to feel some tug on my hamstring muscles now that I have entered into the 1 inch range. I'll keep you all posted as I work toward inch number 2.
Feel free to ask me any questions you may have! Have a great rest of your day.
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Day 35 - Milestone reached... [1 Inch Taller!]
Well my fellow LL'ers, I did it. I reached 1 entire inch or roughly 2.5 centimeters of new height. It feels good. Here are the LL symptoms I'm experiencing right now for future LL'ers to take note of.
LL Symptoms
-Pain is 1-3 while in a resting legs mode, 3-4 while walking with walker, 5+ during PT
-Have random pains spring up from time to time that go away randomly. Had knee pain the other night and it went away during the daytime. Just today a new inner thigh pain showed up in side leg. Not terrible, but irritating...i sense it will be gone within a couple of days.
-Starting to feel tight and rubber bandy.
-For past week, I have been trading off the sore leg. Left leg was sore, then right leg, now its back to the left leg. Give it a couple of days, I'm sure it will be the right again, lol.
- I am 100% walker. Yes, I can walk on Stryde nails unassisted!; but I'm not balanced or stable enough. I have 1" gaps in my bones and I'm only 35 days out of surgery; of course, I'll be using some assistance to be safe. Last thing I want to do is fall and be rushed back into surgery.
-When walking, my hips sway a bit and I am compensating for the weak leg muscles. Best to not over do it and risk injury. Back to walker.
-No sign of swelling, redness, bruising, numbness or tingling
-I do feel some soreness immediately after I do my lengthening treatment
What I am able to do?
-Pretty much everything I need to including..
-Prepare my food
-Clean up, shower
-Work 8+ hours a day on computer
-Workout upper body on bow-flex
-Go outside on my balcony and get some natural sun and air
-Play video games, watch movies
-Spend time with family and friends
Physical Therapy
-7 Days a week
-3 Days with Outpatient clinic professional
-2 Days with Sister
-2 Days I do my own PT
-Every Day, i stretch on my own 2-3 times per day.
Diet
Healthy. I drink a lot of milk and eat high protein.
Vitamin D pills
Pain Management
Tramadol and Tylenol PM as needed
Sleeping
I am sleeping pretty good now; simply because the LL process tires you out.
Sleeping mainly on back still. I can get to my side but do not want to risk any sudden movements that could strain my weaker hips/glutes.
What is the hardest part so far about LL, so far?
-Everything you do is tougher. Whether is showering or preparing a meal; you are thinking about your legs and protecting them from damage.
-The day can get long and monotonous. You're used to flying around with your legs and frollicing about from one place to another. Not with LL. With LL you are like a turtle... point A to point B and back again.
-Social interaction with outside world is limited. Sure the internet offers that; but You won't be able to go out routinely. You will miss that for a while.
-You're always in pain. Level 1 pain or greater...you will always feel some kind of pain. It's bearable; but there is no escaping it.
It will all be worth it; once you have your inches and are recovered.
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This is a true journey I do admit. You go through your ups and downs but you just have to remain patient and I realize that you just have to push through the pain. My next follow up visit with Dr. M is Friday the 15th, so I look forward to seeing how my legs are doing. I'll update my diary with new x-rays and feedback.
Thank you again and best regards! let em know if you have any questions.
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Day 36 - Journey Continues... Race to 2 inches begins today...! [2.534 cm or 1.00118 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Another day in another way.
Here is my status for today:
Pain: Not to bad now. The pain medication helped to tame the morning pain I was experiencing. Both legs seemed to have an issue today. My right leg is feeling tight and had some knee pain. Currently, it feels fine. Also, my left leg decided to be sore again and I'm not able to bear too much weight on it at the moment. Fortunately it is not sensitive to the touch; so I'm still okay to move around and get around via walker. One more added item that was rather nice.... I had no pain while lengthening today.
Flexibility and movement: I'm feeling some tightness in the hammy's. We'll see how this goes. I'm 24 day away from 2"....so I'm going to have to work hard! I'm moving around okay via walker right now.
Today's' Activities: I worked out for 1 hour, I did PT 3 times, and worked for about 8 hours, remotely via my computer.
That's all for now guys!
Feel free to ask me any questions you may have! Have a great rest of your day.
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Hey bud - I really want to do this but crippled by proportion concerns.
I wear a shirt and suit trousers to work and honestly I have decent height from my legs - it's my torso that is short.
How do I make a call on this? Is this something you discussed at your pre op consultation?
Is there a mathematical approach I can take to this? I just fear the 5/6/7/8cm might not be worth it if everytime I wear a tucked in shirt I look silly.
Thanks pal
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Hey bud - I really want to do this but crippled by proportion concerns.
I wear a shirt and suit trousers to work and honestly I have decent height from my legs - it's my torso that is short.
How do I make a call on this? Is this something you discussed at your pre op consultation?
Is there a mathematical approach I can take to this? I just fear the 5/6/7/8cm might not be worth it if everytime I wear a tucked in shirt I look silly.
Thanks pal
Hi Michael! How tall are you?
Honestly, buddy, 2-3 inches of height on your legs will look fine. You will not look out of proportion and it will only be an improvement. Even if you torso is short; the extra leg height will look good on you. Don't worry about your proportions, in my opinion. If being taller is something you want badly then go for this surgery and get it over with. Stay within 5cm-8cm....(You'll know when to stop)...and enjoy your new height! Message me if you have any questions.
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Hi Michael! How tall are you?
Honestly, buddy, 2-3 inches of height on your legs will look fine. You will not look out of proportion and it will only be an improvement. Even if you torso is short; the extra leg height will look good on you. Don't worry about your proportions, in my opinion. If being taller is something you want badly then go for this surgery and get it over with. Stay within 5cm-8cm....(You'll know when to stop)...and enjoy your new height! Message me if you have any questions.
hey man i love your diary.
I just had a question about the hip swaying when using internal nails. After going through this surgery and 1 month post op, do you personally believe that internal tibias using stryde will be better for full weight bearing with stryde since you do not have to worry about hip swaying? I personally believe you can get to normal walking faster when doing internal stryde tibias since you do not have to worry about mechanical axis and hips. What are your personal thoughts on this and have you seen any pts that have done internal stryde tibias at Mahboubian's clinic?
thank you for your time on this diary
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I'm 168cm so 5'6'.
Yeah I want it ofcourse but need to consider whether it's the right decision.
How are you feeling about proportions now you're 1 inch taller?
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Michael, I'm also 5'6'' 1,68
You said your torso is short... I would like to know your tibia and femurs size.
Because most part of diferent heights is in leg bones, that made me curious
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hey man i love your diary.
I just had a question about the hip swaying when using internal nails. After going through this surgery and 1 month post op, do you personally believe that internal tibias using stryde will be better for full weight bearing with stryde since you do not have to worry about hip swaying? I personally believe you can get to normal walking faster when doing internal stryde tibias since you do not have to worry about mechanical axis and hips. What are your personal thoughts on this and have you seen any pts that have done internal stryde tibias at Mahboubian's clinic?
thank you for your time on this diary
Great question, Mirinheight!
Honestly, I'm not sure. Conceptually, I feel like you would be right. I haven't given to much thought to this. I sense though based on what I know about the lower leg extremity that there is less mobility requirements to manage physically for the patient; so you could be right there. I know the doctors prefer femurs on their end, since there are less complications involving bone growth, etc. I know that many really like the growing potential of the femur as well since Tibia growing gains potential is a few cm less. I'll think on this one more but I might agree with you here. The hips, etc...there is so much circular moving involved here, where as the tibias, its up back and forth/up and down movement, mostly.
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I'm 168cm so 5'6'.
Yeah I want it of course but need to consider whether it's the right decision.
How are you feeling about proportions now you're 1 inch taller?
My proportions are looking good at an added 1". I plan on adding another 1"+ with this procedure. I believe everything will look natural.
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Michael, I'm also 5'6'' 1,68
You said your torso is short... I would like to know your tibia and femurs size.
Because most part of diferent heights is in leg bones, that made me curious
I can pm you and InFullStryde a picture if you want - it would be great to get your POVs chaps.
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I can pm you and InFullStryde a picture if you want - it would be great to get your POVs chaps.
Hi Michael! Sure. Send to me. I will give you my honest opinion.
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I can pm you and InFullStryde a picture if you want - it would be great to get your POVs chaps.
Send to me. I'll be honest too.
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Day 37 - Journey Continues...Tough morning but very good day...! [2.643 cm or 1.0406 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Today was overall pretty darn good. I will say that the night time during my sleeping hours and early morning was very tough. I felt extremely tight during the early hours and felt pain in my knees. I was able to remedy this quickly; by simply getting up out of bed. I'm seriously considering sleeping in a reclining type chair. The bed just feels terrible on my legs. LL legs do not like to be laying flat, straight all night. Once I got up and moving and began my morning ritual, everything was just fine.
Pain: Morning and night time was about a 5 or 6. It was very uncomfortable. Throughout the day, I experienced mostly a dull pain of 2 or 3 and mainly in my left leg. I do have some good news however. If you have been following my diary, you recently learned that my left leg was again giving me issues..and i could not bear weight on it. Well good news is that the left leg is felt much better today and I was able to bear weight. I even took a few unassisted steps on it. I kind of regret that however because it is a bit sore. I need to lay off the legs while their being lengthened. Some controlled exercise is fine; but don't push it.
Flexibility and movement: I'm feeling tightness in the quads, hams and knees. I can still straighten my knees and have pretty good ROM, however, I'm keeping a close watch over my tightness. I'm stretching as much as I can at this point as to stave off the tightness the best I can.
Today's' Activities: I worked out for 1 hour, I did PT and worked for a few hours. I'm going to hang out with my friend tonight. She just is coming over to my place for some NetFlix and Chill.
Overall, I'm doing pretty okay. I'm just not sure how to assess my tightness. It's really a day to day thing. I appear to have a pretty good ROM. I'm past 90 in most of the advanced stretches and still have a straight leg. We'll see how the next week or so of lengthening impacts me! I'm 24 days from 2 inches taller. It feels like an eternity at this stage. I know, i know...it will go by fast.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon,
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Hi
Great update as always. If you wouldn’t mind could you ask dr M during your next visit about the long term complication after 10-20 years down the line like residual pain especially arthritis. It would be of immense help of knowing the view of an expert doctor as recently a thread was started reagarding arthritis after Cll. Also I have read somewhere on the forum that for every 1 cm of lengthening in the femur along the anatomical axis there is a shift of 1mm in the mechanical axis which can affect the joints.
There is no compulsion that you ask this but if you can then it would be of immense help as this is one of the most feared long term complication.
I think ur recovery and lengthening will keep on going smoothly. Best of my wishes to you.
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Hi
Great update as always. If you wouldn’t mind could you ask dr M during your next visit about the long term complication after 10-20 years down the line like residual pain especially arthritis. It would be of immense help of knowing the view of an expert doctor as recently a thread was started reagarding arthritis after Cll. Also I have read somewhere on the forum that for every 1 cm of lengthening in the femur along the anatomical axis there is a shift of 1mm in the mechanical axis which can affect the joints.
There is no compulsion that you ask this but if you can then it would be of immense help as this is one of the most feared long term complication.
I think ur recovery and lengthening will keep on going smoothly. Best of my wishes to you.
Thank you, CR7...I see him this Friday, and I will ask this question for the community. Appreciate the great question and thank you for the well wishes. So far so good. I'll keep everyone updated.
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Thqnk you very much for the reply to my PM. I am also interested in long term effects as well. I have korea friend that is going to ask Mr.Donghoon for long term risks of tibia lengthening(3~4.5cm).
I hope my cousin has good result like you in the near future when he do it ;)
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Thqnk you very much for the reply to my PM. I am also interested in long term effects as well. I have korea friend that is going to ask Mr.Donghoon for long term risks of tibia lengthening(3~4.5cm).
I hope my cousin has good result like you in the near future when he do it ;)
My pleasure. If you have more questions let me know. CLL is probably the hardest thing any one person will ever go through in their entire life. Really think it through. With the right doctor the outcome will very likely be rewarding and special.
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Day 38 Post Op - Journey Continues...Smooth Day, Two Fairly Strong Legs, FINALLY [2.743cm or 1.0799 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Today was a good one. I am pleased to announce that both my left leg and right leg, feel strong; meaning that there are no nagging pains which are causing me to over compensate. This is important in so many ways. Number 1, my stress and over all level of contentment go way up when I'm not experiencing sharp LL pain. Number 2, PT is way easier when I am able to enjoy the massage they give me and focus on deep stretching. When I have one of the leg pains; you can imagine how tough it is to experience any of the PT treatment. I hope that the leg strengthening continues. I'll keep you all posted.
Pain: Again, in the night and early morning, the pain is at it's peak for me. I would give it a 5 to 6. When the legs are being held in one position, especially, straight on a bed for the entire night there is just trouble to be had later. I'm hoping that this will subside soon. My main pain point as far as this goes would be just one spot on my right leg to be honest. One one little spot on my knee, after doing a laying down stretch, following maybe 8 hours in bed...I feel a small steady pain. It goes away within 5-10 minutes of me stretching and standing up. I believe this has to do with me being in one position the entire night. I think I am putting undue stress on an area that is trying to get through lengthening. I'll keep you all posted on this.
Flexibility and movement: Definitely tightness in quads, hams, and a bit in the knee area. Nothing that is stopping my range of motion. It's just a bit less fluid while bending. Much of this should be resolved with PT and go away after distraction phase. Overall, the feeling is tolerable. I can take baby steps unassisted. Prefer to use walker for balance and to work on my motion, gait, etc.
Today's' Activities: I did PT and worked for a few hours. I got in some rest...off and on, snoozed for a bit.
Overall, it was a pretty decent day. I ordered a 180 degree reclining chair and also plan to begin taking warm baths every day beggining in a couple of days. I'll keep you posted on how that impacts my legs. I know it will feel good if nothing else.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon
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Day 39 Post Op - Journey Continues...Low on Energy; High on Motivation [2.809cm or 1.106 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
I have to admit. I feel a bit drained today. I'm pretty sure I know the source. CLL takes you way off your routine and I'm just feeling the drag now. I used to wake up every day at 4:00am and like a lightning bolt hit the gym. I'd be in the office ready to with my fresh hot cup of coffee by 7:00am or sooner and I'd spend the day in my office chasing that big dream I have for my company. I'd then get home around 5:30pm - 6:00pm with the entire evening to myself to enjoy however I pleased. No pain, no struggle...just living life. Well CLL, is tough because you struggle to sleep at night, you have constant dull pain (bearable) that stays with you and as a result you are taken off the path you're accustomed too. I'm fighting with all my might however because CLL became apart of my big picture vision. I'm only several weeks away from being done with the distraction phase which is the hardest part. I will hang in strong. Sleeping is what really got me today... I didn't fall asleep until many 3:00am'ish and I was awake by 7:00am to tend to things. That will wipe you out. I'm going to try to be in bed by 9:30pm today and asleep by 10pm. I need a good nights sleep.
Pain: The pain is dull and consistent throughout the day. I do not have any sharp pain any longer and I hope that remains the story. I'd say pain is at about a 2 or 3....not bad at all and very bearable. The cm's I am gaining is so worth this pain; but it does zap your energy after a while. I'm hoping that tomorrow, while I am more rested, I feel less of the dullness. I have to remember also, that now that my femur is stretched over 1 inch and counting; that I'm going to feel all kinds of unique sensations in my leg. Pain again, is worse at night
Flexibility and movement: I felt more stronger today than ever in terms of my legs strength. My flexibility is increased 20 degrees in 2 week in terms of rotational movement of my knee/hip joint, and I have "Okay" ROM all around. I can walk strongly on walker and take baby steps unassisted as well on the Stryde nails. So, good progress here.
Today's' Activities: I did PT and worked for most of the day. Was feeling very tired due to lack of sleep so didn't feel so hot today.
Overall, it was still a decent day and bearable. I'm in the dog days of CLL now... right in the middle as a approach 1.5 inches of length gained. Im going to push as far as i can go within a safe range. This is tough; but I know it will be worth it. It's already life changing.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Day 40 Post Op - Journey Continues... A bit under the weather; but still a bit taller. [2.909cm or 1.1145 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Today was another tough one. I'm feeling under the weather to be honest. Hopefully not a cold coming on. My temperature is fine but overall just feeling a tad sluggish physically. I should be able to snap out of it shortly. Overall though, a quite decent day.
Pain: Dull pain 1 - 2, throughout the day. Sometimes you forget about it; and sometimes it comes back to your mind. Movement wise, not much pain either, maybe a 2 - 3. Overall, pain is in check.
Flexibility and movement: Legs, definitely feel stronger; but I'm feeling tightness in hamstrings and quads, and particular the hamstrings. (Stretch those Hamms!). Will be an interesting push forward now.
Today's' Activities: I worked for a full day, worked out for 1 hour, and did PT a few times.
A good day overall; but again feeling a little under the weather, so that aggravates things a bit. Hope to feel better tomorrow!
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Hope you are doing well
I am a guy in my 20s.
I felt like been short is haunting me psychologically.
Every time I go out and see that most of the people are taller than me, I felt incompetent.
At the same time I am afraid that people will look at me differently once they know I would want to break my leg just to grow few centimeter
because people are always going to say "what matters the most is on the inside"
How do you deal with friends and family? do you tell them about it openly? or do you keep it low key?
I really wanted to do LL, but there is no way I can afford it...
reading diaries like this kept me going, it motivates me to work harder so I can do LL someday!
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achievements :))
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Hope you are doing well
I am a guy in my 20s.
I felt like been short is haunting me psychologically.
Every time I go out and see that most of the people are taller than me, I felt incompetent.
At the same time I am afraid that people will look at me differently once they know I would want to break my leg just to grow few centimeter
because people are always going to say "what matters the most is on the inside"
How do you deal with friends and family? do you tell them about it openly? or do you keep it low key?
I really wanted to do LL, but there is no way I can afford it...
reading diaries like this kept me going, it motivates me to work harder so I can do LL someday!
Hi Hokkaido! I hope you're well my friend. I thought I would reply before I head out to my PT. I'm 37 and you're in your 20's...you have a lot of time to figure things out. I understand the impact that a man's height can have on his self-esteem. To be perfectly honest, height has bothered me for my entire life. When I was 15 years old, I had a doctor tell me that I was done growing at 5'1.25" tall. At that point, I had to make a decision. I was either going to give up and allow the reality of being short to define me; or I could stand up, all FIVE FEET ONE of me and be a man and face the world as who I was. Truth is, I had no choice. I grew up with some awesome parents. They were great role models and the conversations I had with them really helped me overcome my challenges in this life. You know what I did? I tried. Yep, that's it. I said to myself..."to hell with my height", I'm going to try my best. So I went out there and I did everything I could to be the best version of me. This included the following:
- I educated myself. Went to college and earned a degree in business and management of information systems. Good grades have NOTHING to do with height. I AM SMART.
- I built my fitness. I worked out every other day, without fail, and before CLL was bench pressing nearly twice my weight at the gym. I have thin waist line and defined chest and arms. An impressive physique has nothing to do with your height. I AM STRONG.
- I controlled my career path. I realize that with my situation I needed to be In CONTROL. I could not allow others to decide my destiny; so I worked tooth and nail to start a company and I was successful at that. I launched my company at 26 years old and 11 years later it stands and continues to grow. By owning a successful company with great employees that handle the shifts, I have 100% of freedom of my time and finances. In fact, my entire CLL journey is being paid for by my own dollar and I am not feeling one bit of financial impact by it. Also, since I was successful in creating a company and hence my time...I am able to work remotely and be away from the office as much I as I need. There is no interruption to the great life I created for myself. I AM IN CONTROL OF MY CAREER. I AM FREE TO USE MY TIME IN ANYWAY I WANT AND I AM FINANCIALLY FREE.
- I took care of my temple. I dressed nicely, I have great higene, I work out. You don't have to be tall; to look nice and well made. Sure, I understand that most woman prefer a man taller then she is; but you know what? I can't do anything about that. I did everything I could to take care of myself and it made me feel great about myself and as a result, my confidence helped me score many dates with woman, albeit, most woman I dated were on the shorter side; but they were and are SO beautiful. I AM CONFIDENT. I AM HEALTHY. I AM HANDSOME
- I'm innovative and find solutions. Being short is not something you have to accept 100%. You can do things about it. I have been sporting shoe lifts for years and they have been a tremendous help to me! Ultimately, I have had to let my girlfriends know that I sport these shoes and not one woman has minded. In fact, they LOVE me even more for it. They think I'm so darn cute and each one always told me...I love you regardless. In the same breath they understand why I chose to wear shoe lifts. They get it and they never judged me for it. In fact, I think they kind of found me a bit rebellious at the end of the day and that is something to love. Now, i have decided to seek CLL to help with my height challenge. 2 - 3 inches on my bone is 2 - 3 inches that I do not need a shoe lift OR if i decided to wear a shoe lift, now I am 2 - 3 inches taller still! Be creative and innovative. I FIND SOLUTIONS AND I CARRY THEM OUT.
You have to say these things to yourself and be these things:
I AM STRONG
I AM IN CONTROL OF MY CAREER.
I AM FREE TO USE MY TIME IN ANYWAY I WANT
I AM FINANCIALLY FREE
I AM CONFIDENT.
I AM HEALTHY
I AM HANDSOME
I FIND SOLUTIONS AND I CARE THEM OUT....
And I have ONE more thing to add to this list. And I'm proud of this as well:
I AM SHORT.
If people don't like it; then they can take a back seat. In this life, regardless of the heights of others, I chose to be the driver of the bus..
Hokkaido, be the leader, young man. Stand on the two feet you have right now and realize that you have so much to be thankful for and so much you can achieve and be and feel... and your HEIGHT should not stop you. If you decide to do CLL one day; then it will be a challenging 6 months or so; but it will be your new height and you would have earned it. You can be proud of all your accomplishments ...make CLL just one of many great accomplishments.
Good luck ! and pm me if you have questions.
P.S. I didn't disclose my CLL journey to anyone other then my most closest family members and friends. This is a personal journey dedicated to only you and the ones who truly love you.
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I really enjoyed reading that buddy! Great attitude
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@Fullstryde: I do believe that there are certain groups of people who will benefits more from CLL. And I think you have the attitude of a winner. You are ruthless, mature and knows what you want in life. And more importantly, you already seem to have most of what you want in life already. This surgery will help complete your life for sure.
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Beautifully said.
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Day 41 Post Op - Journey Continues... I have reached the 3 Centimeter Milestone! [3.009cm or 1.185 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
I have finally passed the 3 centimeter threshold! Feels good. I am just about my sisters height and that is pretty cool. Today was a good one. I no longer feel under the weather so this process is a lot easier to deal with. CLL is enough..and last thing i need is a cold to deal with on the side.
Pain: Dull pain today, 1 - 2; but really nothing to think about. I had no real discomfort today other than being tight in my upper leg muscles.
Flexibility and movement: Legs are stronger every day..and continue to get better. My hamstrings and hips are tight so I'm keeping a close eye on this. My Pt is stretching me out and massaging the best he can; but honestly, I may not be able to work out most of these kinks until lengthening is over with. We'll do our best.
Today's' Activities: I worked for a full day and went to PT.
A good day overall! I'm in the middle of CLL; so not much to say....but overall, the day went by smoothly and easily.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Day 43 Post Op - Check-Up with Dr. M is a success! [3.142cm or 1.237 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers!
First of all - my apologies for missing an update yesterday. I wasn't feeling so good! I had a bad headache, maybe a migraine, that lasted most of the day... so I needed to take some time away from the computer. I'm feeling okay now.
Met with Dr. Mahboubian: I always love the days that I get to see Dr. M. These are great check points for me to see how I'm doing in the doctors eyes as well as to verify that my bone is healing okay as well as confirm my lengthening. Honestly, Dr. M is a just a great personality to be around as well. Although he is an accomplished Doctor, he does his part to make you feel comfortable inside the unknown. Always smiles abound in the offices. The front counter is nice to me and then I get to see the nurse, Donna, who is just so much fun and such a joy to interact with. Really, if you get a chance to meet her...it simply doesn't get any more nicer than she is. I've been around too many hospitals and doctors' offices so I know what nurses can be like. She's exceptional. So, as far as my meeting with Dr. M; things just are looking good all around. Dr M was able to confirm that I am at about that 3.1 cm or 3.2 cm lengthening range, which is right on point to what I have been counting. Additionally, my walking at this point is good. I was asked to stand up and walk on the walker for several steps and I got a "you're doing great" and also, was asked to walk unassisted with no walker. Dr. M was impressed and expressed how great it was to see me being able to already take steps without any assistance! These Stryde nails really are awesome! Had I been on precise 2.2, I'd still be wheelchair'ing and walkering at 50% weight bearing. My walk, of course is a work in progress and only baby steps, since I have weeks and weeks of PT and strengthening to go; but overall, I did great and Dr. M was very pleased. Additionally, my range of motion is good as I'm able to cross my legs over the other one; Dr, also grabbed both of my legs and gave them a good shake (testing that versatility, man!) AND virtually no sharp pain ANYWHERE on my legs. I have a bit of tightness in my IT Bands, but as the Doc points out he released them but as they scar in; you're still going to have to work, work, work to stay lose. Dr. M showed me a stretch to employ to aide in this. Good news is that my PT has been implementing similar stretching the past few times; so already improvement here. I'm only about 18 days away from 2 inches my friends! and 43 days away from a possible 3 inches! If I can reach 3 inches, my goodness; that would be insanely great! but....hey one step at a time. 2 inches to me would be amazing and would already be a huge life changing gain for me.
Pain: Are you kidding me?! I had virtually no pain all day. A big sign of improvement was how, I was able to basically x-ray myself. Last time, getting on the x-ray machine was painful and this time; I jumped on the table and contorted in all the necessary ways. Additionally, Dr. M, did his usual bending and twisting of my legs and he gave me nothing but a thumbs up! I had 0-2 pain all day. I will add that I have been sick the past couple of days; so unfortunately, I haven't been able to enjoy the recent improvement in my legs. I'm feeling a bit better now.
Flexibility and movement: Legs are really looking better. I'm able to put my feet pretty close together without any pain, No real sign of pelvic tilt, and although I feel pretty tight; I'm able to move my legs in lots of new ways that I haven't been able to today. I'm also able to sleep on my side. Additionally, my walk looks good assisted and I'm also able to take steps unaided...baby steps; but albeit....steps. Imagine being able to walk with no assistance after two broken femurs in less than 45 days? Amazing Stryde Nail technology my friends.
Today's' Activities: I worked for a couple of hours, had Dr. appt with Dr. M and just relaxed. I'll do a self-PT session before bed time.
Today was a success. I'm hoping that my legs stay pain free and that the tightness eases up as I push harder in PT. I know that it will get tougher as I add mm's; but hey...you got to try your best!
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
As reference here are the latest X-Rays of my legs. It's all going text book so far. 3.142cm or 1.237 inches.
My LEFT
(https://i.imgur.com/LisnhjX.jpg)
My RIGHT
(https://i.imgur.com/6LgaW6b.jpg)
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Hi infullstryde
Your callous is looking good. Glad to hear that the pain management is getting better.
Good luck.
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Is there a benefit of using a physio instead of doing your own PT? Which exercises does physio help with the most?
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Hey, IFS. Thank you very much for writing the diary and sharing pictures.
You're an inspiration. The man makes the height. Not only are you sharing your journey and pics with us, free of charge, you also help others here struggling with their height dysphoria in the midst of your own LL - which is painful and hard. You also never allowed your height hold you back. Amazing.
Wishing you the best and that your LL goes as smoothly as humanly possible. Best of luck with the rest of your journey!
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Hi infullstryde
Your callous is looking good. Glad to hear that the pain management is getting better.
Good luck.
Thank you, Cr7! Pain management is definitely coming under control. I do still experience pain as my next update will describe; but its better and better as time has worn on.
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Is there a benefit of using a physio instead of doing your own PT? Which exercises does physio help with the most?
It's good to incorporate both. The PT will be a professional and provide you doctor like feedback on your condition. Also, have your CLL doctor write a prescription for you to receive massage for your legs. This really helps loosen up the tightness. I get 3 leg massages per week to go along with 3 PT stretching sessions. The rest of the week, I stretch on my own. My insurance covers PT; so I anticipate on attending PT regularly for the next several months or at least until I'm able to walk well again.
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Hey, IFS. Thank you very much for writing the diary and sharing pictures.
You're an inspiration. The man makes the height. Not only are you sharing your journey and pics with us, free of charge, you also help others here struggling with their height dysphoria in the midst of your own LL - which is painful and hard. You also never allowed your height hold you back. Amazing.
Wishing you the best and that your LL goes as smoothly as humanly possible. Best of luck with the rest of your journey!
Myloginacc - I really appreciate your kind words my friend. There are several on these message boards which are always very supportive and providing helpful input for CLL newbies and veterans alike. You being included in the helpful category...thanks again and I look forward to reporting on how my journey continues. We'll definitely be in touch again. Have a great weekend!
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Day 44 Post Op - Journey Continues... Giving it all I got [3.242cm or 1.276 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Very chill day today and not to much to report. I'm approaching the 1 and half inches taller mark..so that is exciting. I will detail some interesting items below!
Pain: Okay, I know last time I report a miraculous zero pain; well that was short lived! ha ha ha. I woke up around 3:00am last night and of course; as a reward for sleeping 3 wonderful hours straight; my legs decided to scream at me with some moderate 5 level pain. Its tough because the longer you hold your legs in one position without moving, the more your legs want to get tight and a bit angry ...well there you have it. I just went ahead and woke up, took a tramadol, and stretched out a bit. I even stood up and took some steps to just iron out the tightness. The truth is that the pain starts to go away almost immediately after I get out of bed. The bed positions are causing me to experience that irregular tightness pain. If anyone has any feedback on how to sleep easier, feel free to let me know. All is all, it worked out. I got back to sleep and decided to get up around 8:00 am to start my day. Another note to consider is that at this point, you will likely feel a bit of pain immediately after lengthening like I do. It goes away in an hour or so and even faster if you stretch and actively move around.
Flexibility and movement: Certain parts of my legs are definitely getting stronger each day. I have started to consciously focus on my leg movements and additionally, I am starting to take opportunities to walk without any assistance, meaning no walker, cane, etc. These are small, waddling like steps at this point; but it is helpful to really begin to evaluate where you are with your gate. I am going to push hard but wisely to become strong enough to support my walk. As mentioned in other diaries your glues and hips are the last to return; so it is inevitable in most cases that you will sway a bit when you start to walk again. This is why leveraging crutches and/or a walker throughout your recovery is important. These devices will help you support your hips/glutes as you strengthen, and hence allow you to practice your steps effectively and safety. Million Dollar question is.... "Can you walk with no assistance?!"...Answer is Yes..i can stand up and walk with nothing helping me....but in time you get very sore and its not safe because my gate and balance isn't ready yet. Hope that answers your question on that one if you were curious. Flexibility is still 90 or better for most key stretches. My Hamstrings and IT Band are tight; however, and fortunately I can still extend my legs fully and I'm not facing any real signs of duck butt (yet). I'll keep you posted.
Today's' Activities: I worked on my company items a bit, i ordered in some egg / veggie burritos to my apartment, i worked out for one hour on my bowflex, and i watched some Netflix documentaries. Pretty chill
A good day overall. I'm pushing toward my initial goal of 2 inches. At that point, I will closely evaluate where I am at, how my body is responding and make decisions about my end goal as far as height increase goes.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Great update pal - when you look in the mirror now, does it feel strange to see yourself at this new height - do you almost feel like a different person in terms of your physique?
Also as your proportions change day by day - is this something you are keeping a close eye on and will it influence your decision as to how much to lengthen?
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Great update pal - when you look in the mirror now, does it feel strange to see yourself at this new height - do you almost feel like a different person in terms of your physique?
Also as your proportions change day by day - is this something you are keeping a close eye on and will it influence your decision as to how much to lengthen?
Great question Michael Jose! First, YES. At nearly 1.5 inches taller, the difference is very noticeable and dramatic to me. It especially stands out when I stand next to people that were my height before or about an inch taller. Have received comments from my closet family about "Wow, you're taller than me now or you're my height". It feels a lot better. On my way to PT, i stood next to two woman who stood about 5'3... before this surgery, at 5'1", I felt a bit awkward flat footed around them...It was really cool to be just about their height. This surgery really does make a difference for men of all heights. Perspective is everything and since I have grown accustomed to the challenges of 5'1....As I passed the 5'2 mark and now approach the 5'3 mark... my body image is trending in such a positive direction. It's great and nothing has changed with the fact that I'm just grateful for every inch that I have and can get!
Re: Proporations. YES. I'm keeping close eye because I too am curious about how it may impact me and I'd take it into consideration if it appeared to be impacted my aesthetic quality too much. I almost sort of laugh about my long femurs when I look at them Truthfully, it's not noticeable to the casual on looker. You will notice your long femurs; but it will be highly unlikely that anyone will notice my extended femurs at all. Its actually kind of nice. I can remember going out to the movies or other places and having my legs next to others, while sitting, side by side, and my femurs would appear so much shorter than theirs...now I have some good lengthen on these. :-)
Let me know if you have any more questions. It's about 9:30am here in California and I just woke up and boy oh boy, I'm tight. Will relax for a bit and then stretch.
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Hey man,
Congratulation on the 3 cm milestone. I cant wait to be there at the end of this month ;D ;D
I just have one question for you: Do you still feel stiffness near your hip area when you lie down with your back and legs straight? I think its the IT band that causes this stiffness, but I am not sure. My ROM has improved so much everyday. I can bend my knee all the way to my butts now, but I still have this stiffness problem mentioned above, and I only started stretching my IT band a few days back, so I am not sure if this will get better soon.
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Hey man,
Congratulation on the 3 cm milestone. I cant wait to be there at the end of this month ;D ;D
I just have one question for you: Do you still feel stiffness near your hip area when you lie down with your back and legs straight? I think its the IT band that causes this stiffness, but I am not sure. My ROM has improved so much everyday. I can bend my knee all the way to my butts now, but I still have this stiffness problem mentioned above, and I only started stretching my IT band a few days back, so I am not sure if this will get better soon.
Hi Singapore! Thank you! I'm excited for you and I can't wait to see you succeed at 3cm! My hips are still somewhat tight. Not as much; but still a bit. The hips and glute muscles will be the last to return. While on your back, I recommend doing bridge exercises, extensions of each leg outward, squeeze your glutes often, knee raises, and also be sure to do IT band stretches.... while laying down, grab you knee and pull it toward the opposite shoulder. Also, do Thomas Stretches. The stiffness will go away faster then you believe. Also, once you are done with the distraction phase, everything will come back much faster...some improvements the body even does on it's own effort and you won't have to do anything for that gift. :-) Once the bone consolidates, muscles are pretty smart and will know where they need to be in order for your movements to be valuable toward your walk.
Great job on bending your knee to your butt! I'm barely past 90 degrees on that stretch. My flexibility seems to get worse with every cm I add; But I'm just going to keep trying my best! Let me know if you have any more questions.
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Day 45 Post Op - Journey Continues... My left leg bugg'n again [3.308 cm or 1.303 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Today was another pretty chill day. I dealt with most of the same issues as before which Ill summarize below. I will say this...one disappointment was that my left leg started to hurt me a bit today (again)...so i had to stay off of it most of the day. If history repeats it self; it should be feeling okay within a day or two so long that I do not aggravate it much.
Pain: In the previous night, I had about a 4 pain with my legs/knee area, of course since I was sleeping and my legs were locked into the same position..so pain happened as i woke up. I stood up and walked around a bit, stretched and got back into bed. During the day, I had little to no pain while resting my legs. While walking and bearing weight; my left leg has a sore spot that I'm compensating for a bit. Other then that; I'm okay in pain category at this time.
Flexibility and movement: I did well with stretching; but as far as walking around/movement, today was rough due to the sore left leg. I hope to report more tomorrow or following day; once the left leg soreness goes away.
Today's' Activities: I did very little. Self-PT, Some work, and that was about it.
All in all, the day was just fine. I'm keeping an eye on my tightness and left leg soreness. I can't wait to get to 2 inches. I'm about 16 days away.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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I hope the rest of your lengthening process will go as smoothly and complication-free as the beginning. Good luck!
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I hope the rest of your lengthening process will go as smoothly and complication-free as the beginning. Good luck!
Thank you so much, IwannaBeTaller. The support means a lot and helps me get through the day to day challenges of CLL a bit more easily.
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Day 46 Post Op - Journey Continues... Left leg feeling better, good PT session today. [3.407 cm or 1.341 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
It was a pretty good day today. One big bright spot is that there was a noted improvement in my left leg. I expect that by tomorrow the left leg soreness should be healed up pretty good. I'll summarize the rest of the day below.
Pain: I'm still trying to figure out the night time. My legs again get very tight and the pain follows. I'd say level 5-6 pain this time at bed time ONLY. Other then that, the entire day is pretty much pain free. I have no issue with my legs when I'm not sleeping in bed. I'm considering ordering a recliner. Maybe that will help. Still trying to figure it out.
Flexibility and movement: PT pushed me pretty hard today. I'm doing all kinds of IT band and hamstring treatment / stretches. They recognize that I'm trying to maximize my centimeters and I need to be looooooose in those hammy and ITB's...so ha ha, they are trying to stretch me out. I appreciate the great effort. I should make it to 5cm with no issue which would be 2 inches... Every millimeter after 2inches will be a a bonus. My PT is a clinic that treats all types of physical issues.... they are throwing EVERYTHING they know at CLL and I'm proud of them. They are rooting for me to get those inches. They recognize that I stand to gain an inch or two. *smile*
Today's' Activities: 8 hour work day via remote connection, 1 hour PT, and 1 hour weight training for upper body.
Good day today. 15 days away from the MAGICAL 2 inch mark! I'll keep working hard and I'll do all I can to stay loose enough.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Hi FullStryde, thank you for sharing this wonderful diary!
I will be having internal femur surgery with Dr. Rozburch in NYC around early April so your sharing is so precious to me to understand what similar experiences I will be going through.
How do you see yourself around 2 months post surgery in terms of dealing with daily tasks ? I am asking this because I am planning to take a 4 hours exam around June, which is near 60days post my upcoming April surgery. I want to do it but I am unsure if I can at that point :'(
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Hi FullStryde, thank you for sharing this wonderful diary!
I will be having internal femur surgery with Dr. Rozburch in NYC around early April so your sharing is so precious to me to understand what similar experiences I will be going through.
How do you see yourself around 2 months post surgery in terms of dealing with daily tasks ? I am asking this because I am planning to take a 4 hours exam around June, which is near 60days post my upcoming April surgery. I want to do it but I am unsure if I can at that point :'(
Hi Shortykon! Thank you for your kind words.
The first 2 weeks after surgery will be your most challenging. You will most likely have difficulty moving around much. Week 3 and after this time you will be fine. In 60 Days Post Op, You will most likely feel very good.... 1) you will be feeling great because of your new 2+ inches of height! and 2) You should be able to get around fairly easily on crutches or walker. You will also have ability to weight-bare; but you likely will prefer to have some assistance from crutches. At day 60, your pain will be dull and calm; not brutal and you should have no issue with your test. The timing is fine.
At 46 Days, I am able to get around easily now on walker. I have clear thinking with low pain and can work 8+ hours a day remotely on the computer. I am also, comfortable enough to work out on cable weight machine for upper body. You will most likely be the same as me or better. I hear good thinks about Dr. Rozburch. Looks like you are in good hands. My Doctor is Dr. Mahboubian and he has been great for me.
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Keep going IFS - may the great updates continue and perhaps a video or before and after photo too! ;)
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Hi IFS! I haven't posted in your diary before, but was skimming through it today. I have to say, I am very impressed with you. Good for you for showing others that at any height, you can be successful and land a great/attractive woman. You are obviously doing this for the right reason - for yourself!
Best of luck to you and congrats on the height gained so far!
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Also, once you are done with the distraction phase, everything will come back much faster...some improvements the body even does on it's own effort and you won't have to do anything for that gift. :-) Once the bone consolidates, muscles are pretty smart and will know where they need to be in order for your movements to be valuable toward your walk.
Great answer man. Thank you so much! I will be talking with my doctor about this today anyway :) Keep fighting my friend!!
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Keep going IFS - may the great updates continue and perhaps a video or before and after photo too! ;)
Thank you for the kind words man! As soon as I'm done with distraction phase, I plan on posting some pictures/video so that future LL'ers can see what to likely expect as far as their abilities at this point. So in about 4-6 weeks! Possibly sooner. I'll think about it.
Hi IFS! I haven't posted in your diary before, but was skimming through it today. I have to say, I am very impressed with you. Good for you for showing others that at any height, you can be successful and land a great/attractive woman. You are obviously doing this for the right reason - for yourself!
Best of luck to you and congrats on the height gained so far!
Really appreciate these words YellowSpike. Height Dysphoria is real and I was fortunate to "see the light" enough to live a happy life despite the fact I am in the 1% of male height. Being short and male is a total bummer because we aren't given the innate credit that our taller male counterparts get. Having said this; HEIGHT DOES NOT MAKE THE MAN, The MAN MAKES THE HEIGHT. Live your life to the fullest and then you can create a long list of accomplishments and one can also add those beautiful ladies too that TALL list as well that they enjoyed time with *smile*...finally at the very end of that list... One can add..."AND I was short. I know it's possible. I have lived it. Now, this surgery is going to allow me to to take advantage of just a few more inches which will help me so very much.
Great answer man. Thank you so much! I will be talking with my doctor about this today anyway :) Keep fighting my friend!!
You too, Man! This CLL stuff is hard isn't it! We will do it and we will get past this and we will be better men for it! We're so brave man. Takes courage to do this. I often look at short men in the world and because I know their challenges, I will often say.... "That guy right there is the strongest man in here.. no one is more tested than him and the trials he has had to face in this life".
Okay on to my journal update for the day!
Day 47 Post Op - Journey Continues... Left leg feeling better, good PT session today. [3.476 cm or 1.37 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Another decent day. Not much to report; but nonetheless I want you to know what a day 47 post - op looks like in the CLL world! The night time, once again, a struggle. My knees flare up every night; mainly due to holding a position for several hours. I then get up, walk around, stretch and pain is over. Repeat. If you have any advice for me, please let me know. My friend is going to get me some heat pads and hopefully that helps. I'm thinking that I may just have the ice pack handy. Ice always provides relief for pain. While resting, walking with walker, or walking with no walker (more like waddling at this phase! lol), I feel barely any pain. I'd say zero to 1. I'm about 15 days away from 2 inches my friends. 2 inches is a game changer for me. To me, anyways, I've been able to do so much with so little in my life when it comes to height. At 5'1.25" I have been able to enjoy a happy life and experience the things that many of us short men feel is ...for lack of better terms ... out of our reach.... To me, every inch is incredible. To me, two inches is big time. It helps me and my situation so much. I'm grateful that I have been able to come this far at 1.37" and I'm going to work the best I can to get to that golden 5cm mark. I'll keep you all posted.
Pain: At night, around 2:00am, my pain at easily a 5 or 6. My knee and lower femur area are just on fire from being stuck in one position all night; other then that...no pain. My left leg is fine. Even when I take unassisted "waddling" like steps...nevertheless YES they are steps, lol.... no pain. I leg muscles do get a bit tired; but for future LL'ers... At day 46...your pain should be very much under control and minimal. Imagine? You go through this tough procedure and after only 45 days or less you can walk, albeit, awkwardly, but hey you can walk and barely any pain? That is the power of a good surgeon and the STRYDE nail. Do not go cheap, please.
Flexibility and movement: I did 2 self-PT sessions today.... quads, hams, IT Bands, etc. They felt good. My flexibility wasn't that good to start with; and its not any good now. Ha Ha, but I'm about 90 degrees on all the "tough" stretches, and doing okay with the others. Leg strength is coming back slowly. The cool thing about this process is that since I can weight bare, I'm able to practice my gait and really get some good excersie in using my body weight. I don't have to wait until month 4 and 5 to stand up and work my legs with my weight. I'm only a bit over 1 month post op and I'm training my legs with my weight. FOR THIS REASON, is why Doctors expect Stryde recovery to be much faster than the older nails.
Today's' Activities: 8 hour work day via remote connection, 2 - 1 hour Self PT, and 1 hour weight training for upper body.
Good day today. 15 days away from the MAGICAL 2 inch mark! I'll keep working hard and I'll do all I can to stay loose enough.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Thanks for the great share again IFS. Wish the best for you with fast recovery!!! ;D
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Now, i have decided to seek CLL to help with my height challenge. 2 - 3 inches on my bone is 2 - 3 inches that I do not need a shoe lift OR if i decided to wear a shoe lift, now I am 2 - 3 inches taller still! Be creative and innovative.
What's stopping you from lengthening to 5 inches or more? 8cm in femur and 6cm in tibia is the "safe" limits according to Paley.
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Thanks for the great share again IFS. Wish the best for you with fast recovery!!! ;D
Thanks Shortykon! I'm keeping my fingers crossed, man. So far so good.
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What's stopping you from lengthening to 5 inches or more? 8cm in femur and 6cm in tibia is the "safe" limits according to Paley.
Hi Zucc420! Great question. I'm going to push the femurs as far as they can go...so I think I will achieve 5-7cm range, maybe 8cm. I have not ruled out the possibility of going through a second surgery on the tibia's to add another couple of inches. I'll make that decision after I complete my experience with the outcome of the femurs. I honestly feel that I will be happy after femur recovery....however, we'll see.
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Day 48 Post Op - Journey Continues.. [3.574 cm or 1.407 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
What.A.Journey. Is all I can really say to myself when ask to describe CLL. My friends, I'm almost 1 1/2 inches taller and the journey continues. I think the one thing that surprises me the most is just how fast the lengthening occurs. Every 25 or so days, you're an inch taller. I mean, you walk up to your Statiometer and next to family or friends and you just feel the difference. I never realized just how much of a difference an inch truly is. An inch is actually a pretty good amount of heightening. As I have mentioned before, my goal is to reach 2 inches and then I will take it day-by-day after that and continue my lengthening toward that 3" mark until I know its time to stop. I'll also depend on the advice of my PT and doctors to aide my decision as well. Not saying this is the case, but I'd be perfectly fine with a 2" increase...every mm after that is a bonus. I started this process with great upper body strength which has helped me a great deal win moving around; but my legs were fairly tight. I could touch my toes by the time of surgery; but overall, I had tightness in hips area...I can feel this creeping in now. I'm fairly tight. I do have decent ROM at this point and can perform all movements asked my PT and I'm pushing pretty good. Once lengthening is completed, I'm looking forward to the positive impacts a solid consolidated bone will have on my overall ability to walk and just the feelings that come from being healed. I'm excited at the height gain and I'm grateful that the process has been going smooth. I'm going to work as hard as I can as the final half of the distraction phase is now upon me.
Pain: I'll be to the point. It hurts at night time and early morning around 5 level pain. During day, while resting and not doing PT, 0-1 level pain. While doing PT and and movements 1 - 2 or 3 level pain. The pain is not bad and its all tolerable. For prospect CLL'ers out there wondering... If the only thing stopping you from doing CLL is the pain...Please go forward with the surgery. The pain isn't so bad at all. It's worth the inches.
Flexibility and movement: Doing fine here. Still performing stretches to satisfaction level and working hard. My hips are very tight and my IT band has some pain as one runs down it; so that is impactful. As a result of tight and weak hip and glutes, my unassisted steps are swaying and and not long fast steps; more like slow baby steps. Having said that; good news is that I can 100% weight bear and take unassisted steps on my legs. Also, I move well on walker. I will continue to train my gate and strengthen. Its still so early and my bones are not even consolidated yet and I'm actually training my legs with 100% weight on them. Thank goodness for the Stryde nail.
Today's' Activities: 8 hour work day via remote connection, 1 Hour PT in Clinic and 1 Self PT Session and 1 hour weight training for upper body.
I'm 14 days away from the magic 2 inch mark. Wish me luck guys! I'm starting to feel tight. Let's see how I do.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Day 49 Post Op - Journey Continues.. [3.64 cm or 1.433 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Well, my journey continues. I'm about 4 days from that fun 4cm mark and 14 days from the fabulous 5cm milestone (2 INCHES). I'm pretty darn tight, I must say. I suppose that is pretty normal; but sheesh. I guess no one was kidding when they said that those soft tissues will stretchhhhhh. I have decent ROM in every category; so that is keeping me going here. Pain is fine; and tightness well its a bit bothersome; but not brutal. As I've stated before, My first milestone and check-in post will be 5cm, at this point, I will go 1 day at a time and quit lengthening when I know its time. That could mean I go 5.1cm or all the way to 8cm. I will keep everyone updated.
Pain: No issues here. 0-2 pain all day. Last night, the pain was a bit better as well, I'd say 3 - 4. Some discomfort with tight muscles that are being streched; but nothing that is painful. I'd say at this point, I feel like I'm coasting fine in regard to pain.
Flexibility and movement: Flexibility has taken a hit in all areas since the surgery. My legs are still straight; but I do feel the stiffness coming on from the back of the calves and hamstrings, so I have a close eye on this. Hips are tight and I'm working these as much as a I can. All in all, I'm doing well in this area. I am starting to walk more and more, unassisted as well. Baby steps, with sway; but I'm still taking full weight bearing unassisted steps and that my friends is a great workout for your hips and butt. I do have to stop walking after some time because I get sore and I prefer not to wear down to far so that I can still maintain a healthy PT session with stretches and bike.
Today's' Activities: 8 hour work day via remote connection, 2 SELF PT Sessions and 1 hour weight training for upper body.
I'm 14 days away from the magic 2 inch mark! Send your good thoughts my way. I'll need it.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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glad everything is going good regardless of the discomforts in result of the obvious!
best wishes and keep it pushing (:
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glad everything is going good regardless of the discomforts in result of the obvious!
best wishes and keep it pushing (:
Thank you for the motivation, Movie! It helps me to hear this.
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You are already haflway there. We are rooting for you. Stay strong my friend.
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You are already haflway there. We are rooting for you. Stay strong my friend.
Thanks so much buddy. It's getting tough. I will give it my ALL.
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Hi InFullStryde,
How many calories do you eat per day, and are you still on pain medication?
Thanks and kind regards
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Hi InFullStryde,
How many calories do you eat per day, and are you still on pain medication?
Thanks and kind regards
Hi Pilor,
I eat about 2000 to 2500 calories a day and I am taking Tramadol HCL 50mg for pain as needed. Usually, I am only taking pain medication before bed time now. I am experiencing almost zero pain during the day time.
Let me know if you have any more questions for me.
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Day 50 Post Op - Let's celebrate 50 days of my legs being broken! *Smile*.. [3.706 cm or 1.459 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Today was tough. My tension headache that i was experiencing last week returned so it was a struggle to focus. Fortunately, with some rest here and there, I was able to kick most of the headache away. One item to note for prospect CLL'ers... be in as good health as possible before the surgery. Get a flu shot, do everything needed to put yourself in the best position to NOT get sick during CLL. Any other sickness is just compounded when you do not have regular use of your legs. Either way, I did get through the day okay. I'm continuing to push the best i can. I'm 3 days away from 4cm and 13 days away from 5cm or that golden 2 inches.
Pain: Night and morning pain, was about a 3....virtually no pain during the day. Other then the occasional ache and ouch I experience when moving around; I don't have much pain going on at all.
Flexibility and movement: Flexibly is a very unique proposition during CLL. Its like 1 step forward and 2 steps back. What I mean is this.... When you're lengthening, its very tough to get ahead and become "more flexible". During the lengthening phase, its really more about "Management". You can't possibility stretch your body enough to keep up with 1mm per day; but you can manage enough to prevent injury, as well as prevent the soft tissues from stretching to far beyond what the bone and you can handle. I'm doing well enough at the moment. Decent ROM and just a bit stronger each and every day. As mentioned prior, I can take steps unassisted but usually prefer to use walker because my steps are rather awkward and lack balance. Also, after taking enough steps, unassisted, I do start to feel tired in those muscles so I ration things very carefully.
Today's' Activities: 8 hour work day via remote connection, 1 pro PT session at the clinic and 1 hour weight training for upper body.
I'm 13 days away from the magic 2 inch mark! it's true... you get tighter and the distraction phase becomes more difficult as you lengthen more and more... Send me some good thoughts guys.. Everything helps.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Keep going IFS . Wish you have a successful CLL.
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Keep going IFS . Wish you have a successful CLL.
Thank you, goodlucktomylegs. I really appreciate the support. So far so good. I'll try my best and will keep everyone updated on my journey.
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Congratulations FullyStryde, hoping all goes as planned for you and you're brave for taking the plunge. I will be following along and hope that you will continue to update. Thanks for your story!
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Congratulations FullyStryde, hoping all goes as planned for you and you're brave for taking the plunge. I will be following along and hope that you will continue to update. Thanks for your story!
I appreciate it Johnson1111. Although, we rarely get to know the people from the forum; when you jump in and wish me well it actually motivates me and I feel less alone in this. Thanks again. I'll keep everyone updated.
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Day 51 Post Op - I'm pushing the best I can here [3.806 cm or 1.498 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Today was pretty decent. My headache wasn't too bad; so that helped. I felt stronger in my legs over all which was nice to feel. Overall I'm doing well. Just a couple of days away from that elusive centimeter 4 and only 12 days away from the true difference making inch...that's right..the 2" point. Thank you for your support and appreciate the positive words. My summary is below.
Pain: It was a rough night trying to sleep. I deal with similar issues as other LL'ers. It's just hard to find a position that you are comfortable with and you're constantly being woken up by tightness and little dull pains. Nothing feels unbearable; but just enough going on in the legs to keep you up. Any suggestions are welcome. Other then that, barely any pain. I had 0-1 pain throughout the day. I can't really beat that.
Flexibility and movement: Today, I felt stronger. I was practicing steps on both my walker and unassisted and the steps were stronger, farther and progress is clear. The true difference maker is in the butt and hips. I am getting stronger in the butt and hips and its allowing me to take steps forward and do less compensation on the hip which causing the "sway" that others speak of. Flexibility is being managed as best as possible. I'm doing strong stretching 2 - times per day, and always keeping my legs moving with exception to some small stretches of time where I rest. I am pretty tight in the hamstrings and IT Band and it's starting to tug at my knees slightly. Will keep a close eye on this and continue to work hard in PT. My goal is to merely keep hams and IT band manageable so that when Lengthening is done I can conquer them quickly and without to much trouble with PT. We will see how the next week or two of lengthening affects me.
Body Condition *New*: I'm adding a new feature called body condition. I'll summarize in another post the past month or so; but will stick to the current for today. My legs are getting stronger and bigger than they were in the past; but they are still very much slim and recovering. Upper body is looking good and building back up with my consistent working out on my apartment bowflex machine. I have lost about 8 lbs it appears. With CLL you will lose your apetite and also your desire to work out will be reduced in the very beginning. I'm motivated again however and I'm also forcing my self to eat at all costs. When I'm back up and walking in a few months or so; I want to look and feel GREAT.
Today's' Activities: 4 hour work day via remote connection, 2 Self PT Sessions and 1 hour weight training for upper body. Also, going to netflix and chill tonight with my friend ;-)
Guys, I can remember starting this journey. 51 days later, I'm amazed to be only 2 days away from 4cm (1.57 inches) and and only 12 days away from 2 inches taller. This little bit will help my situation so much. I don't want to stop at 5cm (2 inches), however, I have to be safe. I want a swift recovery.... so we'll monitor closely and see what my body can safely bear. I'm going to go as far as I can safely go.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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hi,
how many mm are you lengthening by daily?
it seems u should have been around 4.6cm after 51 days if u were going at 1mm
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HI Blade Runner! Thank you for the post. I'm right at 1mm per day. There was several days in there where I was a bit below the 1mm mark for one reason or another. Those mm's add up! So long that the process stays smooth; should remain 1mm going forward.
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HI Blade Runner! Thank you for the post. I'm right at 1mm per day. There was several days in there where I was a bit below the 1mm mark for one reason or another. Those mm's add up! So long that the process stays smooth; should remain 1mm going forward.
Brilliant work - keep going my friend
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Brilliant work - keep going my friend
Thanks Man. Only 11 more days and I'll be at the 2 inch mark. I'm holding on "tight"
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Hey InFullStryde, just wanted to ask you something. You of course don't have to reply if you don't feel like it.
Are you shorter than both your parents? And since you had the option of doing LL at 17 years (with the possibility of your parents financing it), did your pediatrician(s) monitor your height back then and were you given the option of HGH treatment? What actually lead to you seeing a CLL doctor at mere 17 years back then? Did you suffer from any growth disorders back then, or was your original height the result of natural growth?
Hope you have a successful end spurt of reaching 2 inches!
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Hey InFullStryde, just wanted to ask you something. You of course don't have to reply if you don't feel like it.
Are you shorter than both your parents? And since you had the option of doing LL at 17 years (with the possibility of your parents financing it), did your pediatrician(s) monitor your height back then and were you given the option of HGH treatment? What actually lead to you seeing a CLL doctor at mere 17 years back then? Did you suffer from any growth disorders back then, or was your original height the result of natural growth?
Hope you have a successful end spurt of reaching 2 inches!
Thank you for the great question. I am happy to answer this; especially because I feel it can help others in some way. Growing up, I was always shorter than the other kids around. My pediatrician, never thought anything of it and was pretty convinced that I would eventually grow to achieve the average height of my Mom and Dad. My Mom was 4'11 and my Dad was 6'0". At age 10/11 I was concerned as well as my parents since I was still very much behind my class mates in height; so I was taken to a growth doctor/specialist and he had a bone age x-ray test arranged. At age 11, there as significant space between my growth plate and based on the space and my age, it was estimated that my height would be approximately 5'8-5'10". The doctor did not feel that HGH was necessary and felt that it would have been a risk for me try that and could even stunt my growth. My parents went ahead and believed him and that was that. I was left to wait to grow taller. In the summer of age 11, I grew 5 inches and arrived at about 5'1.25 when I was 12. Myself, my doctors, and my parents took this as a sign that my growing spurts were now on their way. There was one problem however, Not only was I growing in height; but I was rapidly developing through puberty. I was growing a mustache, beard, very strong muscular system, deeper voice, etc. I was actually experiencing one of the most common growth inhibitors of all.... something called "Precocious puberty". I went from underdeveloped to overdeveloped in a 1 year span. Unfortunately, as a result of my early puberty my grown plates fused and I was disqualified to reach my predicted height of 5'8" - 5'10". At 17 (1998), we learned of the procedure to increase height so my parents and myself were very curious about that possibility and we visited Dr. Dror Paley in Baltimore. I opted against it since I did not want to put my parents through so much. I hope that answers your question and let me know if you have any more quetions for me!
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Day 52 Post Op - Gut check time! [3.906 cm or 1.538 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Not going to write too much today since it's a bit late. I will say that for me...it's gut check time. As one can expect, my hamstrings and quads are pretty tight.
Pain: Morning and night - Pain was at about a 3/4. Barely any pain during the day..maybe 0-1. Tightness is there and a bit aggravating; but not painful.
Flexibility and movement: I can get around on crutches easily and walk unassisted. The walk is a bit stiff as expected.
Body Condition: I felt strong today.
Today's' Activities: 4 hour work day via remote connection, 2 Self PT Sessions and just relaxing ;-)
Well, its day 52. I'm 11 days away from 2 inches and I'll hit the 4cm mark tomorrow.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Thanks for the reply! It's really astonishing how these random occurences can happen to anyone in life. Even a totally normal person growing up in safe conditions can be hit by such a thing as idiopathic precocious puberty. Another reason why we, by all means, should research and develop methods and techniques to increase adult people's heights and make LL safer and easier. But you are making your own way and pursuing your goals successfully nonetheless. :)
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Day 52 Post Op - Gut check time! [3.906 cm or 1.538 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Not going to write too much today since it's a bit late. I will say that for me...it's gut check time. As one can expect, my hamstrings and quads are pretty tight.
Pain: Morning and night - Pain was at about a 3/4. Barely any pain during the day..maybe 0-1. Tightness is there and a bit aggravating; but not painful.
Flexibility and movement: I can get around on crutches easily and walk unassisted. The walk is a bit stiff as expected.
Body Condition: I felt strong today.
Today's' Activities: 4 hour work day via remote connection, 2 Self PT Sessions and just relaxing ;-)
Well, its day 52. I'm 11 days away from 2 inches and I'll hit the 4cm mark tomorrow.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
Congrats bro - what do you mean by gut check btw?
Also would you say the height increase from you barefoot compared to you with shoes on feels the same as the equivalent height increase when lengthening? Perhaps there is a difference psychologically..
Hope that question makes sense - for example when I put my sliders on in the morning I think to myself is this the feeling of being 2 cms taller when lengthening..
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Thanks for the reply! It's really astonishing how these random occurences can happen to anyone in life. Even a totally normal person growing up in safe conditions can be hit by such a thing as idiopathic precocious puberty. Another reason why we, by all means, should research and develop methods and techniques to increase adult people's heights and make LL safer and easier. But you are making your own way and pursuing your goals successfully nonetheless. :)
I really like this quote: "You are making your own way and pursuing your goals successfully nonethelss." Thank you IwannaBeTaller. It's true. There are challenges in life that we must work around or work through them. We must "make our own way" and still succeed. Thank you for your kind words.
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Congrats bro - what do you mean by gut check btw?
Also would you say the height increase from you barefoot compared to you with shoes on feels the same as the equivalent height increase when lengthening? Perhaps there is a difference psychologically..
Hope that question makes sense - for example when I put my sliders on in the morning I think to myself is this the feeling of being 2 cms taller when lengthening..
Hi Michael Jose! I would say that I feel taller when I have any shoes on. Shoes are a great bonus height and I love the various sole heights you can attain along with the different styles. Oh, and by "gut check" I mean, that the CLL process is getting more challenging now that i'm stiff; so I really have to be tough to finalize this the rest of the way! I will do what is safe and best for me!.
Thank you again and let me know if you have more questions
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Day 53 Post Op - 10 Day Count Down Begins Today! [4.006 cm or 1.577 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
I have officially passed the 4cm mark! It feels good to be 1 1/2 inches taller and I'm happy to say that I am now just 10 days away from the big 2 INCH milestone. My soft tissues are very tight indeed, but they will soon have time to catch up as I approach the final few weeks of distraction! It's time to start getting excited about a job well done. Still more work to do of course. I'm going to push the best I can to reach the 5cm mark. In fact, I should be right at 5cm (2 inches) for my next office visit with Dr. Mahboubian in less than 2 weeks. We'll sit down together and evaluate where I am at and make a determination of what would be my safe limit at that point. Details on my day below....
Pain: Morning and night - Pain was at about a 2/3. Barely any pain during the day..maybe 0-1. Tightness discomfort in upper legs. My hamstrings are very tight.
Flexibility and movement: I can get around on crutches easily and walk unassisted. As far as range of motion. I'm a bit stiff; but bearable. While standing, I can bend my knee 90 degrees. While laying down on my stomach, I can bend my knee 90 degrees. I feel a strong tug by my hamstrings on the back of my knee, now. Additionally, my IT Band is tight; so its causing some pull of on my legs as well. I'm pretty much feeling all the 4cm tightness pains at this point. I'll be monitoring this closely.
Body Condition: Feel good and strong
Today's' Activities: 8 hour work day via remote connection, 1 Clinic PT session and 1 Self PT Session.
Well, its day 53. I'm 10 days away from 2 inches and 50 cm. It's challenging times; but exciting. I'm more than half way done.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Congrats bro, keep pushing thru! I remember my hamstrings getting pretty tight too and I had trouble keeping my legs straight unless I pushed down on the knees, are you having the same issue or can you keep them straight without much trouble?
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Congrats bro, keep pushing thru! I remember my hamstrings getting pretty tight too and I had trouble keeping my legs straight unless I pushed down on the knees, are you having the same issue or can you keep them straight without much trouble?
Thanks buddy! Yep, definitely having trouble with that by now. I measure a 3 degree bend in right and left is straight. How did you get that resolved or when did that resolve?
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I just kept doing exercises that pushed down on the knee to keep the leg straight and held that position for a minute or so and repeat. You will feel your hamstring stretch doing that. It eventually went away after I stopped lengthening and I had way worse bend than you, at my worse I think mine was about 15 degree bend.
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I just kept doing exercises that pushed down on the knee to keep the leg straight and held that position for a minute or so and repeat. You will feel your hamstring stretch doing that. It eventually went away after I stopped lengthening and I had way worse bend than you, at my worse I think mine was about 15 degree bend.
Ah, okay. Sounds good. Sounds like we just need to allow the soft tissue some time to catch up with our lengthening. That is good to know.
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Day 54 Post Op - 9 more days until 2 inch milestone [4.106 cm or 1.617 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
I am beat, today. Once again have been dealing with tension headaches. I'm not sure if they are related to the CLL; but I'm having them more and more these days. Either way, we got through another day and each day means you're closer to the finish line. I have to tell you and I know that veteran CLL'ers also know this. Once you hit that 4cm mark its hard. You're tight and you're stiff and although you can still bend and display a range of motion; you begin to wonder if WD40 is something that humans can use on themselves. LOL. I'm not in pain; but the CLL procedure is now surreal to me because I'm experiencing what everyone has been talking about. I'm here to tell you... It's not that bad with the weight bearing Stryde nails. I cannot imagine what it must have been like for the Precise 1 and 2, CLL'ers and other non-weight bearing solutions. YOU, my friends are incredible. What makes this entire ordeal easier for me is the fact that I can stand up and still feel myself hold my own weight. I can take steps, albeit, waddling around since I have no butt or hips right now oh and don't forget I have a 2 inch gap in my bone! (ha ha)...but to just be able to take any kind of steps makes this process more doable and psychologically less stressful. I am truly impressed by those who are undertaking the alternative solution. My big challenge right now is, guess? Yes, Hamstring tightness. It is causing pull in all directions. Nothing too, too bad; but it's forcing me to work even harder on stretching and monitor my body even more closely. I've included other categorized details below. CLL'ers, all in all, I'm on my way to my initial goal without any complications. Let's hope it stays that way!
Pain: Morning and night - Pain was at about a 2/3. Barely any pain during the day..maybe 0-1. Tightness discomfort in upper legs. My hamstrings are very tight.
Flexibility and movement: Same thing. I actually am starting to get even stronger in my legs however. I was taking quite a bit of unassisted steps today just to get around various tables and into the shower, etc....I am careful, not to worry). I didn't tire out like I usually do. Legs are getting tougher, meaner, and stronger. Don't get me wrong, they have a ways to go but there is improvement. My range of motion is 'okay". Personally, considering that I was very average and even below average in flexibility when I started this journey, I'm pretty amazed at how well I've done with regard to flexibility. I have worked my tail off in PT and I know what is at stake here. I'm doing everything I can to manage the soft tissues stretching so much.
Today's' Activities: 8 hour work day via remote connection, 2 Self PT Sessions, and 1 upper body work out on my bowflex.
Body Condition Im looking pretty decent. I have lost about 7 lbs however and some mass in the upper body region. Most of the loss was at the beginning of the procedure and now that I'm back to working out I anticipate on re-gaining some size and strength. You do lose your appetite wit CLL; So i always say to stock up on some items that you find "tasty"; even if its not the most healthy..(like a hamburger, ice cream, etc)...This way you can wake up your taste buds again and then get back to your healthy diet.
Well, its day 54.... . I'm only 9 days away from 2 inches and 50 cm. Guys, 2 inches for me... is an incredible gain and I'm going to have a shot of tequila to celebrate! I hope some of you will take a shot with me on that day! lol.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Thanks for your daily updates. Can you feel a huge difference after adding almost 5cm? How do the scars look? are they bad or fine?
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Thanks for your daily updates. Can you feel a huge difference after adding almost 5cm? How do the scars look? are they bad or fine?
Hi Cat Cat!
So far I am at a 1.61 inches gain and honestly the difference is huge. I cannot wait until I can go out and enjoy my new height; and I'm not even completed with the procedure yet. In 9 days I will be 2 inches taller and it will be that much better. I'm not sure how much I will go over 2 inches. I want to be safe and we will see what my body can tolerate. Also, will have my PT and doctor assess me and help guide my decision.
Scars are extremely minimal. I have 3 light marks on each leg that look like baby cat scratches. I haven't even cared to do anything to try to lighten them. I kind of liken them as a tattoo to remind me of this incredible sacrifice I made..a true mark of courage. I will take pictures and post them sometime this week. They are barely noticeable. I will say that Dr. Mahboubian gave me a true "Hollywood" scar; which in the entertainment world means you can't really tell anything was done.
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BONUS POST - A Few General Questions Answered regarding CLL! Private message any questions to me and I'll be happy to answer the best I can.
Good day LL'ers!
I receive some great questions from community members regarding the CLL procedure and I have to tell you....I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTIONS SO MUCH. By submitting questions; it gives me an opportunity to reflect on my experience and there by post my feedback on the forum. It helps others so much. Members, people need so much help...we're all vulnerable and we all NEED and WANT assistance. If we bound together...we can get through anything. Note, we don't have to be related, or even longtime friends to simply say... I'm here to help and be there the best you can afford. Okay, here are a few questions from a member and I wanted to answer them publicly so that we could all benefit from the feedback. The identify of the individual who submits any question to me will be 100% confidential.
How bad are the scars?
I know that this depends on a few factors. One of those factors being on the surgeon abilities to maintain efficient, clean cuts. My Doctor is of North Hollywood and his name is Dr. Mahboubian. Hollywood is probably the most vanity emphasized place in the world... My scars are extremely minimal and I would hope that other doctors follow suit. Here is a picture of my markings below...(only 50 days post op). This level of marking will barely be visible to the eye after several months to a year; especially if you're using a scar reducing ointment. As a "dude", i sorta like scars. lol. I know that females are very concerned about this; so I hope this relaxes you when it comes to the subject. One item to note is that there is one additional marking on my butt, where the nail was put in. It is similar looking to the marking below but a bit longer.
https://imgur.com/LlAWyy3
Will I be able to wear a bathing suit later down the line after having surgery?
Absolutely! Rock those sxxy long legs and those lines will barely be visible after several months/1 year.
Do your legs feel heavy with the nails still in place for consolidation?
You do not feel the nails at all. The nails are surprising light weight and the body supports them extremely well as the nail supports your bone.
Were your It bands loosened during your surgery & if so do you feel you’ve lost any stability?
My IT bands were released/lengthened and it is important to note that the four primary CLL Doctors that are performing this surgery release your IT band; even for the most flexible. I personally do not notice a difference. IT Band released is a surgery that is often performed on top athletes to help increase their flexibility and relieve pressure on these areas. Even with my IT Band cut, I still feel the pulling in that area..so just imagine if I had not released the IT band. I would have been wound very tightly.
Where did you go for your physical therapy & for how many days a week & how long were your sessions?
I will keep this confidential for my privacy however, I simply looked up a 5 star PT clinic that was local to me and I explained my surgery and they got to work. They are very professional and serious. I recommend researching the best local PT in your area and signing up with them. Keep in mind that PT costs will be included for most health insurance. If you live or are staying next to your Doctor's offices, he likely has a dedicated or partner PT that you can work with as well. The LL doctors are orthopedic surgeons who perform services for clients on for many issues outside of CLL and can refer you to their local support. My PT stretches me out well and provides a 10 minute deep tissue massage to help remove restriction in my muscles. Massage is a must. Sessions are about 45 minutes of stretching and 10 minutes of deep tissue massage.
Did you do pool sessions & if so how soon? How long after surgery were you in need of home assistance?
I did not do pool sessions; but that would be interesting! I will say that since the new nails are completely weight bearing; you may not need the pool gravity limitation for your situation. You're able to place full weight on the Stryde nails with no worry.
After surgery, I recommend using a home health PT for up to the first 3 weeks. Keep this in mind...just because the nail can bear your weight; doesn't mean you are going actually be able to stand up and bear your weight for the first few days and it could be up to a couple of weeks. Home PT helps keep you safe during the immediate post surgical time period. They will review your home or place you stay at for accessibility and advise you on what assistive devices you can order. Additionally, they will perform stretches and exercises with you. With the help of home PT, you'll be up and moving by the 2nd or 3rd week and ready for an outpatient clinic. I know that it feels appealing to have a home PT for the entire process; but my opinion is that after the first 2/3 weeks its best to go to a facility with lots of staff, resources, equipment and you get out of the house...which is vital. The CLL process is long and fresh air, people, and activity is a great way to help you push through this process with greater ease.
Do you return home from the hospital or spend a few days in surgical aftercare.
Once the surgery is completed (With great success!), you will stay in the hospital for about 2 or 3 days. The hospital staff wants to monitor you for situations such as Compartment syndrome and any other post surgical complication. It's a nice thing also to just take a few days with rest and special care. This period allows you to focus on your recovery. Let me add that I recommend that you hire a van transport to take you home from the hospital. There are many wheelchair and/or other disability transport services. This helps to ensure your safety during the initial post surgical period.
Gents and Ladies, let me know if you have other questions. If you prefer to ask me questions privately, feel free to send me a message. I may post answers to the community but I will NEVER reveal who asked the question.
Thank you and talk soon,
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Day 55 Post Op - 8 more days until 2 inch milestone [4.206 cm or 1.66 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
I hope that everyone had a good day today. Well, I must tell ya, One thing that is always promised is that the sun will come up and go down, each and every day. CLL is a process and it takes time...but rest assured that time, filled with your commitment and effort, shall push you through and past this EPIC challenge. It was a tough start to the day; as I woke up with the worst of all tension headaches. My right eye socket was on fire with head pain and I had no idea what to do about it. I took some tylenol for it and told myself, I'm going to get up out of bed right now, at 4:00am, and just begin my day. There was no point in suffering in my bed with a headache. Well, as I began my day and started to get to moving around things started to get better. I worked out, picked up my apartment a bit and had breakfast. By engaging and have focus, my headache subsided and I was able to push through the day well. I'll go into detail on other items below. We're getting closer now to the big milestone and I feel good about that.
Pain: Morning and night - Pain was at about a 4-5 in the early am morning hours and it was aggravated by a tension headache. Barely any pain during the day..maybe 0-1. Tightness in the stretching soft tissues is about the main issue I'm facing right now in terms of discomfort.
Flexibility and movement: For all intents and purposes, I'd say I'm moving pretty well. I get around mainly on crutches these days and when short distances walking around my apartment or physio is required, I go unassisted walking. My flexibility is not good; but I have actually improved in some areas. I'm much stronger than I was a week ago as well; a ways to go; but definitely progress.
Today's' Activities: 8 hour work day via remote connection, 1 self PT Session and 1 Pro PT Session at the Clinic, and 1 upper body work out on my bowflex.
Body Condition: I've lost weight, so I'm trying to eat more and make sure I work my upper body each day on the Bowflex. As I approach the end of distraction, It's time to get strong again in all areas. The worst thing going on with me physically right now are the sudden chronic headaches. I'm okay at the moment, with no headache and i hope it stays that way.
Day 55 is in the books. 8 more days left until I reach the big 2 inches. I can't wait. I'm monitoring my body closely for any issues and I'm feeling pretty confident at the moment that I should safely arrive at the 5cm mark. We'll see and I'll definitely keep you all posted.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Day 55 Post Op - 8 more days until 2 inch milestone [4.206 cm or 1.66 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
I hope that everyone had a good day today. Well, I must tell ya, One thing that is always promised is that the sun will come up and go down, each and every day. CLL is a process and it takes time...but rest assured that time, filled with your commitment and effort, shall push you through and past this EPIC challenge. It was a tough start to the day; as I woke up with the worst of all tension headaches. My right eye socket was on fire with head pain and I had no idea what to do about it. I took some tylenol for it and told myself, I'm going to get up out of bed right now, at 4:00am, and just begin my day. There was no point in suffering in my bed with a headache. Well, as I began my day and started to get to moving around things started to get better. I worked out, picked up my apartment a bit and had breakfast. By engaging and have focus, my headache subsided and I was able to push through the day well. I'll go into detail on other items below. We're getting closer now to the big milestone and I feel good about that.
Pain: Morning and night - Pain was at about a 4-5 in the early am morning hours and it was aggravated by a tension headache. Barely any pain during the day..maybe 0-1. Tightness in the stretching soft tissues is about the main issue I'm facing right now in terms of discomfort.
Flexibility and movement: For all intents and purposes, I'd say I'm moving pretty well. I get around mainly on crutches these days and when short distances walking around my apartment or physio is required, I go unassisted walking. My flexibility is not good; but I have actually improved in some areas. I'm much stronger than I was a week ago as well; a ways to go; but definitely progress.
Today's' Activities: 8 hour work day via remote connection, 1 self PT Session and 1 Pro PT Session at the Clinic, and 1 upper body work out on my bowflex.
Body Condition: I've lost weight, so I'm trying to eat more and make sure I work my upper body each day on the Bowflex. As I approach the end of distraction, It's time to get strong again in all areas. The worst thing going on with me physically right now are the sudden chronic headaches. I'm okay at the moment, with no headache and i hope it stays that way.
Day 55 is in the books. 8 more days left until I reach the big 2 inches. I can't wait. I'm monitoring my body closely for any issues and I'm feeling pretty confident at the moment that I should safely arrive at the 5cm mark. We'll see and I'll definitely keep you all posted.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
Great work IFS!
Now that you're 55 days in - does it still feel as crazy a thing to do as you thought before you began?
By the sounds of things it doesn't sound to taxing when you consider the biggest problem is your headaches.
Also for your tight hamstrings - I'd recommend working out your abdominals and glutes excessively - I've found this to help (in normal everyday life).
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Great work IFS!
Now that you're 55 days in - does it still feel as crazy a thing to do as you thought before you began?
By the sounds of things it doesn't sound to taxing when you consider the biggest problem is your headaches.
Also for your tight hamstrings - I'd recommend working out your abdominals and glutes excessively - I've found this to help (in normal everyday life).
Good morning Michael Jose!
Thank you, man!
I would have to say that yes, this entire procedure is still as crazy now as it was then. The two elements that strike me the hardest is the inability to be freely and safetly mobile and the consequential amount of months required to get through the process. With 2 months down, I figure I still have at least 4 more to go.
Having said that, after 4-5 weeks of the consolidation phase is behind me and assuming I have healthy bone growth; I plan to begin getting back to normal every day life as much as I can; meaning, I will will return to work with crutches, start driving and if it's realistic, I'll even begin attending my membership gym (24 hour or LA Fitness vs my home gym). I'll even attempt to go out socially more often and test those ADA policies out there.
Thank you for the tips on the hamstrings. I been puttering along with glute exercises via PT; but I think I'll crank it up a few notches now.
Appreciate your support, man. It helps. Talk soon.
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InFullStryde-
Thanks for keeping such a detailed journal of your daily life while lengthening.
A video of you performing everyday activities would be greatly appreciated. No one has ever done this. A couple seconds of video of someone walking can be helpful, but nothing would be more helpful to show the true process of lengthening with STRYDE, than a few very short 15-30 second videos of you performing everyday tasks that we all do in our daily lives without even thinking about it.
Some Examples Include:
* Getting out of a chair or from the couch to go to the refrigerator
* Standing to wash your hands, moving towards the towel to dry, then walking away
* Putting on and/or taking off clothes and shoes, including socks. With your underwear and undershirt on of course!
* Cooking a simple meal, even just moving around the kitchen to make a bowl of cereal
* Getting in and out of a car
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InFullStryde-
Thanks for keeping such a detailed journal of your daily life while lengthening.
A video of you performing everyday activities would be greatly appreciated. No one has ever done this. A couple seconds of video of someone walking can be helpful, but nothing would be more helpful to show the true process of lengthening with STRYDE, than a few very short 15-30 second videos of you performing everyday tasks that we all do in our daily lives without even thinking about it.
Some Examples Include:
* Getting out of a chair or from the couch to go to the refrigerator
* Standing to wash your hands, moving towards the towel to dry, then walking away
* Putting on and/or taking off clothes and shoes, including socks. With your underwear and undershirt on of course!
* Cooking a simple meal, even just moving around the kitchen to make a bowl of cereal
* Getting in and out of a car
Hi Leggs, Thank you for this request. I will see what I can do for us.
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Good morning Michael Jose!
Thank you, man!
I would have to say that yes, this entire procedure is still as crazy now as it was then. The two elements that strike me the hardest is the inability to be freely and safetly mobile and the consequential amount of months required to get through the process. With 2 months down, I figure I still have at least 4 more to go.
Having said that, after 4-5 weeks of the consolidation phase is behind me and assuming I have healthy bone growth; I plan to begin getting back to normal every day life as much as I can; meaning, I will will return to work with crutches, start driving and if it's realistic, I'll even begin attending my membership gym (24 hour or LA Fitness vs my home gym). I'll even attempt to go out socially more often and test those ADA policies out there.
Thank you for the tips on the hamstrings. I been puttering along with glute exercises via PT; but I think I'll crank it up a few notches now.
Appreciate your support, man. It helps. Talk soon.
I understand what you mean. I will say that give it 3 weeks into consolidation you perhaps might be thinking this wasn't too crazy.
I've broken my kneecap before and so I have some previous context as to how long it really takes to get back to physical activity etc.
I think there comes a point where you do go back to real life and all recovery thereafter is just small steps - I believe for you that'll be in the first few weeks of consolidation from my experience and what I've read on the forum.
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I understand what you mean. I will say that give it 3 weeks into consolidation you perhaps might be thinking this wasn't too crazy.
I've broken my kneecap before and so I have some previous context as to how long it really takes to get back to physical activity etc.
I think there comes a point where you do go back to real life and all recovery thereafter is just small steps - I believe for you that'll be in the first few weeks of consolidation from my experience and what I've read on the forum.
Thank you Michael, this is encouraging to hear. I also have a feeling that my big gains will come post-lengthening and as I dive into consolidation. I have never broken a bone before until now; so your experience about this is enlightening to me.
Thanks again.
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Day 56 Post Op - 7 more days until 2 inch milestone [4.306 cm or 1.695 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
I hope that everyone had a good day today. Its another day in the books. Time is somewhat flying by. I felt like it was just yesterday that I was posting about day 55...oh wait, i was just posting about day 55, yesterday. Sorry bad jokes to start the evening. he he. All is okay so far today. I'm starting to get excited as I approach the mighty 2 inches; but I have to tell you, it isn't getting any easier. I'll summarize below. :-) The first inch was great, but was just a start. The 2nd inch is really the difference maker. Anywhere above 2 inches is outstanding. Safety first however. 2 inches was my hopeful minimum goal and it will be outstanding to secure this goal.
Pain: Morning and night - Finally, I had a morning and night that was fairly painless. I'd say a 2-3 pain, if that. Primary discomfort remains tightness of my soft tissue.
Flexibility and movement: Tightness in the hamstrings and all the leg muscles generally persist. I'm going to continue to stretch the best I can; however, I do not believe that I will be able to make too much headway until lengthening is over. It's all about management and keeping the legs as loose as possible at this point. We will see. You just never know. Everyday my legs seem to feel a bit different during this process. Sometimes for better and sometimes, for worse.
Today's' Activities: 8 hour work day via remote connection, 2 self PT Session.
Body Condition: Was a bit tired today; but recovered by late in the day. Doing better overall.
That is all I have to report for day 56. 7 more days and I'll be at the 2 inch milestone.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Hi, InFullStryde i wanna ask you one thing
As you making for example 6 cm, you approximately need 60 days for lengthening and around 6 months for regeneration,
Am i understand correctly?
How you supposed to be in case of physical conditions and activities or sports in 6 months post op period?
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Hi YungGud,
Thank you for your question.
That is correct. 60 Days of lengthening will gain you about 6 centimeters. (2 months)
It will then take approximately 3 - 4 months to restore normal gait
1 additional month you should start to jog
1 additional month you can run
.... So in terms of post op. O
One can expect to restore gait by month 5 or 6, post OP
Jogging by month 7 or 8
Running by month 8 or 9
Allow one year to start to feel fully normal again.
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Hi YungGud,
Thank you for your question.
That is correct. 60 Days of lengthening will gain you about 6 centimeters. (2 months)
It will then take approximately 3 - 4 months to restore normal gait
1 additional month you should start to jog
1 additional month you can run
.... So in terms of post op. O
One can expect to restore gait by month 5 or 6, post OP
Jogging by month 7 or 8
Running by month 8 or 9
Allow one year to start to feel fully normal again.
Thanks for your answer, really appreciated
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How tall are you now? Do you have pictures?
Thanks
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Hi Canon, when i started the process, I started at a towering 5' 1.25" I am now a sky scraping 5'3.15". Lol.
It's feeling good, man. I am working on pictures and videos. I'll send x-ray's next Friday for my updated height.
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IFS, do you know if you do quadrilateral with stryde in femurs and tibias you would be able to walk unaided and full weight bearing?
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IFS, do you know if you do quadrilateral with stryde in femurs and tibias you would be able to walk unaided and full weight bearing?
Good question. I am not sure. I imagine that once the surgical pain heals enough and some strength is regained that the patient could take some baby steps. Truth is that even with the Stryde nail that you NAY still require crutches or cane for most, if not all the lengthening phase (Wheelchair isn't necessary after first few days to first couple of weeks). My experience is that although I can take babe steps with no assistances, it is far safer to have crutches to catch me if I lose balance. With the bone cut and weak muscles, it is much safer to have support while walking. I do however encourage full weight bearing. Do not put weight on crutches or walker. Only use these devices to keep you balanced and safe.
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Day 57 Post Op - 6 more days until 2 inch milestone [4.406 cm or 1.74 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Today was good. Overall, I did well. I did have some "growing pains" in both legs. Basically, as I approach the 5cm mark, my soft tissues are really stretched at this point; so you experience some dullness off and on. I'm really pushing the best I can to to 5cm (2 inches). At this point, each day feels like a fairly big step. The tightness in my hamstrings felt a bit better today as I stretch and massage as much as is reasonably necessary. The hamstrings are pulling at my knees and back; so it's important to manage and keep this under control as much as possible. This is just a by product of CLL, especially when you we're not very flexible to begin with. Other then that, a very uneventful day. At day 57, there really hasn't been any pain for me during the day time. Night time is tough for me personally, but may not be as bad for future CLL'ers. I am just dealing with the soft tissue stretch pains at this point and I know it comes with the territory.
Pain: Morning and night - wasn't as bad as past. I slept a good 5 uninterpreted hours which is excellent for CLL'ers. Day time pain was 0-1. I had some dull pain; but I'd only classify it as level 1...hardly any pain. My tight hamstrings and tight muscles in my legs create some discomfort. My Hamstrings are really stretched and some minor pulling is beggingin to occur at about 2 degree for knees and similar for back. I am doing all I can with Physio and Walking weight bearing to remedy. When you have "Pulling" going on, the key is to stay active and keep stretching.
Flexibility and movement: Movement is reasonable, I believe. I'm getting around mostly on crutches and able to take fully weight bearing baby steps unassisted as needed to get around bathroom, kitchen, bed room, etc. Mobility at this point is completely, livable. I am not close to resuming normal actively; but I am certainly able to do everything needed for house and work in a comfortable manner. I plan on starting to drive again and going back to my office building, full time, a few weeks after I discontinue lengthening which will likely be at some point this month of March or early April.
Today's' Activities: 8 hour work day via remote connection, 2 self PT Session, 1 hour upper body workout with bowflex
Body Condition: Feel okay, tight in muscles, have lost some upper body mass but starting to regain as I resume a more consistent and intense upper body workout.
Well, if all goes well, I'll be only 4 days away from 2 inches taller, once this weekend is all done. It's getting very interesting now friends. I'll keep you updated.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Day 58 Post Op - 5 more days until 2 inch milestone [4.506 cm or 1.77 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Another day in the books guys. Not to much to comment on. For future CLL'ers things to expect would include real tightness in the soft tissues as your exceed the 4cm/5cm mark. Hamstrings, Quads, Hips and IT Band area, all will become tighter and tighter as you continue to lengthen. I am now stretching right after every single lengthening session in effort to manage the soft tissue stretch the best I can in effort to maximize my gains and hopefully ease my recovery.
Pain: Same story here... bed time and early morning, wake up time is the worst. I'd give it a 3-4 today. I experience heavy tightness to go along with some knee pain. All wore off after about 10 minutes of activity, after I woke up.
Flexibility and movement: Moving around just fine. With that in mind, the tightness of hamstrings has created about a 3 degree bend in the right leg. (not very noticeable). Also, some pressure on back has been introduced now. Very minor; but wanted to report every slight change in my body to you all. IT band is also tight; so working hard on loosening this area as well. My goal at this point as mentioned is to manage as to maximize. Flexibility will not return until I stop using the ERC device.
Today's' Activities: 4 hour work day via remote connection, 3 self PT Session,
5 More days left until 2 inches guys. Looking forward to this.
If you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Wow man you are blazing through this. It'll be over before you know it.
I'm seriously impressed that you are able to work 4 hours a day remotely. When I was doing LL, I was so demotivated that I had to be dragged into doing the 2-3 physical therapy sessions.
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Wow man you are blazing through this. It'll be over before you know it.
I'm seriously impressed that you are able to work 4 hours a day remotely. When I was doing LL, I was so demotivated that I had to be dragged into doing the 2-3 physical therapy sessions.
Puru, Thank you, man. I totally get and understand the motivation part. CLL is a test of wills, big time. I have my good and bad days; that is for sure.
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Wow man you are blazing through this. It'll be over before you know it.
I'm seriously impressed that you are able to work 4 hours a day remotely. When I was doing LL, I was so demotivated that I had to be dragged into doing the 2-3 physical therapy sessions.
Great work pal - keep going
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Day 59 Post Op - 5 more days until 2 inch milestone [4.506 cm or 1.77 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
I'm going to take a break with a thorough update today. I really just need to rest. I'll be back at it tomorrow. Wishing all of you well this weekend!
5 More days left until 2 inches.
If you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Day 59 Post Op - 5 more days until 2 inch milestone [4.506 cm or 1.77 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
I'm going to take a break with a thorough update today. I really just need to rest. I'll be back at it tomorrow. Wishing all of you well this weekend!
5 More days left until 2 inches.
If you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
hey man, hows your walk full weight bearing?
does it look normal or no? Can others tell something is wrong when walking full weight bearing?
thnx
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hey man, hows your walk full weight bearing?
does it look normal or no? Can others tell something is wrong when walking full weight bearing?
thnx
Hi MirinHeight!
Good questions. Everyone is different, I know. I have reviewed a few other Styrde Diaries and everyone has a different way to report the weight bearing attribute.
For me, I can weight bear and take steps; but those steps look very much like there is something wrong and its immediately noticeable. My unassisted steps are small and since, my glutes and hips are taking a long time to resurface; I am compensating strongly. I mainly am using my crutches to get around, as a result. While using my crutches, I am full weight bearing still. I use the crutches only to level my hips/glutes since for now they are not ready to produce as they need to. This little point that I can use crutches with ease is great news because one can resume work and other family activity looking more natural versus, being confined to a walker which doesn't simulate a good walking gate as much as crutches can.
For a someone who was pre-op, more active physically with their legs and much better shape in there hips/glutes area, I anticipate they will walk a lot more swiftly than I do at this point. I was the guy that skipped leg day and barely did any type of leg activities. Was all upper body and frankly, I barely even took walks. Now with all this in mind, I am walking much better at this point than anyone using the previous Precise method since I am able to weight bear of course.
So the moral of the story is that the Stryde nail can easily hold you. In your Pre-Op, I do see value in activating your hamstrings, quads, hips, glutes as much as you can so that they are alert and more ready to deal with the surgery effects.
I hope I answered your question, MirinHeight! It's a toss up really as to when one will walk more "normally" with Styrde. The good news is that you can weight bear regardless of the walking. I do not believe that under most circumstances that anyone will have a "normal walk with Stryde" nails until at least some weeks after distraction is completed. Could still be a couple of months. It all depends on those factors that you just don't know until you go through the surgery. Also, I do feel confident that after my distraction is done that I will progress pretty fast with the walking since I can weight bear from day one post distraction. I am looking forward to that.
If you have any more questions, please feel free to let me know! Thank you and best regards,
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Hello IFS good to see you still holding strong. Many users complain that the hardest part of LL is the boredom when alone in a far away country with half your body functioning. Since you work 4-8 hours mostly and spend a solid amount of hours doing PT I can imagine you're pretty occupied in life right now. I also have no problems with boredom and have accepted my frames as part of daily life. To be honest I only rage at them when Im trying to get a comfortable sleep.
Anyway I notice you have problems in sleeping and the first hour of waking up is hard and I have the same sentiments as you...
Might I suggest a latex foam mattress, they are very soft and would help you a lot if you're a side sleeper. The normal beds are hard and only help if you're a back sleeper but as we sleep our body changes positions and it makes it very uncomfortable if you change sides and wake up due to pain.
Or its cheaper alternative - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UYG9WB8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=oyg-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00UYG9WB8&linkId=c1e4bca3e7126ae03e9f7af68232a5c7 - credits to overrideyourgenetics from his website
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Hello IFS good to see you still holding strong. Many users complain that the hardest part of LL is the boredom when alone in a far away country with half your body functioning. Since you work 4-8 hours mostly and spend a solid amount of hours doing PT I can imagine you're pretty occupied in life right now. I also have no problems with boredom and have accepted my frames as part of daily life. To be honest I only rage at them when Im trying to get a comfortable sleep.
Anyway I notice you have problems in sleeping and the first hour of waking up is hard and I have the same sentiments as you...
Might I suggest a latex foam mattress, they are very soft and would help you a lot if you're a side sleeper. The normal beds are hard and only help if you're a back sleeper but as we sleep our body changes positions and it makes it very uncomfortable if you change sides and wake up due to pain.
Or its cheaper alternative - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UYG9WB8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=oyg-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00UYG9WB8&linkId=c1e4bca3e7126ae03e9f7af68232a5c7 - credits to overrideyourgenetics from his website
Thank you. I'm going to put my order in today.
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Day 60 Post Op - 4 more days until 2 inch milestone [4.606 cm or 1.813 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
We continue forward on this journey. I have reviewed many forum posts from CLL veterans, CLL'ers in progress, and the prospect CLL'ers who are thinking through this decision intently. I will tell you that each persons experience is unique and different in many ways, however, there are a few things that will always be common to all CLL'ers. The CLL procedure is long, it is challenging and it requires a great deal of work from the patient in order to be successful. You truly will feel like you earned every centimeter and you should have great pride in that. I cannot wait to finalize the distraction and then begin the healing phases. I'm not sure where I will stop my lengthening, but I do know that I will reach 2 inches or 5 cm, at minimum. I am only 4 day away from this huge milestone.
Pain: Middle of the night in the early morning, pain is always at it's worst and nothing has changed for me at this point. I take my pain meds, try to loosen up a bit with stretching and some standing and back to bed. Hoping that I can rest well soon. At this point I'm probably averaging about 2-4 hours a sleep per night. I try to catch up on sleep during the day time where I will have sleep breaks often. Oh, one thing to mention. My famous left let, actually my left hip was acting a bit funny today. It was hurting when I put weight on it so I suspended any strong walking during later afternoon and evening. Will rest this so that I can actively train my walking, hopefully by tomorrow.
Flexibility and movement: The more you lengthen, the more difficult this will become. I have lengthened my leg almost 2 inches, exactly (That is a lot!). I am stretching 3 times a day now and I've added extra sets and reps and it seems to be helping. I'm tight in all femur related muscles. Again, I can take baby steps without assistance devices, but prefer crutches since they support me. I am full weight bearing for about 45+ days now.
Today's' Activities: 8 hour work day via remote connection, 3 Self PT Sessions, and 1 upper body work out on my bowflex.
CLL Symptoms Minor leg bending of about 2 degrees, however I am able to straighten after stretching and flexing intently. Slight Lordosis (not really noticeable, unless i point it out, but can be felt on lower back). PT says that the legs will straighten easily with the stretching and the Lordosis is unavoidable since the butt and hips are still weak. Working aggressively on butt, hips, and abs at the moment and going forward.
Body Condition: Feeling strong today in upper body and the legs.
I can't believe it is day 60 guys. Time is flying and I like that. I'll keep you posted as I approach the big 2 inch day. On Friday, I have my follow up with Dr. M; so I should be able to upload my x-rays as well for your review.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Keep up the great work!
The comments LL'ers have about sleep is most concerning to me. I already have sleep problems, so I'd be pretty terrified of extreme insomnia...
Is the 2 - 4 hour figure a an estimate or do you have something like a FitBit that's telling you how much sleep you're getting? Do you take a pain pill at bed time?
Also, when you do your stretches, how long are you holding them for roughly?
Thank you!
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Keep up the great work!
The comments LL'ers have about sleep is most concerning to me. I already have sleep problems, so I'd be pretty terrified of extreme insomnia...
Is the 2 - 4 hour figure a an estimate or do you have something like a FitBit that's telling you how much sleep you're getting? Do you take a pain pill at bed time?
Also, when you do your stretches, how long are you holding them for roughly?
Thank you!
Hi Psilocybe,
Sleeping is truly one of the more tougher challenges during CLL while in the distraction phase, especially. You are just having to deal with the discomfort of tightness and being forced to sleep in positions that you are not happy with. I'm starting my 3rd month of CLL and it still bothers me. I haven't tracked, but I tend to note the amount of hours I sleep each night and its around 2 - 4hrs. On the nights you do get some sleep your legs are super stiff and hard to deal with since they have maintained a same position for so long. It's one of those things that CLL'ers have to deal with. I hear once distraction phase is over; that it gets much better, very quickly.
I hold my stretches anywhere from 30-60 seconds.
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Day 61 Post Op - 3 more days until 2 inch milestone [4.706 cm or 1.853 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
I hope everyone is doing well out there. Today started out pretty rough. I was able to sleep about 5 hours straight which you would think is a great thing; but one problem. When your legs are in the same position for 5 hours, they lock up! It was very uncomfortable. I always say to prospect CLL'ers... Do not judge your CLL condition by how you feel in the morning. Until distraction is done and you have giving your soft tissues the time they need to truly adapt to the new legs; you're going to have rough mornings. Other then that, things went pretty good once I got myself up and moving. I have 3 more days until Friday, which will be my big 2 inches gained moment. I'll keep fighting the good fight.
Pain: For me, the morning was awful. I have never been so uncomfortable. My legs felt very stiff after a lengthy uninterrupted sleep. After I got up and moved a round a bit, I was just fine. I did not have pain for the entire day. Both legs felt good. 0-1 pain throughout.
Flexibility and movement: Movement is good, Flexibility exists. I will definintely need 2-3 months of strengthening and stretching once I'm done with detraction before I'm walking decent again, maybe less, we'll see. Either way, I'm still in the ball game. My main concern is that I am displaying some common CLL symptons and I am monitoring those closely.
Today's' Activities: 8 hour work day via remote connection, 2 Self PT Sessions.
CLL Symptoms: Minor leg bending of about 2 degrees, however I am able to straighten after stretching and flexing intently. Slight Lordosis (not really noticeable, unless i point it out, but can be felt on lower back). PT says that the legs will straighten easily with the stretching and the Lordosis is unavoidable since the butt and hips are still weak. Working aggressively on butt, hips, and abs at the moment and going forward.
Body Condition: Feeling strong today in upper body and the legs.
Well, I'm at day 61, so the world continues to turn as it should. On Friday, I'll be at the 2 inches milestone and will also see Dr. M for assessment and x-rays. Time keeps flowin' and I keep growin'.
Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Talk soon and best regards.
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Sorry to hear about your parents :'(
Your story is very inspiring and wow man I love how dedicated you are. Will be following your diary.
Wish you all the best my brother.
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Sorry to hear about your parents :'(
Your story is very inspiring and wow man I love how dedicated you are. Will be following your diary.
Wish you all the best my brother.
I really appreciate it buddy. I had some great parents and they would be proud to see me go forward with this procedure; knowing that it takes will and courage. Congrats on your new CLL journey. We'll be following each other on this one and feel free to reach out with any questions. Talk soon and best regards,
-William
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Bonus Post!
Here is a great PT Session for CLL'ers and prospect CLL'ers!
Here are some stretches! I tried to find examples. Do this every day even if it takes forever....You will be glad you did. Note, that some of these exercises are "standing up" you can't do this right now; so ignore. Focus on the laying down ones.
These workouts will ensure you can FIGHT against Lordosis. The cause for Lordosis is weak glutes and hips. When you become strong in this area in a 2-3 or 4 months your eventual duck ass will go way.
https://youtu.be/JGLQS_ArIMY
Another huge challenge is to keep your LEGS Straightened. Here are videos. Do these Daily! Even if your legs are fine now..please do this. I promise you that eventually once you hit 4cm or 5cm or even sooner...you will face this challenge.
https://youtu.be/TA5tr-2ghP8
https://youtu.be/vhEaOeDotqE
Hamstrings
https://youtu.be/ki8ZaeXmkaM
This one!!!! -
https://youtu.be/EpSZSN9E7nY
Quads or you can do this on your stomach
https://youtu.be/AP7J-foKtPw
https://youtu.be/98I9C78aBZg
Thomas Stretch
https://youtu.be/bxB3pMdBJCk
Inner Thighs
https://youtu.be/XqdcQVs8Es4
To Strengthen....
For Quads...do straight leg raises while you on your back,...bend the leg you are not raising
For Hips and Glutes, do side raises with your leg...you should be on your side...and raise from your hips. bend the leg you are not raising
https://youtu.be/FD2_cUx8s_A
Great Glute strengthening:
https://youtu.be/oGZcBf8KlK8
----
Okay these are a good start. I recommend getting a little bike to warm up with - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BDRFMZK?aaxitk=1ia2GSBVuAm68YlaUsi2IA&pd_rd_i=B07BDRFMZK&pf_rd_p=e037c154-e093-48a4-b127-477e5e294e3f&hsa_cr_id=8595445860601&sb-ci-n=asinImage&sb-ci-v=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-na.ssl-images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F51YFweivxKL.jpg&sb-ci-a=B07BDRFMZK
let me know if any additional suggestions are needed.
Talk soon,
IFS
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Day 62 Post Op
Good evening CLL'ers. I hope all is well.
Just as update for you, I am going to be pretty busy the next couple of days; so my next update will likely be on Friday evening. Friday should mark my official "welcome" to 2 new inches of height. Also, I have my 2 month post op appointment with Dr. M on Friday during the morning hours. I will post details of this and include x-rays of my legs.
Thank you for your support, encouragement and interest in my CLL journey. If you have any questions or feedback for me, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Best Regards,
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These are really good exercises. I'm incorporating these into my daily routine.
2 inches is a huge milestone, so congrats. You are more than halfway there.
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These are really good exercises. I'm incorporating these into my daily routine.
2 inches is a huge milestone, so congrats. You are more than halfway there.
Thank you, Puru. Giving it all I got.
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pm sent, about your sleep
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pm sent, about your sleep
Life saver, thank you. Will try this. Appreciate the help so much. The sleep is really taking its toll on me.
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I remember all too well how much the lack of sleep impacted me during the lengthening phase. It was torture. Two things that helped me were Benadryl and doing some cycling before bed to loosen the muscles up. Sometimes I’d even wake up in the middle of the night and hop on my bike.
The good news is that normal sleep comes back super quickly after you’re done lengthening. I remember sleeping amazingly well like a night or two after I stopped lengthening.
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I remember all too well how much the lack of sleep impacted me during the lengthening phase. It was torture. Two things that helped me were Benadryl and doing some cycling before bed to loosen the muscles up. Sometimes I’d even wake up in the middle of the night and hop on my bike.
The good news is that normal sleep comes back super quickly after you’re done lengthening. I remember sleeping amazingly well like a night or two after I stopped lengthening.
YellowSpike, Thank you. May I PM you? I want to review a few things re: CLL as I am now at that 5cm mark and it's crunch time for me. I am really feeling it.
Thank you,
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Day 64 - 2 Month Post - Op checkup with Dr. Mahboubian [5.1 cm or 2.00787 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
I'll jump right into my meeting details with Dr. M. As with all meetings, the first thing that you will do with Dr. M visits for the most part will be having your X-Rays taken. This, after-all, is how he assesses your lengthening and bone growth as well as review the nail and other leg health factors. Upon reviewing my x-ray, Dr. M noted that I have excellent bone growth and all is looking great there. Additionally, he confirmed that I have lengthened 5.1 cm or the magic 2 inches. I'm 2 inches taller? Wow. I'm really taken back by that. I have never been able to identify as a person that was taller than 5'1. I won't go into the long list of what that meant for me; however, to be able to now stand 1/4" over 5'3 was pretty cool. I'm taller than my sister now; which is a great feeling. It's all perspective really. To me, these 2 inches feel great and I'm honestly perfectly happy ending this entire process with 2" but...I'm not going to stop just yet. Any additional Millimeters from here-on is considered icing on the cake. I'm going to monitor myself very carefully each day to make sure I have not reached that limit. Dr. M noted a few items at which may constitute a reason to stop lengthening, such as you are unable to straighten your knee, even after force, nerve issues, duck ass becoming to severe...etc.
My CLL Symptoms are the following. Take note prospect CLL'ers
- Very tight muscles such as hamstrings, quads, glutes, hips, etc.
- Slight 2-4 degree bend of right leg (difficulty straitening) I am able to straighten when flexing
- Slight 1 degree bend of left leg (difficulty straitening). I am able to straighten when flexing
- Slight Duck Ass. I am able to straighten back when flexing
For the most part all typical CLL'ers can expect some of the followup above items to take place. If you are planning CLL soon, get to stretching and you just might be able to avoid these above.
In reviewing with Dr. M, he advised that I'm doing very well and that he recommends to continue lengthening at 1 mm a day. He mentioned that my above conditions should heal relatively smoothly and in due time once lengthening is over with.
A great point - Dr. M observed my walking unassisted and we all shared a laugh. Despite my awkward Frankenstein like steps, we are all astonished by how, with the new Stryde nail I am able to walk at only 2 months. In the past, with the older precise nails, it would take 4+ months for any of the patients to be able to weight bare or walk at all. It's a wonderful advancement, indeed. I'm not sure how I could cope with not having the flexibility to stand full weight on my legs for 4+ months. I tip my hat to all the LL'ers before me who did this. You are strong and awesome.
I have posted my x - rays below. Good callous growth and 2 inches worth of lengthening in place.
(https://i.imgur.com/vg8eieW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6qTYuJB.jpg)
Thank you again for your support guys. Every millimeter from here on out is very difficult. I'll push the best I can and I will be responsibile to not go beyond my bodies limit. My next goal is 6cm.
If you have any questions for me, please do not hesitate to ask! Best regards,
-
Please ask about osteonecrosis...is it possible for someone who undergoes cll to get osteonecrosis.
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Day 65 Post Op - Journey Continues [5.2 cm or 2.047 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Today was a pretty chill day. I think at the 2 month point of CLL, one can say that they have established a routine; which is a great thing. On the flip side of the coin, a CLL'er at month 2 is pretty tired of the process. It's a long and tiring one; but it is amazingly great to be 2 inches taller. Another thing about day 65 is that you're now looking at the end of the distraction (or lengthening phase) very soon (within days or a few weeks). You're monitoring your body closely and weighing the extra millimeters vs your bodies ability to recover well. Fortunately, I'm managing quite well. My next goal is 6cm, and we'll decide what is next after that.
Pain: The worst things about CLL pain at this point is the tight / stiffness of the thigh since you have lengthened over 2 inches. It's not really pain; but just an annoyance to not have the ability to move more freely. Apparently all this comes back during consolidation phase and there after. The other area that is uncomfortable is the elevated tightness during long rests in your bed, sleeping or not. If you do not keep you legs moving, you get very tight and it takes a little while to get warmed up again.
Flexibility and movement: Very tight and stiff, but still can move okay. Flexibility is at its all time low; but still manageable and usable. I'm mainly using crutches and I am able to take unassisted steps with no issue; but my thigh muscles generally become tired fairly quickly; so I don't walk too much without crutches for safety reasons.
Today's' Activities: Rested around the house, 3 Self PT Sessions, 1 upper body workout on bowflex
CLL Symptoms:
- Very tight muscles such as hamstrings, quads, glutes, hips, etc.
- Slight 2-4 degree bend of right leg (difficulty straitening) I am able to straighten when flexing
- Slight 1 degree bend of left leg (difficulty straitening). I am able to straighten when flexing
- Slight Duck Ass. I am able to straighten back when flexing
We keep it going strong, guys. 1 mm at a time.
Talk soon and Best Regards,
-
Wow, the bone has already grown a lot in the gap. Stryde makes a huge difference!
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Pictures please :)
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Wow, the bone has already grown a lot in the gap. Stryde makes a huge difference!
Thank you, Puru.
Being able to weight bear really stimulates bone growth. I'm grateful that it doesn't seem that bone growing back will be an issue for me on this journey. Thanks again and I'll keep everyone updated.
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Would be nice to see a direct comparison image how much difference in height we actually can see
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Would be nice to see a direct comparison image how much difference in height we actually can see
I'll see what I can create and post soon. Thank you for following my diary! It's a journey but I can see the light as I am nearing the end of distraction phase now.
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Hello friend I was reading your diary and my best wishes for you, I hope everything goes well. I have a question out of context since I'm 169 cm but I think the size of my hands is abnormally small since they measure about 17 cm in length and my feet I wedge 8 US like 26 cm although I have a spare finger. I would like to know your American shoe size and the length of your hands because if I lengthen to 176 cm I would not want to seem disproportionate. Thank you very much and I will be with you on this trip, best wishes warrior
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Day 66 Post Op - Journey Continues [5.3 cm or 2.09 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Today was a good one. I woke up with not much morning pain which was great. I don't know what happened but something inside of me got excited... I 'm in the final stretch and every millimeter counts.
Pain: No pain at all really; other then muscle stiffness discomfort.
Flexibility and movement: Walking unassisted; but using crutches mostly for safety. As soon as I'm done with distraction; I will begin to walk more unassisted as my focuses shifts from growing to walking normally again.
Today's' Activities: Rested around the house, 3 Self PT Sessions, 1 bow flex workout
CLL Symptoms:
- Very tight muscles such as hamstrings, quads, glutes, hips, etc.
- Slight 2-4 degree bend of right leg (difficulty straitening) I am able to straighten when flexing
- Slight 1 degree bend of left leg (difficulty straitening). I am able to straighten when flexing
- Slight Duck Ass. I am able to straighten back when flexing
We keep it going strong, guys. 1 mm at a time.
Talk soon and Best Regards,
-
Hello friend I was reading your diary and my best wishes for you, I hope everything goes well. I have a question out of context since I'm 169 cm but I think the size of my hands is abnormally small since they measure about 17 cm in length and my feet I wedge 8 US like 26 cm although I have a spare finger. I would like to know your American shoe size and the length of your hands because if I lengthen to 176 cm I would not want to seem disproportionate. Thank you very much and I will be with you on this trip, best wishes warrior
Thank you for following my diary, Radamanthys! Feel free to pm me and I'll answer questions and we can review! Talk soon.
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Hello InFullStryde,
I’m so pleased to hear things are going so well for you, I’ve been following this thread with great interest as I plan to complete this procedure with Stryde when I can get everything in place so Thankyou for all the infornation
Can I ask what your pre op flexibility was like,
Could you touch your toes? If so by how far?
Did the doctor tell you that this was very important? Can you touch your toes now?
I ask as I’ve been working on my flexabity for sometime now and it’s not improving as i would like,
Many thanks and take care.
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Hi,
Thanks for your detailed review.
When you say you are walking, what is the average distance you are walking every day?
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Hello InFullStryde,
I’m so pleased to hear things are going so well for you, I’ve been following this thread with great interest as I plan to complete this procedure with Stryde when I can get everything in place so Thankyou for all the infornation
Can I ask what your pre op flexibility was like,
Could you touch your toes? If so by how far?
Did the doctor tell you that this was very important? Can you touch your toes now?
I ask as I’ve been working on my flexibility for sometime now and it’s not improving as i would like,
Many thanks and take care.
Hi Another Level! Thank you for following my diary. I sure hope you have found some good value from the content I have been posting. To answer your question; my flexibility was average to below average when I started the surgery. In fact, I had my consultation about 4 months before I had surgery and I was about 5-6 inches from touching my toes (while standing up). My surgeon, Dr. Mahbouban was explicit in telling me that my recovery will be much easier if I can increase flexibility in hamstrings by surgery date. Naturally, the goal was to touch by toes while standing up, sitting down, etc. In 3 months time, while stretching each day, I was finally able to touch by toes, by just barely, a few weeks before surgery.
Dr. M, and other Doctors, even Paley, will more than likely go forward in performing CLL surgery with you even with the lack of flexibility; but you will need to work even harder during your recovery with PT and self stretching so that you do not get too tight. Now that I am in the final couple of weeks of the distraction phase, I would say that 5cm (2 inches) isn't terribly difficult, even with average to low flexibility. That 3rd inch becomes the larger challenge.
Tell me more about your flexibility and I will compare it to mine. Personally, I do not believe you have anything to worry about, unless you are experiencing abnormally stiff joints. Most people are stiff...so abnormal would be stiffness that is beyond what we can expect from the average person.
I hope this helped put some things in perspective for you! Feel free to reach out to me as much as you need. My goal is to help the community by sharing my personal experience with the CLL journey.
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Hi,
Thanks for your detailed review.
When you say you are walking, what is the average distance you are walking every day?
Hi Pilor! My pleasure to assist the community.
My "unassisted walk" for me means that I am taking steps with no devices to help me. To be clear, my walk looks like Frankenstein duck right now due to tightness and weak thigh muscles. My strength is 500% stronger then it was 60 days ago; however, it is still needing more work before I will be able to walk close to normal. I would grade my walk to 10% normal right now. Currently, I exercise about 2 - 3 times a day in my apartment, and 75% of it is walking on crutches. 25% is me letting go of my crutches and walking about 30 feet up and back many times with no assistance. So I would say I walk about 1/2 a football field (50 yards) per day unassisted now.
With this in mind, I am very careful about not overdoing it. I do not want to risk injury, fatigue and set back on my journey. My personal belief is that a person can probably walk many yards with some rest in between on the Stryde nail. I just happen to have started my journey with weaker leg muscles than the average person.
My favorite things about Stryde so far:
- Weight bearing! I never have to worry about how much weight I am putting on my legs. I stand up and walk (with and w/o crutches) at full weight bearing
- My bone is growing much better than patients using the older precise. (Reference latest x-rays, callous is nicely filled in and waiting to harden as soon as I'm not lengthen)
- I can exercise easily with crutches. Use the crutches only to support your balance; but fully weight bear so that your butt, hips and other thigh muscles continue to strengthen.
Let me know if you have any more specific questions. I'll be happy to answer the best I can.
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You diary has been very helpful, everyday I await for your update!
I think that 6cm would be enough lengthening for me , and I always had this figure in my head for better proportions, and quicker recovery,
Assuming you stop lengthening around the 6cm mark how long does your doctor estimate for full consoladation?
I’m around 5 inches from the ground when trying to touch my toes, and my hamstrings are so tight, I drive for a living and so am sat down 9 hours a day, so whatever I do I’m struggling to break this cycle?
What stretches or exercises do you recommend for improving this situation?
I’m planning on having a family member with me for 4 weeks then going alone, is this realistic?
Best regards
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You diary has been very helpful, everyday I await for your update!
I think that 6cm would be enough lengthening for me , and I always had this figure in my head for better proportions, and quicker recovery,
Assuming you stop lengthening around the 6cm mark how long does your doctor estimate for full consoladation?
I’m around 5 inches from the ground when trying to touch my toes, and my hamstrings are so tight, I drive for a living and so am sat down 9 hours a day, so whatever I do I’m struggling to break this cycle?
What stretches or exercises do you recommend for improving this situation?
I’m planning on having a family member with me for 4 weeks then going alone, is this realistic?
Best regards
Great to hear!
With the new Stryde nail, your consolidation is going to be much better since you will be weight bearing for most of the distraction phase. You can anticipate to consolidate like a normal bone will at 6-8 weeks.
Do this stretch 2 times a day, for 3 months and you will be touching your toes or very very close. That is a guarantee!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki8ZaeXmkaM
For the first month, yes, definitely have someone with you. You will be fine alone, after that, however, have an emergency person to call and help you as needed. It's also nice to have someone come and help you clean every periodically. More help the better.
Let me know if you have any additional questions for me.
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Thankyou so much, I will start this program today, I just want to improve this flexibility as I understand that it will make the procedure so much better,
Did you have IT band release?
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Thankyou so much, I will start this program today, I just want to improve this flexibility as I understand that it will make the procedure so much better,
Did you have IT band release?
Glad I can help. Yes, my IT Band was released. This will help very much. I really am an example of a man who has poor flexibility and very tight, and I'm making it all the way to 5+ cm already. :-) You will do great. Keep us posted on your timelines. Also, let me know if you have more questions.
Thank you,
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Hello man
Are you thinking do 7 cms? Plis if you could see my pm that will be wonderful!
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Hello man
Are you thinking do 7 cms? Plis if you could see my pm that will be wonderful!
Hi Rada, I answered your PM. Have a look when you can.
Right now, I am not sure how far I will go. I am taking it day by day right now. My Doctor says I am doing well right now and suggests I keep going. I will monitor myself closely in the coming days.
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Day 67 Post Op - Journey Continues [5.4 cm or 2.126 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Today was pretty good. Oddly enough, I slept pretty well through the night and I did not experience any tightness pain. I was tight; but it wasn't the awful tightness pain that I had been experiencing in the mornings. I was able to sleep a good 5-6 hours without waking up so that is a nice rest which I needed. I'm hoping that tonight is the same for me. I am approaching the finality of the distraction phase. Taking it one day at a time. Each day that I make it past at this point is a bonus millimeter. I'm observing my body closely and keeping close mind of what could be my limit. At this point, I see 6.5 cm or more as a real possibility but you just never know. Future CLL'ers ...know this...during phase 1 you will wake up with brand new surprises each day...Your left leg will hurt on Monday and great on Tuesday. Random Hip tightness...then it goes away...Knee hurts at night..then it disappears....its all very random. You just need to keep it going, stay strong and not give in. Go after your goal. I honestly, wasn't sure I was going to get much past 5cm; but I can see now that all the hard work of PT pays off. PT and practicing your walk (with crutches, walker, or unassisted), really goes along way to ensure that you reach your height lengthening goal. I'll be completely honest...I'm about ready to be done with this phase..lol. It's already been over 2 months and I'm ready to focus on consolidation and rehab...but I have a little ways to go before I settle and I will not quit before it's time! Wish me luck, guys.
Pain: No pain at all really; other then muscle stiffness discomfort.
Flexibility and movement: As mentioned before, I'm very mobile on crutches, I can walk short distances unassisted (Frankenstein looking walk). For all intents and purposes, I could live my life normally; but just on crutches. I'm at the 2 month point and I could, with confidence, resume my life. I haven't tried driving yet; but I feel like I could do it easily. I'm going to hold off however, until my bone is consolidated. I do have one additional note on movement...My upper left hip is very tight. I believe it is actually my quad; but it's where the quad and hip meet. My goodness its tight... PT is working on it with stretching and a massage device. We'll get that back under control here. Once again, just another random CLL thing that you have to deal with on your journey.
Today's' Activities: 1 Pro PT Session, 1 Self PT Session, 1 bow flex workout
CLL Symptoms:
- Very tight muscles such as hamstrings, quads, glutes, hips, etc.
- Slight 2-4 degree bend of right leg (difficulty straitening) I am able to straighten when flexing
- Slight 1 degree bend of left leg (difficulty straitening). I am able to straighten when flexing
- Slight Duck Ass. I am able to straighten back when flexing
We keep it going strong, guys. 1 mm at a time.
Talk soon and Best Regards,
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What's your height now?
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What's your height now?
I started my journey at a little over 5'1". I'm 5'3.5" now.
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Day 67 Post Op - Journey Continues [5.4 cm or 2.126 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Today was pretty good. Oddly enough, I slept pretty well through the night and I did not experience any tightness pain. I was tight; but it wasn't the awful tightness pain that I had been experiencing in the mornings. I was able to sleep a good 5-6 hours without waking up so that is a nice rest which I needed. I'm hoping that tonight is the same for me. I am approaching the finality of the distraction phase. Taking it one day at a time. Each day that I make it past at this point is a bonus millimeter. I'm observing my body closely and keeping close mind of what could be my limit. At this point, I see 6.5 cm or more as a real possibility but you just never know. Future CLL'ers ...know this...during phase 1 you will wake up with brand new surprises each day...Your left leg will hurt on Monday and great on Tuesday. Random Hip tightness...then it goes away...Knee hurts at night..then it disappears....its all very random. You just need to keep it going, stay strong and not give in. Go after your goal. I honestly, wasn't sure I was going to get much past 5cm; but I can see now that all the hard work of PT pays off. PT and practicing your walk (with crutches, walker, or unassisted), really goes along way to ensure that you reach your height lengthening goal. I'll be completely honest...I'm about ready to be done with this phase..lol. It's already been over 2 months and I'm ready to focus on consolidation and rehab...but I have a little ways to go before I settle and I will not quit before it's time! Wish me luck, guys.
Pain: No pain at all really; other then muscle stiffness discomfort.
Flexibility and movement: As mentioned before, I'm very mobile on crutches, I can walk short distances unassisted (Frankenstein looking walk). For all intents and purposes, I could live my life normally; but just on crutches. I'm at the 2 month point and I could, with confidence, resume my life. I haven't tried driving yet; but I feel like I could do it easily. I'm going to hold off however, until my bone is consolidated. I do have one additional note on movement...My upper left hip is very tight. I believe it is actually my quad; but it's where the quad and hip meet. My goodness its tight... PT is working on it with stretching and a massage device. We'll get that back under control here. Once again, just another random CLL thing that you have to deal with on your journey.
Today's' Activities: 1 Pro PT Session, 1 Self PT Session, 1 bow flex workout
CLL Symptoms:
- Very tight muscles such as hamstrings, quads, glutes, hips, etc.
- Slight 2-4 degree bend of right leg (difficulty straitening) I am able to straighten when flexing
- Slight 1 degree bend of left leg (difficulty straitening). I am able to straighten when flexing
- Slight Duck Ass. I am able to straighten back when flexing
We keep it going strong, guys. 1 mm at a time.
Talk soon and Best Regards,
Good to hear you had a good sleep session. Good sleep is truly heaven even for those that are not doing LL; did you buy the latex foam?
Reading from your post it seems like your head is in the right direction but do allow me to give you some suggestion. It's good that you're intent on adding to the bonus but I really don't think 6.5cm is the absolute limit for you. I strongly think you should aim higher, a lot higher, perhaps 7.5cm-8cm
I say this because what you are going through right now, the pain, the discomfort, the psychological anxiousness on getting to the day when you no longer have to lengthen and have a hint that things will be far better in the near future. Well better than all those is a stronger height, if 5'3.5 was a huge change for you I am sure that being almost 5'5 will be even greater. I think you should aim that high because
1) you already put loads of effort into it
2) you had your IT bands released
3) its expensive af and you're able to work remotely anyways so you're not exactly losing on finances by staying home and lengthening
4) you're not bored
Like look at me. I'm a pure external patient, I had no release done and my goal is 7cm on my tibia alone which is a shorter bone than femurs. I fully believe I'll be able to achieve it and with ease. 6.5cm for your femurs is an entirely realistic goal, mine is a higher goal and of course the higher you go the higher the complications you get but you're doing so well right now, you have a great doctor and state of the art nail inside you, I don't think you'll regret it; Dr.M is right by your side.
Props to you for doing internals by the way. Me personally can't stand the thought of having an internal nail flown through my bone canal so I respect those that muster the courage to do it. And also lengthening on the femurs is much harder than tibias
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Good to hear you had a good sleep session. Good sleep is truly heaven even for those that are not doing LL; did you buy the latex foam?
Reading from your post it seems like your head is in the right direction but do allow me to give you some suggestion. It's good that you're intent on adding to the bonus but I really don't think 6.5cm is the absolute limit for you. I strongly think you should aim higher, a lot higher, perhaps 7.5cm-8cm
I say this because what you are going through right now, the pain, the discomfort, the psychological anxiousness on getting to the day when you no longer have to lengthen and have a hint that things will be far better in the near future. Well better than all those is a stronger height, if 5'3.5 was a huge change for you I am sure that being almost 5'5 will be even greater. I think you should aim that high because
1) you already put loads of effort into it
2) you had your IT bands released
3) its expensive af and you're able to work remotely anyways so you're not exactly losing on finances by staying home and lengthening
4) you're not bored
Like look at me. I'm a pure external patient, I had no release done and my goal is 7cm on my tibia alone which is a shorter bone than femurs. I fully believe I'll be able to achieve it and with ease. 6.5cm for your femurs is an entirely realistic goal, mine is a higher goal and of course the higher you go the higher the complications you get but you're doing so well right now, you have a great doctor and state of the art nail inside you, I don't think you'll regret it; Dr.M is right by your side.
Props to you for doing internals by the way. Me personally can't stand the thought of having an internal nail flown through my bone canal so I respect those that muster the courage to do it. And also lengthening on the femurs is much harder than tibias
Love this post, MakeMe6ft. A true motivating push in late innings can go along away. I appreciate it and thank you. You are right on every point. I'm going to push this as far as I can go.
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Day 68 Post Op - Journey Continues [5.5 cm or 2.165 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Another day in another way. Woke up with a bit more pain and stiffness than last night. Most of the pain was actually felt in the areas at which the bone gap exists. As you extend past the 5cm mark, you can really feel the sensitivity in the weaker zone of your bone. It was a bit prohibitive for me as it related to moving around. After a good morning warm up, I was fine; but nevertheless...its another thing to expect with CLL. I continue on. I'll be at 6cm by the end of the weekend. What a journey this is.
Pain: No pain while resting; however when walking and turning in bed, I can feel soreness pain in the areas where the bone gap is.
Flexibility and movement: Very tight and flexibility is not good. I need to continue to work in every area in order to manage the affects of lengthening. With about 1-2.5 cm left depending on how far I decide to go; Ill need to continue to stretch, stay loose as possible, and walk/strengthen if I want to make it to the end with my goal in tact. I backed off unassisted walking today. Will allow the soreness to settled in.
Today's' Activities: 2 Self PT Session, 15 minutes walking session, 8 hours of remote working
CLL Symptoms:
- Very tight muscles such as hamstrings, quads, glutes, hips, etc.
- Slight 2-4 degree bend of right leg (difficulty straitening) I am able to straighten when flexing
- While sitting, my legs are bending at about 95 degrees. I need to get this back below 90.
- Slight 1 degree bend of left leg (difficulty straitening). I am able to straighten when flexing
- Slight Duck Ass. I am able to straighten back when flexing
We keep it going strong, guys. 1 mm at a time.
Talk soon and Best Regards,
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Day 69 Post Op - Journey Continues [5.6 cm or 2.2 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
Once again another day has passed. Today was a productive one for me. Worked, Worked Out, PT'd, etc,etc. I will say though that at this phase of the lengthening I'm really feeling it. The muscles are soooo stretched, wayyyyyyy tight, and they are sore. I contacted Dr. M's office and requested a refill on my Tramadol because I can tell I'm going to need pain medication If I plan to eclipse the 7cm mark. I have settled my mind on making it to at least 6.5cm (2 1/2 inches), however, I will push toward 7cm+ (2.75"), which would officially put me at 5'4...A BIG change from 5'1". Ultimately however, it is one millimeter at a time. Send your positive thoughts guys. If anyone could use a couple of these inches, it's me! Ha ha!
Pain: Remember all those days in a row when I reported no pain? Well it's baaaaaaaaack. Its not the type of pain that existed back when I first started this procedure; but it's more of a weakness pain that comes when your muscles are being stretched. Remember, when a muscle is stretched it is similar to a rubber band..it loses strength. Also, I have sensitivity in the bone zones where the gap currently is; so I'm not able to freely walk around. Legs tire easily...keep in mind however that this too subsides quickly as the soft tissue adjusts in the coming days. What I'm going through is just the true reality of CLL when you get to the higher inches. I'm keeping a close eye on my ROM right now and other symptoms. As long as my symptoms are "manageable" and not severe, I will continue to lengthen, so long that it's not against doctors advice.
Flexibility and Movement: Very tight overall, however I did feel improvement in the leg straightening, as well as quad tightness. The PT has been working hard on my hips and glutes. They know that is my weakness right now. I am able to walk unassisted, meaning, I can take Frankenstein duck looking steps. I prefer to weight bear with crutches.
Today's' Activities: 1 Self PT Session, 1 Pro PT Session 15 minutes walking session, 8 hours of remote working
CLL Symptoms:
- Very tight muscles such as hamstrings, quads, glutes, hips, etc.
- Slight 2 degree bend of right leg (difficulty straitening) I am able to straighten when flexing
- While sitting, my legs are bending at about 95 degrees. I need to get this back below 90.
- Slight 1 degree bend of left leg (difficulty straitening). I am able to straighten when flexing
- Slight Duck Ass. I am able to straighten back when flexing
We keep it going strong, guys. 1 mm at a time.
Talk soon and Best Regards,
-
Can you slow down your rate of lengthening to .75 mm a day instead of 1 mm a day? That might ease the pain a bit.
Is there a way you can work less and devote more time to PT? It really makes a huge difference.
Do you ride a stationary bike before doing PT? 10 minutes on a bike makes a HUGE difference for your muscles. Muscles should be warmed up before stretching.
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Can you slow down your rate of lengthening to .75 mm a day instead of 1 mm a day? That might ease the pain a bit.
Is there a way you can work less and devote more time to PT? It really makes a huge difference.
Do you ride a stationary bike before doing PT? 10 minutes on a bike makes a HUGE difference for your muscles. Muscles should be warmed up before stretching.
Thanks Puru!
I may consider slowing it down if the pain gets too bad. I'm going to take your advise and startto work half days (4 hours a day) until I reach my goal and substitute with more steady movement, streching and walking....You're right on. Yes, I usually do about 10 minutes per day before PT.
Your advise is gold. I'll report back on how these minor hacks impacted me.
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What was your femur/tibia length before the surgery?
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What was your femur/tibia length before the surgery?
That is a good question. I'm not exactly sure. I just measured my femur and its at 18" or 19"...so I was about 16 or 17" on the femur before surgery. I'm 5'1" at my starting height. I could be way off on the femur, but my tape measure gave me these figures. I will have to ask Dr. M on this one. Not sure on Tibias. I just measured from my knee to where my ankle starts and the tape measure reads 14"
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Can you slow down your rate of lengthening to .75 mm a day instead of 1 mm a day? That might ease the pain a bit.
Is there a way you can work less and devote more time to PT? It really makes a huge difference.
Do you ride a stationary bike before doing PT? 10 minutes on a bike makes a HUGE difference for your muscles. Muscles should be warmed up before stretching.
Was thinking the same thing to be honest about .75mm/day during lengthening. IFS you should try it for a day or two and see how well it goes.
Has Dr.M said anything about the rate of your bone growth?
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Also I know this will sound hell but I recommend you stop using opoid pain killer. You are 2 months post op your body has adapted really well ..
Pain is hell but its also natural. And the best indicator of how your body is responding. Unless youre in 24/7 chronic hell pain, then something is definitely cooking up
Keep strong
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Day 70 Post Op - 3 more days until the big 6! [5.7 cm or 2.244 inches Taller!]
Greetings LL'ers,
I'm here at my home office typing this to you and Its hard to imagine that I'm already at day 70. After surgery, I entered into a state of mind where I knew that the days would keep coming and that it would be only effort and will power that would stand between me and my height lengthening goals. Well, here I am. Today was pretty good. Some discomfort of course can be felt with the tight muscles; but all in all; no real pain today. There is some sensitivity in the area where the bone gap zone is in my right leg. I imagine that is to be expected. I did push it pretty hard at PT yesterday; so I imagine that some inflammation is present. I'm going to keep on going strong. On Sunday, I would have reached that coveted 6cm mark and then we will see how I do the rest of the way.
Pain: Pain is feeling under control at this point. Nothing sharp. As mentioned before, I have some sensitivity on the side of my leg in the area where the bone is separating; but nothing major. I will say at a resting state, I am about a 2 pain and the zone sensitivity pain is about a 4. The tight muscles are my greatest source of discomfort and I'm looking forward to that tightness starting to melt away once I stop the lengthening.
Flexibility and Movement: Tight, low flexibility but mobile with crutches. Without crutches, I am mobile but due to the tightness, and some muscle weakness, my steps our not acceptable to use full time. I anticipate my post lengthening PT will resolve posture and other issues with walking in 2-3 months time. Maybe sooner...we'll see.
Today's' Activities: 3 Self PT Session, 6 Hours working, with walk breaks.
CLL Symptoms:
- Very tight muscles such as hamstrings, quads, glutes, hips, etc.
- Slight 2 degree bend of right leg (difficulty straitening) I am able to straighten when flexing
- While sitting, my legs are bending at about 95 degrees. I need to get this back below 90.
- Slight 1 degree bend of left leg (difficulty straitening). I am able to straighten when flexing
- Duck Ass. I am able to straighten back when flexing, but the curve is there. Will need to recover this through strengthening hips and glutes and loosening quads/hams.
We keep it going strong, guys. 1 mm at a time.
Talk soon and Best Regards,
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Keep Going! You're killing it man. At the same time, don't feel like you have to push yourself to higher and higher cm's. You have reached a great gain of already past 2 in. It's your choice of course, but make sure you're not going overboard. 6.5 cm is nothing out of the norm, but I feel going past that is pushing it. 8cm is the absolute max that I'm aware of at least. I'm new to this forum, so excuse any misconceptions I may have.
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Keep Going! You're killing it man. At the same time, don't feel like you have to push yourself to higher and higher cm's. You have reached a great gain of already past 2 in. It's your choice of course, but make sure you're not going overboard. 6.5 cm is nothing out of the norm, but I feel going past that is pushing it. 8cm is the absolute max that I'm aware of at least. I'm new to this forum, so excuse any misconceptions I may have.
Thanks, buddy. I appreciate the support. You're 100% right. I'm watching myself very closely. I'd love to get to that 6.5cm mark. Taking it day-by-day. Will keep you posted!
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(Friday) Day 71 Post Op - 3 more days until the big 6! [5.7 cm or 2.244 inches Taller!]
Hi Guys,
I'm going to take a break this weekend from updates; but will be back on Monday. I hope that my diary has been informative to the community so far and feel free to PM Me if you have questions about CLL. I will do my best to answer your questions based on my experience thus far.
Best Regards,
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How difficult is to change your clothes? Or take a shower? Or make number 2?
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How difficult is to change your clothes? Or take a shower? Or make number 2?
Hi Wannagrowtaller,
Since I'm near the end of my distraction, my flexibility is pretty bad.
Changing my shirt is no problem, but putting on my pants takes some work since I am not able to fold my knees far enough at the moment. I am able to put on pants and shoes, socks etc; just requires a bit more focus and some ingenuity on my end.
Taking a shower is no problem. I have a bathtub that I have to get over so I am able to get my legs over that and into the bathtub; so long that I am holding on to something to support myself.
Taking number 2 is easy. I have no issue being mobilized and sitting down anywhere.
---
Hope that helped.
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IFS, 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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Hmm. I could handle it I suppose.
One segment is definitely enough. I haven't heard of any one with 4 segments broken being able to walk much. One of the things that had made this tolerable was the ability to weight bear.
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I haven't heard of any one with 4 segments broken being able to walk much.
The only quads that I know used precice 2 or 1, not stryde.
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Hey In Full Stryde!
Just starting to read your diary. Wanted to say congratulations on reaching this far! You're doing great, keep at it.
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Hey In Full Stryde!
Just starting to read your diary. Wanted to say congratulations on reaching this far! You're doing great, keep at it.
Thank you, Buddy! Let me know if you have any questions. I'm glad to help the best I can. I'm in the middle of my journey; but I'm almost done with what I believe is the hard part.....the "distraction phase". My next update will be tomorrow and hopefully we're all celebrating that 6cm together.
Talk soon and best regards,
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Nice, whats your feet size and wingspam?
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Thank you, Buddy! Let me know if you have any questions. I'm glad to help the best I can. I'm in the middle of my journey; but I'm almost done with what I believe is the hard part.....the "distraction phase". My next update will be tomorrow and hopefully we're all celebrating that 6cm together.
Talk soon and best regards,
That is good to hear man! And thank you, I will do. Glad to hear that you've been through the worst. Looking forward to your update.
All the best.
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Hello InFullStryde
Can I just ask, If your lengthening at 1mm per day why is has taken 74 days to hit 6cm rather then 60?
Thanks once again .
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Hello InFullStryde
Can I just ask, If your lengthening at 1mm per day why is has taken 74 days to hit 6cm rather then 60?
Thanks once again .
Hi Buddy! Great question. I started lengthening on day 9 post op..(around there)...and then, I had a few occasions here and there where my schedule disallowed me to lengthen. So all in all, it added up to what it is now.
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(Monday) Day 74 Post Op - [6 cm or 2.36 inches Taller!]
Good day CLL'ers quick update. Well, we made it to 6cm. A great milestone indeed. I'm honestly not sure how much more I will go. I'm going to take it turn by turn at this point. Muscles are very tight, have a slight anterior pelvic tilt and the legs are stiffening. It just may be time to stop the growing...I'm going to think about it some. Thank you again for all your support and I'll continue to keep you all posted.
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Congratulations for your 6cm mark, IFS.
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(Monday) Day 74 Post Op - [6 cm or 2.36 inches Taller!]
Good day CLL'ers quick update. Well, we made it to 6cm. A great milestone indeed. I'm honestly not sure how much more I will go. I'm going to take it turn by turn at this point. Muscles are very tight, have a slight anterior pelvic tilt and the legs are stiffening. It just may be time to stop the growing...I'm going to think about it some. Thank you again for all your support and I'll continue to keep you all posted.
Hey man, you've done brilliant. 6cm is something to be proud of. Gotta ask yourself if going beyond this point is worth it as complications tend to arise. Not just complications now but maybe even down the years? Perhaps if the doctor is saying you're good to continue then by all means try your best. But this is a great milestone. You're over two inches taller! I think I will go for 6cm and wear lifts after lol!
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Big congratulations on reaching 6 cm!!!! Must feel amazing standing on those new legs :)
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Congratulation my friend!!! Its a great milestone. I am going to reach it in a week from now too ;D
I really hope you can make it to 6.5 cm or even 7 cm.
Would you go all the way to 8 if your body allows it? Is 8 the limit for Stryde?
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(Tuesday) Day 75 Post Op - [6 cm or 2.36 inches Taller!]
Thank you for all the support you guys. I actually took a break from lengthening today and wanted to think about my next move. I'm very satisfied with my gain of over 2 inches. I really do want to achieve my goal of 6.5cm so I am going to try and reach my goal. I do not believe I will push it to 7cm+. I want to avoid any serious injuries. So far, I have not had any major complications and I'm actually able to take baby steps without any assisted devices. I would hate to risk that. You never know...I may change my mind depending on how I feel. I will keep everyone updated!
I wanted to add that the Stryde Nail that was used on me changes everything. Just imagine being able to stand strong on your own 2 feet, fully weight bearing and being able to take steps....even if the steps are very awkward and stiff in the beginning...imagine being able to start your rehab in less than 3 months post-op, and the starting point of your rehab is on your feet, with the ability to take baby steps. For anyone considering CLL, I implore you to really consider the Stryde Nail...it has made this process so much more tolerable for me.
Thank you again and best regards.
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Congrats on reaching 6cm IFS!
I know all too well how hard it gets around 6cm. The last cm between 6cm and 7cm was very hard for me. But I'm glad I pushed as hard as I did because I knew once I finished the process, it was very unlikely I'd ever wanna do a second LL. If you are 100% satisfied at 6cm and are in a lot of pain, by all means stop here. But if you have the slightest doubt about not reaching your goal of 6.5cm, and your doctor believes you can reach it safely, then my vote is to press onward.
Best of luck IFS. I'm so jealous you got to do LL with Stryde. Seems like it makes the process so much easier, and unlike the Gnail (which is now officially obsolete, in my eyes), it's a non-ratcheting rod that you don't have to leave the country for!
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(Tuesday) Day 75 Post Op - [6 cm or 2.36 inches Taller!]
Thank you for all the support you guys. I actually took a break from lengthening today and wanted to think about my next move. I'm very satisfied with my gain of over 2 inches. I really do want to achieve my goal of 6.5cm so I am going to try and reach my goal. I do not believe I will push it to 7cm+. I want to avoid any serious injuries. So far, I have not had any major complications and I'm actually able to take baby steps without any assisted devices. I would hate to risk that. You never know...I may change my mind depending on how I feel. I will keep everyone updated!
I wanted to add that the Stryde Nail that was used on me changes everything. Just imagine being able to stand strong on your own 2 feet, fully weight bearing and being able to take steps....even if the steps are very awkward and stiff in the beginning...imagine being able to start your rehab in less than 3 months post-op, and the starting point of your rehab is on your feet, with the ability to take baby steps. For anyone considering CLL, I implore you to really consider the Stryde Nail...it has made this process so much more tolerable for me.
Thank you again and best regards.
Completely agree with your first paragraph man. Safety first always. Especially considering we don't know what things will be like when and if we reach 70 lol.
Second paragraph was nice to read, man. The Stryde nail sounds great!
You're doing great, man. I look forward to your updates.
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Hey InFullStryde,
I just wanted to say that you come across as a kind and helpful person and I wish you all the very best.
What does Dr. Mahboubian say about pushing further as opposed to stopping the process now? Please keep us updated about your progress.
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Congrats on reaching 6cm IFS!
I know all too well how hard it gets around 6cm. The last cm between 6cm and 7cm was very hard for me. But I'm glad I pushed as hard as I did because I knew once I finished the process, it was very unlikely I'd ever wanna do a second LL. If you are 100% satisfied at 6cm and are in a lot of pain, by all means stop here. But if you have the slightest doubt about not reaching your goal of 6.5cm, and your doctor believes you can reach it safely, then my vote is to press onward.
Best of luck IFS. I'm so jealous you got to do LL with Stryde. Seems like it makes the process so much easier, and unlike the Gnail (which is now officially obsolete, in my eyes), it's a non-ratcheting rod that you don't have to leave the country for!
Thank you, Yellow Spike. Your wise words and voice of experience here and there, has helped me tremendously. I have decided to reduce my lengthening rate in hope that this will help my soft tissue keep pace for the final 5mm. I really want to reach my goal of 6.5cm. Perspective is everything and to me being as close to 5'4" as possible would be so very meaningful, considering that my first 37 years was at 5'1". Thanks again for all your help and reasoning.
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Big congratulations on reaching 6 cm!!!! Must feel amazing standing on those new legs :)
Hi Star ray! It really does mean the world to me to be over 2 inches taller. The difference is even more than I could have imagined.
Congratulations for your 6cm mark, IFS.
Thank you, Wanna Grow Taller, it has taking time and hard work; but I'm thrilled to have reached this milestone.
Congratulation my friend!!! Its a great milestone. I am going to reach it in a week from now too ;D
I really hope you can make it to 6.5 cm or even 7 cm.
Would you go all the way to 8 if your body allows it? Is 8 the limit for Stryde?
Singapore, Great to year from you my friend. 6.5cm I feel is enough for me and my body. I can't imagine making it to 8cm at this point. I may find myself somewhere between 6.5cm and 6.9cm...since this nail seems to lengthen more than my calculations. Appreciate all your support. I'm very happy with my height gain.
Completely agree with your first paragraph man. Safety first always. Especially considering we don't know what things will be like when and if we reach 70 lol.
Second paragraph was nice to read, man. The Stryde nail sounds great!
You're doing great, man. I look forward to your updates.
Thank you for your support, man. I really feel set on 6.5cm at this point. That would be over 2 and 1/2 inches and will push me up against my goal height.
Hey InFullStryde,
I just wanted to say that you come across as a kind and helpful person and I wish you all the very best.
What does Dr. Mahboubian say about pushing further as opposed to stopping the process now? Please keep us updated about your progress.
Kind words. Thank you very much. I'm going to push the best I can here as I finalize the lengthening phase in the coming days. I'll update shortly and will also provide some good detail on my physical condition at this point. Dr. M feels it is okay to continue but has asked me to monitor my tightening. Wants to avoid contractures, so that my recovery is smoother.
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Hi IFS,
Thank you very much for this informative diary. You seem like a great guy and a positive human being, I truly wish you the best in your recovery and in life in general.
Ive been lurking on this site for probably 7 yrs, if not more. I have decided to proceed with this as well and I am in the process of booking surgery with Dr. Rozbruch for this coming May. I should be finalizing a date sometime next week. I am very excited about the surgery but at the same time very nervous and scared as well, mainly because of the pain. With this said I have a few questions for you. I have read your diary in full, and have been following it closely every day. Thus I believe these questions haven't been brought up yet but forgive me in advance if they have been answered and I've just somehow missed your answers. I will number them so that it is easier to answer:
1. You've said that you are very tight and may stop at around 6.5 or 6.9cm but what is the pain like now after you have passed the 5cm mark, which from the looks of it seems like relatively easy to get to and becomes much more difficult as you progress past 5cm. Do you experience dull pains, sharp ones, are you taking pain medication because of the pain? Please explore this aspect a little more if possible. Pain is something I am very much afraid of and I expect it to be quite intense. I believe its best to prepare for the worst, but then again pain is so individual that it is hard to even imagine how intense it can really be.
2. how did you get around post-op in terms of using the toilet, like sitting down on the seat, getting up, etc. the first week after surgery? What did you find the most difficult to do? Did someone assist you?
3. when leaving the hospital on the day of surgery did you bring your own wheelchair to the hospital or did they provide you with one, which you later returned? I think you recommended buying one that leans all the way back so that we can sleep on it, and I intend to do just that. I am just not sure whether I should take it with me to the hospital, and while I will be asking the relevant parties from Dr. Rozbruch's office, I was just curious how you resolved this question.
4. do you regret having gone through with the surgery? was the pain more intense than what you expected, less or about the same? From reading your diary I do not believe that you regret the procedure but just wanted to confirm ;)
5. lastly, what would you change, if you could do this over again, in order to make the process easier for yourself. Any tips (aside from the ones you have so generously given on prior pages) would be immensely helpful.
Thats about it for now and if you have any questions for me please feel free to ask. Thanks IFS!
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Hi IFS,
Thank you very much for this informative diary. You seem like a great guy and a positive human being, I truly wish you the best in your recovery and in life in general.
Ive been lurking on this site for probably 7 yrs, if not more. I have decided to proceed with this as well and I am in the process of booking surgery with Dr. Rozbruch for this coming May. I should be finalizing a date sometime next week. I am very excited about the surgery but at the same time very nervous and scared as well, mainly because of the pain. With this said I have a few questions for you. I have read your diary in full, and have been following it closely every day. Thus I believe these questions haven't been brought up yet but forgive me in advance if they have been answered and I've just somehow missed your answers. I will number them so that it is easier to answer:
1. You've said that you are very tight and may stop at around 6.5 or 6.9cm but what is the pain like now after you have passed the 5cm mark, which from the looks of it seems like relatively easy to get to and becomes much more difficult as you progress past 5cm. Do you experience dull pains, sharp ones, are you taking pain medication because of the pain? Please explore this aspect a little more if possible. Pain is something I am very much afraid of and I expect it to be quite intense. I believe its best to prepare for the worst, but then again pain is so individual that it is hard to even imagine how intense it can really be.
2. how did you get around post-op in terms of using the toilet, like sitting down on the seat, getting up, etc. the first week after surgery? What did you find the most difficult to do? Did someone assist you?
3. when leaving the hospital on the day of surgery did you bring your own wheelchair to the hospital or did they provide you with one, which you later returned? I think you recommended buying one that leans all the way back so that we can sleep on it, and I intend to do just that. I am just not sure whether I should take it with me to the hospital, and while I will be asking the relevant parties from Dr. Rozbruch's office, I was just curious how you resolved this question.
4. do you regret having gone through with the surgery? was the pain more intense than what you expected, less or about the same? From reading your diary I do not believe that you regret the procedure but just wanted to confirm ;)
5. lastly, what would you change, if you could do this over again, in order to make the process easier for yourself. Any tips (aside from the ones you have so generously given on prior pages) would be immensely helpful.
Thats about it for now and if you have any questions for me please feel free to ask. Thanks IFS!
Hi Tiggy,
I'm very glad to assist in any way I can. Thank you for these questions. They are excellent. First of all; I'm excited for you and I'm certain you will really benefit from the gains of 2-3 inches of height. It does make a difference. I will answer your questions 1 by 1:
1. You've said that you are very tight and may stop at around 6.5 or 6.9cm but what is the pain like now after you have passed the 5cm mark, which from the looks of it seems like relatively easy to get to and becomes much more difficult as you progress past 5cm. Do you experience dull pains, sharp ones, are you taking pain medication because of the pain? Please explore this aspect a little more if possible. Pain is something I am very much afraid of and I expect it to be quite intense. I believe its best to prepare for the worst, but then again pain is so individual that it is hard to even imagine how intense it can really be.
To be completely honest, the pain for me has been very low, even after 5cm. The tightness has been more of a discomfort than anything else. While resting, practicing my walk on crutches, etc, etc. I have little to no pain at the post 5cm point. The worst pain that you experience during CLL will likely be during the first 2 weeks. The pain from the first 2 weeks simply includes the post surgical pain that goes along with the healing of your wounds and initial shock of or surgery. At week 3, things begin to get much better. You may have some positions that give you a bit more pain than others; but you will be able to easily avoid those positions most of the time; until you are feeling better. Week 4 and on you really do not experience much pain at this point. You may feel some soreness from Physical therapy, or the occasional lingering dull pain; but nothing that would distract you to much. I'll emphasize that most of the pain and use of pain medication is really during the first 3 week. Week 4 and on, things are much better and the process becomes very tolerable and predicable at that point. Now, once you start to get very tight it can feel very uncomfortable and it also causes some anxiousness on your side. It is not a natural way for your body to feel and just know that once you finish lengthening that the tightened muscles, with the help of stretching and assisted walking, begin to immediately adjust to the new length of your bones.
2. how did you get around post-op in terms of using the toilet, like sitting down on the seat, getting up, etc. the first week after surgery? What did you find the most difficult to do? Did someone assist you?
I have to admit, the first week after surgery was the toughest for me. I'm not sure if you recall, but I had a sore/weaker left leg; so I could not even use the walker during the 1st week or so. I needed the help of my brother for transferring to my bed. As far as restroom was concerned, I went number 1 in Urinals for the first couple of weeks and used a bed pan that slid under my butt to go number 2. During week 3, I was finally able to use the walker to get myself to the restroom and around other places in my apartment. My advise is to ensure that you have help from someone for the first two weeks at least. This person should assist you with transferring to bed, car, restroom, etc. This person will also help you prepare meals, etc as needed. It is just very helpful to have someone with you to start out. If they can stay a month or more that is even better.
3. when leaving the hospital on the day of surgery did you bring your own wheelchair to the hospital or did they provide you with one, which you later returned? I think you recommended buying one that leans all the way back so that we can sleep on it, and I intend to do just that. I am just not sure whether I should take it with me to the hospital, and while I will be asking the relevant parties from Dr. Rozbruch's office, I was just curious how you resolved this question.
Okay, usually the hospital can easily provide this for you at discharge. One piece of advise I have is to contact a Wheel Chair Transportation Company which will bring a wheelchair to the hospital and take you home safely. This way, you will not have to concern yourself with having family or friend drive you home. Your legs will be a bit sensitive to the touch right after surgery, so the less having to maneuver your way in and out of car seats is best. By hiring a Wheel Chair Transportation Company, you make this easy and pain free on yourself. At home you will have your own Wheel Chair waiting on you. You do not need to bring your wheelchair to the hospital. When you are dropped off by the Wheel Chair Transportation Company, they will push you all the way into your residence and even help you onto your new wheel chair. I definitely recommend getting a wheelchair that will allow you to fold it back a full 180 degrees if needed. This way you can easily lay down and rest without having to transfer. Many people who have CLL often comment that sitting down is alot more comfortable than laying down; so this is another great reason to have this kind of chair.
4. do you regret having gone through with the surgery? was the pain more intense than what you expected, less or about the same? From reading your diary I do not believe that you regret the procedure but just wanted to confirm ;)
No regrets at all. I love my new height (still in progress) and I know that once I am recovered that I will benefit so much from my gains. I think I may have overestimated the Stryde Nail a bit. What i mean is that just because the new nail can hold your weight; it doesn't mean that you will be walking from day 1 or even day 20. It may take some signification time before you are walking. I have read some stories where the CLL patient is walking 5 days after surgery. For me, this wasn't the case. I wasn't taking full unassisted steps until, I believe week 4. This was due to a weak left leg. This isn't to say that you want be walking earlier; but just remember that with the Styrde nail, you are allowed to put full weight on it as soon as you can tolerate and this serves as a big advantage over the past Precise nail. Also, keep in mind that you will prefer to be on your walker or crutches for much or your distraction. Walking on your own feet will be a tad painful and difficult. I will be 100% done with distraction phase by April 1st and I'm already able to take baby steps with no assistive devices. With this in mind, I have confidence that I should be walking close to normal in 2 - 3 months (by July or sooner).
5. lastly, what would you change, if you could do this over again, in order to make the process easier for yourself. Any tips (aside from the ones you have so generously given on prior pages) would be immensely helpful.
I will think more on this one and get back to you; but with this in mind I would have focused and even Obsessed more on 2 areas that currently are bothering me a bit.
1) Duck Ass (Anterior Pelvic Tilt) - Start working out your glutes from the first moment you are awake from surgery. Weak Glutes is what causes Duck Ass in CLL. I didn't really start pushing my glutes until week 4 and I believed that payed a roll in my slight duck ass that I will need to resolve. No big deal, but it is a tad annoying.
2) Leg Straitening - In my right leg, I have a 2 degree knee bend. Lol. I know that doesn't seem like a lot and I should have no issue resolving in the coming weeks; but I think I could have avoided it if I would have been constantly focused on keeping my leg straight.
I have a 3rd bit of advise. Ask any and all questions you feel necessary to your Doctor and never hesitate to contact your Doctor. One item I definitely recommend is to have your Physical Therapist reach out to Dr. Rozbruch and have a brief conversation about the procedure. Your PT should know from your doctor what has happened and what he recommends as well as what to look out for. Also, emphasize with your PT the need to ensure that you legs remain straightened and you want to avoid Anterior Pelvic Tilt. Ask specifically for him or her to incorporate these work outs into your PT plan.
I hope this helped a bit. I will think of more items as they come to mind and update. Feel free to reach out or ask additional questions as needed. Thank you again for reading my diary and best regards to you!
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Wow! The patience and attention to minute details is really appreciable. Thanks for providing the information.
If you can tell, how long after surgery would it be possible to go to office on wheelchair or crutches, if at all. Would ot be possible to sit for 8 hours or so in office without laying down in between (If there is very minimal walking required).
L
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How do you avoid weak glutes?
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Please, do not disappear after your consolidation.
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Loving the details man. Honestly helping a lot of people out here. You're a good man.
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Excellent reply IFS, very informative. I second what has been said above and I again thank you for your service to this community. It is because of you and your predecessors who were willing to share their experiences that those like me have gathered the courage to take the next steps. I will be following your recommendations very closely and will continue reading your diary entries regularly! Congratulations on your new and peding height gains. You are officially taller than I am now ;)
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Hi Tiggy,
I'm very glad to assist in any way I can. Thank you for these questions. They are excellent. First of all; I'm excited for you and I'm certain you will really benefit from the gains of 2-3 inches of height. It does make a difference. I will answer your questions 1 by 1:
1. You've said that you are very tight and may stop at around 6.5 or 6.9cm but what is the pain like now after you have passed the 5cm mark, which from the looks of it seems like relatively easy to get to and becomes much more difficult as you progress past 5cm. Do you experience dull pains, sharp ones, are you taking pain medication because of the pain? Please explore this aspect a little more if possible. Pain is something I am very much afraid of and I expect it to be quite intense. I believe its best to prepare for the worst, but then again pain is so individual that it is hard to even imagine how intense it can really be.
To be completely honest, the pain for me has been very low, even after 5cm. The tightness has been more of a discomfort than anything else. While resting, practicing my walk on crutches, etc, etc. I have little to no pain at the post 5cm point. The worst pain that you experience during CLL will likely be during the first 2 weeks. The pain from the first 2 weeks simply includes the post surgical pain that goes along with the healing of your wounds and initial shock of or surgery. At week 3, things begin to get much better. You may have some positions that give you a bit more pain than others; but you will be able to easily avoid those positions most of the time; until you are feeling better. Week 4 and on you really do not experience much pain at this point. You may feel some soreness from Physical therapy, or the occasional lingering dull pain; but nothing that would distract you to much. I'll emphasize that most of the pain and use of pain medication is really during the first 3 week. Week 4 and on, things are much better and the process becomes very tolerable and predicable at that point. Now, once you start to get very tight it can feel very uncomfortable and it also causes some anxiousness on your side. It is not a natural way for your body to feel and just know that once you finish lengthening that the tightened muscles, with the help of stretching and assisted walking, begin to immediately adjust to the new length of your bones.
I relate to the muscle tightness.
Although my doctor prescribed me muscle relaxants, I've been reluctant to use them since Im just half way along my journey and feel its too early
I recently got muscle tightness problem during sleep, some days it never happens and some days it does. I try to sleep on the couch when it gets really bad because I can rest on of my leg on the surface itself if you know what I mean
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(Thursday) Day 77 Post Op - [6.067 cm or 2.39 inches Taller!]
Thank you, CLL'ers. I appreciate the kind words, advise, and encouragement. I have decided to keep lengthening with my next goal set at 6.5cm. Not feeling any pain at all right now and my legs are feeling pretty straight. The stiffness is there; but tolerable. My anterior pelvic tilt is the most annoying thing and I can't wait to see that fade away post lengthening. I'm monitoring how I feel extremely close. I'm going to take a few more days off of updating my diary due to some some family obligations; but will update again on Monday. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me.
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How do you avoid weak glutes?
Hi Wannagrowtaller,
I am not sure on that one. The only thing I know is to work them out from day one.
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IFS - I've been reading your diary and well it's simply fantastic.
I had a emotional breakdown on Monday and it was building up to be honest. Effectively I came to the realisation that height is a very important differentiating factor for males and no matter how you slice and dice it - it simply is the case.
I've been doing a lot of research on social value in society and frankly I've made the conclusion that my height, whether I like it or not is holding me back (I'm 168cm FYI).
I've going to book this in with Goitkas for sometime in 2020. I'm 26 years old and honestly this height is affecting my chances of finding a strong spouse.
With your APT - trust me - work out your abs like a crazy person - like do 100's of sit ups (try focus on lower abs 2 weeks into it) and trust me it will make a big difference. Ofc don't neglect your glutes but remember APT is half glutes and half abs. Your abs die after surgery
Look forward to hearing from you.
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Hey, IFS. Thanks for the updates. You're almost there!!
I wanted to ask something: did you notice whether you have one far more flexible leg, since the start of your CLL journey? Would you happen to know if that's common?
Thank you. Wishing you the best for this final stretch. ;)
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Hi IFS
What nail diameter did you get?
Thanks
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IFS - I've been reading your diary and well it's simply fantastic.
I had a emotional breakdown on Monday and it was building up to be honest. Effectively I came to the realisation that height is a very important differentiating factor for males and no matter how you slice and dice it - it simply is the case.
I've been doing a lot of research on social value in society and frankly I've made the conclusion that my height, whether I like it or not is holding me back (I'm 168cm FYI).
I've going to book this in with Goitkas for sometime in 2020. I'm 26 years old and honestly this height is affecting my chances of finding a strong spouse.
With your APT - trust me - work out your abs like a crazy person - like do 100's of sit ups (try focus on lower abs 2 weeks into it) and trust me it will make a big difference. Ofc don't neglect your glutes but remember APT is half glutes and half abs. Your abs die after surgery
Look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for the tip here, SimonFuller. I will be working my abs and my butt like a crazy man. I'm going to end the distraction phase on April 1st; so hopefully, the APT will calm down initially just by the relaxing of the muscles in the hip flex or areas. Good luck with booking your surgery. I suggest to train hard and well before hand since you have some time here before 2020.
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Hey, IFS. Thanks for the updates. You're almost there!!
I wanted to ask something: did you notice whether you have one far more flexible leg, since the start of your CLL journey? Would you happen to know if that's common?
Thank you. Wishing you the best for this final stretch. ;)
Hi MyLoginAcc,
Yes, without a doubt my left leg was a lot more flexible then my right. I believe that is fairly common.
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Hi IFS
What nail diameter did you get?
Thanks
My Nail was the 10mm, I do believe. :-)
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define "Strong" spouse please
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(Friday) Day 78 Post Op - 7 day Countdown to a dream come true.... [6.167 cm or 2.42 inches Taller!]
Greeting CLL'ers. I changed my mind. I'm going to update this message board until I reach my dream height of, YES, a towering 5'4"! For me, being at a starting of height of 5'1, a height of 5'4" based on my perspective would be an absolute dream come true! Join me on the "countdown" to a 69mm lengthening, which would put me a smidgen over 5'4". Guys, I was thinking about stopping at 6cm and then at 6.5cm; but I want to get to 5'4"! This would make my height the same as my drivers license for the first time ever! Please send me your support and positive vibes. All I have to do is lengthen every day until Friday. If i do this I would have achieved the following goals:
1) Become 5'4" (my dream height goal w/ CLL)
2) No longer be lying on my drivers license
3) Reached my distraction goal enddate of April 1st. Leaving me 80 days left over for rehab.... until I have to be able to walk for a very important black tie event I want attend (Will explain later.)
I will need everything I have inside to make it. Root for me please!
Thank you guys, Feel free to ask me any questions. The 7 day countdown to 69mm begins now!
Best regards,
IFS
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We’re with you, man!
Keep pushing for your goal as long as it’s safe for now and in the future.
Not long left at all... hope this week goes by very quick for you my friend.
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define "Strong" spouse please
Haha!
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(Friday) Day 78 Post Op - 7 day Countdown to a dream come true.... [6.167 cm or 2.42 inches Taller!]
Greeting CLL'ers. I changed my mind. I'm going to update this message board until I reach my dream height of, YES, a towering 5'4"! For me, being at a starting of height of 5'1, a height of 5'4" based on my perspective would be an absolute dream come true! Join me on the "countdown" to a 69mm lengthening, which would put me a smidgen over 5'4". Guys, I was thinking about stopping at 6cm and then at 6.5cm; but I want to get to 5'4"! This would make my height the same as my drivers license for the first time ever! Please send me your support and positive vibes. All I have to do is lengthen every day until Friday. If i do this I would have achieved the following goals:
1) Become 5'4" (my dream height goal w/ CLL)
2) No longer be lying on my drivers license
3) Reached my distraction goal enddate of April 1st. Leaving me 80 days left over for rehab.... until I have to be able to walk for a very important black tie event I want attend (Will explain later.)
I will need everything I have inside to make it. Root for me please!
Thank you guys, Feel free to ask me any questions. The 7 day countdown to 69mm begins now!
Best regards,
IFS
Let the countdown begin! Sorry I wish I had something more substantive to say on your diary. You made it this far. Going a few more days shouldn't be much harder. You already climbed past the hardest part of the 'mountain'. PUSH THRUUU
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IFS - I've been reading your diary and well it's simply fantastic.
I had a emotional breakdown on Monday and it was building up to be honest. Effectively I came to the realisation that height is a very important differentiating factor for males and no matter how you slice and dice it - it simply is the case.
I've been doing a lot of research on social value in society and frankly I've made the conclusion that my height, whether I like it or not is holding me back (I'm 168cm FYI).
I've going to book this in with Goitkas for sometime in 2020. I'm 26 years old and honestly this height is affecting my chances of finding a strong spouse.
With your APT - trust me - work out your abs like a crazy person - like do 100's of sit ups (try focus on lower abs 2 weeks into it) and trust me it will make a big difference. Ofc don't neglect your glutes but remember APT is half glutes and half abs. Your abs die after surgery
Look forward to hearing from you.
Not to hijack IFS's diary but I had a similar experience and it had a huge impact on my personality (negatively). Feeling attractive (not necessarily being attractive) to the opposite is a huge part overall self esteem as humans. Some people can fake till they make it. I tried that but it was really hard for me.
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We’re with you, man!
Keep pushing for your goal as long as it’s safe for now and in the future.
Not long left at all... hope this week goes by very quick for you my friend.
Let the countdown begin! Sorry I wish I had something more substantive to say on your diary. You made it this far. Going a few more days shouldn't be much harder. You already climbed past the hardest part of the 'mountain'. PUSH THRUUU
Thanks alot, gentleman. I have a feeling it may be the longest 7 days I've ever had! Let's hope not! LOL. Best Regards and I'll be in touch.
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Hi IFS
I am so glad that you change your mind to push this harder!!! Yeah, the safety is the number one. But for the femur, it is hard to have anything wrong at this stage unless you go over 8 cm or higher. Most of patients I have met or talked to reached 7-7.5cm without issues. I know it becomes much harder and more painful beyond 6 cm. But focus yourself on doing your best to the last moment. You can actually slow down a bit if that helps. I actually slowed down a couple of times during lengthening, which helped me loose my muscle a little bit and made me be able to continue. Especially you are at home and everything is under your control.
Good luck!!
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Hi IFS
I am so glad that you change your mind to push this harder!!! Yeah, the safety is the number one. But for the femur, it is hard to have anything wrong at this stage unless you go over 8 cm or higher. Most of patients I have met or talked to reached 7-7.5cm without issues. I know it becomes much harder and more painful beyond 6 cm. But focus yourself on doing your best to the last moment. You can actually slow down a bit if that helps. I actually slowed down a couple of times during lengthening, which helped me loose my muscle a little bit and made me be able to continue. Especially you are at home and everything is under your control.
Good luck!!
Ghostfish, I really appreciate this encouragement and also the reference points. This goes along way in helping me reach my goal. Thank you, again.
Best regards and I'll keep you posted on my status.
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define "Strong" spouse please
Strong - in other words desirable
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(Friday) Day 78 Post Op - 7 day Countdown to a dream come true.... [6.167 cm or 2.42 inches Taller!]
Greeting CLL'ers. I changed my mind. I'm going to update this message board until I reach my dream height of, YES, a towering 5'4"! For me, being at a starting of height of 5'1, a height of 5'4" based on my perspective would be an absolute dream come true! Join me on the "countdown" to a 69mm lengthening, which would put me a smidgen over 5'4". Guys, I was thinking about stopping at 6cm and then at 6.5cm; but I want to get to 5'4"! This would make my height the same as my drivers license for the first time ever! Please send me your support and positive vibes. All I have to do is lengthen every day until Friday. If i do this I would have achieved the following goals:
1) Become 5'4" (my dream height goal w/ CLL)
2) No longer be lying on my drivers license
3) Reached my distraction goal enddate of April 1st. Leaving me 80 days left over for rehab.... until I have to be able to walk for a very important black tie event I want attend (Will explain later.)
I will need everything I have inside to make it. Root for me please!
Thank you guys, Feel free to ask me any questions. The 7 day countdown to 69mm begins now!
Best regards,
IFS
I have the upmost confidence that you can do this.
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Hey brother, I am also glad you decided to push through with lengthening. Going from 5.1 to 5.4 is an incredible achievement and you deserve to take the most of this opportunity to reach that type of a gain. You said you had no pain and it appears you are in no risk of premature consolidation at this stage so if I were in your place I would have made the same exact decision. If you start to feel extremely tight just take a day or two off and let your muscles relax. A loss of a day or two here or there is really nothing compared to the extra height you are going to enjoy for the rest of your life. Look at the forest, not the trees! Very happy for you man!
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Not to hijack IFS's diary but I had a similar experience and it had a huge impact on my personality (negatively). Feeling attractive (not necessarily being attractive) to the opposite is a huge part overall self esteem as humans. Some people can fake till they make it. I tried that but it was really hard for me.
Thanks for your input Paru and sometimes I think its funny that we were the exact same height (I still am lol) and think in similar ways.
For me I am confident in myself and I've actually done pretty well in nightclubs but never could get those pretty girls to date me. I'm also very objective at the same time. Like it's time for me to wake up and smell the coffee. Also I do really struggle with the concept of a woman having to 'settle' for me because of my height - unfortunately this is likely to be the case because women (generally speaking) are predisposed to not want a short male. Sorry for being blunt to anyone reading this but it's my honest view of the world.
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I have the upmost confidence that you can do this.
Let me try this again with a bit more enthusiasm lol - you can do this IFS!!
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Let me try this again with a bit more enthusiasm lol - you can do this IFS!!
Hey brother, I am also glad you decided to push through with lengthening. Going from 5.1 to 5.4 is an incredible achievement and you deserve to take the most of this opportunity to reach that type of a gain. You said you had no pain and it appears you are in no risk of premature consolidation at this stage so if I were in your place I would have made the same exact decision. If you start to feel extremely tight just take a day or two off and let your muscles relax. A loss of a day or two here or there is really nothing compared to the extra height you are going to enjoy for the rest of your life. Look at the forest, not the trees! Very happy for you man!
Hi IFS
I am so glad that you change your mind to push this harder!!! Yeah, the safety is the number one. But for the femur, it is hard to have anything wrong at this stage unless you go over 8 cm or higher. Most of patients I have met or talked to reached 7-7.5cm without issues. I know it becomes much harder and more painful beyond 6 cm. But focus yourself on doing your best to the last moment. You can actually slow down a bit if that helps. I actually slowed down a couple of times during lengthening, which helped me loose my muscle a little bit and made me be able to continue. Especially you are at home and everything is under your control.
Good luck!!
Thank you, fellas. So close, yet so far. 6 more days now until I hit the pay dirt. I will give it everything I got.
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Your future spouse needs to be desirable by you and you only.
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(Saturday) Day 79 Post Op - 6 day Countdown to a dream come true.... [6.3 cm or 2.48 inches Taller!]
Greetings CLL'ers,
Another day in another way. Tightness and all symptoms remain the same. Not better or worse, so i continue toward my goal. 5'4" or bust. If I can maintain one mm lengthening per day for the next 6 days, I would have reached unthinkable heights for myself. Join me on this countdown. If you have any questions or if I can offer any assistance to you as you mull the decision of CLL and/or fight through the CLL battle, PLEASE do not hesitate to message me.
Best regards and I'll update again tomorrow.
IFS
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Yay IFS
Go! Go!! You can do it!! 8) :)
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Hi IFS,
What nail size did they use on you?
Also if you don't mind could you post an x-ray image?
All the best!
Thank you
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Go for it my man!!!
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Hi IFS. Good to know you are doing fine! We talked previously; I will be doing my 3 inches on femur with Dr. Rozbruch in 3 weeks and already am feeling anxious and nervous and exciting about this life changing decision.
Your consideration on rather you should/will continue the lengthening is very wise and smart, since again, this is a life defining moment. I bet you have consulted your doctor on rather or not it is safe to push further ? Did he suggest you to keep going on ? If he gives you the green pass, go for it! He knows more than we do on his patients I bet ! ;)
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Yay IFS
Go! Go!! You can do it!! 8) :)
Go for it my man!!!
Thank you, guys. Taking it one turn at a time now! Very close to my goal.
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Hi IFS. Good to know you are doing fine! We talked previously; I will be doing my 3 inches on femur with Dr. Rozbruch in 3 weeks and already am feeling anxious and nervous and exciting about this life changing decision.
Your consideration on rather you should/will continue the lengthening is very wise and smart, since again, this is a life defining moment. I bet you have consulted your doctor on rather or not it is safe to push further ? Did he suggest you to keep going on ? If he gives you the green pass, go for it! He knows more than we do on his patients I bet ! ;)
Congratulations on your decision to go forward with CLL. Styrde nail truly is a game changer and when you're up and able to put weight on your feet shortly after surgery; you'll feel even better about the entire process ahead.
I really want to reach my goal; but certainly have considered the risks. I'm watching my body closely at this point. My Doctor is good with me proceeding up to Friday. I see him Friday and he will perform x-rays and evaluate me at this point. I'm going to keep listening to my body. Thank you again for your support. I'm almost through this.
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Hi IFS,
What nail size did they use on you?
Also if you don't mind could you post an x-ray image?
All the best!
Thank you
Thank you, Ok! I had the 10mm nail. I will have new X-Rays on Friday and will post. I'm looking forward to finalizing this phase.
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Thank you, Ok! I had the 10mm nail. I will have new X-Rays on Friday and will post. I'm looking forward to finalizing this phase.
Thanks, I'm really looking forward to seeing the x-rays!
You're first I know to use the 10mm nail and it's a relief that you are able to walk without much restraint on them.
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Thanks, I'm really looking forward to seeing the x-rays!
You're first I know to use the 10mm nail and it's a relief that you are able to walk without much restraint on them.
For sure. I'm pretty lean. I'll try to post a walking video also right after my lengthening phase ends. I started out the entire process at 5'1" and I weighed about 128 lbs.
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Thanks, looking forward to seeing the video too. Stryde patients seem to walk quite comfortably from what I've seen.
Another question, are tibias more accomodative of larger nails or femurs?
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Thanks, looking forward to seeing the video too. Stryde patients seem to walk quite comfortably from what I've seen.
Another question, are tibias more accomodative of larger nails or femurs?
I believe the femurs allow for the bigger nails. My walk has improved for sure. I'm slow as a turtle; but less duck action. lol. Nonetheless, it is a good starting point as far as post-distraction phase is concerned.
Thanks again for checking in and let me know If you have any more questions. I'm glad to assist.
Best Regards,
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(Sunday) Day 80 Post Op - 5 day Countdown to a dream come true.... [6.4 cm or 2.52 inches Taller!]
Greetings CLL'ers,
Once again, I will say its another day in another way. I reached an incredible milestone today...I am now 2 and 1/2 inches taller. It's a huge difference for me and I'm really happy to have been able to reach this with no major complication.
My current physical status is as follows:
1) Tight Hamstrings, Quads, and Hips. Interestingly enough...my left leg is looser than my right. Right feels very tight.
2) Knee Extension issue is minor at about 1% on left leg and maybe 3% on right leg. I still feel locking sensation in both legs.
3) Duck Ass (Anterior Pelvic Tilt) is moderate and annoying. My glutes are very weak and my hip-flexors extremely tight, hence duck ass. I am working hard on abs and butt, with walking included. I anticipate that this will begin to fade once my lengthening concludes on Friday. I have never had APT before; so I expect it to go away in the coming weeks and months.
4) IT Band is surprisingly doing well. My legs want to flare outward only a tiny bit; not bad at all. So I dodged a bullet on this one.
5) Overall flexibility is no good. Will be recovering my flexibility for quite some time post lengthening.
6) Nerve Issue - Minor Numbness in Shins. Feeling should come back; but will take time.
Ladies and Gentleman, I'm going to do the best i can. I had mentioned the 6.9 centimeter goal and it shall remain intact; however, I want to emphasize that if my Body implores me to stop this process before then, I will do it. My functionality comes first. I'm very proud of making it to 2 and 1/2 inches. I hope I can get to that magical 2.75" mark which will place me at my relative dream height of 5'4"...which makes me taller than Prince and former NBA basketball player Muggsy Bogues, and only 1 inch shorter then Bruno Mars. Ha ha.
Best regards and I'll update again tomorrow!
IFS
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Hi IFS
Yeah, looks like you have a good mind. You will be as tall as some famous celebrities!! Keep up the hard work!!
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Hi IFS
Yeah, looks like you have a good mind. You will be as tall as some famous celebrities!! Keep up the hard work!!
Thank you, Buddy. Life is all about seeing things in the proper perspective. Once we have clarity; we move forward in a better way. I'll update everyone tomorrow on the status of things. Best regards,
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Two and a half inches is great man, keep doing your thing. You're doing great.
Reading your physical status update is just making me stretch so much more right now so that I can reduce the severity lol.
Not long left!!
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Two and a half inches is great man, keep doing your thing. You're doing great.
Reading your physical status update is just making me stretch so much more right now so that I can reduce the severity lol.
Not long left!!
BeYourBest - Yes!
Please make sure from DAY 1 post surgery that you keep your knees straight, you legs close together as much as possible, and work your glutes and abs....! This way when you're done distracting you can just focus on your walk and not have to remediate as much. Also, if this stuff starts to happen a bit do not freak out. They start to go away once you're done lengthening. Good luck man, Yes, Stretch and activate as much as possible! I want you to have a smooth ride here.
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BeYourBest - Yes!
Please make sure from DAY 1 post surgery that you keep your knees straight, you legs close together as much as possible, and work your glutes and abs....! This way when you're done distracting you can just focus on your walk and not have to remediate as much. Also, if this stuff starts to happen a bit do not freak out. They start to go away once you're done lengthening. Good luck man, Yes, Stretch and activate as much as possible! I want you to have a smooth ride here.
Once again, thanks for your very informative and helpful reply. I will definitely be doing that... who know's, I may even have a 6 pack before surgery haha!
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Once again, thanks for your very informative and helpful reply. I will definitely be doing that... who know's, I may even have a 6 pack before surgery haha!
That would be awesome, man. Great mind state to be in. Hit me up if you have any other questions.
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That would be awesome, man. Great mind state to be in. Hit me up if you have any other questions.
I will do man, thanks again. Looking forward to your update. All the best!
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How’s your gait? As in your walking style.. even with crutches
I walk in a total knee bending position and I haven’t even breached 5cm yet.
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How’s your gait? As in your walking style.. even with crutches
I walk in a total knee bending position and I haven’t even breached 5cm yet.
Hi Takura,
It's not to bad. It's very stiff and slow right now. I'll make a video so everyone can see how I look the 1st day after I complete the distraction phase.
My legs are very slightly bent and the knee. maybe 1 to 3 degrees. I'm not to concerned.
How much are your legs bending ?...did you do femurs or tibia? What length are you at right now?
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Did you ask Dr M about stem cells to consolidation?
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Did you ask Dr M about stem cells to consolidation?
I'll have to remember for next time.
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(Monday) Day 81 Post Op - The Final Week of distraction phase.... [6.5 cm or 2.56 inches Taller!]
Greetings CLL'ers,
Another day in another way indeed. I just hit the 6.5cm milestone and I'm feeling great about that. I won't be able to update the forum for a few days; so I just wanted to check in and let you know I'm still at it. I'm 99.999% sure that I will end my distraction phase this week. I am happy with the height gain I have received and am ready to begin healing and get on with life. I'll update you on my Status and next steps on Friday. Thank you again for all your support.
My current physical status is as follows:
1) Tight Hamstrings, Quads, and Hips. Interestingly enough...my left leg is looser than my right. Right feels very tight.
2) Knee Extension issue is minor at about 1% on left leg and maybe 3% on right leg. I still feel locking sensation in both legs.
3) Duck Ass (Anterior Pelvic Tilt) is moderate. My glutes are very weak and my hip-flexors extremely tight, hence duck ass. I am working hard on abs and butt, with walking included. I anticipate that this will begin to fade once my lengthening concludes on Friday. I have never had APT before; so I expect it to go away in the coming weeks and months.
4) IT Band is surprisingly doing well. My legs want to flare outward only a tiny bit; not bad at all. So I dodged a bullet on this one.
5) Overall flexibility is not very good. Will be recovering my flexibility for quite some time post lengthening.
6) Nerve Issue - Minor Numbness in Shins. Feeling should come back; but will take time.
Best regards and will be back to update soon!
IFS
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Hi IFS
Congrats on reaching 6.5. That is a great achievement! I am very happy for you. Although you have a little of problems here and there, it looks like general problems so they will be getting better soon in my opinion. Of course, Dr. M will tell you better.
Good luck for the rest of journey!
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Hi Takura,
It's not to bad. It's very stiff and slow right now. I'll make a video so everyone can see how I look the 1st day after I complete the distraction phase.
My legs are very slightly bent and the knee. maybe 1 to 3 degrees. I'm not to concerned.
How much are your legs bending ?...did you do femurs or tibia? What length are you at right now?
Can't wait for the video.. resource would help me a lot of future lengtheners
Did Dr. M calculate your bending degree? I have no idea how much angle the knees are bending but I basically walk and stand like A
(http://theyaregettingold.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/5/2/13524197/_8320580_orig.jpg)
I even sleep like that since I can't fully straigthen the knees.
I'm doing externals on tibia, I wasn't even expecting this issue to be honest. I thought I'd get bellerina feet or something but this is my biggest problem
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\
Can't wait for the video.. resource would help me a lot of future lengtheners
Did Dr. M calculate your bending degree? I have no idea how much angle the knees are bending but I basically walk and stand like A
(http://theyaregettingold.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/5/2/13524197/_8320580_orig.jpg)
I even sleep like that since I can't fully straigthen the knees.
I'm doing externals on tibia, I wasn't even expecting this issue to be honest. I thought I'd get bellerina feet or something but this is my biggest problem
Hi Takura!
My Physical Therapist measured me. One thing I know for sure is that there isn't anything to worry about. Your legs will straigten back out within a 1 to 3 months after you complete lengthening depending on how far you have to go.
To me, model A, looks like 5-10 degree and isn't too bad. I'm surprised you got that with Tibia as well; but I have heard that it can happen. How many CM's have you done so far?
Keep in mind that once you are done lengthening the tight muscles will begin to relax and not pull you around so much. You'll see instant progress in your recovery within days.
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Hi takura
Did you do only tibia? If so, which nails or method? How much did you do or are you lengthening? Although you have to ask your doctor for details, it can happen with tibia. You need to stretch a lot. If you have Stryde, stand and walk, which are the best. If not, do your best to stretch your legs. They will get better at some point.
Good luck!!
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I'll have to remember for next time.
Please, don't forget.
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6.5cm is amazing, you’ve come a long way! I wanted to ask how was your flexibility before? For someone quite flexible as me do you think I’ll still retain more than an average person does during lengthening?
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6.5cm is amazing, you’ve come a long way! I wanted to ask how was your flexibility before? For someone quite flexible as me do you think I’ll still retain more than an average person does during lengthening?
Hi Ayesha, I had very average flexibility before surgery. I was able to touch my toes when standing up. At a lengthened amount of 6.5cm; I barely have any flexibility left. Unfortunately, CLL will take most of your flexibility away; but you can regain it after months of working on it after you are completed with distraction.
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Hi Ayesha, I had very average flexibility before surgery. I was able to touch my toes when standing up. At a lengthened amount of 6.5cm; I barely have any flexibility left. Unfortunately, CLL will take most of your flexibility away; but you can regain it after months of working on it after you are completed with distraction.
it seems like you were doing better when it comes to flexibility/walking @ 4 cm or less than 4 cm lengthened. Would this be accurate?
Thanks for the diary man!
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Hi InFullStryde
I’m glad to read you are doing very good and soon completing LL without big problems
Thank you very much for writing such a detailed diary always :D
I have some questions about skin numbness of shin
When did you start having this numbness?
Do you know what is actually causing the numbness, is it something to do with IT band release or biceps tendon release?
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it seems like you were doing better when it comes to flexibility/walking @ 4 cm or less than 4 cm lengthened. Would this be accurate?
Thanks for the diary man!
Hi Mirin, Definitely felt looser at 4cm. Walking wise, I walk better now then at 4cm; since my legs have more strength. Flexibility wise, I definitely felt better at or below 4cm. Not by a long shot; but I would say that I could stretch about an inch or two further with most movements. It was after the 4cm mark that I started to to feel stiffer.
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Hi InFullStryde
I’m glad to read you are doing very good and soon completing LL without big problems
Thank you very much for writing such a detailed diary always :D
I have some questions about skin numbness of shin
When did you start having this numbness?
Do you know what is actually causing the numbness, is it something to do with IT band release or biceps tendon release?
If I can recall, I believe it was at about 5cm. The numbness is from the stretching of nerves in the legs. One you really get stretched out, the superficial nerves start to become numb. The numb sensation should start to go away once the lengthening is over. We shall see how it goes. :-)
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Bro... please tell if one does not have to walk a lot in the office..i mean he can work while being on wheel chair, how long you think he'll be able to attend office post surgery... thank you.
What is the duration fow which one can walk 30 days post-op non stop? Overall can he remain seated and without lying down for 8-10 hours on wheel chair.
Please tell.
Thank you and best wishes.
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If you will not do tibias too, why don't you try the full 8cm?
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Bro... please tell if one does not have to walk a lot in the office..i mean he can work while being on wheel chair, how long you think he'll be able to attend office post surgery... thank you.
What is the duration fow which one can walk 30 days post-op non stop? Overall can he remain seated and without lying down for 8-10 hours on wheel chair.
Please tell.
Thank you and best wishes.
Hi TotallyRed!
Due to the unpredictable nature of the post-op condition of each patient; I would say that it is best to wait at least 4 weeks before considering returning to the office. It is very possible to work at a desk job for 8 hours per day with the latest technology Stryde Nail. During my procedure, I worked full time from home since day 3, Post Op. Of course, I was in the privacy of my own home, and I was able to lay down in my bed to stretch and do the things I needed, privately. I suggest week 4 because by then, most, if not all surgical pains will be gone and you would have also started to develop strength. In an office setting, it could work out; so long that you had support of your office mates. You will need to get up every so often for restroom breaks, heat up some food, etc. Would be wonderful if you had these things accessible to you in the office so that you would not have to move around too much. In summary, if one must work post CLL, then I advise 4 weeks as the minimum date to return via wheelchair and be sure to bring your walker/crutches so that you can walk around a bit.
As far as walking with Stryde. A big misconception that many have is that you can walk normally on the stryde nail as if nothing happened. The truth is that although Stryde can hold your body weight without breaking; the patient will not be able to walk with normal gait for weeks and months. A BIG advantage of Stryde is that you can leverage a FULL WEIGHT BEARING approach to your strengthening program from day 1. You can put FULL WEIGHT on your body when using crutches and walker and eventually once your body overcomes the stretching of soft tissue, you can walk all on you own. I would not expect to have a high quality Gait until Month 4, 5, or 6. For some, it could be as long as 7. I am estimating that my gait will be acceptable during 5th or 6th month of recovery. Until this time; be sure you have your crutches available and use them often so that you can gain strength and flexibility back into your legs. Keep in mind that this is still a lot better recovery time then the previous Precise II nails where one could expect to barely be standing by month 5 or 6 due to the required consolidation time before being permitted to fully weight bear. Stryde changes everything and in my opinion locks recovery time into a true 6 month time table (3 months to distract, 3 months to consolidate and recover gait). I'm really anxious to start phase II, but I have a bit longer to go. I will see if I can post a video of what my walk looks like on the initial days, post distraction so that the community has a clear understanding of what a walk might look like for them.
Thank you again and let me know if you have any questions!
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If you will not do tibias too, why don't you try the full 8cm?
I would love that! We will just have to see what my body tolerates. I will update on my next steps on Friday and include latest x-ray. Dr. M will also evaluate my body and him and I will decide together.
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I would love that! We will just have to see what my body tolerates. I will update on my next steps on Friday and include latest x-ray. Dr. M will also evaluate my body and him and I will decide together.
Nice. I'm waiting for this update.
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I hope you are able to fill 8cm without issues if thats what you want.
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I hope you are able to fill 8cm without issues if thats what you want.
Thank you!
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Hey IFS,
Just checking in, how is everything? I hope you're doing good.
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Hey IFS,
Just checking in, how is everything? I hope you're doing good.
Hi Buddy, So far, so good! I'll have another update tomorrow. Going to have a check in with Dr. M tomorrow and we'll decide whether I should keep going or not. Will also have x-rays to review. I believe I'm around 6.5-6.8cm.
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I'm rooting for you to keep going.
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Hi Buddy, So far, so good! I'll have another update tomorrow. Going to have a check in with Dr. M tomorrow and we'll decide whether I should keep going or not. Will also have x-rays to review. I believe I'm around 6.5-6.8cm.
Fantastic gain already. You’re smashing it man. Looking forward to your update.
Also, I was watching some YouTube clips of your doctor. He seems like a decent guy. Choosing a trustworthy doctor is so important. You’re in good hands.
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Fantastic gain already. You’re smashing it man. Looking forward to your update.
Also, I was watching some YouTube clips of your doctor. He seems like a decent guy. Choosing a trustworthy doctor is so important. You’re in good hands.
Dr. M has been great. I am very lucky to have had a great surgeon who performs CLL local to where I live. It has made this tough process that much more tolerable for me.
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Hey, you could do 8cm right? And why not do that? Being 5'5.5 would be very good, whatever boot you wore would reach you in exact 5'7. Think about it!
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Hey, you could do 8cm right? And why not do that? Being 5'5.5 would be very good, whatever boot you wore would reach you in exact 5'7. Think about it!
Thanks Hex! I think that for me, 8cm would be about 5'4.35"...but even that would be amazing. It will all depend on if my body can tolerate it. Tomorrow will be a big day as myself and Dr. M talk about where I stand and where I should go. Thank you again for the support, man!
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Hey, you could do 8cm right? And why not do that? Being 5'5.5 would be very good, whatever boot you wore would reach you in exact 5'7. Think about it!
5'5.5 is not a bad height to end with. An extra month of recovery isn't that long in the grand scheme of things.
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5'5.5 is not a bad height to end with. An extra month of recovery isn't that long in the grand scheme of things.
Thanks guys! I'll do the best I can. Since my starting height was 5'1.25" the maximum end height I can hope to achieve would be about 5'4.33". It's a great goal to aim for. We'll see how tomorrow goes and I'll update.
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Oh sorry I did the math wrong.
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Oh sorry I did the math wrong.
You got my hopes up, guys. Thanks a a lot! >:(
haha - Just kidding.
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(Friday) Day 85 Post Op - Check Up w/ Dr. Mahboubian [6.7 cm or 2.63 inches Taller!]
Greetings CLL'ers,
Well today was a big one folks... Today was the day that I would be evaluated by Dr. Mahboubian and together, would evaluate my current goals, body, and decide whether I should stop height lengthening or keep going strong. I arrived to the offices and they got me right into my x-rays without delay. Donna, their X-Ray tech is excellent. She is personable, professional and just makes you feel welcome. LL is tough and it's great that every time you visit the Doctor you're greeted by positive, smart, and customer service oriented folks. All went well with X-Rays. I will post below.
Dr. Mahboubian came in and we started the evaluation. He had me demonstrate several flexibility tests and he was just fine with my current flexibility. He noted that I had lengthened 6.7cm and this confirmed my measurement as well. Today was a great day for me physically. My legs were straightening very well and my duck ass wasn't too bad at all. My walking and PT is paying off. I was able to stand up fairly erect which is excellent to see. The doctor also had me to demonstrate my current walking (no crutches) and although its stiff as is to be expected, the steps looked really good and I was even able to high knee march. Needless to say, my sister who was there with me and Dr. M were very pleased with what they saw. "You're doing great!" he says and encouraged me that based on my current physical condition that I should push for 7.5cm, at least. This will give me a maximum return on this investment. He undoubtedly felt that I can achieve this amount with little trouble. With all of this in mind, I agreed, that to reach the 3" milestone would be the ultimate in my experience and al though I am very happy with my current gain; the truth is that being over 5'4" with this 3rd inch achieved would truly be life changing from my perspective.
I'm excited and re-energized for 1 last week of pushing hard. I also appreciate Dr. M for being a great coach as well as Doctor. I was perfectly happy with calling it quits today; but he's right...I wanted more, and my body is in capable shape and he gave me the green light to push for that final little bit and accomplish that 3rd inch.
Here are my X-Rays below guys. I'm going to give it all i got with walking, stretching, standing... and will close out my phase 1 of distraction strong...and with life changing results in tact. Thank you again and let me know if you have any questions for me..
EDIT: One Last, P.S. I drove my car for the first time in 3 months today! I felt great. I plan to return to work Friday, April 5th. In fact, I plan to return to my full normal routine on April 5th. Which means, working out at 4:00am, At work from 6:30am to about 3:00pm, head to PT, and then back home to close out the evening. I will drive myself to all locations and will use my crutches for safety. I will stretch one time before work, one time at work, and then at PT. During which time, I will stand as much as possible, and walk unassisted when it is safe. I'm excited to be reintegrating back into my life. My goal is to walk somewhat normal enough by mid June, guys... A big event that I would like to take my lady too. Send me good vibes! I really want this for her and I! Thanks again and talk soon.
(https://i.imgur.com/BGt1NsQ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Il7vBNg.jpg)
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Hey IFS,
Congratulations! You’ve done so well and it’s great that your body is allowing you to go even further.
I wish you the best of luck for the rest of the lengthening phase. I have no doubts that you will be able to reach your new goal.
Did Dr. M mention anything about how this additional length can impact you physically with years to come? As in would you feel more athletic if you had stopped here?
I’m sure that you would but I’m just curious to know what Dr. M had to say about post LL life years from now, in particular with comparisons with 6cm of lengthening compared to 7+ .
Anyway, keep strong my friend.
All the best
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I'm rooting for you to keep going.
Thank you!
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Hey IFS,
Congratulations! You’ve done so well and it’s great that your body is allowing you to go even further.
I wish you the best of luck for the rest of the lengthening phase. I have no doubts that you will be able to reach your new goal.
Did Dr. M mention anything about how this additional length can impact you physically with years to come? As in would you feel more athletic if you had stopped here?
I’m sure that you would but I’m just curious to know what Dr. M had to say about post LL life years from now, in particular with comparisons with 6cm of lengthening compared to 7+ .
Anyway, keep strong my friend.
All the best
Hi buddy! Dr. M is confident that you can return to your full abilities as long as you work hard to regain your flexibility and train like a pro. There is no doubt that the CLL process will take a slice out of your flexibility and strength during those initial months post surgery; but the 8cm nail limit was specifically designed because it is indeed the accepted limit for the muscle. If you work hard before, during, and after CLL...one can return to their athletic abilities. (Just don't exceed 8cm)
As far as long term results... I have found nothing on the internet or have heard from the US CLL doctors that their are any negative long term affects of CLL so long that you remain within 5cm for Tibias and 8cm for Femurs. I would say however; as a man that is actually going through CLL that it would be wise to continue your rehab post CLL for an extended period of time...meaning years. Stretching and leg strengthening needs and should be apart of your regular exercise routine going forward.
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Hey InFullStryde. Im really happy to hear that your LL jouney is finally coming to an end and you have achieved all the results youve been hoping for. Would it be possible if i could private message you to know more about your entire procedure. Im new on this forum and want to know a few things before i make my decision of undergoing the surgery.
Thanks
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Hey InFullStryde. Im really happy to hear that your LL jouney is finally coming to an end and you have achieved all the results youve been hoping for. Would it be possible if i could private message you to know more about your entire procedure. Im new on this forum and want to know a few things before i make my decision of undergoing the surgery.
Thanks
Hi Kanye,
I'm glad to assist. PM me any time with questions and I'll do my best to answer.
Talk soon,
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Dr. Mahboubian came in and we started the evaluation. He had me demonstrate several flexibility tests and he was just fine with my current flexibility. He noted that I had lengthened 6.7cm and this confirmed my measurement as well. Today was a great day for me physically. My legs were straightening very well and my duck ass wasn't too bad at all. My walking and PT is paying off. I was able to stand up fairly erect which is excellent to see. The doctor also had me to demonstrate my current walking (no crutches) and although its stiff as is to be expected, the steps looked really good and I was even able to high knee march. Needless to say, my sister who was there with me and Dr. M were very pleased with what they saw. "You're doing great!" he says and encouraged me that based on my current physical condition that I should push for 7.5cm, at least. This will give me a maximum return on this investment. He undoubtedly felt that I can achieve this amount with little trouble. With all of this in mind, I agreed, that to reach the 3" milestone would be the ultimate in my experience and al though I am very happy with my current gain; the truth is that being over 5'4" with this 3rd inch achieved would truly be life changing from my perspective.
Congratulations. I hope you will be fine with 7.5cm or more.
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Hi IFS
Congrats on your great progress!! I am very happy for you! Yes, solid 3 inches is a huge achievement. You will see a big difference after that. Keep up the good work!!
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Congratulations ;D
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Thanks Hex! I think that for me, 8cm would be about 5'4.35"...but even that would be amazing. It will all depend on if my body can tolerate it. Tomorrow will be a big day as myself and Dr. M talk about where I stand and where I should go. Thank you again for the support, man!
Oh, great progress.
I am safety and my workmate is 1.63m 5'4.3 in height.
And I kicked his height as 5'6 when I was talking to him, but he said he was 5'4.3 but he did not look like that because he wore a thick boot. Soon it did not look so below average, it's a relatively good time! ;D
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Oh, great progress.
I am safety and my workmate is 1.63m 5'4.3 in height.
And I kicked his height as 5'6 when I was talking to him, but he said he was 5'4.3 but he did not look like that because he wore a thick boot. Soon it did not look so below average, it's a relatively good time! ;D
That is awesome, man. Being a bit over 5'4" will put me in reach of some wonderful options. I really appreciate your support and positive outlook.
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Hi IFS
Congrats on your great progress!! I am very happy for you! Yes, solid 3 inches is a huge achievement. You will see a big difference after that. Keep up the good work!!
Thanks, Man! One more week to go...and I'm all done with the hard part! I really appreciate your support and encouragement.
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Congratulations. I hope you will be fine with 7.5cm or more.
Thank you! About one more week to go! I'm thankful to you for following my journey and your positive thoughts and words.
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Congratulations ;D
Thank you, Great321 for following my journey. The hard part is almost over and I cannot wait to begin taking baby steps back into my life. Thank you, again.
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Hi buddy! Dr. M is confident that you can return to your full abilities as long as you work hard to regain your flexibility and train like a pro. There is no doubt that the CLL process will take a slice out of your flexibility and strength during those initial months post surgery; but the 8cm nail limit was specifically designed because it is indeed the accepted limit for the muscle. If you work hard before, during, and after CLL...one can return to their athletic abilities. (Just don't exceed 8cm)
As far as long term results... I have found nothing on the internet or have heard from the US CLL doctors that their are any negative long term affects of CLL so long that you remain within 5cm for Tibias and 8cm for Femurs. I would say however; as a man that is actually going through CLL that it would be wise to continue your rehab post CLL for an extended period of time...meaning years. Stretching and leg strengthening needs and should be apart of your regular exercise routine going forward.
Good advice once again about continuing rehab for an extended period of time for sure. I don't think I would ever stop stretching/strengthening/working out post LL just to ensure that I have no physical problems at all. And there is no harm in that considering stretching is good for ones general health.
I am sure there are negative long term affects of CLL, no? Such as premature arthritis and such? I mean I got that from reading this forum but I am yet to consult various doctors to confirm whether this is true. And I guess it depends on how much one lengthened, on which leg segment, which lengthening method, and their overall health and wellbeing as well of course. Not to mention how experienced the doctor was etc. Man there are a lot of variables! I hope to gain more information on femur STRYDE patients.
Anyway, once again I hope the next few days go by quick for you :D !
All the best!
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Good advice once again about continuing rehab for an extended period of time for sure. I don't think I would ever stop stretching/strengthening/working out post LL just to ensure that I have no physical problems at all. And there is no harm in that considering stretching is good for ones general health.
I am sure there are negative long term affects of CLL, no? Such as premature arthritis and such? I mean I got that from reading this forum but I am yet to consult various doctors to confirm whether this is true. And I guess it depends on how much one lengthened, on which leg segment, which lengthening method, and their overall health and wellbeing as well of course. Not to mention how experienced the doctor was etc. Man there are a lot of variables! I hope to gain more information on femur STRYDE patients.
Anyway, once again I hope the next few days go by quick for you :D !
All the best!
All sounds good here. I would love see more medical documents published on the long term effects of limb lengthening. Even when I google the topic, there isn't much to go off of. My only line of defense to this point is to take good care of myself and don't overdue it on my joints as I age. I'm 37; so 50, 60 will hit me faster than I know. I'll update the forum on how I'm doing as time passes, for sure.
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All sounds good here. I would love see more medical documents published on the long term effects of limb lengthening. Even when I google the topic, there isn't much to go off of. My only line of defense to this point is to take good care of myself and don't overdue it on my joints as I age. I'm 37; so 50, 60 will hit me faster than I know. I'll update the forum on how I'm doing as time passes, for sure.
I suppose that in this moment of time your doctor is the best person to tell you these things and Dr. M seems positive.
I am sure you will take good care of yourself. Long term updates would be very much appreciated by the LL community :D !
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(Saturday) Day 86 Post Op - Finishing Strong....[6.8 cm or 2.68 inches Taller!]
Greeting LL'ers,
Not much to report today..other than I'm a mm taller. I should be 100% completed with my distraction by next Sunday. Fortunately, I did not feel any new tightness today after my turns on the ERC machine; which is great. I have been stretching 3 times a day, walking and standing consistently. I can't provide a measurable impact that all the extra work has; but it certainly helps me feel looser when I'm stretching consistently throughout the day. Things went well today. I will update tomorrow as well.
If you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Have a great weekend and best regards
-IFS
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Hey IFS, I sent you a PM please find the time to reply whenever possible
Thanks
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So, u gonna use a some elevator shoe? To take exactly 5'7.
so 3 inches elevator shoes are confortable in my opinion...
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So, u gonna use a some elevator shoe? To take exactly 5'7.
so 3 inches elevator shoes are comfortable in my opinion...
I agree. I just might try on a pair. All kinds of styles. 2- 3 inch elevators are comfortable and discreet. At 5'4" I'm in a much better spot than before. Grateful.
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Can you walk unaided for some distance? If yes, how much?
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Can you walk unaided for some distance? If yes, how much?
Hi Totally Red!
I haven't tried for distance yet;; but If i really tried, I think I could walk a a good 50 yards or more on a good day where I wasn't feeling too tight. As you get more distracted; you get tighter and experience muscle soreness; so it can be a task to walk. I can't wait until I'm done lengthening. Just 1 more week.
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(Sunday) Day 87 Post Op - Finishing Strong....[6.9 cm or 2.71 inches Taller!]
Greeting LL'ers,
I'm 6 days away from 3 inches. Send me your good vibes. I am feeling no pain. I was feeling a bit tight; but miraculously have loosened up to a very tolerable state. I feel better now than I did at the 5cm mark. Go figure. I'm doing my PT / Stretching 2 to 3 times a day and pressing on. Not much to report; other than this is getting real interesting.
If you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Have a great weekend and best regards
-IFS
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Keep up the PT man! I could definitely sense more tightness when I neglected the PT (or did it half heartedly). 3 inches is quite an achievement. In hindsight, maybe I should have pushed a little harder and gone for 3 inches instead of 3.7 inches. The difference in recovery time and athletic ability is really small in the grand scheme of things.
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Keep up the PT man! I could definitely sense more tightness when I neglected the PT (or did it half heartedly). 3 inches is quite an achievement. In hindsight, maybe I should have pushed a little harder and gone for 3 inches instead of 3.7 inches. The difference in recovery time and athletic ability is really small in the grand scheme of things.
Thanks, Man! Yep, doing PT 3 times a day right now and hoping to reach 7.5cm without to much trouble. We will see how it goes!
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Keep up the great work and go for the full 8cm man, that way you might be satisfied and won't have to do tibia like I'm going thru and suffering at the moment haha.
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Thanks, Man! Yep, doing PT 3 times a day right now and hoping to reach 7.5cm without to much trouble. We will see how it goes!
Congrats bro!
How are your proportions looking? Is that a variable factor when considering when you will stop?
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Congrats bro!
How are your proportions looking? Is that a variable factor when considering when you will stop?
Hi Simon, I'm really liking the longer legs. Everything was proportioned nicely before and the longer legs is a nice touch for me. Proportions of my legs/torso had no bearing on my height lengthening. Great question because many are concerned about proportions. Once I'm done with the difficulty of distraction this week; i'll start to work on a video and some pictures too. Hopefully this helps the community even more with their decisions on CLL.
Talk soon, buddy.
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Keep up the great work and go for the full 8cm man, that way you might be satisfied and won't have to do tibia like I'm going thru and suffering at the moment haha.
Ha - You're incredible man. Going from 5'1 to a potential of 5'6/5'7 is heroic. You're my hero. I'm not kidding you. AND yes! lol...will be going for every mm possible within a safe parameter. Hopefully, I'm feeling okay with the height at this point; but you never know....May be back! lol. Hope you're doing well man...You're making great progress.
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Good to hear that you’re pain free atm! Keep pushing, not long left at all now.
And yep, dw too much about proportions - those long legs will look great!
Videos would be fantastic, man! I have already recorded myself walking currently (perhaps a year or two before I even do LL). Just so I can upload it in the future so maybe people can compare it to my post LL walking video perhaps. Time will tell...
All the best man
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I'm waiting for the videos and pictures.
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(Monday) Day 88 Post Op - Finishing Strong....[7 cm or 2.755 inches Taller!]
Greeting LL'ers,
Today marks a big time milestone for me. I have reached 7cm! I am now just 5 mm away from my goal. Today, I'm feeling pretty good. My legs are feeling straight and my duck ass isn't pulling down on my back like it was before. Duck ass is actually loosening up and not noticeable when standing erect. The workouts continue to help. I'm feeling tight; but it is a bearable feeling and I still feel that I should be able to reach my 3 inch goal of 7.5cm. Only 5 days or 5 millimeters to go. At this point I am still working full time remote and I am doing PT sessions 2 to 3 times a day, typically 1 hour before I lengthen. I am lengthening 3 times a day at .33mm for a total 1 one mm a day. Also, there is very limited to no pain. Some soreness from time to time due to the soft tissue stretching; but its very bearable and the pain fades away pretty quickly as you stretch and warm up the muscle a bit more. Frankly, the 2nd and 3rd month of CLL for me has been quite smooth with little pain to endure, thankfully. There isn't too much for me to say at this point; other than I'm going to keep going and finish strong. Only a week of this remains and I can call it quits and focus on my recovery. I'm looking forward to the consolidation phase and feeling all my muscles start to loosen up and settle into my new bone.
Thank you again for all your support and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
-IFS
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That is fantastic!! Congrats on gaining 7 cm!! Only after 5 days, you will be 5.4 or more!!
Keep up the good work!
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That is fantastic!! Congrats on gaining 7 cm!! Only after 5 days, you will be 5.4 or more!!
Keep up the good work!
Thanks, Man. Almost there.
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Hi Simon, I'm really liking the longer legs. Everything was proportioned nicely before and the longer legs is a nice touch for me. Proportions of my legs/torso had no bearing on my height lengthening. Great question because many are concerned about proportions. Once I'm done with the difficulty of distraction this week; i'll start to work on a video and some pictures too. Hopefully this helps the community even more with their decisions on CLL.
Talk soon, buddy.
Hopefully?! It would be brilliant!
Great to hear that you are loving the longer legs.
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Congrats for your 7cm. You are almost there.
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Congrats on reaching 7cm IFS!!! Anything from here on out should be a bonus for you, but I have no doubt you can make it between 7.5 and 8cm. Then you'll never have to even THINK about doing LL again (or hopefully, lol).
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wtf... why are people egging him on to continue lengthening? These people whipped previous LLers into frenzy while they were doing mistakes. People like Crazy+6 were lied to by faceless cowards. 6-7 years later Crazy+6 is still a cripple.
you're a destroying your body. You should have stopped at 5-6 cm. Havent you learned from previous LLers that at this rate you will never be the same again. You have high chance of long-term issues. You will regret this! stop immediately. Recover, and in a year or two if you want more height do tibias, even if I dont recommend it. I dont know why you are doing this? you were 5'0 to begin with, yes very short. You are now 5'4. No matter what you do, your identity is as a short man. Limb lengthening such amount will only make you look like a "dwarf on stilts". Please think of LL as a way to enhance instead of radically change yourself.
Many of the so called diaries on this forum is made up of lies of success. In real life they struggle but don't admit it.
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I feel great. I look great. I'll be back later today with next update. 5 more mm to go. I'll be fine at 7.5cm. Already walking and flexibility is okay.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD3F7J2PeYU
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD3F7J2PeYU
I feel great. I look great. I can't wait until next update. I'll be back later today with next update. 5 more CM to go. I'll be fine at 7.5cm. Already walking and flexibility is okay.
The songs name is Three little birds.
Mahboubian is the same guy who puts up billboards in california taunting short men to do something about their height.
No offense to his medical knowledge or ability but there is no research on old LL cases. From the limited research we know disturbing the 0.8 ratio between tibs and femurs increases risk of arthiritis.
Mahboubian is not gonna cure your pains if/when you suffer permanent pain later in life. He will be enjoying his money driving fancy cars and loving his body as it is.
Look, I have been on these forums for years. I am currently doing LL with Stryde. I am not here to mock you but please don't listen to these people. Its all a facade. I havent seen anyone lengthening 7cm who has recovered. People on this forum will say "yeah i did 8 cm, im back to 100%". You ask them to post video and then you will see legs spasm involuntarily due to nerve damage. People who barely manages to jump 20cm off ground and claim they play basketball. Or the infamous ShyShy, supposedly best recovery case, who is running amazing like he never did surgery according to everyone in that particular diary. Yet.. look closely.. his arms propels faster than Boeing 737. His legs unable to produce momentum. Its not running.. its pathetic.
TheW, being short is a handicap. But there are so many other aspects of a male that can overshadow the lack of height. Now as you have struggled with this neurosis and comitted to the surgery, dont make the wrong decision in the heat of the moment. You write that you lost your parents recently, its such big moments in life that can alter ones course for better or worse. There are people like Android on this forum who got dumped by his girlfriend. As response to this he rushed into LL in russia, cross-lengthening on rusty beds. Bed blood soaked. Please dont become like him.
You are supposed to live with your body atleast 50 more years! do you want to live in pain or live happily? Please listen to reason. Yes I may be the only one on this forum but have you ever met the other people here in real life? Its once you see them you will understand, they are not liek you. They may have done tons of cosmetic surgeries already. they may have aspberges, they may be deformed/ugly. These people believe height is everything and tries to radically change it, once they realize nothing changes they will move on to other surgeries.
The LL community is a deceit to a certain level.
Please start loving yourself and stop this madness now! if possible reverse to 6.5 or further. You can rebreak the the legs to extend at lower cost later too. Once you lengthen too much and soft tissue is stretched it cannot be shortened again easily.
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I havent seen anyone lengthening 7cm who has recovered. People on this forum will say "yeah i did 8 cm, im back to 100%". You ask them to post video and then you will see legs spasm involuntarily due to nerve damage.
I did 7.2/7.3cm, and can squat (with proper form, hitting parallel) almost 350 lbs, can deadlift 435 lbs, can run, swim, jump - all no issues. Granted, I had the surgery 4.5 years ago, so it took time. Rods (finally) removed this past fall, was normal one week after removal.
People do recover from this, my friend.
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The songs name is Three little birds.
Mahboubian is the same guy who puts up billboards in california taunting short men to do something about their height.
No offense to his medical knowledge or ability but there is no research on old LL cases. From the limited research we know disturbing the 0.8 ratio between tibs and femurs increases risk of arthiritis.
Mahboubian is not gonna cure your pains if/when you suffer permanent pain later in life. He will be enjoying his money driving fancy cars and loving his body as it is.
Look, I have been on these forums for years. I am currently doing LL with Stryde. I am not here to mock you but please don't listen to these people. Its all a facade. I havent seen anyone lengthening 7cm who has recovered. People on this forum will say "yeah i did 8 cm, im back to 100%". You ask them to post video and then you will see legs spasm involuntarily due to nerve damage. People who barely manages to jump 20cm off ground and claim they play basketball. Or the infamous ShyShy, supposedly best recovery case, who is running amazing like he never did surgery according to everyone in that particular diary. Yet.. look closely.. his arms propels faster than Boeing 737. His legs unable to produce momentum. Its not running.. its pathetic.
TheW, being short is a handicap. But there are so many other aspects of a male that can overshadow the lack of height. Now as you have struggled with this neurosis and comitted to the surgery, dont make the wrong decision in the heat of the moment. You write that you lost your parents recently, its such big moments in life that can alter ones course for better or worse. There are people like Android on this forum who got dumped by his girlfriend. As response to this he rushed into LL in russia, cross-lengthening on rusty beds. Bed blood soaked. Please dont become like him.
You are supposed to live with your body atleast 50 more years! do you want to live in pain or live happily? Please listen to reason. Yes I may be the only one on this forum but have you ever met the other people here in real life? Its once you see them you will understand, they are not liek you. They may have done tons of cosmetic surgeries already. they may have aspberges, they may be deformed/ugly. These people believe height is everything and tries to radically change it, once they realize nothing changes they will move on to other surgeries.
The LL community is a deceit to a certain level.
Please start loving yourself and stop this madness now! if possible reverse to 6.5 or further. You can rebreak the the legs to extend at lower cost later too. Once you lengthen too much and soft tissue is stretched it cannot be shortened again easily.
Live footage of IFS reaction:
(https://media2.giphy.com/media/fpXxIjftmkk9y/giphy.gif)
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I did 7.2/7.3cm, and can squat (with proper form, hitting parallel) almost 350 lbs, can deadlift 435 lbs, can run, swim, jump - all no issues. Granted, I had the surgery 4.5 years ago, so it took time. Rods (finally) removed this past fall, was normal one week after removal.
People do recover from this, my friend.
yeah, great running/jumping video you posted... not.
The problem is everyone has their own definition of recovery. Some even say walking normal is full recovery for them as they dont 'play sports'.
Apo till this day claims he is fully recovered after 20cm lengthening, jesus.
Only way of judging is either meeting the person or videoes.
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Ned,
Anyways, appreciate your concern either way. What doctor are you using for Stryde and how is your progress so far?
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I did 7.2/7.3cm, and can squat (with proper form, hitting parallel) almost 350 lbs, can deadlift 435 lbs, can run, swim, jump - all no issues. Granted, I had the surgery 4.5 years ago, so it took time. Rods (finally) removed this past fall, was normal one week after removal.
People do recover from this, my friend.
That is awesome, YellowSpike. Also, 4 years later and still helping out and providing feedback for CLL'ers. Pure Class. Appreciate you.
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Ned,
You say you aren't here to mock and yet your arguments have multiple flaws and derogatory statements, like "You are now 5'4. No matter what you do, your identity is as a short man". I mean that statement in and of itself is purely illogical and ridiculous. IFS seems intelligent and in tune with his body. I am sure he will be stopping soon and he is in the best position to judge, along with his doctor, as to when he should be stopping.
Also just because you haven't seen anyone who did 7cm and recovered fully does not mean that such people do not exist or are lying about their recoveries/conditions. Similarly, you find fault in the running videos that a fellow member of this site posted, claiming you see signs of nerve damage. However, you do not take the time to consider how they ran before this procedure. That video wasn't posted and thus you have nothing to compare their current gait to. So before you make posts of the kind you did, please use logical reasoning skills and find more appropriate ways to express your sentiments.
This is simply a forum and unless you meet people in real life, you are unlikely to corroborate what they write here. But this also applies to many other surgeries. My point is, there is no need to sound alarms when you are only an outside observer.
With that said, IFS, I wish you luck and congratulations on your achievement. To share a little of Ned's sentiment, I do hope that you stop at 3 inches because I personally don't think maxing out the nail is worth the extra risk and recovery time. But that is only my opinion and my own personal goal with this surgery. You are in the best position to decide my friend. Again, congratulations!
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Ned,
You say you aren't here to mock and yet your arguments have multiple flaws and derogatory statements, like "You are now 5'4. No matter what you do, your identity is as a short man". I mean that statement in and of itself is purely illogical and ridiculous. IFS seems intelligent and in tune with his body. I am sure he will be stopping soon and he is in the best position to judge, along with his doctor, as to when he should be stopping.
Also just because you haven't seen anyone who did 7cm and recovered fully does not mean that such people do not exist or are lying about their recoveries/conditions. Similarly, you find fault in the running videos that a fellow member of this site posted, claiming you see signs of nerve damage. However, you do not take the time to consider how they ran before this procedure. That video wasn't posted and thus you have nothing to compare their current gait to. So before you make posts of the kind you did, please use logical reasoning skills and find more appropriate ways to express your sentiments.
This is simply a forum and unless you meet people in real life, you are unlikely to corroborate what they write here. But this also applies to many other surgeries. My point is, there is no need to sound alarms when you are only an outside observer.
With that said, IFS, I wish you luck and congratulations on your achievement. To share a little of Ned's sentiment, I do hope that you stop at 3 inches because I personally don't think maxing out the nail is worth the extra risk and recovery time. But that is only my opinion and my own personal goal with this surgery. You are in the best position to decide my friend. Again, congratulations!
Thank you, Tiggy. Good words and we are on the same page. I am paying very special and close attention at this phase. Also, 7.5cm, if I do make it to this point, will be my highly celebrated end point. We have to remember that the world renown CLL surgeon, Dr. Dror Paley himself, feels that 8cm is a good safe limit for those who can tolerate it. Nuvasive ended the nail based on Paley's statistics that most of his patients did well up until they entered into that 8cm threshold. With this in mind, I'm doing really well; so it was determined that it would be best for me to press forward to 7.5cm.
If you guys have any questions for me, please feel free to let me know. My update for the day is coming in here shortly.
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(Tuesday) Day 88 Post Op - Finishing Strong....[7.1 cm or 2.79 inches Taller!]
Greeting LL'ers,
What can I say ladies and gentleman. I'm 5 days away now from 3 inches taller. I'm currently feeling some tightness in the hip-flexor area; but nothing to dramatic at this point. There is no pain right now; just muscle tightness. So far, all tolerable. I do not have too much to report, as things are mostly remaining the same. I will however keep you all updated as to my status physically until I reach my goal in a few days here.
On another note, I am returning to working in my office full time beginning on Friday. As many of you have probably read already; I own a company and it has been very convenient to go through the distraction phase from the comfort and privacy of my own home. I am looking forward to seeing my team. In case you're curious, even through all of this, the company continues to thrive and grow. My being able to work remotely, made this time fairly seamless. I'm really anxious however to get integrated into my normal zones. I will be driving myself to work and mainly using crutches for safety purposes; at least until the muscle tightness subsides over the first few weeks post distraction. I'll go into more detail soon on how my new process will be handled.
Thank you again guys and if you have questions, please do not hesitate to let me know.
All the Best
-IFS
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Hi Ned
I understand your concern. However, you seem to be overconcerned about cll or misunderstand what cll means, although you are a current patient. You never expect 100% sport ability after CLL, although I am sort of believing that even 100% is achievable but it needs time and effort to get back to 100% normal. Most of people do CLL to get over their unhappiness on height, whether they are short or even tall.
I have met some people who finished cll and they enjoy their life so much. They are much happier than before, including myself, although my athletic ability is almost gone for now. I do believe I will recover and live a normal life. I don't expect my previous athletic ability, coz I am not an athlete, already old and have lots of things to do. Most of CLL patients will recover and can do most of exercises but muscles are not as flexible and bouncy as before. Jumping, sprinting, and agile movements likely will be compromised to a certain level after CLL but strength and endurance can be recovered normal (Some seems to be even stronger after CLL. It is depending on one's effort). I will just run, swim, and do some weights. That is all.
If somebody really cares about athletic ability for especially competitive sports, I recommend not to consider CLL. Ned, you talked about some bad cases for CLL. I think I read their stories, but honesty, I don't remember well. I think most of problems after or during cll are from external methods or extreme lengthening. 7-7.5 cm with Stryde nail with diligent stretching and dedicated recovery should be fine. As I said, I saw a couple of patients who did Stryde and their life is already quite normal, not including intense sports.
Good luck for your CLL!
Cheers,
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That is awesome, YellowSpike. Also, 4 years later and still helping out and providing feedback for CLL'ers. Pure Class. Appreciate you.
Of course bud. You're one of the very intelligent and well-adjusted people on this forum who has clearly done LL for all the right reasons. I know when I was going through my LL I needed all the support I could get, so more than happy to return the favor.
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Live footage of IFS reaction:
(https://media2.giphy.com/media/fpXxIjftmkk9y/giphy.gif)
Ahaha - IFS this really made me laugh
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Hi Simon, I'm really liking the longer legs. Everything was proportioned nicely before and the longer legs is a nice touch for me. Proportions of my legs/torso had no bearing on my height lengthening. Great question because many are concerned about proportions. Once I'm done with the difficulty of distraction this week; i'll start to work on a video and some pictures too. Hopefully this helps the community even more with their decisions on CLL.
Talk soon, buddy.
Top man - I look forward to the videos/pics.
My only concern is that I wear a shirt/trousers to work (lie most people lol) and I already feel my torso is already very short.
Let's see - that's my only reservation at the moment for doing this.
-
Hey :)
I got a question:
During this long process, did you noticed increased hair loss ?
That may sound autistic, but that's it..
Oh, i was almost forgetting, did you decided to lengthen your tibia ?
-
Hey :)
I got a question:
During this long process, did you noticed increased hair loss ?
That may sound autistic, but that's it..
Oh, i was almost forgetting, did you decided to lengthen your tibia ?
Hi Jubart!
My hair line has remained strong and in tact during this long and tough process, thankfully.
I do not believe I will do Tibias. Never say never, however. :-)
-
(Wednesday) Day 89 Post Op - Finishing Strong....[7.2 cm or 2.83 inches Taller!]
Greeting LL'ers,
I hope all is well. 1 MM at a time, I approach the end of the distraction phase. Only 3 more days left now. I'm feeling mostly tight in the hip-flexor areas at this time; so I anticipate these muscles to breath quite a bit once I conclude lengthening this week. No real pain at all. I am indeed sore however in the thigh muscles due to the stretching of soft tissue. Future LL'ers, its to be expected. I'm currently not taking any pain medication and have not needed any on a consistent basis, for several weeks. Guys, I'm ready to end this phase and begin to heal. Few more days left. Other than that, nothing new to report.
Thank you again and if you have questions, please do not hesitate to let me know.
All the Best
-IFS
-
Top man - I look forward to the videos/pics.
My only concern is that I wear a shirt/trousers to work (lie most people lol) and I already feel my torso is already very short.
Let's see - that's my only reservation at the moment for doing this.
Hi Simon!
2 - 3 inches is a lot of height to add; but you know what Simon; I don't think it will damage your proportion at all. You'll only look better for it. If you decide to go forward with CLL; you'll be just fine proportion wise. Feel free to send picture to my private message if you want honest opinion. Thanks again for your support, mate.
-
Hi Simon!
2 - 3 inches is a lot of height to add; but you know what Simon; I don't think it will damage your proportion at all. You'll only look better for it. If you decide to go forward with CLL; you'll be just fine proportion wise. Feel free to send picture to my private message if you want honest opinion. Thanks again for your support, mate.
So, your report is complete and very detailed, I think the best I've read. But I'm going to ask you something intimate. Do you wear tall shoes or timberlands?
I imagine it would be interesting there are models that can leave you with 5'8 nowadays! And with comfortable walking.
Like this: https://www.chamaripashoes.com/black-elevator-dress-shoes-height-increasing-shoes-that-make-you-taller-10-cm-3-94-inches.html
Think about this :)
-
So, your report is complete and very detailed, I think the best I've read. But I'm going to ask you something intimate. Do you wear tall shoes or timberlands?
I imagine it would be interesting there are models that can leave you with 5'8 nowadays! And with comfortable walking.
Like this: https://www.chamaripashoes.com/black-elevator-dress-shoes-height-increasing-shoes-that-make-you-taller-10-cm-3-94-inches.html
Think about this :)
Thanks, Hex! Yes, I enjoy wearing those kind of shoes. So many great styles and excellent height boost. Now, I can have great looking shoes, be a good height, and always comfortable. CLL is life changing in many ways.
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Thanks, Hex! Yes, I enjoy wearing those kind of shoes. So many great styles and excellent height boost. Now, I can have great looking shoes, be a good height, and always comfortable. CLL is life changing in many ways.
So, 5'8 is enough. Good luck in the new life! :)
-
So, 5'8 is enough. Good luck in the new life! :)
Why the condescension dude? This guy is on here sharing his experience very kindly with the whole forum and you are here judging and critiquing how much is "enough" and trying to downplay his achievements. It's rude and tasteless, especially considering how he has let us into his private diary. It discourages future users from sharing their experiences.
Please, if you have nothing constructive or polite to post. Refrain from posting in these types of threads. The only posts that should be in threads like these are those asking genuine questions or posts of support and congratulations.
Also, I am going to go full immature now, and completely contradict myself, because I am getting even more mad just imaging myself IFS's position, being someone intimately sharing my experience and then having some braindead 3rd world moron but into my thread while I'm in the middle of recovery after having spent so much time, money, and pain.
Dude, you are pathetic. You are a 3rd world retard who probably lives off $5k a year and thinks he's going to be Mr Olympia and wants to get LL to go from 6 ft -> 6ft 3 or some shet. Instead since you are in Brazil you should be focused on trying to not die by a random motorcyclist shooting you for your $10 cell phone, and also figure out a way to leave the favela and learn a proper education and manners. The fact that you are even on this forum on 6ft is enough of a joke, let alone that you are a deluded poverty Brazillian. Ironically, you are probably the most insecure person on here, the fact that you need to gloat on a random successful person's thread speaks volumes about your character, not to mention muh "Mr Olympia" ambitions. I can not BELIEVE how accommodating and kind IFS has been to you, he's a person of true character and accomplishment, you are an absolute phony and I hope you meet your end to a random motorcyclist very soon, as you walk back to your favela hut. IFS has shown that he has lead a happy and successful life, your comments and suggests about what he "needs" or how "good or bad" his height and random lift suggestions are irrelevant and uncalled for, he doesn't need anything, but I'll tell YOU that you need to either learn how to communicate and appreciate a human being or remain in the jungle and off the computer. Idiot.
Due to your poor education, you probably won't be able to read or understand any of that, so I will just leave this image so you can get the idea of what I'm trying to tell you:
(https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2013/10/14/10/brazil-motorbike-theft.jpg?w968h681)
Good night, and don't reply, I won't read it! I'm sorry IFS for leaving such a tasteless post in your thread, I had to do this, I won't argue with this guy any further, I just want him to leave and I want him to know that what he's doing is fully transparent, absolutely pathetic, and not appreciated by anyone on here. He's only attempting to stroke his tiny monkey ego.
-
Way to jump the gun.
-
Hi Simon!
2 - 3 inches is a lot of height to add; but you know what Simon; I don't think it will damage your proportion at all. You'll only look better for it. If you decide to go forward with CLL; you'll be just fine proportion wise. Feel free to send picture to my private message if you want honest opinion. Thanks again for your support, mate.
Thankyou sir - I've been on the look out last few weeks at people's leg proportions - and I can't come to any conclusion lol!
There are a couple of people I've seen with what seems like long femurs but they really don't look that noticeable. I think I'll stay on the look out until I come to a conclusion.
Sure - thanks for the offer IFS!
-
Thankyou sir - I've been on the look out last few weeks at people's leg proportions - and I can't come to any conclusion lol!
There are a couple of people I've seen with what seems like long femurs but they really don't look that noticeable. I think I'll stay on the look out until I come to a conclusion.
Sure - thanks for the offer IFS!
Sure thing! You're welcome.
-
Why the condescension dude? This guy is on here sharing his experience very kindly with the whole forum and you are here judging and critiquing how much is "enough" and trying to downplay his achievements. It's rude and tasteless, especially considering how he has let us into his private diary. It discourages future users from sharing their experiences.
Please, if you have nothing constructive or polite to post. Refrain from posting in these types of threads. The only posts that should be in threads like these are those asking genuine questions or posts of support and congratulations.
Also, I am going to go full immature now, and completely contradict myself, because I am getting even more mad just imaging myself IFS's position, being someone intimately sharing my experience and then having some braindead 3rd world moron but into my thread while I'm in the middle of recovery after having spent so much time, money, and pain.
Dude, you are pathetic. You are a 3rd world retard who probably lives off $5k a year and thinks he's going to be Mr Olympia and wants to get LL to go from 6 ft -> 6ft 3 or some shet. Instead since you are in Brazil you should be focused on trying to not die by a random motorcyclist shooting you for your $10 cell phone, and also figure out a way to leave the favela and learn a proper education and manners. The fact that you are even on this forum on 6ft is enough of a joke, let alone that you are a deluded poverty Brazillian. Ironically, you are probably the most insecure person on here, the fact that you need to gloat on a random successful person's thread speaks volumes about your character, not to mention muh "Mr Olympia" ambitions. I can not BELIEVE how accommodating and kind IFS has been to you, he's a person of true character and accomplishment, you are an absolute phony and I hope you meet your end to a random motorcyclist very soon, as you walk back to your favela hut. IFS has shown that he has lead a happy and successful life, your comments and suggests about what he "needs" or how "good or bad" his height and random lift suggestions are irrelevant and uncalled for, he doesn't need anything, but I'll tell YOU that you need to either learn how to communicate and appreciate a human being or remain in the jungle and off the computer. Idiot.
Due to your poor education, you probably won't be able to read or understand any of that, so I will just leave this image so you can get the idea of what I'm trying to tell you:
(https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2013/10/14/10/brazil-motorbike-theft.jpg?w968h681)
Good night, and don't reply, I won't read it! I'm sorry IFS for leaving such a tasteless post in your thread, I had to do this, I won't argue with this guy any further, I just want him to leave and I want him to know that what he's doing is fully transparent, absolutely pathetic, and not appreciated by anyone on here. He's only attempting to stroke his tiny monkey ego.
Who shagged your mrs? I get that he was not being positive but you're pretty much being racist and hoping someone on a motorcycle catches him? Lol, scum. I am not the type to defend others but w t f.
Anyway... IFS, smashing at usual buddy. Not long left, I hope the next phase goes well for you also. Looking forward to your updates!
-
(Thursday) Day 90 Post Op - Finishing Strong....[7.3 cm or 2.87 inches Taller!]
Greeting LL'ers,
First off, I appreciate the support and for anyone who has my back. It's a kind thing to do and I'll remember that type of act always. Means a lot of good.
Today was a pretty good one. I am preparing to go back to my office tomorrow for the first time in 90 days. I miss being with my team and being present among the big vision we have. It's been a good year for business and it's about time I get back into the fold. As many of you may know; I have been working remotely; but at this point I feel that I can get around well enough and comfortable enough to be on the job site. I'll definitely be using crutches since my soft tissue is much too tight at the moment to walk comfortably. I plan on doing stretches and walking regularly at my office for exercise. I believe it will aide in my healing to get back to my normal every day routine. I'll be driving to work as well for the first time in 3 months...I got a car wash in today and a backpack that I will use instead of a brief case. Less I have to hold in my hand the better. All is ready.
As far as pain and body update - Legs are straight. They want to bend sometimes; but they can be locked easily. Some pull is happening, surely on the hamstrings. This will sure ease up quickly post lengthening. My low to moderate Anterior Pelvic Tilt (aka duck ass) is a result of low glute muscle and tight hip flexors. I'll be working like gang busters on glutes and loosening my hips during my rehab to clear this away. Other than that, very little pain, and just the discomfort of tightening. I do have a small pain in my right hip due to my own mistake. I stretched it a bit to far a couple of days ago; so a minor strain there. It's starting to feel better already; so just going to lay off of it for a few days.
All in all- I think this is about what you can expect after 3 long months of lengthening. I'll go into more detail during my phase 1 wrap-up coming soon.
Guys, just two more days and phase 1 is over. I want to start the focus on healing. Will keep you updated until then.
Thank you again and if you have questions, please do not hesitate to let me know.
All the Best
-IFS
-
Hey brother,
Nice update. I am sure tomorrow you will start feeling much more normal once you get back to your routine activities pre-op. That in turn should make the process much easier for you, mentally speaking.
So at this time I am reading over some diaries in preparation for surgery next month and nerve pain seems to be a major issue for many people, though of course not everyone experiences it. I read about nerve pain mostly on PRECISE diaries since STRYDE is so new and those experiences aren't well documented yet. I know you've had very little pain through this whole process, thankfully, and I am assuming you did not experience nerve pain either. But was it something you prepared for in advance in terms of asking for medication in the event that you had that issue?
My plan is to gather all the medications I may need well in advance of the actual onset of pain, thus minimizing the painful episodes and keeping them in control before they reach maximum levels. Not having these meds handy while in pain and waiting for a script to arrive and then filling it is not the best game plan. Also feel free to chime in on other conditions/pain catalysts that I may be missing and for which it would be wise to ask for medication in advance!
Also I remember a few pages back in your diary someone recommended a mattress for you to improve your sleep. I was wondering whether you actually ordered it and if so, whether it helped you.
-
Hi Brother,
We are just about the same height now! I welcome you with open arms, and I truly hope this insane feat of will and discipline eliminates any negative feelings about your height. You are past the hardest part once you're done lengthening, but it doesn't end there. I'm sure you're aware that you are one of the pioneering gents have undergone this procedure and your input is of the utmost value. I challenge you to keep posting here long after the technical date of your surgery. Even if it's just a small post telling us everything is ok. I hope that you lay down the truth for us. The ugly parts, the regrets, your satisfaction after the fact. More proof like videos of photos to see proportions and athleticism. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Sweden because he lays his qualms with his irreversible decision. he lets us know some of his regrets and that takes true strength to own up to the possibility that something you wanted to so badly wasn't the right decision and to advise others against the same actions. My personal opinions are optimistic. I believe this surgery within reason can improve height and people's perception of you. Some people are lucky, but this usually warps your proportions, but not to an extent to be outright noticeable and unless you develop a neurosis, taller height in exchange for warped proportions is a net gain. Athleticism will never be the same, definitely not, but it's win in my eyes if you return to being able to do everyday human activies like walking normaly, climbing stairs, picking things up, and bending over. I look forward to your coming reports to see if my statements are affirmed or refuted. You are doing a great thing wether this hopefully is a great boost in your life or if it's ultimately a regret. To either show short men like you and I a way to use human ingenuity to change something seemingly unchangeable or to warn us and divert our attentions to other avenues to improve our situations as short men. Have a blessed day and and even better life.
-
JUST CRY.
-
So I'm sorry for messing up the topic, but I have to answer this racist, he needs a little attention
-
Why the condescension dude? This guy is on here sharing his experience very kindly with the whole forum and you are here judging and critiquing how much is "enough" and trying to downplay his achievements. It's rude and tasteless, especially considering how he has let us into his private diary. It discourages future users from sharing their experiences.
Please, if you have nothing constructive or polite to post. Refrain from posting in these types of threads. The only posts that should be in threads like these are those asking genuine questions or posts of support and congratulations.
Also, I am going to go full immature now, and completely contradict myself, because I am getting even more mad just imaging myself IFS's position, being someone intimately sharing my experience and then having some braindead 3rd world moron but into my thread while I'm in the middle of recovery after having spent so much time, money, and pain.
Dude, you are pathetic. You are a 3rd world retard who probably lives off $5k a year and thinks he's going to be Mr Olympia and wants to get LL to go from 6 ft -> 6ft 3 or some shet. Instead since you are in Brazil you should be focused on trying to not die by a random motorcyclist shooting you for your $10 cell phone, and also figure out a way to leave the favela and learn a proper education and manners. The fact that you are even on this forum on 6ft is enough of a joke, let alone that you are a deluded poverty Brazillian. Ironically, you are probably the most insecure person on here, the fact that you need to gloat on a random successful person's thread speaks volumes about your character, not to mention muh "Mr Olympia" ambitions. I can not BELIEVE how accommodating and kind IFS has been to you, he's a person of true character and accomplishment, you are an absolute phony and I hope you meet your end to a random motorcyclist very soon, as you walk back to your favela hut. IFS has shown that he has lead a happy and successful life, your comments and suggests about what he "needs" or how "good or bad" his height and random lift suggestions are irrelevant and uncalled for, he doesn't need anything, but I'll tell YOU that you need to either learn how to communicate and appreciate a human being or remain in the jungle and off the computer. Idiot.
Due to your poor education, you probably won't be able to read or understand any of that, so I will just leave this image so you can get the idea of what I'm trying to tell you:
(https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2013/10/14/10/brazil-motorbike-theft.jpg?w968h681)
Good night, and don't reply, I won't read it! I'm sorry IFS for leaving such a tasteless post in your thread, I had to do this, I won't argue with this guy any further, I just want him to leave and I want him to know that what he's doing is fully transparent, absolutely pathetic, and not appreciated by anyone on here. He's only attempting to stroke his tiny monkey ego.
I
was not fake with anyone from this forum, I just said that 5'8 is relatively enough for a normal guy.
I as I have great pretensions, and work with body exposure, 5'8 is not interesting to stand out, the ideal would be somewhere between 5'10 to 6'1.
I will answer you with a certain education.
You do not know how to think short term, it's normal. The human being was biologically programmed to think so, for the short term.
(In addition to being well xenophobic and based on my country's stereotypes btw)
I only have 17yrs and 225lbs (see I'm not talking about anything high here) and being a weightlifter less than 6 months old, it's amazing my evolution from 185lbs November to here, of course.
I'm just taking growth hormone and Oxandrolone does about 1 month.
Seeing it in the long run is to be expected to get something from about 260lbs to a 3yr deadline, and have a better muscular maturity than today and mental as well.
Soon the estimate of being a Mr Olympia is not so absurd, I will send you an image of Dennis Wolf at my age, he was already very big.
(https://images-ext-2.dapp.net/external/OtWO5tsS-q_5Yol5h-ZQUSZS1aF6O98DEwKz2HRpiyo/https/i.ytimg.com/vi/mNfSHXMRSl4/maxresdefault.jpg?width=400&height=225)
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Who shagged your mrs? I get that he was not being positive but you're pretty much being racist and hoping someone on a motorcycle catches him? Lol, scum. I am not the type to defend others but w t f.
Anyway... IFS, smashing at usual buddy. Not long left, I hope the next phase goes well for you also. Looking forward to your updates!
I agree, the fact that he was racist ended his argument.
There are 6 feet + members in this forum and this racist just comes attacking me, he's the wrong one in this story!
I'm not caressing my ego here, I'm coming for tips and boosting your ego, not mine!
-
Hey brother,
Nice update. I am sure tomorrow you will start feeling much more normal once you get back to your routine activities pre-op. That in turn should make the process much easier for you, mentally speaking.
So at this time I am reading over some diaries in preparation for surgery next month and nerve pain seems to be a major issue for many people, though of course not everyone experiences it. I read about nerve pain mostly on PRECISE diaries since STRYDE is so new and those experiences aren't well documented yet. I know you've had very little pain through this whole process, thankfully, and I am assuming you did not experience nerve pain either. But was it something you prepared for in advance in terms of asking for medication in the event that you had that issue?
My plan is to gather all the medications I may need well in advance of the actual onset of pain, thus minimizing the painful episodes and keeping them in control before they reach maximum levels. Not having these meds handy while in pain and waiting for a script to arrive and then filling it is not the best game plan. Also feel free to chime in on other conditions/pain catalysts that I may be missing and for which it would be wise to ask for medication in advance!
Also I remember a few pages back in your diary someone recommended a mattress for you to improve your sleep. I was wondering whether you actually ordered it and if so, whether it helped you.
Hi Tiggy,
Sure thing. I'm looking forward to healing. Just another day or so and phase 1 is done. Interestingly enough; I thought I mentioned this, i did get a slight numbing on the left leg. It wasn't anything that really bothered me much and it has already started to get better. The medicine to combat the pain for this is a prescription drug called Gabapentin. Also, some Pain Relief Lidocaine Cream is good to have here. Numbness and nerve related pain is a result of those nerves getting pretty stretched out. :-) From what I understand from Doctors and Diaries...the nerve issues almost always resolve themselves within the same 12 month year that CLL is engaged.
Once I am completed with Phase I; I plan on writing up a detailed description with all types of things to consider. I'll keep you posted on this!
Thank you again for following my diary. I sure hope it helps.
-
Hi Brother,
We are just about the same height now! I welcome you with open arms, and I truly hope this insane feat of will and discipline eliminates any negative feelings about your height. You are past the hardest part once you're done lengthening, but it doesn't end there. I'm sure you're aware that you are one of the pioneering gents have undergone this procedure and your input is of the utmost value. I challenge you to keep posting here long after the technical date of your surgery. Even if it's just a small post telling us everything is ok. I hope that you lay down the truth for us. The ugly parts, the regrets, your satisfaction after the fact. More proof like videos of photos to see proportions and athleticism. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Sweden because he lays his qualms with his irreversible decision. he lets us know some of his regrets and that takes true strength to own up to the possibility that something you wanted to so badly wasn't the right decision and to advise others against the same actions. My personal opinions are optimistic. I believe this surgery within reason can improve height and people's perception of you. Some people are lucky, but this usually warps your proportions, but not to an extent to be outright noticeable and unless you develop a neurosis, taller height in exchange for warped proportions is a net gain. Athleticism will never be the same, definitely not, but it's win in my eyes if you return to being able to do everyday human activies like walking normaly, climbing stairs, picking things up, and bending over. I look forward to your coming reports to see if my statements are affirmed or refuted. You are doing a great thing wether this hopefully is a great boost in your life or if it's ultimately a regret. To either show short men like you and I a way to use human ingenuity to change something seemingly unchangeable or to warn us and divert our attentions to other avenues to improve our situations as short men. Have a blessed day and and even better life.
Hi ManuteBol! One of my favorite basketball players right there. Wasn't he 7'6" or 7'7".?..Wow. Real solid thoughts here and I'm absolutely going to keep the community posted on the good, the bad, and the ugly of my recovery. Additionally, I'll most certainly be staying around to help the prospect CLL'ers make informed decisions by guiding them through my experience. Nothing beats first hand experience when it comes to information.
Thank you again for the message here. I'm on the same page.
-
(Thursday) Day 90 Post Op - Finishing Strong....[7.3 cm or 2.87 inches Taller!]
Greeting LL'ers,
First off, I appreciate the support and for anyone who has my back. It's a kind thing to do and I'll remember that type of act always. Means a lot of good.
Today was a pretty good one. I am preparing to go back to my office tomorrow for the first time in 90 days. I miss being with my team and being present among the big vision we have. It's been a good year for business and it's about time I get back into the fold. As many of you may know; I have been working remotely; but at this point I feel that I can get around well enough and comfortable enough to be on the job site. I'll definitely be using crutches since my soft tissue is much too tight at the moment to walk comfortably. I plan on doing stretches and walking regularly at my office for exercise. I believe it will aide in my healing to get back to my normal every day routine. I'll be driving to work as well for the first time in 3 months...I got a car wash in today and a backpack that I will use instead of a brief case. Less I have to hold in my hand the better. All is ready.
As far as pain and body update - Legs are straight. They want to bend sometimes; but they can be locked easily. Some pull is happening, surely on the hamstrings. This will sure ease up quickly post lengthening. My low to moderate Anterior Pelvic Tilt (aka duck ass) is a result of low glute muscle and tight hip flexors. I'll be working like gang busters on glutes and loosening my hips during my rehab to clear this away. Other than that, very little pain, and just the discomfort of tightening. I do have a small pain in my right hip due to my own mistake. I stretched it a bit to far a couple of days ago; so a minor strain there. It's starting to feel better already; so just going to lay off of it for a few days.
All in all- I think this is about what you can expect after 3 long months of lengthening. I'll go into more detail during my phase 1 wrap-up coming soon.
Guys, just two more days and phase 1 is over. I want to start the focus on healing. Will keep you updated until then.
Thank you again and if you have questions, please do not hesitate to let me know.
All the Best
-IFS
You seem in such great spirits - good to see!
-
Hi IFS
Congrats on finishing up getting taller soon!! This is the most demanding part, meaning that it will be better and better but it takes time too.
You are really dedicated, focused, and diligent. No wonder you seem very successful already. Wish you more success and more happiness!!!
Good luck!
-
Hi IFS
Congrats on finishing up getting taller soon!! This is the most demanding part, meaning that it will be better and better but it takes time too.
You are really dedicated, focused, and diligent. No wonder you seem very successful already. Wish you more success and more happiness!!!
Good luck!
Thanks, Buddy, I hope to be walking well again in a few months or sooner, but we'll take it one day at a time. Thank you again!
-
Hi Guys,
A small bonus update. I worked out this morning at about 3:30am and was at the office by 6:00am. I was greeted with smiles and all my employees are thrilled to see me back at the helm and sitting in the "big mans office". I was working remotely during the first phase of CLL; and it feels so good being in my office. Especially nice since my office has fully walled glass windows surrounding it. I see nature, trees, grass, and sun shine while I work on my workstation. I'll update you later on how the day goes as my first day back in the office, including how my legs did. Talk soon!
-
Hi Guys,
A small bonus update. I worked out this morning at about 3:30am and was at the office by 6:00am. I was greeted with smiles and all my employees are thrilled to see me back at the helm and sitting in the "big mans office". I was working remotely during the first phase of CLL; and it feels so good being in my office. Especially nice since my office has fully walled glass windows surrounding it. I see nature, trees, grass, and sun shine while I work on my workstation. I'll update you later on how the day goes as my first day back in the office, including how my legs did. Talk soon!
please post vid of walking, will be very helpful man,
thank you for your time!
-
If I was you I would push it to the full 8cm. A lot of people regretted not going further once recovered. If you feel like your body can handle it, go for it. Especially with short initial height.
-
Thanks for taking us along the journey IFS. I'm reading yours and others' Stryde diaries for experiences before making a final decision. Best wishes onwards
-
If I was you I would push it to the full 8cm. A lot of people regretted not going further once recovered. If you feel like your body can handle it, go for it. Especially with short initial height.
Thank you for the encouragement, man. I'm of the feeling that 7.5cm is the max my body would take at this stage. That is right up at 3 inches so I feel content.
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Thanks for taking us along the journey IFS. I'm reading yours and others' Stryde diaries for experiences before making a final decision. Best wishes onward
My pleasure. I'll be writing about my phase 2 recovery next. I'm looking forward to my body adapting and walking on these new legs soon.
-
(Friday) Day 91 Post Op - Finishing Strong....[7.4 cm or 2.91 inches Taller!]
Greeting LL'ers,
To the point today..... One more day and I'm ending distraction phase forever and will be selling my ERC machine on the streets of LA as a giant magnet toy for kids. Safe for 7 and under. More updates coming tomorrow once I finalize.
All the Best
-IFS
-
(Friday) Day 91 Post Op - Finishing Strong....[7.4 cm or 2.91 inches Taller!]
Greeting LL'ers,
To the point today..... One more day and I'm ending distraction phase forever and will be selling my ERC machine on the streets of LA as a giant magnet toy for kids. More updates coming tomorrow once I finalize.
All the Best
-IFS
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Great! I look forward to hearing from you! I know you just finished lengthening, but I wanted to ask. Forget about proportions, forget about whether you can obtain previous athleticism, I JUST want to know, does the fact that you are about 3 inches taller in your eye level provide any psychological boost? I'm starting to think that humans tend to notice body proportions less than where the eyes line up in relation to each other. Just having a positive feeling from raising your eye level permanently might be a pro if most everything else fails. 2.5 inches may not sound like a lot, but it greatly affects the angle you look at other people. It will not matter with men 6+ for me, but It will put my eye level more in line with regular short men if I raised it 2.5 inches.
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Great! I look forward to hearing from you! I know you just finished lengthening, but I wanted to ask. Forget about proportions, forget about whether you can obtain previous athleticism, I JUST want to know, does the fact that you are about 3 inches taller in your eye level provide any psychological boost? I'm starting to think that humans tend to notice body proportions less than where the eyes line up in relation to each other. Just having a positive feeling from raising your eye level permanently might be a pro if most everything else fails. 2.5 inches may not sound like a lot, but it greatly affects the angle you look at other people. It will not matter with men 6+ for me, but It will put my eye level more in line with regular short men if I raised it 2.5 inches.
Absolutely! Honestly, its the eye level more than anything. The 3 inches is a huge difference compared to the past. 2.5" is also huge.
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Once I am completed with Phase I; I plan on writing up a detailed description with all types of things to consider. I'll keep you posted on this!
Thank you again for following my diary. I sure hope it helps.
Hey IFS,
It helps a ton my friend! I hope to have a chance to read it before my procedure in 5 weeks, as I am certain it will have a lot of great information. I am already going over the last 16 pages of your diary to try and take away information I think will be helpful. Thank you for your kindness in sharing your journey, I don't think I could be as dedicated as you in sharing my story of LL, if I ever did.
Generous and kind people like you are rare and you should be proud of the person you are. I truly mean that man. Thank you for this diary.
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(https://i.imgur.com/FxxGroH.jpg)
Ladies and Gentleman, I did it. 3 Inches has been achieved. I now look forward to the next phase of healing and recovery.
Thank you again for all your support and encouragement through what has been an extremely challenging and testing 3 months of my life. I look forward to keeping you all informed regularly on my recovery. I will plan to post a walking video after a few weeks when my tightness has subsided. I am looking forward to experiencing how the body very quickly begins to adjust to the new bone length and also how the body almost immediately provides relief to much of the physical struggles that one goes through while lengthening. I will share each step with the community.
Thank you again and feel free to reach out with questions or feedback.
A quote I live by: "Make the BEST of what you have and Make what you have, the BEST"
All the Best,
IFS
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This sounds great !! you did it ! 7.5cm/3in is a big deal
Good recovery InFullStryde, you deserve it
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Congratulations to your achievement! Now things will start to get better.
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(https://i.imgur.com/WuYOxYw.jpg)
Ladies and Gentleman, I did it. 3 Inches has been achieved. I now look forward to the next phase of healing and recovery.
Thank you again for all your support and encouragement through what has been an extremely challenging and testing 3 months of my life. I look forward to keeping you all informed regularly on my recovery. I will plan to post a walking video after a few weeks when my tightness has subsided. I am looking forward to experiencing how the body very quickly begins to adjust to the new bone length and also how the body almost immediately provides relief to much of the physical struggles that one goes through while lengthening. I will share each step with the community.
Thank you again and feel free to reach out with questions or feedback.
A quote I live by: "Make the BEST of what you have and Make what you have, the BEST"
All the Best,
IFS
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CONGRATULATIONS! Its safe to say the worst is over, now comes readjustment back into normal life!
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Wow!! Congrats to you on a great achievement!! This is really awesome!! The hardest part is over!!
Wish you the best recovery!!
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Will you do BMAC (Bone marrow aspirate concentrate)?
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Congrats man! 7.5cm is a huge deal and you did it relatively complication free! Enjoy the new height and I believe we are around the same height now, you may even be slightly taller! Your diary and responses have been a huge help to someone like myself who is planning the surgery later this year. I hope to help and reach the community like you have.
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So happy for you IFS, congrats!! I wanted to stop at 6.5cm, but I too pushed myself to between 7.2-7.5cm (the Gnail isn’t exact, but I got somewhere in there). So glad I did, and you did too. 2.75-3 inches is a huge visual gain.
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Congratulations IFS!
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Congrats IFS.
Can you post Xrays and can you explain how they are measured by Dr. M?
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(Sunday) Day 93 Post Op - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!] Day 1 Consolidation/Recovery Phase
Good evening LL'ers,
Once again, thank you so much for your support and encouragement. Honestly, don't believe I would have been as motivated within the initial 3 month distraction process if I did not have a place like this to go to, and write, and relate. Things are changing in side me that are pretty deep for which do not have a direct relationship with height lengthening and I plan to go into more depth in future posts. Which leads me to my next thought. Below, I have created a list of my plans going forward for this LL venture as well as a way to assist others in their LL venture. Please review and share your thoughts:
1) I'm going to continue to post as daily as possible on my progress and experience with phase 2 consolidation and recovery
2) I'm going to create a Limb Lengthening Preparedness kit with all kinds of cohesive information and details based on my experience that will better prepare LL'ers for at least phase 1 of the journey. Phase 2 is yet to be learned by I; but I will soon be able to finalize the preparedness kit; once I conquer that phase.
3) I plan on creating a website that is modernized and dedicated to helping those with Height Dysphoria. This will NOT be a website that talks about how unlucky we are; but rather a website that will help bring awareness to the issue as well as directly help those in need, find a comprehensive path and resolution to a solution that works for them.
This list above may grow; but those are my objectives for now. I will update soon.
Now, onto day 1 of my consolidation. I'm 100% CURED and can WALK PERFECTLY! ..... JUST KIDDING! lol. I'm tighter than tight; but already I can feel some improvement...yes in just 1 day. Less soft tissue aches and just a feeling that things are generally looser. It's only been one day; I'll keep you posted on how the real progress goes, as weeks begin to arrive before us. As mentioned before; I plan on posting a walking video at about 3 weeks from today. I want to give my body a chance to cleanse it self of this cosmetic tightness that it currently is feeling. Within 3 weeks, the muscles will begin to adjust to the stretching and things will be much looser. I'll post that video for the community to review and hopefully it will give you some idea of what to expect. Lastly, my next X-Rays will also come in 3 weeks. I will post those and we should see some healing of my broken bones at that point.
Thank you again community and I can't wait to keep reporting to you all.
All the best,
IFS
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(https://i.imgur.com/FxxGroH.jpg)
Ladies and Gentleman, I did it. 3 Inches has been achieved. I now look forward to the next phase of healing and recovery.
Thank you again for all your support and encouragement through what has been an extremely challenging and testing 3 months of my life. I look forward to keeping you all informed regularly on my recovery. I will plan to post a walking video after a few weeks when my tightness has subsided. I am looking forward to experiencing how the body very quickly begins to adjust to the new bone length and also how the body almost immediately provides relief to much of the physical struggles that one goes through while lengthening. I will share each step with the community.
Thank you again and feel free to reach out with questions or feedback.
A quote I live by: "Make the BEST of what you have and Make what you have, the BEST"
All the Best,
IFS
Congratulations!
After this i think you're going to get addicted to heightism and want to do another surgery to get to 5'7 barefoot.
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I'm so happy everything is going fine for you.
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Congratulations!
After this i think you're going to get addicted to heightism and want to do another surgery to get to 5'7 barefoot.
Well, you can't say this to him. His starting height was quite short, unfortunately, and he can definitely consider to do another surgery. If he thinks that way, that is completely normal. However, it is completely up to him whether he will do another surgery or not. In any case, I am happy for him and will support him with my heart.
I think you are more addicted to height. You are already 6'-6'1" and still want to be taller because you want to be a beast and overtowering everyone. Well, if that is what you want, that is fine. But you can't say that somebody who is shorter than you is addicted to height or CLL.
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(https://i.imgur.com/FxxGroH.jpg)
Ladies and Gentleman, I did it. 3 Inches has been achieved. I now look forward to the next phase of healing and recovery.
Thank you again for all your support and encouragement through what has been an extremely challenging and testing 3 months of my life. I look forward to keeping you all informed regularly on my recovery. I will plan to post a walking video after a few weeks when my tightness has subsided. I am looking forward to experiencing how the body very quickly begins to adjust to the new bone length and also how the body almost immediately provides relief to much of the physical struggles that one goes through while lengthening. I will share each step with the community.
Thank you again and feel free to reach out with questions or feedback.
A quote I live by: "Make the BEST of what you have and Make what you have, the BEST"
All the Best,
IFS
CONGRATS!!
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Congratulations!
After this i think you're going to get addicted to heightism and want to do another surgery to get to 5'7 barefoot.
IFS makes more money than almost anyone on this forum and (I believe) has a very attractive wife/girlfriend. So clearly him being 5'1" (before LL) NEVER stopped him from doing anything. I feel like he's one of the few (and fewer and fewer...) truly normal and well-adjusted people on this forum.
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Congrats, IFS.
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Congratulations IFS! A great achievement indeed
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I really appreciate the support guys. I've been so blessed to have lead the life that I have had so far. Also, I'm aware of the reality at which many great candidates for CLL simply cannot afford or have the time flexibility to undergo such a life changing procedure. I'm fortunate to have been able to under go CLL from the comfort of my home; while still running my company and living only 45 minutes from my surgeons office. My girlfriend is absolutely gorgeous and her support for me through this process has been nothing less than breathtaking. One thing is for sure; if you figure out a way to add value to the life of others and have the opportunity to call it a career and business; you'll make a great living financially, irregardless of the height attribute.
Another great quote I loved to life by: "Height does not make the man, The Man makes the Height"
I'm going to keep updating you guys on recovery. Talk soon.
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Another great quote I loved to life by: "Height does not make the man, The Man makes the Height"
Ironically, it wasn't until AFTER I did LL that I actually started to really believe this. My parents used to always say this to me, I never believed them. Life is definitely harder as a short man, but any man of high caliber (which I believe you most definitely are) can overcome it.
Congrats again my friend.
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Congrats, IFS! Here's to a fast recovery!
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I really appreciate the support guys. I've been so blessed to have lead the life that I have had so far. Also, I'm aware of the reality at which many great candidates for CLL simply cannot afford or have the time flexibility to undergo such a life changing procedure. I'm fortunate to have been able to under go CLL from the comfort of my home; while still running my company and living only 45 minutes from my surgeons office. My girlfriend is absolutely gorgeous and her support for me through this process has been nothing less than breathtaking. One thing is for sure; if you figure out a way to add value to the life of others and have the opportunity to call it a career and business; you'll make a great living financially, irregardless of the height attribute.
Another great quote I loved to life by: "Height does not make the man, The Man makes the Height"
I'm going to keep updating you guys on recovery. Talk soon.
You have one of the best diaries I have read on here. I hope you have a great recovery man
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(Monday) Day 94 Post Op - Day 2 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening LL'ers,
Off and away we go on this round 2 phase. The next stage of CLL. With CLL, you go through alot to achieve those extra inches during phase 1. Phase 2 is about recuperating your body/legs so that you can actually use your new legs. My problem areas are below:
1. Slight Anterior Pelvic Tilt (Due to tight hip flexors, weak glutes)
2. About 1 degree bend on the legs (Due to tight hamstrings)
3. Tight thigh muscles (Due to the nature of CLL. Muscles need time to catch up to new bone length)
4. Slightly weaker left leg (Due to a naturally weaker left leg, can still bear full weight however which is a plus)
With all my will and might; I'm training hard to remove the above problem areas so that I too may enjoy walking with three new inches of height in place. I'm performing stretches and strengthening exercises 3 times a day and walking 1 hour a day in hope that my legs can recover well enough to walk strong in 60 days-90 days. Sooner the better of course.
I will say that since I stopped lengthening on Saturday; that there has been slight improvement each day. Muscles are loosening, aching less, and I'm increasingly more mobile. In about 3 weeks, I will have my first consolidation phase x-rays and I will be sure to post them. Additionally, I should see quite a bit of improvement in my gait; and anticipating posting a video for your viewing as well.
Thank you again and I'll report back again with next update.
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(Sunday) Day 93 Post Op - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!] Day 1 Consolidation/Recovery Phase
Good evening LL'ers,
Once again, thank you so much for your support and encouragement. Honestly, don't believe I would have been as motivated within the initial 3 month distraction process if I did not have a place like this to go to, and write, and relate. Things are changing in side me that are pretty deep for which do not have a direct relationship with height lengthening and I plan to go into more depth in future posts. Which leads me to my next thought. Below, I have created a list of my plans going forward for this LL venture as well as a way to assist others in their LL venture. Please review and share your thoughts:
1) I'm going to continue to post as daily as possible on my progress and experience with phase 2 consolidation and recovery
2) I'm going to create a Limb Lengthening Preparedness kit with all kinds of cohesive information and details based on my experience that will better prepare LL'ers for at least phase 1 of the journey. Phase 2 is yet to be learned by I; but I will soon be able to finalize the preparedness kit; once I conquer that phase.
3) I plan on creating a website that is modernized and dedicated to helping those with Height Dysphoria. This will NOT be a website that talks about how unlucky we are; but rather a website that will help bring awareness to the issue as well as directly help those in need, find a comprehensive path and resolution to a solution that works for them.
This list above may grow; but those are my objectives for now. I will update soon.
Now, onto day 1 of my consolidation. I'm 100% CURED and can WALK PERFECTLY! ..... JUST KIDDING! lol. I'm tighter than tight; but already I can feel some improvement...yes in just 1 day. Less soft tissue aches and just a feeling that things are generally looser. It's only been one day; I'll keep you posted on how the real progress goes, as weeks begin to arrive before us. As mentioned before; I plan on posting a walking video at about 3 weeks from today. I want to give my body a chance to cleanse it self of this cosmetic tightness that it currently is feeling. Within 3 weeks, the muscles will begin to adjust to the stretching and things will be much looser. I'll post that video for the community to review and hopefully it will give you some idea of what to expect. Lastly, my next X-Rays will also come in 3 weeks. I will post those and we should see some healing of my broken bones at that point.
Thank you again community and I can't wait to keep reporting to you all.
All the best,
IFS
I love this idea. As a short man in this day and age, we don't have a lot of resources. A centralized website that a short man could go to and address the problem even if nothing can truly be done would be so beneficial to so many people. I know I would always try to ignore and believe as if my short height wasn't a factor. maybe for some people, this method works, but it has blown up in my face 3rd year of college. I know if something would have been discussed when I was 15, I'm confident I would be a lot more well-adjusted to my height currently. It would be awesome if this website could handle the difficult double duty of being able to inform how to increase a person's height pre-growth plate closure (hgh) or post (limb lengthening) while still being able to preach loving you for who you are. It sounds contradictory, but it doesn't have to be mutually exclusive in my opinion. Therapy is just too vague, and it doesn't address our specific problems. I look forward to this coming development and your positivity and optimism for change.
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You have one of the best diaries I have read on here. I hope you have a great recovery man
True.
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I love this idea. As a short man in this day and age, we don't have a lot of resources. A centralized website that a short man could go to and address the problem even if nothing can truly be done would be so beneficial to so many people. I know I would always try to ignore and believe as if my short height wasn't a factor. maybe for some people, this method works, but it has blown up in my face 3rd year of college. I know if something would have been discussed when I was 15, I'm confident I would be a lot more well-adjusted to my height currently. It would be awesome if this website could handle the difficult double duty of being able to inform how to increase a person's height pre-growth plate closure (hgh) or post (limb lengthening) while still being able to preach loving you for who you are. It sounds contradictory, but it doesn't have to be mutually exclusive in my opinion. Therapy is just too vague, and it doesn't address our specific problems. I look forward to this coming development and your positivity and optimism for change.
Absolutely. We want to provide information, options, and support.
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(Tuesday) Day 95 Post Op - Day 3 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening LL'ers,
Today was an outstanding day. It's interesting you know... You have that first phase where you lengthen...just 1 mm a day;...well the 2nd phase is similar in some respects . You strengthen and increase your ability to walk again...about 1 mm, per day. :-) It takes time; but each day as long as you work hard by stretching, doing exercises to strengthen you feel and see progress. If you have been following my diary you probably have been lead on a roller coaster of emotions and happenings and you remember that pesky left leg..and then that pesky right leg....and back and forth and so on. Well; I probably took a bit longer to walk due to having to favor legs. Well, I've been on crutches and have been taking unassisted baby steps as well for couple of months; but now I'm happy to report that both my legs are feeling decent and after only 3 days of consolidation, i'm starting to feel comfortable with strictly using a cane and sometimes I don't even use any assisted devices. I cannot tell you how liberating that felt. It's only 95 days and I was walking fairly free with a cane. Stiff yes...soreness, yes...but I was doing it and it was helpful to me to be able to do it. I'll be incorporating this powerful gait promotion to my routine starting today. If I'm already using a cane and able to walk around at barely 3 months; I'm feeling great about my prospects for recovery. I'm not sure how this will go guys; so let's not get too ahead of ourselves; but let me just say that being able to weight bear with Stryde nail the entire 3 months of distraction sets you up for a way different LL experience than past years.
Let me know if you have any questions and I'm going to keep you updated.
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(Tuesday) Day 95 Post Op - Day 3 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening LL'ers,
Today was an outstanding day. It's interesting you know... You have that first phase where you lengthen...just 1 mm a day;...well the 2nd phase is similar in some respects . You strengthen and increase your ability to walk again...about 1 mm, per day. :-) It takes time; but each day as long as you work hard by stretching, doing exercises to strengthen you feel and see progress. If you have been following my diary you probably have been lead on a roller coaster of emotions and happenings and you remember that pesky left leg..and then that pesky right leg....and back and forth and so on. Well; I probably took a bit longer to walk due to having to favor legs. Well, I've been on crutches and have been taking unassisted baby steps as well for couple of months; but now I'm happy to report that both my legs are feeling decent and after only 3 days of consolidation, i'm starting to feel comfortable with strictly using a cane and sometimes I don't even use any assisted devices. I cannot tell you how liberating that felt. It's only 95 days and I was walking fairly free with a cane. Stiff yes...soreness, yes...but I was doing it and it was helpful to me to be able to do it. I'll be incorporating this powerful gait promotion to my routine starting today. If I'm already using a cane and able to walk around at barely 3 months; I'm feeling great about my prospects for recovery. I'm not sure how this will go guys; so let's not get too ahead of ourselves; but let me just say that being able to weight bear with Stryde nail the entire 3 months of distraction sets you up for a way different LL experience than past years.
Let me know if you have any questions and I'm going to keep you updated.
Wow. your recovery looks like its going to be pretty fast. The fact that you can walk comfortably with just a cane shows how much the technology has improved by miles in such a short period of time. I got to that stage close to 8 weeks after distraction stopped. Enjoy your new height!
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Wow. your recovery looks like its going to be pretty fast. The fact that you can walk comfortably with just a cane shows how much the technology has improved by miles in such a short period of time. I got to that stage close to 8 weeks after distraction stopped. Enjoy your new height!
Thank you, Purush. Please feel free to chime in on any observation you make as I post through my diary. The feedback goes along way for me as I assess myself and determine various next steps.
All the Best
IFS
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Hi InFullStryde, I’ve been keeping up with your diary for a while. I love the detail and depth you’ve gone into, thanks for keeping up with it!
My question now is would you recommend Dr. Mahboubian? I’m also in the LA area so Mahboubian would be local and easier for me, but I’ve also heard great things about Dr. Paley. Having met both of them, are you confident with your choice in Mahboubian? Also, for the surgery, did you go under general anesthesia or was it spinal epidural?
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Hi InFullStryde, I’ve been keeping up with your diary for a while. I love the detail and depth you’ve gone into, thanks for keeping up with it!
My question now is would you recommend Dr. Mahboubian? I’m also in the LA area so Mahboubian would be local and easier for me, but I’ve also heard great things about Dr. Paley. Having met both of them, are you confident with your choice in Mahboubian? Also, for the surgery, did you go under general anesthesia or was it spinal epidural?
Hi Zygomatic,
Without a doubt I would recommend Dr. Mahboubian. I have achieved 3 inches with no complications. He is a perfectionist of a surgeon, attentive, very professional, great to work with and local to Southern California, CLL'ers.
Dr. Paley is the most experienced of all the CLL surgeons. You cannot go wrong with either choice. I went under general anesthesia.
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Congrats IFS! Awesome Diary bro thanks for your devotion to sharing your experiences! looking forward to keeping up with your healing process. god bless sending much love and positivity your way
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(Tuesday) Day 95 Post Op - Day 3 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening LL'ers,
Today was an outstanding day. It's interesting you know... You have that first phase where you lengthen...just 1 mm a day;...well the 2nd phase is similar in some respects . You strengthen and increase your ability to walk again...about 1 mm, per day. :-) It takes time; but each day as long as you work hard by stretching, doing exercises to strengthen you feel and see progress. If you have been following my diary you probably have been lead on a roller coaster of emotions and happenings and you remember that pesky left leg..and then that pesky right leg....and back and forth and so on. Well; I probably took a bit longer to walk due to having to favor legs. Well, I've been on crutches and have been taking unassisted baby steps as well for couple of months; but now I'm happy to report that both my legs are feeling decent and after only 3 days of consolidation, i'm starting to feel comfortable with strictly using a cane and sometimes I don't even use any assisted devices. I cannot tell you how liberating that felt. It's only 95 days and I was walking fairly free with a cane. Stiff yes...soreness, yes...but I was doing it and it was helpful to me to be able to do it. I'll be incorporating this powerful gait promotion to my routine starting today. If I'm already using a cane and able to walk around at barely 3 months; I'm feeling great about my prospects for recovery. I'm not sure how this will go guys; so let's not get too ahead of ourselves; but let me just say that being able to weight bear with Stryde nail the entire 3 months of distraction sets you up for a way different LL experience than past years.
Let me know if you have any questions and I'm going to keep you updated.
Excellent to see - congrats bud
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(Wednesday) Day 96 Post Op - Day 4 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening LL'ers,
I hope all is going well out there today. Just a quick update. More of the same, today. Stretching, strengthening and walking a good plenty on crutches, cane, and a bit unassisted. I want to be clear that my gait is not near ready for showtime. I am pleased that I can take steps while weight bearing but it will take some time before I can walk with a correct gait. Things are progressing well however. I'm feeling a bit looser and overall pain isn't an issue any more. My main challenges at this phase is building strength and flexibility back into the legs. It is my hope that I can make big strides over the next few weeks. Other notables; I'm battling a medium anterior pelvic tilt due to tight quads. I do feel slight improvement; so I'm going to keep working hard on this. My legs are straightening out nicely as well. All in all, I'm feeling good about where I "stand" on day 4 of consolidation.I'll also mention that I walk my best after warming up a bit; meaning after stretching and standing with my body weight bearing down on my legs. After some time of doing this, I'm feeling good to walk a good bit.
Other considerations - I am back at work full time, driving, and functioning fairly normal at this point in terms of my routine and integration into life. I'm glad I am able to check those boxes off at month 3.
I'll let you know for now however let me know if you have any questions and I'm going to keep you updated.
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Great news pal - do you have a goal in mind for walking without gait?
How would you describe what your current gait looks like?
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Great news pal - do you have a goal in mind for walking without gait?
How would you describe what your current gait looks like?
Hi Simon,
I would love to walk fairly normal by June and right now, my walk contains a lot of stiffness from tight soft tissue. Each day it does get a bit better. Additionally, after walking unassisted for a while and placing full weight on my legs; there is some soreness there and more so on my left leg (of course, my left leg, ha). I'm going to take it easy for the rest of the week and allow the left leg to catch up a bit. Will continue to work out my walk with crutches support and resume unassisted walking in my training beginning on Monday. I have to remember that I have a 3 inch gap in my bone, lol and that my soft tissues have been going through a lot for the past 90 days. I'll be careful not to get to excited and rush things. Will update later this evening on how I do today.
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(Thursday) Day 97 Post Op - Day 5 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening LL'ers,
I hope all is going well so far today. For me, it was more of the same. I decided to lay off left leg a bit today; and stayed dedicated to exercises and stretching that required only modest weight bearing. I feel as if my right leg is ready to really burn test walking and start that grind to reach a good gait. My left leg however; gets sore quickly. I'm going to commit to laying off the left leg for a good week. Hopefully the soreness will wear off and i can really go after unassisted walking and cane walking. With this in mind; I will still use the crutches to get around the office, through my house, etc; so both legs will still be getting walking work of this kind.
Once you conclude your lengthening phase; it is truly key to focus on building your legs back up with daily stretching and strengthening exercise of the legs. This way; you'll be in a condition where you can fully bear your weight and begin to train your walking gait. I stretch twice and perform strengthening exercises twice a day (morning and night). In addition, I'm standing and moving around most of the day; in between sitting down for computer work. You have to remind yourself to get up as frequently as possible. Bearing weight helps with everything. Keep in mind however; if you're feeling pain and soreness.... take it easy. Don't over do it. You don't want to injure yourself.
All is well, Cller's....I'll update you again tomorrow.
Take care,
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Hi Simon,
I would love to walk fairly normal by June and right now, my walk contains a lot of stiffness from tight soft tissue. Each day it does get a bit better. Additionally, after walking unassisted for a while and placing full weight on my legs; there is some soreness there and more so on my left leg (of course, my left leg, ha). I'm going to take it easy for the rest of the week and allow the left leg to catch up a bit. Will continue to work out my walk with crutches support and resume unassisted walking in my training beginning on Monday. I have to remember that I have a 3 inch gap in my bone, lol and that my soft tissues have been going through a lot for the past 90 days. I'll be careful not to get to excited and rush things. Will update later this evening on how I do today.
Aha yeah - definitely best to take it easy and not forget about that 3 inch gap. Hope left leg feels better soon bro
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(Friday) Day 98 Post Op - Day 6 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening LL'ers,
Another day is another way. Little by little, I improve. I feel a bit less tight which is good. I expect that to continue to improve as I continue to stretch, my bone continues to heal, and my soft tissue continues to adjust to the natural, desired movements of mine. Also, remember that left leg that was bugging me? Well it was still bugging me; but I decided to try something...walk through the pain a bit....and within about 5 minutes, it was almost as if I was able to knock the rust off. The left leg was cooperating; still sore; but cooperating. I must have walked about 30 minutes solid with a cane. A cane is basically walking fully weight bearing on your own feet and serves as a light compensation for any balance weaknesses. It's a great thing! I'm hoping that this isn't just a fluke and I am able to continue to walk more and more with a cane and of course unassisted. I'd say this is pretty good for only day 6, post distraction. Guys, I'm doing my best. My patience is wearing thin; but I'm also in the game, in the process and ready to go all the way until I'm walking strong again. It's coming soon and hopefully I'm walking well by sometime in June; but we will wait and see. Otherwise, things are great. I'm working out at my home gym still and will wait until my bone is strong before I return to the regular gym. The bow flex should hold me down for a month or 2 more. I'm working full time, driving and mobile enough to do anything I need out of necessity.
Another funny tidbit, I haven't cut my hair since December. LOL. For fun, I decided to leg it grow until I was walking again. It's getting long and crazy looking. We'll see how this goes!
Thanks again guys for all your support, kind words, and advise. Let's continue to push hard and get to that finish line together.
All the best!
IFS
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It’s great to see your left leg is getting better. Your recovery is looking great!
Quick question, do you know if Dr. M was trained under Dr. Paley? I heard from another member here that he was, but I’m unsure.
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Great recovery so far! You will definitely notice things getting better daily.
Haha, keep the long hair.. it makes us look taller ;D
All the best
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It’s great to see your left leg is getting better. Your recovery is looking great!
Quick question, do you know if Dr. M was trained under Dr. Paley? I heard from another member here that he was, but I’m unsure.
Thank you, Zygomatic! I'm not sure. I do know that there is some ties between Dr. M and Dr. R. Not sure on Paley.
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Great recovery so far! You will definitely notice things getting better daily.
Haha, keep the long hair.. it makes us look taller ;D
All the best
'
Ha, Ha. A full inch gain at least.
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(Saturday) Day 99 Post Op - Day 7 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening LL'ers,
Not much new to report today. Just wanted to check in. Currently my recovery regiment is as follows:
-Formal Physical Therapy at PT Clinic - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
-Self Physical Therapy at home - 7 Days a week, twice a day, morning and night
-Physical Therapy currently consists of - stretching and strengthening of hamstrings, quads, glutes, hip flexors, areas around knee. Also, includes massage (both deep tissue with hands and the massage gun, as I call it. It pounds my muscles pretty good and helps loosen. Will do about 20-30 minutes of bike per day.
-Walking Training - I walk about 1-2 hours a day with crutches/cane/ or unassisted. Combination of all 3 based on what I am able to tolerate at the moment.
- MISC - Staying as active as I can, taking breaks from sitting and standing up regularly.
Today, my left leg, knee area remains a bit sore; so although I managed to walk quite a bit with cane, I'm going to switch back to crutches for next few days or so. I'd like the inflammation there to heal a bit.
I hope all is well guys. Talk to you soon!
IFS
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Hi IFS
Wow looks like you are still doing lots of PT and workout! That should be very helpful for you to recover. I never went to any clinic or PT after coming back home :P I am just doing very lazy or minor PT (like stretches and walking) by myself but am still recovering. You will recover much faster than I do.
Good luck!!
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Late congratulation on finishing your first phase my man!!!
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Hi IFS
Wow looks like you are still doing lots of PT and workout! That should be very helpful for you to recover. I never went to any clinic or PT after coming back home :P I am just doing very lazy or minor PT (like stretches and walking) by myself but am still recovering. You will recover much faster than I do.
Good luck!!
Thanks for the good thoughts, man. I am indeed working hard. Hope to be walking with a quality gait by July 1st or sooner.
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Late congratulation on finishing your first phase my man!!!
Thanks buddy! How are you doing? If my calculations serves me correctly; you're hovering around the end of the distraction phase? Let me know how you're doing when you can. No rush. Great to hear from you.
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(Sunday) Day 100 Post Op - Day 8 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening LL'ers,
It's hard to believe that I have been at this 100 days. Cosmetic Limb Lengthening is truly a journey. Again, more of the same. I have a feeling that in consolidation the highly impact updates come weekly vs daily; but I'll try to update with my thoughts and CLL related happenings as much as possible, still. I will say that so far, I feel a bit better each day. A bit looser, a bit more mobile, etc. My left leg is feeling a bit better as well and I even did some cane walking today. I can take baby steps unassisted as well. I'm really trying to work on stride length and other gate factors as I continue to heal. There is no pain at all; unless I'm fully bearing weight on my legs for which its not really pain but more like discomfort from muscle weakness and tightness. Again, each day I feel progress.
Another cool thing.. I got out my Statiometer and just measured myself once again..several ticks over my goal of 5'4". It is outstanding that I reached my goal of 3 inches. I'm hoping that the 2nd week of consolidation brings me major gains. I'm working hard...literally, stretching and strengthening for 3+ hours a day. I'd love to be able to 100% ditch crutches and stick to the cane by end of week. We will see how it goes!
Talk soon and all the best,
IFS
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(Sunday) Day 100 Post Op - Day 8 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening LL'ers,
It's hard to believe that I have been at this 100 days. Cosmetic Limb Lengthening is truly a journey. Again, more of the same. I have a feeling that in consolidation the highly impact updates come weekly vs daily; but I'll try to update with my thoughts and CLL related happenings as much as possible, still. I will say that so far, I feel a bit better each day. A bit looser, a bit more mobile, etc. My left leg is feeling a bit better as well and I even did some cane walking today. I can take baby steps unassisted as well. I'm really trying to work on stride length and other gate factors as I continue to heal. There is no pain at all; unless I'm fully bearing weight on my legs for which its not really pain but more like discomfort from muscle weakness and tightness. Again, each day I feel progress.
Another cool thing.. I got out my Statiometer and just measured myself once again..several ticks over my goal of 5'4". It is outstanding that I reached my goal of 3 inches. I'm hoping that the 2nd week of consolidation brings me major gains. I'm working hard...literally, stretching and strengthening for 3+ hours a day. I'd love to be able to 100% ditch crutches and stick to the cane by end of week. We will see how it goes!
Talk soon and all the best,
IFS
Congrats - bro - you're doing really well!
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(Monday) Day 101 Post Op - Day 9 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening LL'ers,
I hope the day is wrapping up nicely for everyone. I had probably my best day since ending distraction. My legs, hips, and lower back were looser than they had been in a while. There is still a ways to go but it was nice to hear my physical therapist say that there is a marked improvement in my hip mobility. I'm wound up pretty tight and things are starting to loosen up. As far as my walking goes; I'm walking unassisted, I'm walking with crutches, and I'm walking with a cane....basically whatever i can handle. At this current date, I'm mainly using crutches because my left leg is sore. Since the start; the left leg has trailed the right leg in its healing; so I must be patient and keep working on it. The great news is that I can stand on one foot for a very long time for either leg. It's just a matter of soft tissues healing and loosening up a bit. My goal is to be using the cane almost exclusively by the end of the month or sooner. We shall see. Guys, other than that; not to much to report. Work is great and I can feel myself getting better slowly.
All the best,
IFS
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Hello In Full Stryde,
I've been keeping up with your journal and want to preface by thanking you for keeping such a transparent journal about your journey. I know I've learned a great deal from your forum and I'm sure many others have as well.
One question I've been wondering since following your journey are your thoughts about how the STRYDE nail performed compared to your expectations of it? Did you expect walking to be easier after the first few months than it was, a faster recovery to normal walking gate, or would you say your expectations in terms of recovery and regaining normal walking have exceeded what you expected?
Thank you again for keeping such a detailed journal.
Best,
Michael
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Hello In Full Stryde,
I've been keeping up with your journal and want to preface by thanking you for keeping such a transparent journal about your journey. I know I've learned a great deal from your forum and I'm sure many others have as well.
One question I've been wondering since following your journey are your thoughts about how the STRYDE nail performed compared to your expectations of it? Did you expect walking to be easier after the first few months than it was, a faster recovery to normal walking gate, or would you say your expectations in terms of recovery and regaining normal walking have exceeded what you expected?
Thank you again for keeping such a detailed journal.
Best,
Michael
Hi Michael,
First - I very much appreciate the fact that you have come along this journey with me as a reader, observer and your kind thoughts are helpful to what is a challenging process even for the strongest. Your questions are outstanding for community insight. I'll break them down and answer each below:
One question I've been wondering since following your journey are your thoughts about how the STRYDE nail performed compared to your expectations of it?
The Stryde nail has been everything I could have expected, hoped for and then some. The nail is truly weight bearing and to that end, I have been able to take advantage of this fact by standing full weight on the nail since the first day. The accuracy of the lengthening has been incredible and surprisingly great. The entire process on the technology side has been streamlined, straight forward, and without confusion. It's incredible to me how I have these two nails in my legs that I can't even feel and I was able to painlessly lengthen my legs through magnets on both the nail and ERC apparatus. Stryde is truly a game changer and I am so blessed to have been able to move forward with this surgery on the Stryde technology vs. the Precise 2.2.
Did you expect walking to be easier after the first few months than it was, a faster recovery to normal walking gate, or would you say your expectations in terms of recovery and regaining normal walking have exceeded what you expected?
This question begs reflection, honesty, and transparency. I'm going to provide all 3 to the community. My idea of CLL, to begin with, was that it would be for lack of better terms, "really hard". I had known of CLL for over 2 decades and gave up the imagining of it completely because there was just no way I would be okay with the external fixation through my shins. Also, I was only 17 years old at the time and wasn't willing to allow my parents to invest so much money, time, energy and displacement, in order to help me achieve an extra inch or 2. 20 years, go by and here I am...37 years old and in a position to completely finance the entire procedure on my own. The idea of CLL wasn't even one I was taking seriously but when you have that lingering thought in the back of your head similar to..."gosh, ... 2 to 3 added inches would be most helpful"; you just start to gravitate toward options. Low and behold, after performing some research I learned of the intramedullary rods that are placed within the femurs and can offer 3 inches of height gain in a relatively safe manner. So I decided to dive in deeper and I stumble upon this forum. Here, I review the diary after diary and also learn of the new Stryde nail. One of my primary angsts with CLL was how the precise requires individuals to be primarily wheelchair and very partially walker bound for nearly 5 months before they are truly able to take steps. Now, now...I know there are exceptions to this rule; but the general order of things was 4-5 months of mostly sitting. So, with this in mind; I was still interested in CLL; but not excited at the prospects. I went in for a consultation and with Dr. M to learn more in September of 2018 and low and behold he has just gotten his hands on Styrde. This nail would allow me to train and push my legs from day 1 and if I could tolerate it...I could even stand and walk...worse case I could use a walker and crutches in full bearing capacity. Well, that is exactly what I have done. Okay, now that I have rambled for a bit; let me answer directly below:
My expectation was truly unknown as it related to my walking and my gait progress during this process. I had very tight soft tissue before the procedure, lacked flexibility and to be completely honest with you I have not done alot of walking around in years. It just turned out this way; so, as a result, I found out that I have very tight hipflexors as well. In the back of my mind, I knew that my recovery could likely take a bit more work and time than your average person, much less your gymnastics pro. In my mind, I saw the Styrde nail as a way to OVERCOME some of my inate challenges of tightness; being that I could remain mobile throughout to prevent over stiffness. I don't gamble much, but i was right..Styrde did this for me. I truly believe that had I been on lengthening technology other than Stryde that I would of had a much more difficult recovery ahead of me. As it stands now at 3 months and oh, about 10 days... I can balance on each foot with full body weight and take steps that are good enough to train with. I believe that compared to other, younger and more flexible patients I'm likely behind the curve; but as far as my expectation, I think I'm right where I imagined I would be. I hope this all made sense :-). One other challenge that is unexpected and I want to inform other patients of is that "you never know" factor. My left leg, from the start, has been a nuisance. The left leg has seen its good days and its bad; but all in all, I've had to compensate for it. I'm glad to report that today its feeling good.
As an actual patient of Stryde, I believe that a person can be walking decently by month 3 or 4 if they are flexible and in good shape before surgery. An average to sub flexible person, I believe can expect to start seeing the walking "light" if you will around month 5 or 6. Either way, you're still ahead of the curve. My goal at the moment is to be fully using only a cane by May 1st, with a dash of unassisted walking. By June, I would like to be walking unassisted. I'll keep everyone closely tied into my story and we will see how it goes.
Again, I hoped this perspective helped and I'm on your side CLL'ers. Feel free to reach out with any questions.
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(Tuesday) Day 102 Post Op - Day 10 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening LL'ers,
I hope all is well. Another decent day today. Each day get's a bit better and better. I'm took about 1000 steps today, full weight bearing with crutches support (just to keep my balance). During which time, I usually sprinkle in some unassisted walking to test my gait. My legs are definitely getting stronger! My main objective at this time is to strengthen and increase flexibility in my legs so that walking feels more natural. As mentioned before I can stand on one foot, for each leg for minutes at a time with no issue. Things are looking good. I just got home from the office; so not much to talk about for now; but feel free to reach out if any questions. My next follow up visit with Dr. M with X-Rays in on April 26th. We'll see how everything is looking in a couple of weeks!
Talk soon,
IFS
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Note off topic.
So i have a wrong perception of height, i saw a guy in the school today and i think he was about 5'7 but he said he is 5'5.
As soon as I am a "specialist" in height, I imagine that people can not differentiate between 5'4 to 5'6 "very well. So if you ask yourself your height, you have a margin of lie. I particulary lie and 2 inches my actual height, and no one ever suspects.
I know it sounds like something strange and fake coming from me, but this is normal phenomenon that usually happens in my school. People compare themselves physically constantly, even more that I am more muscular I am constantly receiving positive comments. But they never told me I'm tall.
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Sorry but that’s not true.
5.5 to 5.7 maybe but not 5.4!!!
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(Wednesday) Day 103 Post Op - Day 11 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening LL'ers,
Another day behind me! It went well. Each day, I tell ya, it gets better once you stop lengthening. I'm still tight; but much much looser than I was a week ago. My physical Therapist keeps mentioning how much better its getting; as he hacks away at my hips with the jackhammer aka massage gun, lol. I walked another 1000 steps with crutch support and mixed in both cane and unassisted walking. My personal timeline is to be 100% cane by end of month and then ween off cane to unassisted walking in the weeks there after. One positive aspect is that I can walk with no assistance now; but my legs do get sore so I continue my walking workouts with crutch support. We're getting there folks. Was tempted to send a video of my gait today, but I decided, to be fair to those going through CLL; its a better sampling to wait until 3 weeks post distraction. At that time, there would have been some decent healing in bone and a bit of healing of the soft tissue. So, we'll wait until next weekend for X-Rays and a Gait Video. As I mentioned; I'm doing everything I need to on my own, from driving, to shopping, to working in the office full time. I'm 'somewhat' back to normal. The last piece of the puzzle is to get back to walking. We'll get there....day by day.
If you have any questions feel free to reach out!
All the best,
-IFS
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Hi IFS
Everything looks good! Keep up the good work! You will walk much better soon!
Best,
Ghostfish
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Hi IFS
Everything looks good! Keep up the good work! You will walk much better soon!
Best,
Ghostfish
Thank you, GhostFish. Appreciate the good thoughts and encouragement!
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(Wednesday) Day 103 Post Op - Day 11 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening LL'ers,
Another day behind me! It went well. Each day, I tell ya, it gets better once you stop lengthening. I'm still tight; but much much looser than I was a week ago. My physical Therapist keeps mentioning how much better its getting; as he hacks away at my hips with the jackhammer aka massage gun, lol. I walked another 1000 steps with crutch support and mixed in both cane and unassisted walking. My personal timeline is to be 100% cane by end of month and then ween off cane to unassisted walking in the weeks there after. One positive aspect is that I can walk with no assistance now; but my legs do get sore so I continue my walking workouts with crutch support. We're getting there folks. Was tempted to send a video of my gait today, but I decided, to be fair to those going through CLL; its a better sampling to wait until 3 weeks post distraction. At that time, there would have been some decent healing in bone and a bit of healing of the soft tissue. So, we'll wait until next weekend for X-Rays and a Gait Video. As I mentioned; I'm doing everything I need to on my own, from driving, to shopping, to working in the office full time. I'm 'somewhat' back to normal. The last piece of the puzzle is to get back to walking. We'll get there....day by day.
If you have any questions feel free to reach out!
All the best,
-IFS
Hey IFS - congrats - sounds like things are going well - and anytime you feel comfortable sending out the video - we'll all be excited to see it I'm sure!
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Hey IFS - congrats - sounds like things are going well - and anytime you feel comfortable sending out the video - we'll all be excited to see it I'm sure!
Thanks, man. One day at a time. :-)
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(Thursday) Day 104 Post Op - Day 12 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening LL'ers,
So far the trend continues... each day I feel looser and looser. I will say that specifically, i have some tightness that wraps around my quads so it creates a lil "ouch" when I do "high knees" without warming up; like when you just pop up to get something from the fridge, etc. So I'm continuing to stretch, stretch, stretch, and strengthen. My infamous duck ass is improving because I'm walking a lot, and working my abs and glutes a couple of times a day. Additionally, the stretching of my quads and hip flexors are loosening me up little by little.
I visited the mall today with my sister and it was great. I needed a pair of glasses. I started out with crutches; but by the end of my Mall visit, I let go of them for a bit and walked unassisted. My gait looked pretty decent! (according to my sister, lol). Steps felt tight; but just a bit better than the day before. Little by little, we will get there. Nothing much to report, guys. Oh, one thing - my sleep is good now. I am sleeping with no real issue. It's not 100% normal because you still feel some tightness discomfort; however, it's not painful and I'm probably averaging a good 5-7 hours of sleep now. I'll reach out with a new update this weekend.
Talk soon and all the best!
IFS
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Thanks buddy! How are you doing? If my calculations serves me correctly; you're hovering around the end of the distraction phase? Let me know how you're doing when you can. No rush. Great to hear from you.
Yes. I also stopped at around 3 inches :D The thing is one of my leg is 2 mm behind the other. I am not sure if its worth it to keep it lengthened until they are both equal. Both of my legs feel pretty tight now so I just want to stop already :))
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Yes. I also stopped at around 3 inches :D The thing is one of my leg is 2 mm behind the other. I am not sure if its worth it to keep it lengthened until they are both equal. Both of my legs feel pretty tight now so I just want to stop already :))
Hi Singapore! Great to hear from you. 2mm is not anything to really worry about. You can't feel that difference; nevertheless; you could always lengthen it maybe 1 more day. But YESSSS, near the end, me too. I just wanted to stop lengthening, already. This is a long journey. Good luck in your recovery and feel free to check in on how you're doing when you have the chance. The community would love to know how you're doing.
Talk soon,
IFS
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(Friday) Day 105 Post Op - Day 13 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening CLL'ers,
Another day in the books. Today was good...and the trend continues...I'm feeling just a tad better each day.
I'll be straight to the point for today. I am now 100% walking via cane. I move slowly and have a tight gait but am fully utilizing the cane now to get around work, home, and PT clinic, etc. As you all well know...A cane is full weight bearing and can only be relied upon for balance. I am now at this stage....
My challenges at this time are pretty straight forward:
1) Tightness - Stretching and being patient for muscles to continue adaptation with new bone length.
2) Anterior Pelvic Tilt (Duck Ass) - By far the most annoying issue. All I can do is stretch hip flexors and work out glutes and abs. In time the Pelvis shall rise again! lol
3) Muscle Strength - Legs actually do feel quite strong; but they can improve. Will continue to follow my daily commitment to get stronger by walking and doing exercises.
That is all for now you guys. I'll be headed out to Dr. M's in exactly 1 week from today for X-Rays and follow up details. I hope everyone is doing well and feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions.
All the best,
IFS
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What stretch you do to deal with tightness?
What strengthen exercises?
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Hi WGT,
I do the following stretches/strengthening, below. I continue to add more and mix up my routine as well. The following examples can be used as a well rounded routine for all CLL'ers for before or after cll surgery. Mix this in with physical therapy massage and treatment. etc and you're going to achieve your goal.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Walking
I try to take at least 1000 steps per day and am reminding myself to stand up out of my chair every 45 minutes take some steps, stretch out a bit.
Hip Flexor Stretches
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ex8BUIwsgg
Knee to Chest (Quads/Hip Flexors):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hVZ4rc2_3Y
Protected Hamstrings (Hamstrings)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki8ZaeXmkaM
Lying down Hip Flexors (Quads/Hip Flexors)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxrUIgq739I
Thomas Stretch (Quads / Hip Flexors, Great for resolving APT)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmGayCLyIC0
Hip Abduction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxWissvKVj0
Front Leg Raises (Quads)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XudXPbq-Cvs
Ball squeezes (Grown/Inner Thigh)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNsiAiFLF68
Prone Quad Stretch (Quads)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q27pGhhQ2c
Stand and Sits (Glutes, Hips, Hams, Quads)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yxfzyzEzBY
Balance on One Foot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc62Ju2kUAc
Correct Anterior Pelvic Tilt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T69N5A0GzrI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGLQS_ArIMY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvTJo2jfYg4
Cable squats/Puts (Use bands if you do not have cable weight machine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UH4MNTJnjA
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Hey IFS,
You continue to inspire many of us with your diligent diary posts and your general experience with this surgery. Really awesome stuff brother, keep up the great work!
If you don't mind, I would really appreciate your advice. I have my pre-op next week and surgery in about 3 weeks. I am going to start putting together items I may need and order necessities like a walker, wheelchair, and a cane. Those seem like the most urgent items. I was really hoping to get your input on which walker and wheelchair to buy. I assume any cane will do? If you found other additional items useful to you, please throw them my way.
I wanted to order them now so that I don't fall into a frenzy later. I already am very nervous about this surgery, and I am sure it will only intensify in the next 3 weeks as I get closer to the date!
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Thanks a lot!
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Hey IFS,
You continue to inspire many of us with your diligent diary posts and your general experience with this surgery. Really awesome stuff brother, keep up the great work!
If you don't mind, I would really appreciate your advice. I have my pre-op next week and surgery in about 3 weeks. I am going to start putting together items I may need and order necessities like a walker, wheelchair, and a cane. Those seem like the most urgent items. I was really hoping to get your input on which walker and wheelchair to buy. I assume any cane will do? If you found other additional items useful to you, please throw them my way.
I wanted to order them now so that I don't fall into a frenzy later. I already am very nervous about this surgery, and I am sure it will only intensify in the next 3 weeks as I get closer to the date!
Tiggy, I appreciate the kind words and boy don't I know about that feeling just before CLL. It's a very humbling one. On one hand you know you're about to enter into a difficult unknown; but then on the other hand you know that you're about to, once and for all, destroy your height dysphoria and re-emerge a new man, re-imagined on your terms. I can't wait to hear about your journey. Keep us posted, hopefully! Who is your doctor?
Here are some tips per yours questions above:
Wheelchair - I recommend a model that allows you to recline. Truth is that you're likely going to spend quite a bit of time, during the 1st month in a wheelchair since you're legs will still be healing from surgical pain and of course your legs are weakened at this point. At those moments where you want to simply rest and/or take a nap; you will not have the desire, strength, energy to constantly be trying to transfer your self to the bed since this will be painful. The below link is to a well-reviewed recliner wheel chair that I believe will work great for you. My wheel chair was not recliner and boy don't I wish I had one for those first couple of months especially. You'll benefit from this. You may even decide to sleep from it for 1 week; if transfer is far to painful.
Recliner Wheelchair https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-SSP20RBDDA-Wheelchair-Detachable/dp/B005JIKB70/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=reclining+wheelchair&qid=1555733783&s=gateway&sr=8-4
Walker - I recommend a walker that has wheels in front. As you gain strength; you'll appreciate the ability to push on the walker to proceed forward. At the beginning when you are struggling to walk; you'll appreciate the non wheeled side for stability. I also recommend including a bag to attach to the walker; so that you can easily transfer things from one place to another. I am also going to include a link to a tray that works great for placing your dinner dishes, etc, as needed.
Walker - https://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Button-Folding-Walker-5-Inch/dp/B001HOM4U2/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=walker+with+wheels&qid=1555734049&s=gateway&sr=8-3
Walker Bag - https://www.amazon.com/Walker-Bag-Vive-Accessory-Attachment/dp/B01AOBN78Q/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=walker+bag&qid=1555734234&s=gateway&sr=8-3
Walker Tray - https://www.amazon.com/Jobar-47903800-Walker-Tray-Jb4790/dp/B00Q5C91J8/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=walker+tray&qid=1555734250&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1
Cane - This is an easy one. I recommend the below. Do not rush to use the cane; just go your own pace.
https://www.amazon.com/Medline-Offset-Handle-Cane-Black/dp/B000BJBH3Y/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=cane&qid=1555734285&s=gateway&sr=8-4
Crutches - You will likely graduated to crutches after walker. Below is a good option. Arm crutches are best for this.
https://www.amazon.com/Medline-MDS805160-Aluminum-Forearm-Crutches/dp/B00LOLL29C/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2E8S8E8TN0EGT&keywords=arm+crutches+for+adults&qid=1555734326&s=gateway&sprefix=arm+crut%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-5
---
I'll see if I can find some time to put together a tool kit for the community in the coming days so that prospect CLL'ers have the basics covered. I'll make sure to direct this over to you!
All the best,
IFS
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Tiggy, I appreciate the kind words and boy don't I know about that feeling just before CLL. It's a very humbling one. On one hand you know you're about to enter into a difficult unknown; but then on the other hand you know that you're about to, once and for all, destroy your height dysphoria and re-emerge a new man, re-imagined on your terms. I can't wait to hear about your journey. Keep us posted, hopefully! Who is your doctor?
Here are some tips per yours questions above:
Wheelchair - I recommend a model that allows you to recline. Truth is that you're likely going to spend quite a bit of time, during the 1st month in a wheelchair since you're legs will still be healing from surgical pain and of course your legs are weakened at this point. At those moments where you want to simply rest and/or take a nap; you will not have the desire, strength, energy to constantly be trying to transfer your self to the bed since this will be painful. The below link is to a well-reviewed recliner wheel chair that I believe will work great for you. My wheel chair was not recliner and boy don't I wish I had one for those first couple of months especially. You'll benefit from this. You may even decide to sleep from it for 1 week; if transfer is far to painful.
Dude, tips from someone who's in the thick of it and knows how to be resourceful is so valuable. Feel a bit guilty to ask you to keep these tips coming. I'm piecing all my own ideas together based on your diary.
And congrats on 100% cane walking a little more than 3 months out.
P.S. thanks for that last video : )
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Dude, tips from someone who's in the thick of it and knows how to be resourceful is so valuable. Feel a bit guilty to ask you to keep these tips coming. I'm piecing all my own ideas together based on your diary.
And congrats on 100% cane walking a little more than 3 months out.
P.S. thanks for that last video : )
Glad I can help, man! I'll be creating that CLL tool kit here shortly for everyone. That last video was also my favorite. lol
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Tiggy, I appreciate the kind words and boy don't I know about that feeling just before CLL. It's a very humbling one. On one hand you know you're about to enter into a difficult unknown; but then on the other hand you know that you're about to, once and for all, destroy your height dysphoria and re-emerge a new man, re-imagined on your terms. I can't wait to hear about your journey. Keep us posted, hopefully! Who is your doctor?
Here are some tips per yours questions above:
Wheelchair - I recommend a model that allows you to recline. Truth is that you're likely going to spend quite a bit of time, during the 1st month in a wheelchair since you're legs will still be healing from surgical pain and of course your legs are weakened at this point. At those moments where you want to simply rest and/or take a nap; you will not have the desire, strength, energy to constantly be trying to transfer your self to the bed since this will be painful. The below link is to a well-reviewed recliner wheel chair that I believe will work great for you. My wheel chair was not recliner and boy don't I wish I had one for those first couple of months especially. You'll benefit from this. You may even decide to sleep from it for 1 week; if transfer is far to painful.
Recliner Wheelchair https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-SSP20RBDDA-Wheelchair-Detachable/dp/B005JIKB70/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=reclining+wheelchair&qid=1555733783&s=gateway&sr=8-4
Walker - I recommend a walker that has wheels in front. As you gain strength; you'll appreciate the ability to push on the walker to proceed forward. At the beginning when you are struggling to walk; you'll appreciate the non wheeled side for stability. I also recommend including a bag to attach to the walker; so that you can easily transfer things from one place to another. I am also going to include a link to a tray that works great for placing your dinner dishes, etc, as needed.
Walker - https://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Button-Folding-Walker-5-Inch/dp/B001HOM4U2/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=walker+with+wheels&qid=1555734049&s=gateway&sr=8-3
Walker Bag - https://www.amazon.com/Walker-Bag-Vive-Accessory-Attachment/dp/B01AOBN78Q/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=walker+bag&qid=1555734234&s=gateway&sr=8-3
Walker Tray - https://www.amazon.com/Jobar-47903800-Walker-Tray-Jb4790/dp/B00Q5C91J8/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=walker+tray&qid=1555734250&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1
Cane - This is an easy one. I recommend the below. Do not rush to use the cane; just go your own pace.
https://www.amazon.com/Medline-Offset-Handle-Cane-Black/dp/B000BJBH3Y/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=cane&qid=1555734285&s=gateway&sr=8-4
Crutches - You will likely graduated to crutches after walker. Below is a good option. Arm crutches are best for this.
https://www.amazon.com/Medline-MDS805160-Aluminum-Forearm-Crutches/dp/B00LOLL29C/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2E8S8E8TN0EGT&keywords=arm+crutches+for+adults&qid=1555734326&s=gateway&sprefix=arm+crut%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-5
---
I'll see if I can find some time to put together a tool kit for the community in the coming days so that prospect CLL'ers have the basics covered. I'll make sure to direct this over to you!
All the best,
IFS
Hey InFullStryde! Do you think this varies by individual? I've read a few stride diaries and it doesn't look like they've needed to be in a wheelchair for the first month.
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Hey InFullStryde! Do you think this varies by individual? I've read a few stride diaries and it doesn't look like they've needed to be in a wheelchair for the first month.
Ok i have tried to not post here but i suspected this diary would confuse future stryde patients.
Im worried youre going to write some kind of toolkit because the LL process in this diary is way off what is normal. Your toolkit is going to ill advise people I hope you can stick to info about stretching, nutritions and LL price. And not things like «rest in bed first month to heal from
surgery wounds.»
To future stryde patients reading:
You walk on walker day 2 postop. Crutches day 4. (Crutchless for short distances inside the house. )
There is NO wheelchair needed. I am lengthening right now and know other Stryde patients too. Its false info to say you need wheelchair and be bed ridden. I travelled through airports postop 6 days. When i got home i walked crutchless inside house. Drove car. Bought groceries on crutches. I make food crutchless, shower etc
Sitting on wheelchair or bed all day is how not to do LL when you have a weightbearing nail.
Of course its painful first time walking but thats how body heals stronger. You beat the out of your cells, supply body nutritions and it will heal them and next day you will walk even longer.
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Ok i have gone back and read more of this diary and its really shocking some of the advices you are giving? Sleep on wheelchair because its hard to transfer to bed? What the actual fk?
I suspect OP has had «health issues» before surgery that we are not aware of. Thats why when you read something on internet, not only on this forum, you dont know the other person. It can be someone with cp, downs syndrome or other serious issues. Always be skeptical to what u read here. Follow ur body and surgeons advice. Always
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Ok i have tried to not post here but i suspected this diary would confuse future stryde patients.
Im worried youre going to write some kind of toolkit because the LL process in this diary is way off what is normal. Your toolkit is going to ill advise people I hope you can stick to info about stretching, nutritions and LL price. And not things like «rest in bed first month to heal from
surgery wounds.»
To future stryde patients reading:
You walk on walker day 2 postop. Crutches day 4. (Crutchless for short distances inside the house. )
There is NO wheelchair needed. I am lengthening right now and know other Stryde patients too. Its false info to say you need wheelchair and be bed ridden. I travelled through airports postop 6 days. When i got home i walked crutchless inside house. Drove car. Bought groceries on crutches. I make food crutchless, shower etc
Sitting on wheelchair or bed all day is how not to do LL when you have a weightbearing nail.
Of course its painful first time walking but thats how body heals stronger. You beat the out of your cells, supply body nutritions and it will heal them and next day you will walk even longer.
Hi ned_flanders
I think what you said is also not completely general. I did lengthening with Stryde. I just barely stood up with walker 2 days postop. Then I was able to use walker without aid after 5-7 days postop. I started using crutches after 2-3 weeks postop and until I came home. Of course, I tried walked with or without a cane but that was just small steps indoor. I also felt I have much more pain than others during the whole process. Perhaps I am an old patient.
The bottom line is that people are different. IFS's diary is about his experience, which could be very helpful to others. Of course, other people will or should take into account that his diary is about his experience so they may experience differently.
Wish you the best of luck in your journey for the CLL!
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Hi ned_flanders
I think what you said is also not completely general. I did lengthening with Stryde. I just barely stood up with walker 2 days postop. Then I was able to use walker without aid after 5-7 days postop. I started using crutches after 2-3 weeks postop and until I came home. Of course, I tried walked with or without a cane but that was just small steps indoor. I also felt I have much more pain than others during the whole process. Perhaps I am an old patient.
The bottom line is that people are different. IFS's diary is about his experience, which could be very helpful to others. Of course, other people will or should take into account that his diary is about his experience so they may experience differently.
Wish you the best of luck in your journey for the CLL!
If you had pushed through the pain you would be able to walk. Blood, sweat and tears.
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If you had pushed through the pain you would be able to walk. Blood, sweat and tears.
Hey, good for you, tough guy! However, not everybody is as tough as you. Yet I still managed to lengthen a quite amount and my recovery is not bad.
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He is not a tough guy , most of you is just weak. Totally different thing. Betz patients are encourage to walk as soon as possible, they often stand few hours after the surgery so using the walker after 2 days and crutches after 4 days seems absolutely normal.
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Hey InFullStryde! Do you think this varies by individual? I've read a few stride diaries and it doesn't look like they've needed to be in a wheelchair for the first month.
Jaybam - Appreciate your question. You're 100% on point. Everyone is different and their experience will be unique. Here are my basic stats again, for those just jumping on the diary and have not read through:
I'm 37, Low to Average Flexibility before surgery. I could touch my toes; but very tight hips. Stretched a ton a few months before surgery; but that likely didn't help much. Although I appear to be in pretty good shape; It is my upper body that is very strong. My legs were not very strong, average at best and I hadn't even walked much over the years. So imagine this... If I'm experiencing positive results so far at the state I just described; your experience just might be that much better! It's something to be excited about. Potential is everything at times.
Here is a break down of my transitions roughly and note that by "Graduating" to the next level of assisted device or no device at all; does not mean that the other devices do not still have value to you throughout the LL process. I use all my assisted devices to go along with my unassisted walking status to help me through various situations. Safety is always going to be a top priority so be careful.
Transitions Summary
Week 1: Wheelchair and Walker
Week 2 - 4: Walker/Crutches (Still kept Wheelchair around for long distances) and unassisted walking used for small distances on occasion.
Week 5 - 12: Crutches/Cane (Still keep Wheelchair for distances, and used walker to navigate awkward steps, example my home gym, or to perform supported stretches, or when needing my hands to grab something with hands, and unassisted walking used for small distances on occasion.
Week 13+: Cane and now more aggressive and frequent unassisted walking now that my distraction period is completed. (I'm looking forward to posting a video of my walking gait next weekend!)
Additional notes on transitions and weight bearing:
Stryde nail allows you to weight bear from the first day. After the first week (or sooner for some), you might be able to stand up on your own two feet and do things like brush your teeth, pour a bowl of cereal, etc. If you review my entire diary (Which is more like a novel at this point), you'll see that Stryde allowed me to be fairly active, pretty early in the CLL process versus the older precise 2.2. Note that, week 3 is a big turning point for many as far as being flexible enough and painless enough to advance their activaties.
I think I read somewhere about "bed-ridden" in a previous reply post. No way guys. I actually implore you to stay out of bed and be as active as possible; without risking set back injuries. For me, personally the bed was the most uncomfortable place to be in during lengthening. I advise that you take a good look at a recliner chair and/or reclining wheelchair, since a wheelchair can service as a necessity for you. Let's be practical fellas...keep those receipts and return these devices if you do not need them or got little use from them. Be as active as possible. Since week 2/3, I would place a timer of 45 minutes next to me and be sure to get up every 45 minutes at most to stretch a bit, stand up, walk, etc.
More regarding weight bearing - You'll be able to take walking steps unassisted as early as the 7 days and it could be as long as one month. Could be sooner for some and longer for others. Everyone is unique and its important for you to not be discouraged if you feel you are recovering more slowly. CLL is a process and takes considerable time no matter how you look at things. Either way, most patients will want to have assisted support near by; so I advise prospect CLL'ers overcompensate a bit in the early going. You can always dial it down as you discover just how great your situation and recovery truly is.
I hope that the details of my experience have been helpful. I would say that it would be my hope that this diary help to "over prepare" you for this experience!
Guys, thanks again for your time and reviewing my diary. I just finished my stretches and now I'm going to hit the home gym for some upper body work. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out.
Be good to each other and all the best,
IFS
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He is not a tough guy , most of you is just weak. Totally different thing. Betz patients are encourage to walk as soon as possible, they often stand few hours after the surgery so using the walker after 2 days and crutches after 4 days seems absolutely normal.
Hey did you do CLL with Betz?
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Thanks IFS, really appreciate your insightful list.
Ned is correct in a sense that we should push through the pain at times to recover faster. But at the same time, over exertion and doing too much too soon leads to inflammation, which then causes a lot of pain, which then sets you back in terms of recovery. I have read a number of diaries where patients do too much and suffer from such inflammation. For example, Evolution's diary talks about this. He even stated that other Paley patients who did not over-exert themselves, unlike him, and instead rested the first week or so post-op instead of doing too much actually ended up not using pain killers as much and still recovering well and meeting their goals. With that said, I think it is wise not to put a lot of pressure on the body too soon after surgery, because after all, we had just given the body a major shock and it must be given time to recover somewhat before we dive into increased physical activity. So in this sense, having a wheelchair the first week or so may be very helpful. It really all boils down to the advice of the doctor, as well as your general philosophy on how best to proceed through the process.
I will order the things you had listed, but will hold off on the wheelchair until I speak to the staff next week during my pre-op. To answer your question, my Dr. is Rozbruch.
And I couldn't have described the feelings pre-LL better than you! All the emotions flowing through are very interesting. In a sense, I think I am absolutely insane to put my body through this all because of an insecurity about my height. And this feeling makes me nervous and quite scared of the uncertainties and potential complications. However, deep inside I know that LL will continue dwelling in the back of my mind, just like it has the past 8 yrs, and it becomes a disease almost in a sense that you are tortured because you know it must be done. All the while you grapple with how insane all of this makes you feel. Again not generalizing here, I am simply describing MY own feelings about this process. I am sure all these feelings will only intensify as the big day gets closer.
Anyway thanks again for that list. You are always there to advise and to help out man. Really means a great deal to me.
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Thanks IFS, really appreciate your insightful list.
Ned is correct in a sense that we should push through the pain at times to recover faster. But at the same time, over exertion and doing too much too soon leads to inflammation, which then causes a lot of pain, which then sets you back in terms of recovery. I have read a number of diaries where patients do too much and suffer from such inflammation. For example, Evolution's diary talks about this. He even stated that other Paley patients who did not over-exert themselves, unlike him, and instead rested the first week or so post-op instead of doing too much actually ended up not using pain killers as much and still recovering well and meeting their goals. With that said, I think it is wise not to put a lot of pressure on the body too soon after surgery, because after all, we had just given the body a major shock and it must be given time to recover somewhat before we dive into increased physical activity. So in this sense, having a wheelchair the first week or so may be very helpful. It really all boils down to the advice of the doctor, as well as your general philosophy on how best to proceed through the process.
I will order the things you had listed, but will hold off on the wheelchair until I speak to the staff next week during my pre-op. To answer your question, my Dr. is Rozbruch.
And I couldn't have described the feelings pre-LL better than you! All the emotions flowing through are very interesting. In a sense, I think I am absolutely insane to put my body through this all because of an insecurity about my height. And this feeling makes me nervous and quite scared of the uncertainties and potential complications. However, deep inside I know that LL will continue dwelling in the back of my mind, just like it has the past 8 yrs, and it becomes a disease almost in a sense that you are tortured because you know it must be done. All the while you grapple with how insane all of this makes you feel. Again not generalizing here, I am simply describing MY own feelings about this process. I am sure all these feelings will only intensify as the big day gets closer.
Anyway thanks again for that list. You are always there to advise and to help out man. Really means a great deal to me.
I'm on your side, Tiggy! I'll see about putting together some more tips and tricks with some time left over before your surgery. Dr. R is world class. You're in great hands!
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(Saturday) Day 106 Post Op - Day 14 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening CLL'ers,
I hope the weekend has been a good one so far. Quick update. Today, once again, was the best day I have had so far with these legs. I was able to take 5000 steps and am moving around pretty well unassisted. My primary challenge right now is my Anterior Pelvic Tilt. I am working on that daily and it will take some time to resolve. Other than that things are going well. I'll update again tomorrow!
All the best,
-IFS
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Thanks IFS, really appreciate your insightful list.
Ned is correct in a sense that we should push through the pain at times to recover faster. But at the same time, over exertion and doing too much too soon leads to inflammation, which then causes a lot of pain, which then sets you back in terms of recovery. I have read a number of diaries where patients do too much and suffer from such inflammation. For example, Evolution's diary talks about this. He even stated that other Paley patients who did not over-exert themselves, unlike him, and instead rested the first week or so post-op instead of doing too much actually ended up not using pain killers as much and still recovering well and meeting their goals. With that said, I think it is wise not to put a lot of pressure on the body too soon after surgery, because after all, we had just given the body a major shock and it must be given time to recover somewhat before we dive into increased physical activity. So in this sense, having a wheelchair the first week or so may be very helpful. It really all boils down to the advice of the doctor, as well as your general philosophy on how best to proceed through the process.
I will order the things you had listed, but will hold off on the wheelchair until I speak to the staff next week during my pre-op. To answer your question, my Dr. is Rozbruch.
And I couldn't have described the feelings pre-LL better than you! All the emotions flowing through are very interesting. In a sense, I think I am absolutely insane to put my body through this all because of an insecurity about my height. And this feeling makes me nervous and quite scared of the uncertainties and potential complications. However, deep inside I know that LL will continue dwelling in the back of my mind, just like it has the past 8 yrs, and it becomes a disease almost in a sense that you are tortured because you know it must be done. All the while you grapple with how insane all of this makes you feel. Again not generalizing here, I am simply describing MY own feelings about this process. I am sure all these feelings will only intensify as the big day gets closer.
Anyway thanks again for that list. You are always there to advise and to help out man. Really means a great deal to me.
Hi tiggy
You got the point! Generally working hard is good but too much working hard could be worse for patients. Plus people are all different. You have to listen to your body. Of course that does not mean no exercise is fine. You need to push yourself quite hard to get your goal but still always listen to your body. I am an old patient but I think I pushed myself enough to get what I planned. I am also recovering quite well although it could be better if I do more exercise. I just don't have much time for it these days.
Dr. R is one of the best in this field. You will be taken a good care of by his team. Wish you the best of luck!
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ISF
Like everyone I want to thank you for sharing your experiences on a daily basis.
Thank you also for continuing to post after the end of your lengthening process, during the recovering time.
I read that you wanted to make a guide in my opinion it's a great idea because I saw very few diaries talking about this kind of topic.
You should do it not only for people who want to do LL in the United States with stryde but also for all the others because there are in my opinion fundamentals not to neglect and many people and even surgeons never talk about it.
From my point of view it would be important to talk about the following technical points.
Preoperative conditions. That is, the physical and physiological state of the patient. Are you fit Are you athletic, flexible, muscular, smoker ect ...
Knowing the tibia femur ratio and bust leg ratio
Know the health of your bones.
Many patients go into LL without having ever done bone densitometry and their surgeon does not even ask them to do it.
If unfortunately you have osteoporosis, because of the nail is fixed to thebone if the bone is weak the nail will not be able to hold the weight even with Stryde.
Another very important parameter in my opinion which is not the responsibility of the surgeon is the medical insurance to contract if something ever went wrong.
If you have a problem in the bone distraction process and you have to do an other surgery, it may be very expensive. And obviously that require more time than you had planned at the beginning and prevent you from working and making money.
So you need good insurance and nobody or at least very few people talk about it. I suppose as wise men that she seems to be you get a medical insurance. Could you talk to us about it?
Thank you wish you the best.
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ISF
Like everyone I want to thank you for sharing your experiences on a daily basis.
Thank you also for continuing to post after the end of your lengthening process, during the recovering time.
I read that you wanted to make a guide in my opinion it's a great idea because I saw very few diaries talking about this kind of topic.
You should do it not only for people who want to do LL in the United States with stryde but also for all the others because there are in my opinion fundamentals not to neglect and many people and even surgeons never talk about it.
From my point of view it would be important to talk about the following technical points.
Preoperative conditions. That is, the physical and physiological state of the patient. Are you fit Are you athletic, flexible, muscular, smoker ect ...
Knowing the tibia femur ratio and bust leg ratio
Know the health of your bones.
Many patients go into LL without having ever done bone densitometry and their surgeon does not even ask them to do it.
If unfortunately you have osteoporosis, because of the nail is fixed to thebone if the bone is weak the nail will not be able to hold the weight even with Stryde.
Another very important parameter in my opinion which is not the responsibility of the surgeon is the medical insurance to contract if something ever went wrong.
If you have a problem in the bone distraction process and you have to do an other surgery, it may be very expensive. And obviously that require more time than you had planned at the beginning and prevent you from working and making money.
So you need good insurance and nobody or at least very few people talk about it. I suppose as wise men that she seems to be you get a medical insurance. Could you talk to us about it?
Thank you wish you the best.
Renaissance - I agree on all points. Excellent feedback and ideas. I will plan on including these details in my tool kit.
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my Dr. is Rozbruch.
Will you be using Stryde? Please, please, make a diary, tiggy.
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(Sunday) Day 107 Post Op - Day 15 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening CLL'ers,
Another solid day! I can say for certain that each day after I stopped distracting; that I have experienced my "best day" post - surgery. I'm currently walking 100% unassisted and the tightness is wearing off. If I did not have the APT from the tight glutes; my walk would probably be close to normal already. I'm working daily on the APT; but what can you do? lol. Tight hip flexors and a weak butt will do that to you. I'm currently working my butt back on and stretching and I am feeling steady improvement. I get up and walk every 20 minutes now and was able to take about 5000 steps again today. Don't get me wrong...my hips are still tight; so I get tired pretty quick; but I'm on my way. I'll keep working as hard as I can! Guys, nothing more to say for today other than I'm seeing daily progress and I'm very pleased that I am able to walk unassisted without pain only 3 months post surgery. Stryde rules!! I see Dr. M on Friday for X-Rays and he will have a look at my tightness etc and provide his assessment and recommendations per usual. I will share with the community. Also, will do my best to take a video of my walking gait and share on my update this coming weekend.
Talk soon and all the best,
-IFS
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Very good to see you are getting better each day and you are sharing it with us. Are you taking any supplements?
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Hi tiggy
You got the point! Generally working hard is good but too much working hard could be worse for patients. Plus people are all different. You have to listen to your body. Of course that does not mean no exercise is fine. You need to push yourself quite hard to get your goal but still always listen to your body. I am an old patient but I think I pushed myself enough to get what I planned. I am also recovering quite well although it could be better if I do more exercise. I just don't have much time for it these days.
Dr. R is one of the best in this field. You will be taken a good care of by his team. Wish you the best of luck!
Hi Ghostfish,
I agree with you on every point! Thanks a lot friend, really appreciate the good thoughts. We all need them in this process.
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Will you be using Stryde? Please, please, make a diary, tiggy.
I will be using Stryde. As I've said before, I don't know if I will be up for creating a diary mainly because I don't think I can contribute any more than what can be found on the pages of this site already. But I can promise that if I feel up to creating a diary, I will most certainly start one as a way to give back for all the invaluable information I have gathered here over the years.
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I will be using Stryde. As I've said before, I don't know if I will be up for creating a diary mainly because I don't think I can contribute any more than what can be found on the pages of this site already. But I can promise that if I feel up to creating a diary, I will most certainly start one as a way to give back for all the invaluable information I have gathered here over the years.
Of course your diary would contribute to the community. Stryde nails are new and there are a few diaries with them. The more we have, more information we have.
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Very good to see you are getting better each day and you are sharing it with us. Are you taking any supplements?
Thank you, WTG. I am taking Vit C, Vit D, Silica, and drinking a lot of protein shakes to help maintain weight and support strength building.
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No vitamin k2 + calcium?
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No vitamin k2 + calcium?
Hi WGT,
Yes, I am consuming lots of this as well.
I have my first x Ray's, post distraction on Friday. I hope all these supplements are helping.
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Hey IFS I'm really happy to hear that everyday is getting better than the last. I just wanted to say thanks for the diary it's really detailed and thorough it's pretty much the only reason I still check back on this site. After you learn all you can about LL all there is left is just to save money. But your diary keeps me coming back. Also your general attitude and view on life is super positive and inspirational there really needs to be more of that on this site. I can tell that you're someone that doesn't need LL to be happy but getting LL will make a positive impact on your life. That's the exact attitude that one should have when they're going into this. Anyways good luck on the rest of your journey!! Keep grinding brotha
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Hey IFS I'm really happy to hear that everyday is getting better than the last. I just wanted to say thanks for the diary it's really detailed and thorough it's pretty much the only reason I still check back on this site. After you learn all you can about LL all there is left is just to save money. But your diary keeps me coming back. Also your general attitude and view on life is super positive and inspirational there really needs to be more of that on this site. I can tell that you're someone that doesn't need LL to be happy but getting LL will make a positive impact on your life. That's the exact attitude that one should have when they're going into this. Anyways good luck on the rest of your journey!! Keep grinding brotha
Hey Bonez,
Appreciate the words of encouragement and thank you for following along on my journey. Things are definitely trending positive. Each day is a grind well worth it. I believe that I'll be recovered comfortably very soon now. I'm starting to see the light. I'm going to keep the community updated throughout. As a lurker in 2018; the journals proved so valuable to my experience. I'm determined to return that favor. One of my favorite quotes...."Height doesn't make the man; the man makes the height". I'm learning all over again; just how true that is. Thanks again bro and will update again here shortly.
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I'm so happy for your positive experience. This couldn't have happened to a nicer person. All the best!
Please keep us updated. It'd be nice to hear of long-term outcomes in how this has affected other aspects of your life.
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I'm so happy for your positive experience. This couldn't have happened to a nicer person. All the best!
Please keep us updated. It'd be nice to hear of long-term outcomes in how this has affected other aspects of your life.
Appreciate it, Jayes. I truly believe the hardest part is over with the phase 1 distraction. I still have a bit a ways to go now with the recovery; but after only 15 days, I'm up and walking unassisted (holding on to cane just to help balance). Albeit, my hips are very tight and I have a loads of work to do on flexibility but I'll still take this all as a sign that I could be on my way to good things, here. The Stryde nail is great...by allowing someone to bear weight early. I'll keep everyone posted.
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(Monday) Day 108 Post Op - Day 16 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening CLL'ers,
Boy, I'm tired. Falling asleep as a write this; ha, ha. All is well. Today was more of the same. Small steps toward healing. Still feeling tight in the hips and it's impacting my walk quite a bit. We'll see where it stands on Friday, when I record a gait video. I'm going to continue to work on that. I'm still going to a formal PT Clinic 3 days a week and each time; my PT takes the Theragun massager (puncher) and like a jackhammer massages my hips to submission. We're trying to get me loose. Thanks again for all the kinds words and support. Honestly, I'm here to help where needed. Let's figure this thing out, guys. Have a good night.
All the best,
IFS
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(Monday) Day 108 Post Op - Day 16 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening CLL'ers,
Boy, I'm tired. Falling asleep as a write this; ha, ha. All is well. Today was more of the same. Small steps toward healing. Still feeling tight in the hips and it's impacting my walk quite a bit. We'll see where it stands on Friday, when I record a gait video. I'm going to continue to work on that. I'm still going to a formal PT Clinic 3 days a week and each time; my PT takes the Theragun massager (puncher) and like a jackhammer massages my hips to submission. We're trying to get me loose. Thanks again for all the kinds words and support. Honestly, I'm here to help where needed. Let's figure this thing out, guys. Have a good night.
All the best,
IFS
Great to hear that everyday is getting better for you pal
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@infullstryde
Can I ask you how you managed to get such a long time off from work?
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@infullstryde
Can I ask you how you managed to get such a long time off from work?
Hi Canon,
This is a great question and I know that finding the time-off is really one of the biggest challenges of CLL. Allow me to preface things to say that CLL is very demanding throughout the day and evening... Multiple PT sessions each day + lengthening 3 times a day. There is a significant amount of time one must spend dedicated to this procedure. it's a lot of hard work for the patient.
As for me... At 26 years old; I founded an IT Services business and I'm happy to say that 11 years later (I'm 37 now), the company is flourishing and ranks as one of the fastest growing organizations of it's kind. As the Founder and CEO, I am able to work remotely as much as I need. During the distraction, I was 100% remote but as soon as phase 1 was over with; I felt comfortable to come back to work. I am now working full time again inside the office after 3 months of working from home. I am getting around unassisted with only a cane to support my balance here at the office. I am able to come and go to the office as I need for physical therapy and doctors appointments. I should mention that at home I invested in a complete/total home office setup include a top of line desktop, high-speed internet, and multiple computers screens. I completely optimized my home office experience so that I could be efficient at home. I actually really advanced my business during the CLL procedure because since CLL prevents you from sleeping; I just got up and worked more lol. I also invested in a bow-flex, total home gym so that I could continue to easily and safely lift perform upper-body training. One of the really nice things about both of these investments is that they will continue to benefit me long after CLL is completed.
At a young age, despite my height challenges, I had a vision and a funny quote I would always say to myself. I'd always say i want:
"Freedom of TIME, Freedom of DIME, and Freedom of MIND." I am very close to having all 3. :-)
This means to create a life where you can do whatever you want; when you want. A Life where expenses are never an obstacle. A life where you are no longer worried.
So directly, by being my own boss; I had the flexibility to take the time needed.
Thank you again for the question. If anyone in the community has any questions regarding CLL; please feel free to reach out.
All the best,
IFS
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Hi Canon,
This is a great question and I know that finding the time-off is really one of the biggest challenges of CLL. Allow me to preface things to say that CLL is very demanding throughout the day and evening... Multiple PT sessions each day + lengthening 3 times a day. There is a significant amount of time one must spend dedicated to this procedure. it's a lot of hard work for the patient.
As for me... At 26 years old; I founded an IT Services business and I'm happy to say that 11 years later (I'm 37 now), the company is flourishing and ranks as one of the fastest growing organizations of it's kind. As the Founder and CEO, I am able to work remotely as much as I need. During the distraction, I was 100% remote but as soon as phase 1 was over with; I felt comfortable to come back to work. I am now working full time again inside the office after 3 months of working from home. I am getting around unassisted with only a cane to support my balance here at the office. I am able to come and go to the office as I need for physical therapy and doctors appointments. I should mention that at home I invested in a complete/total home office setup include a top of line desktop, high-speed internet, and multiple computers screens. I completely optimized my home office experience so that I could be efficient at home. I actually really advanced my business during the CLL procedure because since CLL prevents you from sleeping; I just got up and worked more lol. I also invested in a bow-flex, total home gym so that I could continue to easily and safely lift perform upper-body training. One of the really nice things about both of these investments is that they will continue to benefit me long after CLL is completed.
At a young age, despite my height challenges, I had a vision and a funny quote I would always say to myself. I'd always say i want:
"Freedom of TIME, Freedom of DIME, and Freedom of MIND." I am very close to having all 3. :-)
This means to create a life where you can do whatever you want; when you want. A Life where expenses are never an obstacle. A life where you are no longer worried.
So directly, by being my own boss; I had the flexibility to take the time needed.
Thank you again for the question. If anyone in the community has any questions regarding CLL; please feel free to reach out.
All the best,
IFS
Love the quote IFS, you're legit one of the most inspiring CLL patients for me personally, thanks
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Hi , Thanks for your post .
I have read it for a while .
before your post , i never think about can do it locally but now i am thinking Dr. Mahboubian or Dr paley.
if i do locally , will get more support form my family but still think of possibility of risk .
Female , late 30s , try to get 6cm femur stryde.
Any advice ? thanks
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Hi , Thanks for your post .
I have read it for a while .
before your post , i never think about can do it locally but now i am thinking Dr. Mahboubian or Dr paley.
if i do locally , will get more support form my family but still think of possibility of risk .
Female , late 30s , try to get 6cm femur stryde.
Any advice ? thanks
Hi LAX,
Both Dr. Paley and Dr. Mahboubian are outstanding surgeons. You cannot go wrong with either surgeon. Your success during CLL will be determined by how hard you work in the several months after your surgery. I was fortunate enough to be local to Dr. Mahboubian and this has been very beneficial to me both physically and mentally. Dr. M is professional, a perfectionist, and very attentive. If you have any other questions; please feel free to reach out to me!
All the best,
IFS
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(Tuesday) Day 109 Post Op - Day 17 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening CLL'ers,
I continue to just work hard every day at this. All is well and continuing to improve; but very slowly and gradually. There has been no a-ha moment of legs suddenly being healed. This process is gradual and it takes work on the part of the CLL'er to get through it successfully. As mentioned before, my problem right now is the anterior pelvic tilt, and I'm just doing as many stomach and buttocks works outs I can to go along with stretches of the hip flexors and other quad muscles. Eventually; this issue will be relieved and at that point I can start to enjoy my new height. Other note is that for some odd reason my right leg feels sore. I'm not sure why; perhaps I slept on it wrong. It's almost comical to me how the "Sore" leg has switched from right to left, several times over the past few months. Make up your mind already?! lol. Okay guys, I'm going to get going; but feel free to ask me any questions if you got some.
All the best,
IFS
P.S. Another 5000 unassisted steps today; however used cane for balance.
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Thank you so much for sharing your inspiring journey. As a prospective LLer this is one of the most insightful and raw diaries available. Truly amazing. Looking forward to the rest of your journey and excited to see you enjoy your new height soon!
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Thank you so much for sharing your inspiring journey. As a prospective LLer this is one of the most insightful and raw diaries available. Truly amazing. Looking forward to the rest of your journey and excited to see you enjoy your new height soon!
Thank you Alchemist! Your positive and encouraging words help to motivate me further through this challenging journey. I want to be there the same way for future CLL'ers. I'll continue to report the details and help shed some light on what we can all expect. Thank you, again!
All the best,
IFS
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Love the quote IFS, you're legit one of the most inspiring CLL patients for me personally, thanks
We're all connected in some way, buddy. Glad I can help out even if its subtle. Reach out if you need anything. Your journey starts soon!
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Congrats man! The hardest part is that after one month or two months you get tired of the routine and stop stretching. Whatever you do, do not stop ,not even for a day. I took a 2 day break and lost about 20-30 degrees on my hamstrings and never really got it back :p
I know the hamstring muscle but what does "losing 20-30 degrees" mean, I'm trying learning the jargon slowly
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I know the hamstring muscle but what does "losing 20-30 degrees" mean, I'm trying learning the jargon slowly
Hi Talica! I believe that he was referring to the range of motion he had on stretching the hamstrings prior to taking a break. No taking a "break" in CLL. Have to stay stretching each day or you will start to get stiff. He may have been referring to the stretch where you lay on your back and pull your leg back and try to straighten your knee.
Feel free to ask questions!
All the Best,
IFS
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(Wednesday) Day 110 Post Op - Day 18 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening CLL'ers,
I hope all is well. Today was another good day. I had a pretty challenging session at the PT clinic today. My physical therapist actually told me to not bring the cane next time because I can walk, lol! I appreciate him pushing me. The cane is like my security blanket; but he's right. I have to let go of ole' blue.
18 days after...How do my legs feel?
They are looser, but still pretty tight. I don't have that tight sensation that was so uncomfortable during the distraction phase; but rather just a tightness when I try to perform various movements. Sort of feel like I could use some WD-40. ha ha. With that in mind; it gets a little better each day. I'm able to perform tasks that I wasn't able to easily; like tie my shoes, pick things off the floor, etc. I'm able to now. I would say that I have gained a couple of inches on my range of motion through most stretches during the post distraction phase already. Imagine how flexible I'll be by July 1st; which was my initial goal date to feel "close to normal". I like the prospects.
What about pain?
I don't really feel any pain. More like some aches and some soreness since my soft tissues are healing from 90 days of stretching them apart. I try to be careful as to not ignite heavy inflammation anywhere; yet I'm pushing through any aches, soreness, and stiffness because...well, I know what it is and why it is....and I need to push through in order to resolve it.
How is your Duck Ass doing, IFS?!
ha ha, well - lemme tell ya; its still there and it's no fun. But....it's getting better as I continue to stretch my hip flexors/quads/hamstrings and work out my abs and glutes. My APT actually doesn't look bad at all. I'll send a picture this weekend; if I can. The main issue with APT for me; is that it causes me to sway back enough as to where my lower back is working too hard and causing some soreness. It's not thaaat bad; but just enough to make me have to work harder if I plan to enjoy my new height by June/July.
Are your legs weak?
I am still, of course recovering from phase 1. Sooo, things like getting out of the chair takes a little more effort and my lower back is unfortunately promoted a bit too much and is handling walking to compensate for any leg soreness. Having said that; My legs are stronger each and every day as I continue to simply walk on them. I walked nearly 6000 steps today and it helps. Imagine...I do that every day; I should see some progress by my July 1 goal.
Guys, let me know if you have any questions. Like I said, I plan on taking a video of my current gait and uploading this weekend along with my x-rays. Overall, I feel like things are going real solid. I don't mind the hard work it takes; so it's only a matter of time.
Thank you again and all the best!
-IFS
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(Wednesday) Day 110 Post Op - Day 18 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good evening CLL'ers,
I hope all is well. Today was another good day. I had a pretty challenging session at the PT clinic today. My physical therapist actually told me to not bring the cane next time because I can walk, lol! I appreciate him pushing me. The cane is like my security blanket; but he's right. I have to let go of ole' blue.
18 days after...How do my legs feel?
They are looser, but still pretty tight. I don't have that tight sensation that was so uncomfortable during the distraction phase; but rather just a tightness when I try to perform various movements. Sort of feel like I could use some WD-40. ha ha. With that in mind; it gets a little better each day. I'm able to perform tasks that I wasn't able to easily; like tie my shoes, pick things off the floor, etc. I'm able to now. I would say that I have gained a couple of inches on my range of motion through most stretches during the post distraction phase already. Imagine how flexible I'll be by July 1st; which was my initial goal date to feel "close to normal". I like the prospects.
What about pain?
I don't really feel any pain. More like some aches and some soreness since my soft tissues are healing from 90 days of stretching them apart. I try to be careful as to not ignite heavy inflammation anywhere; yet I'm pushing through any aches, soreness, and stiffness because...well, I know what it is and why it is....and I need to push through in order to resolve it.
How is your Duck Ass doing, IFS?!
ha ha, well - lemme tell ya; its still there and it's no fun. But....it's getting better as I continue to stretch my hip flexors/quads/hamstrings and work out my abs and glutes. My APT actually doesn't look bad at all. I'll send a picture this weekend; if I can. The main issue with APT for me; is that it causes me to sway back enough as to where my lower back is working too hard and causing some soreness. It's not thaaat bad; but just enough to make me have to work harder if I plan to enjoy my new height by June/July.
Are your legs weak?
I am still, of course recovering from phase 1. Sooo, things like getting out of the chair takes a little more effort and my lower back is unfortunately promoted a bit too much and is handling walking to compensate for any leg soreness. Having said that; My legs are stronger each and every day as I continue to simply walk on them. I walked nearly 6000 steps today and it helps. Imagine...I do that every day; I should see some progress by my July 1 goal.
Guys, let me know if you have any questions. Like I said, I plan on taking a video of my current gait and uploading this weekend along with my x-rays. Overall, I feel like things are going real solid. I don't mind the hard work it takes; so it's only a matter of time.
Thank you again and all the best!
-IFS
So good of you to continue to provide these updates - it's really helping all of us
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Thanks for your detailed update IFS!
You are always active to ask our question and willling to help!
Could not wait see your XRay and video! Thanks for sharing.
Could I ask you the final gain height 7.5cm is measured by XRay or measure by Precice Stryde ERC? Did you measured your height? Thank you very much!
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Thanks for your detailed update IFS!
You are always active to ask our question and willling to help!
Could not wait see your XRay and video! Thanks for sharing.
Could I ask you the final gain height 7.5cm is measured by XRay or measure by Precice Stryde ERC? Did you measured your height? Thank you very much!
Hi Raku! I'm happy to post and keep the community informed! My measurement was actually by the ERC and my approximate height measurement. I'll know my "official" height increase via x-ray, tomorrow.
If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out to me.
All the Best!
IFS
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Hello IFS,
Do you think LLers could use this kind of device during the recovery process?
https://images.app.goo.gl/RhiJMSnhKgxZohZ46
Seems to be good for muscles but I don't know if it is compatible with a magnetic metal nail in the bones.
Could you ask it to the Dr.?
Thanks
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Hello IFS,
Do you think LLers could use this kind of device during the recovery process?
https://images.app.goo.gl/RhiJMSnhKgxZohZ46
Seems to be good for muscles but I don't know if it is compatible with a magnetic metal nail in the bones.
Could you ask it to the Dr.?
Thanks
That is a great question. I actually believe that it might be okay, but I am not for sure. I feel like I've seen that used at clinics for some of the CLL doctors out there. I can see where this could help. Every little bit helps in activating areas of the legs post surgery, especially the glutes. I'll ask Dr. M and report back.
Anyone else knows if this approach is okay while considering the magnet?
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Hey IFS,
now that you hit 8 cm.
would you say if someone was using a different device that has higher limits; they could lengthening to 10cm with enough determination?
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Hey IFS,
now that you hit 8 cm.
would you say if someone was using a different device that has higher limits; they could lengthening to 10cm with enough determination?
Hi Bosnian! I actually gained 7.5cm. I have my x-ray today; so I will get the official length. Honestly, I am not sure of the answer to that question. I think it would be possible, since It has been done before but the degree of difficulty would be very high and dangerous. Another thing; that I do notice is that once you go past 3 inches; your "functional" proportion can be impacted. It may look fine; but if one segment is too long it will be difficult to walk or jog on it. After going through this experience; I advise that 8cm would be the absolute maximum I would suggest on the femur segment.
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(Friday) Day 112 Post Op - Day 20 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good day LL'ers
As promised, today would be a major update for the CLL Community on how I am doing. Below I have provided both my current X-rays and a Video of my Gait. I'll provide some backup details to go along with each.
Quite simply put - I am 3 months and 20 days post surgery and 20 day's post lengthening and I'm feeling pretty good. I had my check up with Dr. Mahboubian today and he confirmed that I am right on with 7.5 cm lengthening which is basically 3 inches of height increase. Dr. M reviewed my flexibility and was pleased with where I was at. He emphasized and suggested a few stretches to help with my tight quads; but we also noted that my anterior pelvic tilt was getting better. We're on the right track. Overall, the doctor was very pleased, as was I. Further, my bones are already bridged and it is now safe to move round normally without worrying about any nail breaks. Additionally, both femurs are already healed enough that I can carry weight plates, etc at the Gym, as soon as I feel its safe to do so. One still needs to pay attention to healing soft tissue. X - Rays are below.
Note that in my gait, I'm still stiff in the hips/quads; but its coming along nicely as I continue consistent PT. Each day I have experienced improvement in my overall tightness, muscle strength and gait; so I'm confident that it's only a function of some time and effort and I'll be where I want to be and enjoying my 3 inches of height gain!
Thank you again to the community for all of your support. I will continue to update you as I push through recovery.
Here is my current gait below, only 20 days after lengthening 3 inches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2qMKaV8IBQ
Here are my X-Rays that were taken today:
(https://i.imgur.com/wODoa51.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/r4y3hga.jpg)
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Really good to know you already have a bridge. Your walk looks fine. Thanks for update.
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Great video!
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Amazing! Walk looks good. Can't wait to see your ongoing progress!
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Hi IFS
Wow, your bones grow so fast! Among all patents I've seen is you who have the fast bone growth! Congrats!
Your walking is also absolutely fantastic considering you stopped lengthening only 20 days ago. You will be walking, running, and dancing soon :) Keep up the good work!
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Amazing IFS. You are an inspiration to us all.
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Amazing video IFS. please do measure your height again. I feel like the duckass is taking away at least 0.5-1 cm at my current stage right now, but it could also be that my initial measurement is wrong in which case would suck balls ;D ;D ;D
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It's the duckass. You will see. You will be 1cm taller after it's cured.
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Thanks for your video and xray! You look very good after surgery. It is very impressed.
Could I ask how many cm the xray length shows?
Thank you very much IFS ;D
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IFS - Question for you, how is sitting down now, and how was it during the lengthening process? I know you mentioned you were fortunate enough to work from home, and just wondering if you were able to sit down at a desk for long periods of time? I'm considering working from home as well.
Thanks,
David
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IFS - Question for you, how is sitting down now, and how was it during the lengthening process? I know you mentioned you were fortunate enough to work from home, and just wondering if you were able to sit down at a desk for long periods of time? I'm considering working from home as well.
Thanks,
David
Great question, David. Sitting down is effortless and comfortable. During the lengthening process sitting down was also very comfortable and not a problem The only time sitting down was somewhat challenging was when sitting on the toilet seat. To remedy that, I purchased a soft toilet seat cover and the sitting down part was no longer an issue. Sitting down for long periods of time, for working at a computer as an example, should be no issue during CLL at any phase. I advise that you set your timer to get up every 30-45 minutes at least so stand up and stretch your legs a bit so they do not get too stiff. The more active you are the better.
Thanks for your video and xray! You look very good after surgery. It is very impressed.
Could I ask how many cm the xray length shows?
Thank you very much IFS ;D
I really appreciate the kind words! The X-Ray also showed exactly 7.5 cm. My count and X-ray matched up.
Amazing video IFS. please do measure your height again. I feel like the duckass is taking away at least 0.5-1 cm at my current stage right now, but it could also be that my initial measurement is wrong in which case would suck balls ;D ;D ;D
Hi Singapore, great to hear from you. The Duckass definitely impacts your posture. 1 cm or so is about accurate I would say. Fortunately, when I stood up at the stadiometer at my home I was still a bit over 5'4" with the Duckass still proudly popping, lol. I think it takes only about 3-7mm off the height if you can still manage force yourself stand up straight enough. I'm working on my duck ass every day with hip, ham, and quad stretches to go along with strengthening for abs and glutes and of course walk as much as you can tolerate. The Duck Ass will resolve with stretching and strenthening. Its only there because of the cross body syndrome (Weak Glutes and Abs, Tight Hips and lower back)
What are you doing to resolve duck ass?
Hi IFS
Wow, your bones grow so fast! Among all patents I've seen is you who have the fast bone growth! Congrats!
Your walking is also absolutely fantastic considering you stopped lengthening only 20 days ago. You will be walking, running, and dancing soon :) Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much GhostFish! When I saw the X-Rays and Dr. M confirmed that they were nicely bridged and looking great; I was so happy. Appreciate your positive support and always considering the upside to tough situations! I'm going to continue to work and hope to be up and going strong very soon! I'll keep you posted.
Amazing! Walk looks good. Can't wait to see your ongoing progress!
Thank you, Alchemist! I'm working hard as I can. I'll keep you posted to my progress and will keep the tips coming as well for future and present LL'ers!
Amazing IFS. You are an inspiration to us all.
Ok, really appreciate this post. I think we can all agree that CLL is perhaps the most Traumatic situation that most of us will ever put ourselves through. Thank you for your support and for following my diary. More is to come.
Great video!
Thank you Michael Jose! I'm here to help any way I can.
Really good to know you already have a bridge. Your walk looks fine. Thanks for update.
Thank you WGT! I really do hope that these details help you and others in the decision-making process on LL. I will continue to update.
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Really nice to see you're doing so well IFS! I was just thinking man time flies, we're 5 months into 2019. You're not even at 4 months post surgery.
A blink of an eye and you're 3 inches taller. Congrats dude. I'm excited.
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Really nice to see you're doing so well IFS! I was just thinking man time flies, we're 5 months into 2019. You're not even at 4 months post surgery.
A blink of an eye and you're 3 inches taller. Congrats dude. I'm excited.
Thank you for the kind and good words, OG! And you're right.... Time just fly's on by. Here I am...3 inches later.
IFS
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That's so awesome man! comes to show how big of a game changer Stryde is. excited for my turn
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That's so awesome man! comes to show how big of a game changer Stryde is. excited for my turn
You might even be walking sooner than me, Movie! I'll keep you posted on how everything goes!
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Haven't been here in a while but just stopped by specifically to check your progress. Wow. Amazing.
First, congratulations. You definitely deserve this.
A couple questions:
Did they say when you're expected to walk normally/if you'll ever walk normal like before surgery?
Does your butt look different nked? I always imagines it would stretch the bottom part of your glutes and look abnormal. Am I wrong?
Thank you for posting your journey!
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https://youtu.be/D2qMKaV8IBQ
IFS-
I've expressed my opinions & concerns about Dr. Mahboubian, but the forum needs more videos, particularly now with STRYDE and its weight bearing capabilities, so thank you for posting this video. I hope you continue to post videos and other STRYDE patients post videos during the entire lengthening & recovery process.
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Haven't been here in a while but just stopped by specifically to check your progress. Wow. Amazing.
First, congratulations. You definitely deserve this.
A couple questions:
Did they say when you're expected to walk normally/if you'll ever walk normal like before surgery?
Does your butt look different nked? I always imagines it would stretch the bottom part of your glutes and look abnormal. Am I wrong?
Thank you for posting your journey!
Good morning psilocybe and thank you for checking in on my status. The day of "normal walking" is always a big mystery and very unique to each individual so it appears. Based on my conversations with the CLL doctors; the consensus is at around 6 months. I tend to believe them since my walk is starting to improve each day. My official 6 month point will be July 1st; so this leaves me about 2 months to smooth out my current walk. I'll continue to update on status and post more videos as a progression milestone is reached.
Thank you again man and talk soon,
-IFS
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https://youtu.be/D2qMKaV8IBQ
IFS-
I've expressed my opinions & concerns about Dr. Mahboubian, but the forum needs more videos, particularly now with STRYDE and its weight bearing capabilities, so thank you for posting this video. I hope you continue to post videos and other STRYDE patients post videos during the entire lengthening & recovery process.
Glad to be able to assist the community with actual visual data! I will definitely continue to keep the community posted on how I'm doing and will upload additional videos as I continue to grind through the recovery phase.
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Fantastic diary dude. You're an inspiration to us all
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(Sunday) Day 114 Post Op - Day 22 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Greetings CLL'er's,
Not much different to report today. I'll mention that the trend of "continuing to feel better each day", continues. It's a literal thing. Once you stop lengthening and you continue to stretch and walk; your muscles start to adjust and you begin to feel more flexible each day. I'm still tight and I still have soft tissue soreness; but each day it gets better. I'm not uncomfortable at this point. I'm 100% unassisted walking at this time. This includes walking at home, at work, and at the gym. I can't walk too far or very quickly yet; since I'm still a bit tight, my muscles tire out a bit early and my APT is causing some lower back fatigue. Nonetheless, each condition is getting better, bit by bit. I am walking 6000+ Steps her day at this point. As I type this I'm at 6275 steps. I'll keep pushing this number as time wears on.
My Regiment at this time:
Stretch and Strengthen 2 X per day at home (Morning and Evening)
3 Formal PT Sessions at the Professional Clinic per Week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Walk 6000+ Steps per day
Walk around, 5-10 minutes every 30 minutes, during the day
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Thank you again for all your kind words and support. Honestly, this journey would be more difficult without the LL Community here to report to. I'll keep everyone posted.
All the best,
IFS
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Hey IFS,
you're diary is really motivating for us future CLLers.
I want to ask you about your diet.
supplements vitamin or just daily eating regimen so far?
maybe you mentioned it earlier and I just missed it.
What's your water intake like ?
Anything special because man you're bone healing is spectacular. Textbook surgery right here.
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Hey IFS,
you're diary is really motivating for us future CLLers.
I want to ask you about your diet.
supplements vitamin or just daily eating regimen so far?
maybe you mentioned it earlier and I just missed it.
What's your water intake like ?
Anything special because man you're bone healing is spectacular. Textbook surgery right here.
Hi Bosnian,
I appreciate the good thoughts and comment. I will say that I have been very strict and committed to my supplements and eating habits. Here is what I have been doing every day since surgery:
Supplements:
Vit C, Vit D, Silica, Vitamin K and Calcium and drinking lots of Milk.
2-3 Protein shakes per day mixed with Milk
I used a meal delivery service called Freshly.com. It's not cheap, but it kept healthy meals coming in throughout the process without me thinking about. I didn't have the energy or interest to cook during this process.
This isn't related to digestion, but I created a fairly seamless experience for myself which was key to mental health. Worked from home, lived close (45 minutes) to the Doctors office, worked out on a home gym machine to help maintain the upper body, continued to see family and friends fairly regularly. In the event that you are traveling to your Doctor, I advise creating a simulated and virtual situation where you can stay in touch with career, friendship, health, and wellness. I know that each of these things impacts the body over a 12 to 24+ week term. Another thing that was helpful is that I created another 6-month goal that was not related to CLL but ran concurrently alongside CLL. In this way; CLL didn't become too overwhelming as a focal point of my life.
Anything I would have done differently?
I'll go into detail on that very soon, but I advise that you go outside and take walks (crutches, walker, wheelchair, whatever you can tolerate at the time) in the sunshine and fresh air at least once a day. I didn't do this so much at the start, but my quality of CLL life and my healing actually improved quite a bit when I started to do this around month 2.
I hope this helps. Thanks again,
IFS
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What's your water intake like ?
A good amount of water. About 100oz a day.
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Does your butt look different nked? I always imagines it would stretch the bottom part of your glutes and look abnormal. Am I wrong?
Especially in the first few weeks after surgery; you will lose your butt almost completely. Once you begin to build it back it starts to look like your old butt. The longer femurs don't seem to have much of an impact on how my butt looks; more so the loss of fat and muscle here impact the look. Good question.
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Especially in the first few weeks after surgery; you will lose your butt almost completely. Once you begin to build it back it starts to look like your old butt. The longer femurs don't seem to have much of an impact on how my butt looks; more so the loss of fat and muscle here impact the look. Good question.
Great to hear you're doing well - do you find you are changing your clothing options with the longer femurs?
I have a short torso so I look better with shirts tucked out - just wondering what you do?
Also for work I wear a shirt tucked in and normally no jacket - that's where I'm worried most about the proportions
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Great to hear you're doing well - do you find you are changing your clothing options with the longer femurs?
I have a short torso so I look better with shirts tucked out - just wondering what you do?
Also for work I wear a shirt tucked in and normally no jacket - that's where I'm worried most about the proportions
Hi Simon, Good question. So far my clothing has stayed the same. My proportions were pretty much textbook before I started the surgery, so if anything; I probably look more streamlined in the pants I wear. I usually will tuck in my shirt for the office. Everything is looking good. I'll let you know if any feedback I get.
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(Tuesday) Day 116 Post Op - Day 24 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Greetings CLL'er's,
I hope all is well. I just wanted to check in. My recovery continues and I'm doing pretty good. Working on that general theme of tightness and APT...but it's improving. In fact, I'm just taking a break from working my glutes to type this, ha. My updates will likely be less frequent since the day-to-day is pretty similar at this stage. I will continue to update you weekly, at least, however on how I'm doing and will always make you aware of various milestones. Additionally, I plan on recording more video every few weeks or so; so that you can observe progress in walking. If you recall, my bones are already bridged after only 3 weeks of consolidation. My next X-Rays and appointment with Dr. M is in 8 weeks, so I expect to see some pretty solid bone by then and hopefully I'll be comfortable walking as well. We shall see.
I check these boards just about every day; so please feel free to ask anything you would like.
Have a great evening and all the best,
IFS
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That's great to hear your recovery continues to go well! The primary reason I check this site is your diary (very honest and informative) so your weekly updates going forward will be much appreciated. I'm especially interested in hearing about how your walk/gait progresses! Wishing you all the best as you continue your journey!
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That's great to hear your recovery continues to go well! The primary reason I check this site is your diary (very honest and informative) so your weekly updates going forward will be much appreciated. I'm especially interested in hearing about how your walk/gait progresses! Wishing you all the best as you continue your journey!
Thank you, Alchemist! CLL is a grind like nothing else; but I'll get to the finish line soon enough.
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(Wednesday) Day 117 Post Op - Day 25 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Greetings CLL'er's,
Quick update. All still going pretty decent as far as I can tell. As mention before, I'm 100% ambulatory at this point, while getting around work, home and taking walks around building with no assistance from cane. I'm averaging about 8000 steps per day and that number is growing. I DO take the cane with me where ever I go however; in the event that I need a device to assist me in some way; even if its just to lean on. Particularly in longer walks or extended standing. You guys saw my gait and it's pretty decent but there is work to be done. With this in mind; I have listed the below challenge points that I have to conquer in order to get to comfortable walking. Hopefully this list helps out future CLL prospects on what they can expect.
1) Minor Anterior Pelvic Tilt. After 26 days of hard work there is some positive changes in my APT. It's starting to get better. I am hoping that May brings some great adjustment here. Improvement can be had by stretching the hip flexors, hips, quads and working out the glutes and abs. It really does help.
2) Tight Muscles: I have decent range of motion throughout and there is no "worry" areas here; but my quads and hips are tight enough to shorten my "stryde". As a result my walk is not fast enough and I tend to tire out pretty quick. I'd say I'm at about one quarter of a mile right now before my muscles tend to tire and I need a break. I'll track this slowly and keep you guys posted on my progress. Also, being that I'm only 26 days post lengthening, the muscles are weaker in general and should be another month or so before enough strength is there to truly capture the extended walk of 1+ miles.
3) My Left Leg: What do you know! My left leg is a little big weaker than my right. Go figure. Fortunately, I am able to bear full weight on it and even stand on it, one leg style; but this leg still needs some work in comparison to my right leg.
4) Have to work on "standing up muscles". It's not super easy to stand from chair yet. I'm working hard on those sit to stand exercises very aggressively at this point.
5) Have to "Warm Up" my legs before I can walk on them: This is a unique one. I can walk all day once I get going; but after sleeping or sitting for a while, i have to really warm up my legs with high knees, weight shifting, or baby steps before I can walk on them. They get pretty tight when having idle time. The tightness is around the lower quads. Once I warm up for about 15 -20 seconds I can walk again. Strange, right? lol. Let's keep it going.
My current recovery regiment:
-PT - 7 Days a Week for 2 hours a day. (4 Days Self PT) (3 Days Professional PT in Clinic)
-Walking 8000+ Steps per day, Including High Knees, Some Agility Style Steps, and Long Strides to extend step length.
-Stand and Walk, at least for a few minutes every 25 minutes.
-Peddle on Bike in between each stand/walk session
So, my friends, I'm counting my blessings here. I can "stand" and I can "walk" before 4 months; but work is to be done here. I'm happy that my bones have already bridged and that is looking solid.... now it's time to put my head down, and work hard. My goal is to be comfortable to walk distances by the 6 month point. Maybe that day will come sooner...maybe later....but I assure you I'll do all I can to make it happen.
Thank you again for your support and I'll be back with a new update shortly.
All the Best,
IFS
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Hey IFS,
Really really happy that you've accomplished the biggest part of it, you're 90% there.
Did you already get used to your new height? How does it feel? Do you still feel different about your POV? I'm sure you're still euphoric about the whole thing so maybe a year from now would be a better time to ask this but still, did you get nearly as happy as you thought you'd become? :)
A side question: what's the deal with losing glutes? Is it because muscles are stretching? So I assume you lose hamstrings too?
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Hey IFS,
Really really happy that you've accomplished the biggest part of it, you're 90% there.
Did you already get used to your new height? How does it feel? Do you still feel different about your POV? I'm sure you're still euphoric about the whole thing so maybe a year from now would be a better time to ask this but still, did you get nearly as happy as you thought you'd become? :)
A side question: what's the deal with losing glutes? Is it because muscles are stretching? So I assume you lose hamstrings too?
Hi Tallica,
Thank you for the kind words. I am absolutely in love with my new height. I cannot wait to start enjoying it. Right now, I'm very much remaining a hermit and low key until my walk is strong enough. Although I am walking well; I still need to improve the comfort and speed of the walk. In a month or 2; once my walk improves to a satisfactory level; I plan in revamping my clothing style getting a nice hair cut and hitting the road with this new height! lol. Perspective is everything and when you lived your life at 5'1 and now you're 5'4...its a dream come true. I always say....truth is the essence of one's perspective. It really is. Ask me again in about 4 months....
You know; I think it's just the trauma involved in breaking the bone and then not being able to walk 100% weight bearing for a few weeks. You just lose your glutes and it's rough. I advise any future CLL'er to be proactive in somehow keeping their glutes if at all possible... This will help you avoid the dreaded APT.
Thanks again for the great question Tallica and feel free to reach out to me any time.
All the best,
IFS
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This was asked before but I couldn't find the answer to it. Can someone (If not IFS) please clarify this for me?
During distraction the bone is separated from the cut point 1mm a day and in IFS's case ended up being 7.5cm separated at the end.
Does this gap starts filling after the distraction? Does bone ends start growing towards each other, to make a connection? In that case, it must surely start growing towards each other right after the first 1mm separation.
How does this work exactly?
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This was asked before but I couldn't find the answer to it. Can someone (If not IFS) please clarify this for me?
During distraction the bone is separated from the cut point 1mm a day and in IFS's case ended up being 7.5cm separated at the end.
Does this gap starts filling after the distraction? Does bone ends start growing towards each other, to make a connection? In that case, it must surely start growing towards each other right after the first 1mm separation.
How does this work exactly?
Hi Tallica,
This is correct; so the bone will start to fill in and will attempt to bridge to the other as soon as the break occurs. With each mm, the bone callus continues to grow in and does all it can to bridge; but it cannot bridge because the patient will continue to pull the bone apart. It's such as slow and gradual process that the bone still knows where it needs to go; yet will not consolidate fully since there is always that new 1 mm that needs to be addressed. As soon as you're completed with distraction then the bone can finalize the bridges and begin to finalize any gaps to fill. Eventually the soft callus will mineralize and become harder and even stronger bone than the neighboring bone.
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This was asked before but I couldn't find the answer to it. Can someone (If not IFS) please clarify this for me?
During distraction the bone is separated from the cut point 1mm a day and in IFS's case ended up being 7.5cm separated at the end.
Does this gap starts filling after the distraction? Does bone ends start growing towards each other, to make a connection? In that case, it must surely start growing towards each other right after the first 1mm separation.
How does this work exactly?
That's it. You need to be careful because some factors may prevent the bone to grow/fuse. Anti-inflamatory drugs or lengthening too fast for example.
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IFS
"even stronger" than the previous bone.
Is that true. Can you give any reference please supporting this thing?? Thank you.
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Hi Totally Red,
It's actually temporary thing. The new bone is oft believed to be stronger at the beginning as it undergoes a fresh mineralization but eventually will be one and the same as the rest of the bone. It's an interesting google look up.
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(Sunday) Day 121 Post Op - Day 29 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Greetings CLL'er's,
I just wanted to check in and let you know my status right here at the 4 months point, post operation! As mentioned earlier; my updates will likely be down to weekly now since the reporting is much of the same during the day-to-day recovery phase.
Things are well. I continue to get a little better each and every day. I'm walking unassisted 100% of the time. You may find that you still like to have your cane with you as something to lean on in case you find yourself waiting around and no table or wall is available. I'm not even a month after distraction yet (29 days); so your legs do get a bit tired standing and walking on them. Standing, I can say, I could probably do an hour or more; so long that I am able to stretch and move them around. Walking, I get tired after about a quarter of a mile. Need to sit rest for a few moments and then I'm off again. I am getting around just fine however...by driving, walking around at work, home, parks, etc. I am just too slow and stiff at the moment so I'm not testing the social scene at this point outside of going to weekend breakfasts at the local cafe with my family.
My walk is improving... notable my ATP appears to be better gradually. I almost feel like during distraction it was 1 mm a day of height...and now its 1mm day of repairing my soft tissues and posture. It's so subtle, the improvement each day that you really just need to keep working and focus elsewhere. The "millimeter" worth of improvement add up each week or so.
My main challenges are my minor APT, stiff quads and hips. Once these 3 aspects are squared away my first goal of walking comfortably is checked off. I am currently working out upper body 6 days a week. I am stretching and strengthening legs with leg weights and bands, 7 days a week and about 1-2 hours per day. It's a grind, but it will be worth it once this is all over with. In addition, I am still attending my PT clinic 3 days a week. I don't see myself discontinuing physical therapy any time soon. Once I am walking normally and comfortably again, I may reduce the days from 3 days to 1 day or 2 days, per week. I'd like to continue being treated and reach my fullest potential possible.
Other notables... Not sure if the CLL veteran can chime in; but one of the most unique and toughest thing at this point is "getting up" from the chair. After about 30 minutes or more of laying down or sitting, my quads feel tight and I have to wake them up with stretches, etc in order to effectively walk on them. Ja Ja. Does anyone relate to that during recovery? It seems to be getting better...a small bit per day.
With all this being said; I would say that Internal Styrde patients will most likely enjoy a very mobile, not perfect, but quite mobile and taller existence at their 3-4 months point...month 5 - 6 being to smooth out the walk, loosen the tightness, build strength and increase stanima in legs. Might even be sooner for some...remember I went the full 3 inches and I wasn't flexible at all prior to surgery. The new gain makes a huge difference for me and I'm giddy with excitement and anxious to get back out into the world. I'm very happy with the results, so far. I just need to have the legs loosen up a bit.
Thank you again for all your support and I sure do hope that my diary has helped. I'll provide a new update very soon and please feel free to ask any questions.
All the best,
IFS
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Thank you for your post!
really appreciate
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Thank you for your post!
really appreciate
My pleasure LAX. Free free to reach out if you have any questions. Talk soon.
All the Best,
IFS
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Great post again - what's been some of the strange/cool moments with the new height? - things like does it feel weird when you are at a different height to your kitchen cupboards, or maybe when you go to the supermarket and your eye level to the food items is different, or even your shower head position?
I imagine this must feel a little surreal!
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Great post again - what's been some of the strange/cool moments with the new height? - things like does it feel weird when you are at a different height to your kitchen cupboards, or maybe when you go to the supermarket and your eye level to the food items is different, or even your shower head position?
I imagine this must feel a little surreal!
It really is surreal Simon. At 5'4" still on the shorter side; but I'm now in the "zip code" if you will of most people I meet (men and especially a woman). My personal discontent with my height has been completely removed. I wear nice shoes that boost me another couple of inches sometimes (not all the time) and they are so comfortable. I'm really counting my lucky stars. Yes, I have a better reach too! No more tippy toeing in the kitchen. I'm going to write up a post soon once my walk is feeling more normal which will really go into detail about the big change from 5'1 to 5'4. I'm only 4 months post-op and I'm walking 100% of the time...so I imagine that my gait should be fairly normal in 4-8 weeks, time. Thank you for the question.
All the best,
IFS
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Your dairy is extremely informative, man. It makes me want to get right on and do it. I am currently your new height which might sound like I'm being ungrateful for what i've been given, but that's why I only plan on doing it for 2 inches. It's just like you said, I'm not doing this for some disillusion that I will be of normal height. I know I'll still be short, but I'll be less short, more in the norm with everybody else, "in the zip code'. That's all I've ever wanted, to just feel a little bit more in line with my fellow man. To not be immediately labelled by my short height, to shift short height as just an attribute of my being, not my whole being. Of course not to downplay you getting to this height through all your hard work. 5'1 to 5'4 is groundbreaking, man.
People who are doing LL are truly pioneers and have my highest respect and moreso for the people who don't have a good outcome and still have the confidence to be open about the mistakes of undergoing the procedure.
I was hoping a couple of months down the line, or maybe even a year post-op, you could make a timeline of your recovery and possibly compare it to some other outcomes using the previous Precice 2.2 (I'm thinking Purushrottam). Just to see the effect that this New Stryde technology has had on the long term process as a whole. Even if long term recovery is not improved, cutting down on the recovery process is a major step forward for LL.
Good luck on your continued recovery and I pray you remain a prominent figure on the forum!
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Thank you, FutureManuteBol!
I couldn't be more pleased at the height increase. Now, I just need to recover. My first goal of being able to walk around unassisted is checked off. My next goal is to be able to walk comfortably enough for 1 - 2 miles continually at a decent speed. I walked .59 miles today fairly comfortably but felt too much tightness and wasn't fast enough. I am being very ambitious with my goal date on this one; but I'd like to be able to do that by June 15; which would be at about 2 months and 10 days of recovery. I have about 6 weeks left before that goal date hits us! Let's see what happens....
IFS
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Yes, Bro!
Don't get complacent. Work on Rehabbing at all times. Truth is that the cost of 3 whole inches is working super hard the first 1 or two years after undergoing the operation. I would make the sacrifice in a heartbeat. Everybody on this forum is rooting for you.
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Yes, Bro!
Don't get complacent. Work on Rehabbing at all times. Truth is that the cost of 3 whole inches is working super hard the first 1 or two years after undergoing the operation. I would make the sacrifice in a heartbeat. Everybody on this forum is rooting for you.
Thanks, Buddy! I'm ready for the grind. After walking, my next check box is jogging, then running and various agility/movement training.
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Yes, Bro!
Don't get complacent. Work on Rehabbing at all times. Truth is that the cost of 3 whole inches is working super hard the first 1 or two years after undergoing the operation. I would make the sacrifice in a heartbeat. Everybody on this forum is rooting for you.
Yes we are!
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Yes we are!
Thanks, Man. Much appreciated.
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What's it like to be taller? Have you already assimilated to the new height and do you want more?
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What's it like to be taller? Have you already assimilated to the new height and do you want more?
Hi Canon,
I'm still in recovery; so I haven't been out or done too much, but I'm very happy with the 3 inch gain. I will not be pursuing another surgery. I'm content and I'm ready to go forward with life. Thank you for checking in with me! I'll keep you updated on how I'm doing.
All the Best,
IFS
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(Wednesday) Day 124 Post Op - Day 32 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Greetings CLL'er's,
Quick milestone update. I just completed my first 1-mile uninterrupted walk, unassisted, since surgery. Legs did not hurt much, but was a bit tired; but not bad at all. Most discomforts were felt in the lower back since I'm still working on my apt. It's getting better little by little. It took a while to complete the walk since my tightness limits my speed. Still working on everything. I just wanted to share the big milestone.
Thank you and I'll report back with update soon.
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Wow - 32 days consolidation and already walked a mile! That is amazing. Stryde seems like a game changer. Congrats!
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cograts! looking very promissing
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Wow - 32 days consolidation and already walked a mile! That is amazing. Stryde seems like a game changer. Congrats!
Thanks, man. It truly is a game changer. I'm working to loosen up tight muscles and hope to build on the big milestone from today. Will keep you posted.
cograts! looking very promissing
It sure is, Movie! Good luck on your upcoming consultation.
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Congrats!! Im happy for you mate.
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Congrats!! Im happy for you mate.
Thank you, mate! I still have a ways to go in recovery, but it does make me feel good to know that my legs have enough strength at this point to carry me a mile.
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Hello!
My name is Amanda and I am Dr. Mahboubian's marketing coordinator. We wanted to say thank you so much to you for sharing your diary and your positive experience with everyone. You are really making a difference in people's lives by sharing your journey and we appreciate you so much! Thank you again and we are so glad you are happy with the results!
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(Sunday) Day 128 Post Op - Day 36 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good day LL'ers,
I just wanted to check in with you regarding my status. All in all things are improving daily. As mentioned before I am walking 100% of the time unassisted and now just working hard on my gait, my strength and my overall flexibility/loosening of the legs. I feel and see positive improvement over the past several days. Let me try to explain the tightness that I have which gets in the way...
Here is a picture below of the quadriceps muscles under consideration:
(https://legionathletics.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Quadriceps-Anatomy.jpg.pagespeed.ce.nHemAsvzGv.jpg)
As you lengthen the bone you also lengthen all the muscles on the femur so this is why intense committed physical therapy is so important throughout this process. For myself personally the tight areas are:
1) Rector Femoris
2) Vastus Lateralis
3) Vasus Medialis
4) Psoas and Iliacus
One very important note is that the Rector Femoris and Psoas both attach themselves from the femur area onto the pelvis; so when these muscles get too tight it pulls the pelvis downward and creates anterior pelvic tilt. Some people believe that (APT) is an IT Band thing...Well it certainly can be; but the more common cause for Duck Ass in any human being is a tight Rector Femoris and Psoas. I'm stretching these muscles 2 times a day and throughout the day to loosen and lengthen these muscles and it's working. It will take more time however. I am also strengthening my glutes which is helping to correct the pelvis alignment as well. I expect another 4 - 8 weeks I could quite possibly be cured of the anterior pelvis tilt, but we will see. It is very minimal now and should go away completely soon.
My walk is improving and continuing to loosen each day. Right now, I am needing to continue to loosen up the hips and quadriceps muscle so that I can achieve a more full range of motion on steps. Additionally, I am starting to work harder on strengthening my quadriceps and glutes so that the sit-and-stand task is not as challenging. I would say the weakest part of my leg at the moment is the area just above my knee so it makes it more challenging to stand up from a chair. With that said; I'm doing pretty well with the sit and stand exercises during PT; so it could just be a matter of time before this element improves as well. I walked 1 mile twice last week unassisted so the strength is definitely coming back. I hope to break that record toward the end of next week.
Lastly, tomorrow is a big day for me as I re-enter my formal Gym for the first time in over 4 months. I have been working out my upper body with a Bow-Flex machine in my house; and it has been "okay" but definitely isn't that great at building mass. I lost some muscle and I'm not to pleased about that; but was of course expecting that. Fortunately the Bow Flex did a good job on maintaining and keeping me formidable. Additionally, I will begin to do some leg work with machines....very light weight and safe. On some machines I may not even use any weight and just go through ranges of motions. Safety is key here. I look forward to adding another element to my recovery come tomorrow.
We are going to keep it going strong guys. Let me know if you have any questions
All the Best,
IFS
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Awesome, keep it rolling.
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Sounds good so far IFS.
Great updates as per! Thank you.
All the best
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Everything good, man? I know it’s only been 3 days but you’re pretty consistent with your posts. I guess recovery starts to become redundant on a day by day basis
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Everything good, man? I know it’s only been 3 days but you’re pretty consistent with your posts. I guess recovery starts to become redundant on a day by day basis
Hi FutureManute! Yes, exactly. I actually just finished with some stretching. They say that stretching more than once a day does not do much for you long term, but stretching 3 times a day helps me stay loose enough to walk around more effectively. Since the daily grind is mostly the same with stretching, strengthing and walking as the standard, I've reduced my major updates to once a week. All is good, so far. Still improving a little bit each day. Thank you for checking in with me!
IFS
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Oh, ok. Sounds reasonable. I don't mean to be on your case, good luck on your continued strengthening and stretching.
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Oh, ok. Sounds reasonable. I don't mean to be on your case, good luck on your continued strengthening and stretching.
Check in any time, buddy. Good to hear from you.
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Check in any time, buddy. Good to hear from you.
Keep working hard IFS!
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Keep working hard IFS!
Thank you! CLL is a fight to the finish. I'll update once more on Sunday. Hope all is going well!
IFS
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HI,IFS
does the Physical Therapy all covered by insurance or part of it ?
i am planning to move forward to~~~i am having HMO so far . wonder if need to change to ppo
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HI,IFS
does the Physical Therapy all covered by insurance or part of it ?
i am planning to move forward to~~~i am having HMO so far . wonder if need to change to ppo
Hi Lax,
Physical Therapy was fully covered. I had a $30 co-pay per visit and have been going to PT 3 days per week for the past 4.5 months. The other 4 week days; I stretched and exercised on my own per the plan that my PT Clinic provided me. I plan on continuing my PT for another few months as well. I believe that HMO also covers PT but you would be limited to the HMO Network PT provider. My PPO allowed me a bit more flexibility to choose my PT Clinic. Honestly, your HMO likely has a good PT Clinic. Make sure they communicate directly with your doctor per your request and emphasize the need for strong stretching of hamstrings, hips, and quads...and strengthening of glutes and lower abs. This is key. Good luck and feel free to let me know if you have any more questions.
All the Best
IFS
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Thanks a lot IFS
They come to your home and do the Physical Therapy always , right ? Does the insurance limit to 3 times per week? i have a feeling that changing to ppo will be a good decision.
By the way, do you have any suggetion for the PRE-Surgery that i can do , i hope i could book a date in 1-2 month.
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Thanks a lot IFS
They come to your home and do the Physical Therapy always , right ? Does the insurance limit to 3 times per week? i have a feeling that changing to ppo will be a good decision.
By the way, do you have any suggetion for the PRE-Surgery that i can do , i hope i could book a date in 1-2 month.
Actually, the PT is a clinic that you will travel to most of the time. I believe there are a few that will come to your home; but I'm not sure which one's those are. I believe that most PT clinics will provide pre-surgery but you need to get a prescription for that as well for it to be covered by insurance.
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A lot thanks!!!
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A lot thanks!!!
My pleasure, man and best of luck to you. By the way; which doctor are you going with?
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Sooo are you starting to see ur new height !! Also after you had the surgery is the pain brutal or not that much .. ps keep up the great work my guy 👌
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Sooo are you starting to see ur new height !! Also after you had the surgery is the pain brutal or not that much .. ps keep up the great work my guy 👌
Hi Franco. Yes, I sure am. 3 inches makes a very big difference in my life. I'm thankful I was able to achieve this amount of new height. I still have more recovery to go before I'm feeling the way I want to; but I am getting a little better each and every day.
After the surgery, the pain isn't that much because they are giving you pain medication like morphine throughout the day. You're quite comfortable and I was even able to fall asleep easily the first night I was in the hospital. During the 2nd day; they begin to ween you off of the morphine and give you a pill form of medication like Tramadol or Norco. The Pill drugs continue to help you with your pain. The first few days, my pain never exceeded a 2 - 3 while resting my legs. The high level of pain comes when you apply pressure or move your legs in the "wrong" way because you're now dealing with surgical wounds that need time to settle down and heal. I always recommend to be careful and try not to aggravate the surgically wounded legs for at least a week. Mobilize as soon as you can but be safe and don't over do it. The pain wasn't really that bad for me to be completely honest. After the first couple of weeks the surgical pains really begin to subside and now you are mainly dealing with some lingering "dull" pains which can be best described as a constant and non sharp discomfort that comes and goes. The pain medication again helps you push through this discomfort. As you enter into and push beyond the 1 month point; you begin to experience little to no pain while your legs are at rest. Most pain is from the soft tissue of the leg which is now stretched an inch or so. With stretching, massage from physical therapist, warm baths/showers, and pain medication everything is tolerable. Every so often; you will deal with soreness here or a "ouch" there; but again in time this all mainly subsides. There was no point over my past 135 days post-op; that I experienced a pain that was not tolerable.
I hope this helps!
IFS
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It turns that you had a great recovery. Just a few quick questions, how do those scars look like after so many days? are they fading well? would you go and do laser to reduce them? could you possibly update some pictures? Thanks.
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It turns that you had a great recovery. Just a few quick questions, how do those scars look like after so many days? are they fading well? would you go and do laser to reduce them? could you possibly update some pictures? Thanks.
would love to see as well!
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Hi InFullStryde,
Are you still on pain medications (or oder medications)?
If not, when did you stop?
Thanks and have a great recovery
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It turns that you had a great recovery. Just a few quick questions, how do those scars look like after so many days? are they fading well? would you go and do laser to reduce them? could you possibly update some pictures? Thanks.
Hi Cat Cat,
Great question. My scars are very thin and do not bother me at all. The marks that are made on the body from CLL is really a matter of personal preference in terms of what you want to do with them afterward. For me, they will forever be a reminder of my courage to go forward with the procedure. They are my battle scars and sort of an unofficial tattoo reminding me of the great lengths I would go out of the love I have for myself.
I'll try to take some pictures around month 6 post surgery so you can see what they look like around the time where recovery becomes more imminent. The thing is that even if these scars fade; I believe the surgeon will go right back into these same lines when they remove the Styrde nails; so it doesn't really matter what they look like now. They will be opened up again next year. Either way, it's a great question and I'll be happy to take a picture and post for community review!
Hi InFullStryde,
Are you still on pain medications (or oder medications)?
If not, when did you stop?
Thanks and have a great recovery
Hi Pilor!
I do not take medication for pain anymore. I stopped taking the medication at about month 2. I would take some pain medication, sparingly and every so often after month 2; but very rarely. I still have an almost 100% bottle full of tramadol from my most recent refill. Even though the lengthening becomes uncomfortable, I didn't really experience pain from it. What I felt was more of the anxiety of not being able to move my legs as smoothly. Of course, once I stopped lengthening, the discomfort and tightness lessen quite a bit. I want to emphasize that the tightness does NOT go away 100%. You are left with tightness in both hamstrings and quadriceps. You must continue PT another 2 - 3 months at least in order to remedy the lengthening effects done unto your soft tissues.
I hope this helps, guys. Thank you again for your support and for following my diary. Please let me know if you have any other specific questions.
All the Best!
IFS
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Hey IFS,
im glad all is going well with you. I am currently at home recovering. I was asked before surgery to start a diary by some people here and I'd like to sort of start one as a way to give back for all I've learnt here over the years. Can you tell me how to do that?
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is that the "new thread" link on the right side of the screen?
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is that the "new thread" link on the right side of the screen?
Hi Tiggy! , Click on "New Topic" once you are entered into the diary section. Good luck!
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Thanks brother
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(Sunday) Day 135 Post Op - Day 43 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Greetings CLL'ers
I hope all is well. I just wanted to check in and provide my weekly update as of Sunday. I am pretty much exactly at the 4 and 1/2 months point in my journey and the Good news is that I continue to improve. My legs are getting stronger each day and my flexibility continues to increase. I'm going to say my flexibility is at about 85% of what is was before surgery. I am also feeling stronger getting out of chairs now and I am requiring less time of warm up to start walking after sitting or laying down for an extended period of time. My primary challenge at this moment is the tightness of my quad muscles which has resulted in minor APT and general discomfort when walking. All is improving however with stretching and strengthening. I am still attending PT 3 times a week at the clinic and performing my own self PT 7 days a week so I'm feeling pretty good. Not too much else to share at this time other then I'm working hard to get back to normal. I am able to do pretty much anything I need to do out of necessity now and even have returned to the gym. I'm back to my job, preparing my own meals, preparing myself for outings; can pick things up off the floor, no issues getting into showers or getting on to the ground and require no assistance for anything in particular. I'm enjoying having control back and cannot wait to finalize the first phase of recovery. I will be posting a 2nd video at my 5 month post surgery of my gait/walking progress for the CLL community to see. I am on the brink of feeling euphoric in regards to my CLL results. Just a bit of ways to go before I celebrate. To be clear; there is still a good amount of work to be done; but I can genuinely feel myself getting better each and every day and I'm feeling very positive about the next several weeks of recovery.
If you have any questions please feel free to let me know.
All the Best,
IFS
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(Sunday) Day 135 Post Op - Day 43 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Greetings CLL'ers
I hope all is well. I just wanted to check in and provide my weekly update as of Sunday. I am pretty much exactly at the 4 and 1/2 months point in my journey and the Good news is that I continue to improve. My legs are getting stronger each day and my flexibility continues to increase. I'm going to say my flexibility is at about 85% of what is was before surgery. I am also feeling stronger getting out of chairs now and I am requiring less time of warm up to start walking after sitting or laying down for an extended period of time. My primary challenge at this moment is the tightness of my quad muscles which has resulted in minor APT and general discomfort when walking. All is improving however with stretching and strengthening. I am still attending PT 3 times a week at the clinic and performing my own self PT 7 days a week so I'm feeling pretty good. Not too much else to share at this time other then I'm working hard to get back to normal. I am able to do pretty much anything I need to do out of necessity now and even have returned to the gym. I'm back to my job, preparing my own meals, preparing myself for outings; can pick things up off the floor, no issues getting into showers or getting on to the ground and require no assistance for anything in particular. I'm enjoying having control back and cannot wait to finalize the first phase of recovery. I will be posting a 2nd video at my 5 month post surgery of my gait/walking progress for the CLL community to see. I am on the brink of feeling euphoric in regards to my CLL results. Just a bit of ways to go before I celebrate. To be clear; there is still a good amount of work to be done; but I can genuinely feel myself getting better each and every day and I'm feeling very positive about the next several weeks of recovery.
If you have any questions please feel free to let me know.
All the Best,
IFS
Hey IFS,
How is your walk? Can people tell something is wrong?
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Hey IFS,
How is your walk? Can people tell something is wrong?
Hi Jaybam, it's getting there; but I'd say about 80%. At the 4.5 months point, I have a bit of stiffness in the quads that restrict my stride a bit. People generally would only notice if they were focused in on me since my walk is a bit slower at this time. Honestly, though, the walk is looking pretty decent. I'm always harder on myself than I should be, lol. I'll be posting a 5-month post-op progress video of me walking in about 2 weeks. I must say, I remember back in January when I had the surgery; wondering what May, June would look like for me. I can't believe that these months are here. I feel just about where I expected to be in May. Best described as .. close, but not quite done yet".
Thanks for the question and let me know if you have any more for me.
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hello IFS i have been reading your forum from first page to the last page, i must say... one of the best posts i have ever read in this forum! you inspire me to do it with stryde. I wish you the best health!
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hello IFS i have been reading your forum from first page to the last page, i must say... one of the best posts i have ever read in this forum! you inspire me to do it with stryde. I wish you the best health!
Thank you, Buddy. I will say that 3 inches is entirely worth it. If I had stopped at 2 inches; I would have still been happy. My weekly update is coming, today. Appreciate you following my journey. We are almost there!
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(Sunday) Day 142 Post Op - Day 50 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Greetings CLL'ers
I hope all is well. I just wanted to check in once again and report on my weekly update. Things continue to get better each day! I have to admit its a nice thing when you feel your body responding naturally to healing. My walk is getting closer to normal. I would say the main thing that is preventing a pretty much normal walk is just my APT which is getting better. I feel less and less pull on the back and pelvis as the day goes by. The quads, specifically, the rector femorus and hip flexors is what is tight and must continue to be released. I will continue to stretch and strengthen and I'm looking forward to sending you a progress video in a bit over a week. I will try to send a video in about 10 days which will mark almost exactly 5 months post op and 2 months post lengthening. My sleep is very good and I will be returning to the normal gym tomorrow to rebuild a more advanced level of upper body strength and begin training the legs. I had mentioned that I was going back to the gym during an earlier post; but I ended up giving it another week or so. I'm ready now.
What bothers you during CLL at the 5 month point?
-You're still going to be tight in the quads and hips BUT you will be able to walk close to normal. It won't be your best gait or top speed or walking great distances, yet; but by month 5 w/ stryde you will most likely be comfortable and walking pretty darn well.
-You will sleep like a baby most likely; but in the mornings your tightness will be at it's tightest. It gets better each day. Be patient.
-At month 5, you are nearly walking normally but NOT QUITE and you are just ready to get going to the next step and move forward with life! It can get tough to wait; but hold on tight. In another 4-8 weeks; you're going to feel great and feel the great healing you desire. I can't wait to experience another several weeks of healing!
Guys let me know if you have any questions. I'll check in and I'm glad to assist.
All the Best,
IFS
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Thanks for the update IFS, I'm happy everything is going well and the insight you've provided, you paved the stryde way for myself and maybe others in this forum, got my consultation tomorrow with Mahboubian ;D I'll be mentioning you sent me here hopefully get the referral discount haha
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BIGGG CONGRATSSS IFS!!!!!!
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Great update IFS! You have been an inspiration to many of us. Keep up the great work brother.
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This is amazing progress - huge congrats - it's great to see all of the hard work you've put in start to pay off!
Again, thank you for the detailed, honest, informative look at your progress. You are an inspiration.
Really looking forward to the next video!
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Can someone explain what exactly APT is? I've seen this abbreviated but Google doesn't help.
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Can someone explain what exactly APT is? I've seen this abbreviated but Google doesn't help.
Hey man! This is actually standing for anterior pelvic tilt. All it is...is when the quads are tight and pull pelvis downward a bit and makes you want to lean forward a bit. Usually its solvable with a month or two of PT. The other name of it is called Duck Ass. Lol.
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This is amazing progress - huge congrats - it's great to see all of the hard work you've put in start to pay off!
Again, thank you for the detailed, honest, informative look at your progress. You are an inspiration.
Really looking forward to the next video!
Thank you! Looking forward to sharing the video with the community and appreciate your support and interest in my journey!
Great update IFS! You have been an inspiration to many of us. Keep up the great work brother.
Thank you Tiggy! Keep going strong, yourself. It gets good, eventually!
BIGGG CONGRATSSS IFS!!!!!!
Thank you, Star-Ray! Appreciate it, man!
Thanks for the update IFS, I'm happy everything is going well and the insight you've provided, you paved the stryde way for myself and maybe others in this forum, got my consultation tomorrow with Mahboubian ;D I'll be mentioning you sent me here hopefully get the referral discount haha
Good luck on your consultation man! My next appointment with Dr. M is in about 5 weeks from now and my bone should be looking real good by then and I anticipate walking right into his office at the 6-month mark with a great looking gait. Feel free to let him know about me as well! I did mention you we're coming his way!
All the Best!
IFS
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HOW ARE YOU DOING MY GUY !!!???
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HOW ARE YOU DOING MY GUY !!!???
Doing great, man! Thanks for checking. I'll be posting a progress walking video in about about 9 days. Legs are getting stronger and I can feel myself getting better bit by bit, day by day.
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I'm really happy my dude congrats!!.. you don't know how bad I want to do this procedure 😔
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(Sunday) Day 149 Post Op - Day 57 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Greetings CLL'ers
It is another week down and I must report some great gains! I am starting to feel like I am approaching the status of having calm, comfortable, normal legs. I am still experiencing tight quads and hips but my speed is just below average walking speed now at 2.5 mph (Average speed is about 3mph). Additionally, my back is not hurting me anymore while walking and my stride has increased nicely. Overall I'm feeling much more comfortable. My anterior pelvic tilt (aka duck ass!) has improved a great deal as well, hence why my back pain has subsided significantly. I'm going to start working out the legs at the gym tomorrow which should help accelerate my healing that much more as well as help me return and perhaps even surpass my previous physical appearance. All in time....myfriends.. All-in-time. I will be posting a video of my latest walking gait by this Friday..so be on the lookout! I am currently just a few days below 5 months post-op and 2 months post lengthening.
Additional Notes:
-I am 100% returned back to my necessity life of working, working out, going out for drinks, parties, dinner, etc.
-I am able to walk 1 mile unassisted. Muscles are tired at the end but I can do it.
-Can do a slow slow jog and have increased agility as well. Will try to demonstrate a bit on video
-My flexibility is improving nicely. I'm about 85-87% of what I was before surgery
-Challenges that exist at this phase: Getting up from a chair is not a walk in the park, but I am able to do it pretty smoothly. Still not 100% on that. When resting or laying down for a long time, such as when asleep, it can take several minutes of warm up to deal with tightness. Discomfort always goes away with some warm-up and stretching. APT is still there but much much better. Another month or two; it should subside even more.
That is it, for now, my friends. I have my 6-month post-operative visit with Dr. M in late June and we'll see how my bone looks at almost exactly 6 months.
Thank you again for all of your support and guidance. I'm here to help as much as possible so please feel free to ask questions and our send me a PM as needed.
All the Best,
IFS!
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(Sunday) Day 149 Post Op - Day 57 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Greetings CLL'ers
It is another week down and I must report some great gains! I am starting to feel like I am approaching the status of having calm, comfortable, normal legs. I am still experiencing tight quads and hips but my speed is just below average walking speed now at 2.5 mph (Average speed is about 3mph). Additionally, my back is not hurting me anymore while walking and my stride has increased nicely. Overall I'm feeling much more comfortable. My anterior pelvic tilt (aka duck ass!) has improved a great deal as well, hence why my back pain has subsided significantly. I'm going to start working out the legs at the gym tomorrow which should help accelerate my healing that much more as well as help me return and perhaps even surpass my previous physical appearance. All in time....myfriends.. All-in-time. I will be posting a video of my latest walking gait by this Friday..so be on the lookout! I am currently just a few days below 5 months post-op and 2 months post lengthening.
Additional Notes:
-I am 100% returned back to my necessity life of working, working out, going out for drinks, parties, dinner, etc.
-I am able to walk 1 mile unassisted. Muscles are tired at the end but I can do it.
-Can do a slow slow jog and have increased agility as well. Will try to demonstrate a bit on video
-My flexibility is improving nicely. I'm about 85-87% of what I was before surgery
-Challenges that exist at this phase: Getting up from a chair is not a walk in the park, but I am able to do it pretty smoothly. Still not 100% on that. When resting or laying down for a long time, such as when asleep, it can take several minutes of warm up to deal with tightness. Discomfort always goes away with some warm-up and stretching. APT is still there but much much better. Another month or two; it should subside even more.
That is it, for now, my friends. I have my 6-month post-operative visit with Dr. M in late June and we'll see how my bone looks at almost exactly 6 months.
Thank you again for all of your support and guidance. I'm here to help as much as possible so please feel free to ask questions and our send me a PM as needed.
All the Best,
IFS!
Hey IFS,
Great progress man! I certainly see why getting up from a chair is a big challenge! It requires strong legs and balance. Funny how something as simple as getting up from a chair is taken for granted pre-op, I certainly did. But the extra inches are worth the hussle to getting that ability back. You are doing great brother, I'm very happy to read about the progress you are making ;). Looking forward to more updates in the future!
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(Sunday) Day 149 Post Op - Day 57 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Greetings CLL'ers
It is another week down and I must report some great gains! I am starting to feel like I am approaching the status of having calm, comfortable, normal legs. I am still experiencing tight quads and hips but my speed is just below average walking speed now at 2.5 mph (Average speed is about 3mph). Additionally, my back is not hurting me anymore while walking and my stride has increased nicely. Overall I'm feeling much more comfortable. My anterior pelvic tilt (aka duck ass!) has improved a great deal as well, hence why my back pain has subsided significantly. I'm going to start working out the legs at the gym tomorrow which should help accelerate my healing that much more as well as help me return and perhaps even surpass my previous physical appearance. All in time....myfriends.. All-in-time. I will be posting a video of my latest walking gait by this Friday..so be on the lookout! I am currently just a few days below 5 months post-op and 2 months post lengthening.
Additional Notes:
-I am 100% returned back to my necessity life of working, working out, going out for drinks, parties, dinner, etc.
-I am able to walk 1 mile unassisted. Muscles are tired at the end but I can do it.
-Can do a slow slow jog and have increased agility as well. Will try to demonstrate a bit on video
-My flexibility is improving nicely. I'm about 85-87% of what I was before surgery
-Challenges that exist at this phase: Getting up from a chair is not a walk in the park, but I am able to do it pretty smoothly. Still not 100% on that. When resting or laying down for a long time, such as when asleep, it can take several minutes of warm up to deal with tightness. Discomfort always goes away with some warm-up and stretching. APT is still there but much much better. Another month or two; it should subside even more.
That is it, for now, my friends. I have my 6-month post-operative visit with Dr. M in late June and we'll see how my bone looks at almost exactly 6 months.
Thank you again for all of your support and guidance. I'm here to help as much as possible so please feel free to ask questions and our send me a PM as needed.
All the Best,
IFS!
Excellent! Thanks for the update IFS 8)
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great!! thanks for your post again!
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(Sunday) Day 156 Post Op - Day 63 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good morning CLL'ers!
Another week down and I wanted to just provide a weekly update. I am getting better, STILL, a bit by bit each and every day. I'm walking around with no assistance and my walk is looking pretty good, but not 100%... I'd say 90%. It takes time due to the tightness in the quadriceps.
Notes below:
-Walking is now approaching normal. If my CLL procedure was a plane ride; the captain would be on the loudspeaker saying "Good evening Passengers, please be seated and buckle up; we are now starting our descent into sunny Los Angeles California; 3 inches taller, of course. I'm on the final leg of this stretch guys.
-My Duck Ass is just about healed. Thank goodness. It just takes time; so when you do get Duck ass and trust me you most likely will get some duck ass if you stretch your height 3 inches; don't panic; just keep working out and stretching and it gets better. My back pain is now gone.
-The two areas that need remediation still...Quadriceps muscles feel tight, particularly above the knee area. Must stretch, stretch, stretch, and continue walking and performing my usual motions in order to break down this tightness and have the stretched muscle adjust to the new length. Another area is the strength of my legs. After you're done lengthening it will take some time, probably a few months or more to regain the strength you need to walk long distances. I can walk about 1 mile right now however, I'm pretty tired afterward. I must continue to walk and train to get stronger. In due time.
-I have no more pain
-I am just about 100% returned back to my normal life. Other than moving a bit slowly as I recover; I no longer am having to compensate due to the CLL procedure.
I'll continue to update weekly and again, will provide a video of my walk at the 5-month point at some point this week.
Thank you again for all of your support and feel free to reach out with any questions.
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Amazing InFullStryde! Your journey has been inspiring and your diary will be an asset for future LLers like myself. To see where you are now, after having faced all of your challenges and pushed through to get to a point where you are enjoying your height and living your best life, puts a huge smile on my face. Excited to see the video soon!
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This is one of the best diaries I've read on here, it's truly motivational.
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Keep pushing, bro!
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Keep pushing, bro!
Amazing InFullStryde! Your journey has been inspiring and your diary will be an asset for future LLers like myself. To see where you are now, after having faced all of your challenges and pushed through to get to a point where you are enjoying your height and living your best life, puts a huge smile on my face. Excited to see the video soon!
This is one of the best diaries I've read on here, it's truly motivational.
Thank you for the support, guys. I'm almost through this.
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Hey man great to know you are doing really good in how many months after the surgery does the STRYDE come off also does it cost money to take them out?
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Hey man great to know you are doing really good in how many months after the surgery does the STRYDE come off also does it cost money to take them out?
Thank you. I just walked a mile unassisted and it felt good.
Stryde comes out between 1-2 years. I will likely wait until after the Superbowl in 2020. It costs about $7,000 after insurance.
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Does it exactly have to come out in 1-2 years or is it fine if you keep it in longer
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InFullStryde... has done... amazingly . He planned his surgery and went with one of the Worlds top doctors .... it certainly pays to get your surgery done by the top American doctors !
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Good afternoon CLL'ers!
As promised here is a video of me exactly 5 months + 7 day post-surgery! and 2 months post lengthening. Still working on some tightness but getting there! I'm still weeks away from where I want to be but as you can see; progress is being made. I feel pretty decent about where I'm at for the 5 month point. I am going to continue to attend PT 3 times a week and keeping movin'! movin'! All in all, however, I can walk again and I'm eternally grateful for that. I'll have my usual weekly update on Sunday. P.S. That is my sister laughing! It's pretty funny to go outside for the sole purpose to record your walk! Fun times.
5 Month + 7 Day Post OP Walk (I'm actually doing maintenance work; so excuse the messy clothes and shoes)
https://youtu.be/8t5stsmFLJE
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great!!
Thank you !
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Amazing! Your walk looks great and I love the side step you threw in at the end. Also, your proportions look really good! I hope my walk looks as good as yours at 5 months. This is so inspiring. I read through your entire diary and it’s given me an honest look at how much hard work this experience requires and how amazing the finish line is. Thank you!
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Great results, hard work and dedication pays off, good luck in your future.
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Looking good man! How long do you need PT for?
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Congrats my guy 👌👌👌👌
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Wow! IFS You are awesome! Your walking looks really good! I can see your confidence from the way you walk in your video.
So happy for you and grateful for you making a huge contribution to this forum and to the prospective LL patients.
Enjoy your new height!
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Great video... thanks for the update... wish u well 8)
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Great video... thanks for the update... wish u well 8)
Wow! IFS You are awesome! Your walking looks really good! I can see your confidence from the way you walk in your video.
So happy for you and grateful for you making a huge contribution to this forum and to the prospective LL patients.
Enjoy your new height!
Congrats my guy 👌👌👌👌
Looking good man! How long do you need PT for?
Great results, hard work and dedication pays off, good luck in your future.
Amazing! Your walk looks great and I love the side step you threw in at the end. Also, your proportions look really good! I hope my walk looks as good as yours at 5 months. This is so inspiring. I read through your entire diary and it’s given me an honest look at how much hard work this experience requires and how amazing the finish line is. Thank you!
great!!
Thank you !
Thank you, guys. I really appreciate it. The journey continues; but I'm no longer in the THICK of it. Each week there is progress. On Sunday, I'll go into more detail about the positives and the remaining challenges. I plan on continuing the formal clinic PT 3 times a week for another 5 or 6 weeks. I expect to slow it down to 2 days or just 1 day after that; until I'm jogging at a good pace, again.
All the Best!
IFS
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(Sunday) Day 163 Post Op - Day 70 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED....[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Hi Guys, Sorry for the delay. This is a quick update of my recovery as of last Sunday. I continue to get better, bit-by-bit, each and every day. I just got back from a 5-day trip where I walked about 60,000 steps. I was a tad tired and my walk wasn't perfect (it's about 85%, there); but it was good enough to get me anywhere I needed and did not look bad at all. I continue to attend PT and just be patient as my leg muscles get more and more loose and stronger as time wears on. One interesting point about my walking....and perhaps some other veterans have experienced this as well... After resting the legs in a chair or laying down, ..it takes a bit of time, maybe 3-5 minutes to get warmed up and loose enough to walk nicely again. Usually, as soon as I stand up, I'll do standing knee raises and walk in place for a bit to just loosen up. Again, as time wears on; the need for this becomes less and less...but I thought it to be worth mentioning.
Guys, that is it for now. I'll continue to update weekly. Feel free to ask me any questions as needed.
For those who missed it, here was my walk 5 months and 7 days post surgery, below:
https://youtu.be/8t5stsmFLJE
Talk soon,
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Awesome, man. always look forward to your updates.
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I have a question since you got the LL PROCEDURE HAVE YOU HAD TO BUY BIGGER PANTS,SHOES OR SHIRTS SINCE YOU INCREASED IN HEIGHT?
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why shoes??? :o ;D
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Lol sorry I'm an amateur in this I was also trying to measure myself with the yellow tape measuring stick but I don't know if that's an accurate way to measure my height because it says I'm 5 ft 7 3/4 but when I put my body against the wall I'm literally 5 ft 8 so I don't know if thats aaan accurate way to measure height 🤔
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I have a question since you got the LL PROCEDURE HAVE YOU HAD TO BUY BIGGER PANTS,SHOES OR SHIRTS SINCE YOU INCREASED IN HEIGHT?
Hi Franco,
Not really; but since I have 3 more inches of height, my pants actually fit better since they were always long before. My shirts fit a little looser, unfortunately, because I lost a bit of muscle mass since I wasn't able to do the kind of weight training I was used too; however, I'm gaining it all back. Overall, not much change in clothing; other than I'm motivated to go out and buy new clothes to compliment the 3 added inches.
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(Sunday) Day 170 Post Op - Day 77 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED...[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good afternoon CLL'ers. I thought I'd jump in and make another update for you as of today. Well, I'm coming up on 6 months and things are looking pretty good. I'm able to walk pretty well and there isn't really anything I cannot do with regard to walking and getting around. I've created a small list of things I'm still working on
-Takes a few minutes and several warm-up steps to get the legs going after sitting or laying down for prolonged periods of time
-Muscles in legs are generally weak and tire earlier than they used to. I am able to walk 1+ miles however I do get tired so will need to strengthen.
-Feel some tightness in the quad/hip areas as expected. Will need to continue to stretch.
-I have a slight anterior pelvic tilt that continues to improve. This should go away soon as I exercise and get back into overall good shape.
Overall I feel like I'm coasting along now. My goal was to be able to walk and be somewhat normal/ambulatory by the 6th-month mark and I have met that goal. My next objective is to further strengthen my legs so that I can approach a more athletic status again and I just want to get back to my old self. I look forward to taking care of the residual impacts of CLL during the coming few months.
Guys, not much to say for now. I'll soon be creating some post and updates that stem around the impact that the procedure has had on my life. It's positive and life change.
All the best,
IFS
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Really good process in recent weeks! Video is great. Hopefully you get back to normal very soon!
Thanks for the updates too!
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Really good process in recent weeks! Video is great. Hopefully you get back to normal very soon!
Thanks for the updates too!
Thank you BYB! It's been an incredible journey so far. I'm grateful to have the basic necessity of walking back and looking forward to becoming athletic again. I feel confident that I can return to form.
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(Sunday) Day 170 Post Op - Day 77 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED...[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Guys, not much to say for now. I'll soon be creating some post and updates that stem around the impact that the procedure has had on my life. It's positive and life change.
All the best,
IFS
Yes bro! I love the philosophical insights - looking forward to hearing what you have to say!!
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I'll soon be creating some post and updates that stem around the impact that the procedure has had on my life. It's positive and life change.
Really looking forward to this. Insight into the psychological outcome of this experience is rare. Thank you IFS for providing us with what is, IMO, the most comprehensive diary here, I know you are a busy man and your time is valuable enjoying your new height so this is greatly appreciated.
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Hey IFS,
I starting getting into resistance bands for a travel friendly workout option.
Have you looked into these? I feel like they might be great tools for recovery and strengthening the legs back up. More functional strength I feel.
Those short roughly 12'' ones you can wrap around both legs and do all sorts of movements. I'm bringing mine for sure.
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Oh btw, the travel workout option is with the longer, more resistance ones. Which also might come in handy for recovery once your legs are strong enough to stand on the bands.
Great option for LLers when traveling to the gym isn't convenient.
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Hey IFS,
I starting getting into resistance bands for a travel-friendly workout option.
Have you looked into these? I feel like they might be great tools for recovery and strengthening the legs back up. More functional strength I feel.
Those short roughly 12'' ones you can wrap around both legs and do all sorts of movements. I'm bringing mine for sure.
Thank you for the advice OG. You're right. The bands are excellent. My PT Clinic uses them with me and they help a great deal. I wish I would have used them more when I was doing my own private PT at home. I just started getting into them again and it's helping me build my strength in legs which is a top challenge for me. Do you have multiple resistance options with these? I would post what you mean here if you can. Future CLL'ers can really benefit from these bands. It's my personal opinion that they are the most accessible and perhaps most effective way to strengthen while lengthening (Month 1 -3) and also during the early stages of recovery (Month 4-7).
Thank you again!
IFS
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The short ones are very affordable. The longer ones can add up depending on how heavy you go. Tons of options on Amazon.
I'd get the light-heavy short ones and even Xheavy ones because they're affordable: https://www.amazon.com/Limm-Resistance-Bands-Exercise-Loops/dp/B07QKM4BQF?th=1
The longer ones when you get stable enough: https://www.amazon.com/Serious-Steel-Assisted-Resistance-Powerlifting/dp/B07BY89MTY
A cheap door anchor for more movements with your legs. Picture anchoring at the bottom of the door: https://www.amazon.com/DYNAPRO-Anchor-Extra-D-Handle-Resistance/dp/B00K2323LE/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_200_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0N377K4KYX787YGQGT38
These types of bands I avoided due to more breakable parts: https://www.amazon.com/UPOWEX-Resistance-Bands-Set-Attachment/dp/B07Q17TWJR/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_200_t_2/142-2223886-0379230?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=4M3M2T72K8EQA9BB5H3C
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Hey.... IFS, are you doing anymore leg lengthening in the future?
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Hey.... IFS, are you doing anymore leg lengthening in the future?
No more for me, man. I do believe I am done with CLL for good.
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Thanks for answering all my questions !!! 👌👌 Just one more because I feel this one is important.. since you got the LL is their a time limit that you could stand before your legs get tierd or can you stand for long periods of time without your legs bothering you.. or is that just something that happens after the procedure and gets better over time
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Hey IFS, you sound you've been doing great
How is your diet going ? Taking supplements ? amount of calories ?
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Thanks for answering all my questions !!! 👌👌 Just one more because I feel this one is important.. since you got the LL is their a time limit that you could stand before your legs get tierd or can you stand for long periods of time without your legs bothering you.. or is that just something that happens after the procedure and gets better over time
Hi Franco. At this point (about 6 months), I can stand for hours, as needed. The legs are going to get a bit tired; since I'm still not 100% strengthened; but 100% will come soon. Overall, my walking and standing are comfortable now.
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Hey IFS, you sound you've been doing great
How is your diet going ? Taking supplements ? amount of calories ?
Hi Jubart,
Everything is going great as far as I'm concerned. My diet is normal. I usually eat a lot of veggies and protein. I'm a meat eater also, so a steady dose of chicken and fish is okay for me. I'm taking Vitamin D, C, MultiVitamin, and Protein Shake for added meals. I'm actually about 10 lbs heavier than my average weight before CLL... That combined 6 inches of added bone definitely adds to the weight because I'm not any bigger or anything around the stomach or upper body. Calories are at about 2000-2500 per day.
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Why did he stop writing ? Something wrong?? Any complication after months ?
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Why did he stop writing ? Something wrong?? Any complication after months ?
Hi Stryder, I still update one time a week, every Sunday. During consolidation and recovery; there isn't too much to write about since the daily routine is the same. I had zero complications and I'm walking very well. Also, just started to do a light jog.
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Hi Jubart,
Everything is going great as far as I'm concerned. My diet is normal. I usually eat a lot of veggies and protein. I'm a meat eater also, so a steady dose of chicken and fish is okay for me. I'm taking Vitamin D, C, MultiVitamin, and Protein Shake for added meals. I'm actually about 10 lbs heavier than my average weight before CLL... That combined 6 inches of added bone definitely adds to the weight because I'm not any bigger or anything around the stomach or upper body. Calories are at about 2000-2500 per day.
So the .. the 6 inches bone .. gives you more weight?
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So the .. the 6 inches bone .. gives you more weight?
I believe it does. I'll ask Dr. M. It has to give you a bit more.
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Hi Stryder, I still update one time a week, every Sunday. During consolidation and recovery; there isn't too much to write about since the daily routine is the same. I had zero complications and I'm walking very well. Also, just started to do a light jog.
I'm so happy for you to hear that. I hope you also do your gym workout for upper body regularly.
Any remaining pain ? Duck ass gone completely?
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I'm so happy for you to hear that. I hope you also do your gym workout for upper body regularly.
Any remaining pain ? Duck ass gone completely?
Thank you! Yes; back at the gym and working out pretty much everything...Upper and lower body. Pain is gone and Duck is pretty much gone.. I think 95%.
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(Sunday) Day 177 Post Op - Day 84 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED...[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good morning CLL'ers!
Another update coming live from sunny So Cal. As it turns out my condition continues to get better. Today is by far the best I have felt with my legs since the day before surgery. The CLL process has been a fascinating one to me. If you're lucky enough; you truly do get a little bit better each and every single day. I'm pushing up against 6 months now and I'll describe below what that means. I know that the 6-month mark is somewhat the golden date that Doctors will typically inform you as far as walking normal again. I'll explain what 6 months is to me...
6 Months for Me...
I can walk again. I have some stiffness which can be felt and if examined very closely can be seen too. The tightness is from the quadriceps. It does not impact me from doing anything out of necessity. I can stand for as long as I need to and probably walk 2 - 3 miles without a break if I needed to. I went on a trip about 2 weeks ago where I needed to walk about 60,000 steps over 5 days. I was tired and there was some "Drag"; meaning my gait would be a tad off as the walking became prolonged, but It wasn't bad. I just look like a guy who maybe is "recovering from something" but nothing that indicated any major problems. I was pretty normal to the common onlooker. At 6 months I can do a slow jog and I have some versatility back. I'm not flirting with athletics yet, however. I can do small jumping, hopping, pivots, etc...but it is not athletic yet. For my life, that is fine because I hung up the cleats many many years ago...However....based on where I am at today I expect to be back to modest sports activities in about 2-3 more months. If it's 4 months...that's fine. I'm in no hurry since my necessities are being met.
My "Duck Ass" Or Anterior Pelvic tilt (APT) is 87% resolved. It is not noticeable to the onlooker and I do not feel back pain from it any longer. It also does not affect my final height and it's not bothersome anymore. Where the APT comes into play the most is when I have sat or laid down a bit. Overall the tightness from resting the legs for a little while makes it so I need to take about 15-20 warmup steps and just stretch for a few minutes before I am loose again. The reason for this is because again, the quadriceps are still tight (They get a tiny bit looser every day). In time, these will continue to loosen through my stretching and strengthening. Moral of this story and why do I share it?....I want prospect CLL'ers to know that the feared "Duck Ass", is in most cases nothing more than just tight quads and weak glutes. That's it. Work your glutes, walk, and stretch and it will go away... Nice thing is that the Duck Ass will reduce it self to a point where you won't notice it much well before it's totally gone. Incorporate a few extra work outs to your general routine and it will dissapait in weeks to months. (It's not a years thing).
Guys, I'm so happy. I cannot tell you how much this has improved my life and I'm so so so thankful for all the support you have given me, Dr. M has given me, my PT has given me, my family has given me....and the list goes on. I could not have done this without everyone involved. It takes a village.......(wait for it)............. to be successful at CLL. I will do another post in a couple of months that focuses just on the impact this has made for my life and that will also require me to disclose how height impacted me before CLL; I trust that you guys will be able to relate to me in so many ways. I'll close out with this statement... "I'm Finally Free".
Thank you again you guys, I'll update once again next Sunday and ..... Those Fireworks on July 4th...here in the USA...well those have two meanings this year...Obviously, celebrating independence; but additionaly, I'm celebrating my freedom from height dysporhia.
Talk soon!
IFS
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Hey ..IFS.. thanks for another great update.. your surgery and recovery has been amazing..
It's just shows how.. great planning and going with the right doctor.. gets you impresse results.
Well done ... buddy!!!! Keep us posted ...
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Don't let up, My man. Keep pushing for better recovery every single day. Don't let up until you're at least a year post surgery! I'm thinking of scheduling my consultation with Dr. Paley soon.
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(Sunday) Day 177 Post Op - Day 84 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED...[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good morning CLL'ers!
Another update coming live from sunny So Cal. As it turns out my condition continues to get better. Today is by far the best I have felt with my legs since the day before surgery. The CLL process has been a fascinating one to me. If you're lucky enough; you truly do get a little bit better each and every single day. I'm pushing up against 6 months now and I'll describe below what that means. I know that the 6-month mark is somewhat the golden date that Doctors will typically inform you as far as walking normal again. I'll explain what 6 months is to me...
6 Months for Me...
I can walk again. I have some stiffness which can be felt and if examined very closely can be seen too. The tightness is from the quadriceps. It does not impact me from doing anything out of necessity. I can stand for as long as I need to and probably walk 2 - 3 miles without a break if I needed to. I went on a trip about 2 weeks ago where I needed to walk about 60,000 steps over 5 days. I was tired and there was some "Drag"; meaning my gait would be a tad off as the walking became prolonged, but It wasn't bad. I just look like a guy who maybe is "recovering from something" but nothing that indicated any major problems. I was pretty normal to the common onlooker. At 6 months I can do a slow jog and I have some versatility back. I'm not flirting with athletics yet, however. I can do small jumping, hopping, pivots, etc...but it is not athletic yet. For my life, that is fine because I hung up the cleats many many years ago...However....based on where I am at today I expect to be back to modest sports activities in about 2-3 more months. If it's 4 months...that's fine. I'm in no hurry since my necessities are being met.
My "Duck Ass" Or Anterior Pelvic tilt (APT) is 87% resolved. It is not noticeable to the onlooker and I do not feel back pain from it any longer. It also does not affect my final height and it's not bothersome anymore. Where the APT comes into play the most is when I have sat or laid down a bit. Overall the tightness from resting the legs for a little while makes it so I need to take about 15-20 warmup steps and just stretch for a few minutes before I am loose again. The reason for this is because again, the quadriceps are still tight (They get a tiny bit looser every day). In time, these will continue to loosen through my stretching and strengthening. Moral of this story and why do I share it?....I want prospect CLL'ers to know that the feared "Duck Ass", is in most cases nothing more than just tight quads and weak glutes. That's it. Work your glutes, walk, and stretch and it will go away... Nice thing is that the Duck Ass will reduce it self to a point where you won't notice it much well before it's totally gone. Incorporate a few extra work outs to your general routine and it will dissapait in weeks to months. (It's not a years thing).
Guys, I'm so happy. I cannot tell you how much this has improved my life and I'm so so so thankful for all the support you have given me, Dr. M has given me, my PT has given me, my family has given me....and the list goes on. I could not have done this without everyone involved. It takes a village.......(wait for it)............. to be successful at CLL. I will do another post in a couple of months that focuses just on the impact this has made for my life and that will also require me to disclose how height impacted me before CLL; I trust that you guys will be able to relate to me in so many ways. I'll close out with this statement... "I'm Finally Free".
Thank you again you guys, I'll update once again next Sunday and ..... Those Fireworks on July 4th...here in the USA...well those have two meanings this year...Obviously, celebrating independence; but additionaly, I'm celebrating my freedom from height dysporhia.
Talk soon!
IFS
Top man - congrats!
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Great Job IFS on the 6 mth milestone. Actually, everyday is a milestone in LL journey or life for that matter. For regaining athletic or fitness level, I suggest that you can try the thread mill on a incremental pace increase. It has a progressive effect and something tangible to work with. i.e Start a 2.4 km (or any fix distance that is meaningful for you) and a pace of say 5.0. (lower pace if need be, once again up to you) With each daily walk (again up to you on the frequency), slowly work your way to a jog/run (probably pace 6.0 onward). You can watch videos or motivational clips as you walk/eventual run (do be mindful of safety of coz but it helps to pass the time and keep the discipline).It helps me in regaining my post LL fitness level in a sustainable and somewhat structured way. Great Job on your diary btw. You will serve as a guidance for other dream seeker.
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would like to see the scars from stryde surgery
thank you!
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What an incredible milestone! Congrats on freeing yourself from height dysphoria. Your story and this diary will provide every future CLLer with the ability to understand what it truly takes to accomplish this incredibly challenging yet rewarding milestone.
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Guys,
I really appreciate it. Your kind words and support help to fuel my endurance through what is a very tough process to live through. With all this I mind; I'm dedicated and committed to help future CLL'ers. I will continue to post weekly for an indefinite amount of time so that one can use my experience as a way to benchmark their process from "Wheelchair to Running".
Thank you again!
All the best,
IFS
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Congratulations IFS, and thank you.
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InFullStryde, your diary has been such an inspiration for me (and others)! Thank you for maintaining such a detailed diary. Congrats on reaching your newest milestone -- I can't wait to get to the 6 month point!
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InFullStryde, your diary has been such an inspiration for me (and others)! Thank you for maintaining such a detailed diary. Congrats on reaching your newest milestone -- I can't wait to get to the 6 month point!
Vertical! Thanks, Man. I just started following your diary and will chime in where I can to help. The great thing about time is that it is for certain... 6 Months will get here sooner than we realize. Keep going strong.
IFS
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InFullStryde, I need your help and advice, plz check PM, thanks
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InFullStryde, I need your help and advice, plz check PM, thanks
Hi Lalbadsha,
Glad to assist. Check my PM when you can.
All the best,
IFS
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InFullStryde - I sent you a PM as well, if you could get back to me that'd be much appreciated. Thanks!
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Hi Lalbadsha,
Glad to assist. Check my PM when you can.
All the best,
IFS
Thanks, sent my question by PM, plz PM back , thanks a lot
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thanks for the response
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Soooo, when did you or when do you foresee yourself feeling comfortable enough to engage in...intimate affairs?
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please post pictures of your scars from surgery,
thanks
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InFullStryde, I sent you another PM, plz check when you can, thanks.
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I'm just spoiled, but no update this past sunday?
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(Sunday) Day 177 Post Op - Day 91 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED...[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Good afternoon CLLers!
Sorry for the delay in updating my status. It was been a bit on the crazy busy side the last several days. I will keep it short for now and reserve a bigger update for next week. I have my 6 month follow up with Dr. M next Tuesday. We will have latest X-rays in hand, I'll take some Scar Pictures for you and also upload my latest video of walking, etc.
All is going well and all continues to get better. I will say this... even after 6 months you have to continue to stretch and strengthen. You won't be fully recovered and in order to maintain your progress; one must stretch and strengthen daily. I'd say at least 45 minutes dedicated to this per day is smart.
Soooo, when did you or when do you foresee yourself feeling comfortable enough to engage in...intimate affairs?
Ha Ha, great question. Hips come into play here; so I've been satisfactory in this area since about month 4-5 post operation; once my hip mobility began to return and the bone was consolidated enough for safety reasons.
I'll be back with a new update on around the 17th of July after I have X-Rays, Video, and some Scar photos for you guys review.
Thank you again for all your support. It feels amazing to be walking 3 inches taller.
Talk soon,
IFS
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Hi IFS! Eagerly awaiting a new video upload from you - cheers and thanks for keeping us posted all along your amazing journey!
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(Sunday) Day 199 Post Op - Day 106 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED...[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood afternoon CLL'ers,
I wanted to come with another update. Sorry that I was actually delayed a couple of weeks. I had intended on creating a walking video that was accompanied by my latest X-Rays as well as pictures of my Nail Insertion marks on my legs. Well, I became so wrapped up with work and life in general(all good things) AND my legs felt decent enough; that I actually decided to postpone my appointment a few weeks. So, now my next X-Rays will be in early August which will mark about 7 months post-op.
My status is that I'm doing well. I'm walking with no issue and will try to have a video for review very shortly. I actually believe I'll wait to do the video at my 7 month post op appointment at Dr. M since it's only 2 weeks from now. I'd like to deliver the X-Ray, Video, and Scar pictures in one clean package for you guys.
Legs are getting stronger, I can do full squats. Walk looks 95% normal. Caveat is that when I sit down for a long period of time or lay down such as when you first wake up, my quads fell pretty darn tight and i need to warm them up and stretch them for a little while before the tightness wears off. It gets a bit better each and ever day but it's definitely something that I'd like to see resolve it self soon.
I'm able to walk up and down stars properly without holding an guard rails. I can walk with no issues 1.5 to 2 miles continuous without having to take a rest. My legs do need to continue to strengthen however; as I do start to feel tired a bit early during these walks. It will take time. I'm actually planning some heavy walking in August for events like Disneyland! and more which will really push me and I can't wait to do that.
Flexibility is at about 80% I would say. Strength of my legs at this point, I'd say is maybe 50% since I have played it safe and not hit the gym hard with my legs yet. My strenthening to this point has focused around body weight training mainly and some light weighted squats and walking. I still have some ways to go; but it gets a bit better each day. My Anterior Pelvic Tilt (Duck Ass) which I was reporting about prior; is very very subtle at this point. Actually; its not noticeable to anyone other than me since I know how I was before CLL. For all intents and purposes, the Duck Ass is gone; but as my glute muscles come back in, and I continue to walk, this is all going to return to normal. I'm so so close. I hope this is good news to some of you out there who are just coming off the phase 1 of CLL and have APT. It will certainly go away; just keep stretching and walking.
As far as PT, I'm attending formal PT 2 times a week and I believe I will continue this up until mid August. At that time I will likely take over my own PT chores and discontinue formal PT. I plan on stretching and working out my legs for the rest of my life at this point. I have just adopted the practice of improving flexibility and leg strength as a daily routine in effort to stave off any ill impacts of CLL as I age.
I'll continue to re-summarize for all of you as time wears on; however, I will say that I believe my recovery was a tough one; but is going very well. I overcame my obstacles. I had the surgery at 37, barely ever walked or exercised my legs for nearly 20 years, and had very average to below average flexibility. Was very tight in hips as well. I had to really battle to make this process a successful one. Gratefully, I lengthened 3 inches!...After 2 weeks post lengthening; my gait resembled a somewhat regular gait...(maybe 60%)...and after 5 months and 1 week, post op, the Walk looked pretty normal; but was still a bit tiresome after a while and I had to focus effort to maintain a regular gate. At 6 months; the gait is pretty normal...(90%-95%) and the tightness is mainly something that you realize you have but isn't too noticeable to the outside. At this point one can take strolls in the park, malls, etc and it's a really nice place to be again. At this rate, I expect major gains in August and September; which would mark a 9 month point. Isn't Stryde incredible?
Guys, Thank you again for all your support and for having my back. What a challenging and rewarding process CLL can be for each and every one of us. I don't think I could have been as successful throughout the procedure if it wasn't for your demonstrating of true empathy for a fellow man like myself.
Let me know if I can be of any assistance to you as you pursue your journey OR if you simply want to bounce off feedback. I'm a man who was successful at 5'1 and genuinely happy. I felt like my growing in height was the only thing I was not successful in during the course of my life, ha ha. So I decided to change it. Now I'm 5'4 and I'm even more happier than before. I'll sum up the more deeper details of how this experience impacted me in a future post.
All the best,
IFS
P.S.
Hi IFS! Eagerly awaiting a new video upload from you - cheers and thanks for keeping us posted all along your amazing journey!
Thank you for checking in JEE! Coming right up with the video! Appreciate you following my journey.
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IFS your journey continues to inspire. It gives me hope by providing an example of the amazing, life changing results that one can get when they truly dedicate themselves to this incredibly challenging process.
Thank you for the summary, the timeline recap is especially helpful.
Keep moving forward!
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WHAT A CHAMP!! Well done sir - you should be very proud of yourself.
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good luck infullstride.
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thanks a lot!!!!!
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Hey IFS thanks for another update. Not to butter your biscuit again but you really got the right mentality for this type of procedure. I am super excited for your video update and I love hearing that you are making significant progress. Since I'll be doing femurs I'm definitely freaking out about APT but I'm happy to hear it goes away.
I am tirelessly working 50-60 hours a week saving for this thing, so when morale goes low and I don't feel like signing up for overtime, updates like this really helps kick my a$$ into gear. After reading about your experience with stryde I know it will be worth it to wait a few months to afford stryde rather then being impatient and going for something cheaper.
A lot of us here anticipate and read every single update you do, so know that you have a lot of love and support here. Keep on keeping on and take your time with the video. Definitely would rather have a video at 7 months then at 6. Plus we know you have a life you need to attend to.
One last thing, there is something that you said that really resonated with me and its exactly the feeling I am looking to have after my procedure.
I'll close out with this statement... "I'm Finally Free".
I always think of a part of this song when I think of my life after LL and you reminded me of it:
"But in all of my salvation I still felt imprisoned inside
That holding cell that is myself,
So I wait for the day when I'll hear the key
As it turns in the lock and the guard will say to me
"Oh, my patient prisoner, you have waited for this day and finally,
You are free! You are free! You are freeeeee!
Glad your living your life brother and God Speed
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"But in all of my salvation I still felt imprisoned inside
That holding cell that is myself,
So I wait for the day when I'll hear the key
As it turns in the lock and the guard will say to me
"Oh, my patient prisoner, you have waited for this day and finally,
You are free! You are free! You are freeeeee!
Glad your living your life brother and God Speed
That is beautiful, man. Thank you and will continue to keep you posted.
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How tall are you?
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Hey IFS!
I‘m in 8 weeks consolidation now.
Would recommend me to ride the homebike or walking with crutches?
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How tall are you?
Hi Franco! I was 5'1" and now I am just a bit over 5'4". In a strong soled sneaker shoes, I'm about 5'6.
Thank you for your question. Feel free to reach out if I can help answer any other inquires for you.
Guys, I'll have another update this week. Currently, I am updating my diary about every 2 weeks. I'm coasting nicely through my recovery now. Walking 100% and can walk a few miles at a time (before requiring a brief rest). I am meeting with Dr. M this week and will have my 7 month post-op x-rays, a new video of my walk and some other movements I can do now; as well as a summary of where I am at now with the CLL process.
Grateful to all of you who have been kind, supportive, and helped me through this very special journey. Also, I am noticing an increase in diaries overall and that is so great to see. This forum is so helpful. I hope the entire world can soon go Stryde nail so that each corner of the globe shall reap it's benefit.
All the best,
IFS
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Hey IFS!
I‘m in 8 weeks consolidation now.
Would recommend me to ride the homebike or walking with crutches?
Hi WantTaller, I'll message your privately on this item.
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Hi Infullstride. Could you please summarize how much does it cost you for the whole procedure? Other than wha you paid the Dr, what else you have to pay? Like PT sessions? I remember you said that PT paid ny insurance if i were right. What insurance do you have btw?
Thank you and congrats !! Im planning to have my done next year with DR M
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Hi Infullstride. Could you please summarize how much does it cost you for the whole procedure? Other than wha you paid the Dr, what else you have to pay? Like PT sessions? I remember you said that PT paid ny insurance if i were right. What insurance do you have btw?
Thank you and congrats !! Im planning to have my done next year with DR M
Hi Cpl,
I'm glad to assist. I will try to come up with a more precise figure for you soon; however I would estimate that the general supplies needed for me, including a wheelchair, walker, crutches, cane, meal delivery, transportation to/from PT and Dr. office, and other general supplies, came out to about $1,000-$1,500, range.
My prescription medicines and PT were both mainly covered by my Health Insurance which is a Health Net PPO. My Co-Pay was about $25 per prescription or per PT Session....So in doing the math on that....I've had about 60 formal PT sessions roughly through 7 months - So the cost of that has been about $1500-$2000
This is a great question. One must keep in mind that there are auxiliary costs outside of the surgery to consider. Also, there is some off-setting of course. You won't be going out much or driving; so you will save substantially on that....as well as other costs saving as a result of your lesser activity during CLL. Also note, that I lengthened at home and did not need to book a hotel...Also, Dr M is local to where I live, so no hefty transportation fees for Air Travel, Train, etc. I also own my own company; So I was able to work remotely the entire time I was going through CLL. I took 90 days out of the office; but still worked remotely and I didn't have any pressure from the "Boss'....well...I did..but I pressured myself. LOL. The CLL process was as convenient as a CLL process can be since I am a business owner with employees which handle my company operations and I live close to Dr. M offices.
The Surgery for me was $72,500...+ $1500 (supplies) + $2000 (PT + prescriptions.) I'd say, all in all, I spent about $75,000-$76000) for everything.
I hope this answers your question!
All the best,
IFS
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Hi Franco! I was 5'1" and now I am just a bit over 5'4". In a strong soled sneaker shoes, I'm about 5'6.
Thank you for your question. Feel free to reach out if I can help answer any other inquires for you.
Guys, I'll have another update this week. Currently, I am updating my diary about every 2 weeks. I'm coasting nicely through my recovery now. Walking 100% and can walk a few miles at a time (before requiring a brief rest). I am meeting with Dr. M this week and will have my 7 month post-op x-rays, a new video of my walk and some other movements I can do now; as well as a summary of where I am at now with the CLL process.
Grateful to all of you who have been kind, supportive, and helped me through this very special journey. Also, I am noticing an increase in diaries overall and that is so great to see. This forum is so helpful. I hope the entire world can soon go Stryde nail so that each corner of the globe shall reap it's benefit.
All the best,
IFS
great to hear you officially say youre walking back at 100% IFS! May you continue a great recovery and hopefully stay with us for a little while, I know most vets disappear after their process
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great to hear you officially say youre walking back at 100% IFS! May you continue a great recovery and hopefully stay with us for a little while, I know most vets disappear after their process
Thank you, Movie. Welcome to your first CLL Monday! I can tell you're doing great. Your positive attitude is everything through this process. I'm going to stick around for sure. I really appreciated all the help I got from veterans and I'd like to return the favor to new and prospect CLL'ers.
All the Best,
IFS
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Hi IFS
Since the femurs are naturally tilted in, did you have any problems with the lengthening throwing off the mechanical axis of your legs and causing x legs or knock knees? I find it hard to believe that it wouldn't cause this, but I guess you would know the best.
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Hi IFS
Since the femurs are naturally tilted in, did you have any problems with the lengthening throwing off the mechanical axis of your legs and causing x legs or knock knees? I find it hard to believe that it wouldn't cause this, but I guess you would know the best.
That is a great question. As for my situation, fortunately, no apparent x-legs or knock knees, by either feel or appearance. The legs are the same function with just a longer femur. The main issue that I had to deal with was the tightness of the rectus femoris muscle, a quadriceps muscle, that wraps it self around the pelvis. As it tightens it created the slight anterior pelvic tilt. That certainly is an awkward feeling that impacts your walk and can be rather painful on your lower back. Fortunately, with PT, plenty of walking and with time, my ATP subsided and it no longer noticeable and hardly felt. It should dissipate by 100% within the next few months if my best guess serves me well.
Having said all this... stretching out those femurs certainly has an impact on so many muscle groups and it's an adjustment for sure. Getting used to walking on long femurs is a unique experience. You get used to it and it looks and feels more natural to me now. I'll upload my 7-month walking video shortly for review.
Keep the questions coming guys. I'm here to help.
Thank you and all the best,
IFS
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Hi IFS
I was wondering if you had to do the IT band release.I don't know much about IT band so that's why i'm asking.
And if yes how much did it cost?
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Hi IFS
I was wondering if you had to do the IT band release.I don't know much about IT band so that's why i'm asking.
And if yes how much did it cost?
Hi Tom!
All the United States based doctors will cut your IT band by default. A person with average or even above average flexibility will struggle to gain 3 inches if they do not lengthen the IT band. The cost of IT Band release is included in the surgery I paid for Dr. M services and I believe it is the same with Dr. D, Dr. P, or Dr. R. (All appear to be reliable doctors).
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Hi CLL Team,
Just a quick update - I had my 7 month post-op with Dr. M on Tuesday 8/6. I will be creating a walking video tomorrow and will post my 7 month update with X-Rays, Video, and Procedure Status Plus Recap, over the weekend.
Stay Tuned!
All the Best,
IFS
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Amazing news IFS and congrats on coming this far in your journey. Eagerly awaiting the video upload! Cheers!
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(Friday) Day 218 Post Op - Day 125 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED...[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Greetings Fellow CLLers,
What a ride this has been for me. I am now at the 7 month post-operation point and I must say that I'm breath taken by the experiences I have undergone through all this time. For those of you who have followed me throughout my journey; I'm sure you feel to some extent that you have taken this trip along side of me. I can recall updating my diary each and every day throughout the oh so challenging and at time, scary, distraction phase. We then toured together through the early stages of consolidation and ultimately as necessity functions such as walking, squatting, twisting, etc began to return....you and I were able to taper off this voyage...no longer worried, now just coasting along excited at what the future now holds.
I encourage each prospective CLL'er and current CLL'er to review my diary as I documented the good and the bad of this very special event. An elective surgery to be taller, Yes AND and also....An election of happiness, an election of comfort and an election to be free. Everything in life is perspective and I knew what I wanted. My decision and my drive to undergo and be successful at the CLL procedure was 100% a decision of mine. I do this for me. My entire life, I succeeded at just about anything I put my heart and mind to. Height never stopped me from pursuing or succeeding in any particular area where I truly gave it my all...but I must say when looking back at my life the only thing that I didn't do very well was "grow taller". I never want or wanted to be a tall man; because that isn't who I am. I'm a handsome and successful man who carried a height attribute that society has deemed as "Short". I'm okay with that because I'm a believer that Height doesn't make the Man...Man makes the Height. My goal through all of this was to be successful and for my body to be responsible for growing again. Growing taller than I was. The 3 inches I have gained allows me to close this chapter. I've conquered "growing"...because I did it and my body did it on its own...with a little help from a great Doctor, Physical Therapists, the Stryde Nail, My Family, and you guys. That's right....you guys and your kind words, support and watchful eyes on my journal helped me get through this more than you know. I consider you my friends and I will be remaining on the forum for the long run to help each of you in anyway I can to get through your height dysphoria, your CLL procedure; and to even just provide some anecdotal words that perhaps can help you along the greater journey of this life.
I want to add that one of the great things, in my opinion, about my particular experience is that my physical condition prior to CLL was not exceptional in anyway really. I am a man, in his late 30's now. I had very tight hips, and I rarely ever worked out my legs since the days of High School Sports. I worked out my upper body quite a bit; but honestly really neglected to push my legs. Most of my time was spent sitting down in chairs working on computers. My point being that if anything, my CLL journal likely reflects someone who could very well have started several paces behind you as far as being ideal or "ready" for this journey. That's a good thing! If I can do it; I feel that most people can do this. I want to mention also...that I knew this. I knew I was in my late 30's; had extremely tight hips, and my leg strength was nothing to brag about...and with this knowledge I pushed my self even harder during the process. I stretched and strengthened by legs 3 times a day, every day for nearly 5 months before I settled down a bit; having needing to reenter normal life. You all can do this; I know you can do it.
Lastly, in summary... I am grateful to have had a Doctor, in Dr. M that has the experience and knowledge to know, with confidence, what my body could handle. With tight hips; he still green lighted me for the surgery...he knew I could still do it. When I was feeling tight at 2 inches...he encouraged me to keep going.... tight at 2.5 inches... keep going; your flexibility is good enough and you can achieve 3...."Okay, Doctor...if you say I'm good; I'll go forward." He was right. I had zero complications; my surgery scars are light and a non-issue, and the experience of Dr. M allowed me to push to 3 inches which now make such a positive difference in my life. My pain levels were extremely tolerable throughout and the responsiveness of Dr. M to my emails and phone inquiries were nearly instant. I know he's proud of his successful patients and frankly, I'm proud of him too.
Below I have posted a 7 month post-op video along with X-Rays. I'm walking 100% of the time and my gait and other abilities of my legs is coming along very nicely and I do not feel any pain or discomfort . I can walk a 2+ miles without having to stop and rest and I am getting better each and every day. I still have a ways to go and I understand that in the coming months I'll be able to return to being very close if not all the way back to 100%. The Stryde nail is truly a game changer and I would recommend this surgery to anyone who is physically and mentally fit to proceed.
Again, thank you for EVERYTHING and I'm still here with you guys. I'll close out on this quote that I live by each and every day...
"Make the VERY BEST of what you have; Make what you have the VERY BEST"
All the Best,
IFS
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Me walking at 7 months and doing other silly movements:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMik-gpRXpI&feature=youtu.be
My X-Rays which show that my bones are fully fused, and healing very well.....I'm well on my way to full and healthy consolidation in the coming months.
Left Leg
(https://i.imgur.com/QrSeNdK.jpg) '
Right Leg
(https://i.imgur.com/R95aUC1.jpg)
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Super sick IFS! Walk looks good at 7 months can only get better from here! hope you stick around still for a while
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Omg the silly movement look like you are 18 again!!!that is amazing
Bone looking good and proportion look fantastic. I’m sure waking up in the morning unconsciously always came with a smile.
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Good update InFullStryde. I think you still have hip sway while walking but it should hopefully go away soon,
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IFS thanks for posting another update with a video!
If you could go back in time and do things differently to prepare for the surgery, what would you do? How helpful do you think stretching would have been for your hamstrings etc? What exercises would you suggest to prospective CLLers?
Thanks!!!
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I have been following this forum for a few weeks now.
Definitely you have been the most inspiring user I have seen till now. ( since I am new I havent fully read about older CLLER´s)
Taking into account you went the full 3 inches and most people here reccomend not going over 6.5 cm femur, ¿ what is your opinion on this?
Your proportions look excellent. After watching this I would consider going for the full 3 inches as you did.
My initial height is pretty much the same as yours. ( 5.2)
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You're doing like a champ!
By the way, do you feel any kinda of pain while walking or in other ramdom moments of the day ?
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IFS I've kept up with your journey since the days of your initial distraction throughout all the highs and the lows........watching the outcome from your 7 month vid is nothing short of amazing. Your walk and gait look natural. I'm so happy for you brother. Thank you for taking the time to *continue* to share your journey with us!
Couple of questions:
1) After sitting for extended periods, when you stand up, is your walk immediately natural now or does it take time for you to transition to feel comfortable / walk normal? I remember you mentioned that after sitting your walk takes time to feel normal.
2) Have you tried jogging yet?
3) Are there any real world / practical limitations? (e.g. can you bend down and pick things up from the floor?)
4) You mentioned you were going to write an update to your journal to address the psychological aspect of your height neurosis and how this experiences has provided you freedom from that. Would love to hear about that!
Thanks!
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Greetings CLL Community!
Thank you for the positive feedback and great questions. Feel free to ask any questions you might have. I'm here to help. I have some messages in my private box as well that I haven't been able to get to. I'll be answering these as well shortly. More details below...
Super sick IFS! Walk looks good at 7 months can only get better from here! hope you stick around still for a while
Thank you, Man! Day by day, I will take it. Feel free to reach out to me if you need any advice. I'm here to help.
Omg the silly movement look like you are 18 again!!!that is amazing
Bone looking good and proportion look fantastic. I’m sure waking up in the morning unconsciously always came with a smile.
Thank you! It still hasn't sunk in! My life is changed for the better in so many ways; I can't even begin to count. Thank you, again!
Good update InFullStryde. I think you still have hip sway while walking but it should hopefully go away soon,
Thank you, Cena! I'd say the gait is about 90% there. It feels pretty comfortable at this point. I'm going to keep working on it and I expect in the coming months it will be 100% Thank you, again.
IFS thanks for posting another update with a video!
If you could go back in time and do things differently to prepare for the surgery, what would you do? How helpful do you think stretching would have been for your hamstrings etc? What exercises would you suggest to prospective CLLers?
Thanks!!!
I'll give you an initial answer but soon; I'll go into a more involved answer as I have more time to reflect on this question. I believe that this procedure would have gone even smoother for me had I began to stretch and strengthen my legs 1-2 years prior to CLL. I went into the procedure very tight and with less than average strength in my legs. It impacted my recovery quite a bit, especially immediately post surgery. Additionally, although I'm in good shape physically, upper body wise, I would have really went all out on the body building prior to CLL ... reason being that after you initiate the surgery, you really can't lift barbells around much. I had to resort to resistance from my Bow Flex and although it did a good job maintaining me; I'd say I lost about 10% of my strength in the upper body. I'm gaining it back. As far as other prep...I'll go into more detail in a separate post.
As far as stretches are concerned; I am convinced that there is no magic stretch for CLL'ers. If a CLL was to YouTube Keyword "tight + hips or hamstrings or quads" + stretch; and perform the results 3 times a day during distraction and at 2 time a day from month 4-5 and then 1 time a day beyond that; you should be in great shape. These stretches are great for pre-CLL as well. The key is to manage the tightening that results from lengthening the muscle, by stretching out those muscles being lengthened. Once you stop lengthening, your flexibility and posture will catch up again with the bone lengthening that took place....(as long as you stayed within 8cm).
I have been following this forum for a few weeks now.
Definitely you have been the most inspiring user I have seen till now. ( since I am new I havent fully read about older CLLER´s)
Taking into account you went the full 3 inches and most people here reccomend not going over 6.5 cm femur, ¿ what is your opinion on this?
Your proportions look excellent. After watching this I would consider going for the full 3 inches as you did.
My initial height is pretty much the same as yours. ( 5.2)
You should ABSOLUTELY go for 3 inches. What I have learned through the CLL process is that the "6.5" safe zone really should not be a thing and I don't think that it should be emphasized the way it is on the forums. the "6.5" is usually what people can tolerate before they really start to feel high discomfort in tightness. Your leg can safely lengthen 8cm. If you are determined; go to at least 7.5cm so you can maximize the benefit of CLL. At 5'2...imagine...You lengthen to 5'5"....and if you want more height, you can easily be 5'7 or 5'8 with sneaker footwear and not a soul will notice and you will look amazing and be free of this height dysphoria. Go 3 inches if your body can tolerate it. Your doctor can guide you.
You're doing like a champ!
By the way, do you feel any kinda of pain while walking or in other ramdom moments of the day ?
No pain at all while walking. The pain has been gone for a while. If I walk for 2+ miles without resting; I can feel some tiredness in the legs...I need to rest for about 5 minutes and then I can resume another couple of miles. Pain is gone :-)
IFS I've kept up with your journey since the days of your initial distraction throughout all the highs and the lows........watching the outcome from your 7 month vid is nothing short of amazing. Your walk and gait look natural. I'm so happy for you brother. Thank you for taking the time to *continue* to share your journey with us!
Couple of questions:
1) After sitting for extended periods, when you stand up, is your walk immediately natural now or does it take time for you to transition to feel comfortable / walk normal? I remember you mentioned that after sitting your walk takes time to feel normal.
2) Have you tried jogging yet?
3) Are there any real world / practical limitations? (e.g. can you bend down and pick things up from the floor?)
4) You mentioned you were going to write an update to your journal to address the psychological aspect of your height neurosis and how this experiences has provided you freedom from that. Would love to hear about that!
Thanks!
Great Questions, guys. Here are my answers to above:
1) Hey, Alchemist, Thank you for following my journey! Yes, indeed. It's getting better each day.....but if i sit down for an extended period of time, say 30 minutes even...It takes me a good 10-15 warm up steps before my quads loosen up and my walking resumes as normal. This is due to my tight quads. They aren't quite loosen enough, yet. Will get there and hopefully I can report that this is over with by the 9 month mark,...we'll see.
2) Yes, I sure have. I am able to do a nice, slow paced jog..look fairly natural and is an effective cardio and leg workout at this point. I can do elliptical as well.
3) As far as real world limitations, I feel that I am able to perform all necessary movements as I was before the surgery, including bending down to pick things up. Having said that; there are limitations still that result from me still needing to recover more..that being I am not yet athletically agile, able to leg weight train a solid amount, or perform duties that require heavy lifting from a squat position. I am squatting the bar right now at the gym. With the current "rate" of my progress thus far; I do anticipate on being agile again and athletically inclined to participate in sports by the 1 year mark. That is my estimate. I'll keep the forum updated on the actual results.
4) Looking forward to posting on how CLL has impacted my life, including a neuro analysis of myself post CLL.
Thank you again for the great question, guys. I'll be back...(Terminator voice).
All the Best,
IFS
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Hi IFS
Congrats on your great recovery! You are dedicated and focused. You have made a great contribution to this community and your diary will stay as one of the best informative and inspirational.
I like your word: I've conquered "growing". Yes, you did it! I also did it! Growing tall was not our choice so we did what we can do to conquer it!
Wish you the happiness with growing taller!
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Hi IFS
Congrats on your great recovery! You are dedicated and focused. You have made a great contribution to this community and your diary will stay as one of the best informative and inspirational.
I like your word: I've conquered "growing". Yes, you did it! I also did it! Growing tall was not our choice so we did what we can do to conquer it!
Wish you the happiness with growing taller!
Bro a big congrats from me - It's been crazy to watch this all unfold and see it all work out so well.
I am keen to hear the insightful psychological post when you post it!!
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good progress in fullstride
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good progress in fullstride
Thank you, Really appreciate your support.
Bro a big congrats from me - It's been crazy to watch this all unfold and see it all work out so well.
I am keen to hear the insightful psychological post when you post it!!
Thank you again for all your support and encouragement, man. I have a lot more to say on this topic! Coming soon. :)
Hi IFS
Congrats on your great recovery! You are dedicated and focused. You have made a great contribution to this community and your diary will stay as one of the best informative and inspirational.
I like your word: I've conquered "growing". Yes, you did it! I also did it! Growing tall was not our choice so we did what we can do to conquer it!
Wish you the happiness with growing taller!
Right on! We're on the same page. Thanks again.
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New progress details and additional progress videos coming each month. Thank you again for all your support and all CLL Community members, feel free to reach out if any questions. I've never been happier than I am today.
All the Best,
IFS
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InFullStryde, this is excellent progress news brother! I feel like it was just yesterday I was reading your first few posts about the struggles early in the process. Now that I'm only a couple weeks away from being finished with distraction, it's very motivating to see how the next few months should pan out. I can only hope for consolidation to work for me like it did for you! One of the things you pointed out was how much of a difference the various people make in your recovery (including everyone on this forum). Very well said. I couldn't imagine making it through this process if I didn't have that support.
I have 2 questions. One of the issues I've experienced is what I view as almost extreme weight loss. I'm down about 22 pounds from my pre-surgery weight. I think a lot of that is muscle atrophy, but I've lost a considerable amount from my glutes which makes sitting on hard surfaces (e.g., a wooden chair) very painful. How long did it take for your body to "fill in" areas like your glutes after you stopped lengthening? Also, my job will require me to stand for an hour at a time starting in a couple of weeks. Would you say that's something that got easier once you stopped lengthening?
Thanks!
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InFullStryde, this is excellent progress news brother! I feel like it was just yesterday I was reading your first few posts about the struggles early in the process. Now that I'm only a couple weeks away from being finished with distraction, it's very motivating to see how the next few months should pan out. I can only hope for consolidation to work for me like it did for you! One of the things you pointed out was how much of a difference the various people make in your recovery (including everyone on this forum). Very well said. I couldn't imagine making it through this process if I didn't have that support.
I have 2 questions. One of the issues I've experienced is what I view as almost extreme weight loss. I'm down about 22 pounds from my pre-surgery weight. I think a lot of that is muscle atrophy, but I've lost a considerable amount from my glutes which makes sitting on hard surfaces (e.g., a wooden chair) very painful. How long did it take for your body to "fill in" areas like your glutes after you stopped lengthening? Also, my job will require me to stand for an hour at a time starting in a couple of weeks. Would you say that's something that got easier once you stopped lengthening?
Thanks!
Hi Vertical,
Sure thing. In my experience, once you stop lengthening, the rate of progress becomes exponential in some respects. You are FINALLY allowing your bones and soft tissues to heal versus, constantly breaking them each day with the lengthening machine. In the first month, as you continue the same committed stretching and strengthening, your body responds by loosening up quite dramatically. Stiffness, tightness of muscles joints, although not 100% wise; will loosen considerably. You will find that your walk becomes more fluid and less robotic and by the end of the 4th month (1 month post lengthen), you start to truly see the light. If you have any degree of APT, or leg straitening issues, you see dramatic improvement as month 5 concludes. By end of 5 months, you're walking pretty darn good. I have a 5 month video in my diary. My strength wasn't quite there yet and sure some stiffness/tightness is still lingering; but nothing to sweat. All that starts to really wear away with continued use of the legs during the 6 month and beyond.
Standing for an hour should work out just fine....will be great for your post lengthening consolidation. Are you allowed to lean up against anything for that one hour? A little device or wall support never hurt during the early stages of consolidation. I have been following your diary; and it sounds like you're walking pretty darn good..so you will likely be just fine with standing up for extended periods.
Additionally, as far as your body weight goes. I also lost mass during lengthening and for me; it was mainly due to skipping meals, a loss of appetite, a lower quantity/quality of resistance weight training. I would try to stay on task eating wise, but would find myself eating only 2 meals a day on some days. Additionally, the lack of sleep contributes to weight loss. Very shortly, I would say 2 weeks or so, post lengthening, my diet returned to normal as did my sleep and I began to fill in upper body wise and my legs as well. By month 5 and 6, I'm approaching my old self again. I actually weigh more now than before by about 7 lbs...due to eating, sleeping and returning to the gym at the 5 month point. Plus, when you are finally able to walk long distances...1 mile, 2 mile+...your legs strengthen quickly and muscle memory also begins to kick in nicely!
Let me know if you have any more questions or feedback!
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Hi Vertical,
Sure thing. In my experience, once you stop lengthening, the rate of progress becomes exponential in some respects. You are FINALLY allowing your bones and soft tissues to heal versus, constantly breaking them each day with the lengthening machine. In the first month, as you continue the same committed stretching and strengthening, your body responds by loosening up quite dramatically. Stiffness, tightness of muscles joints, although not 100% wise; will loosen considerably. You will find that your walk becomes more fluid and less robotic and by the end of the 4th month (1 month post lengthen), you start to truly see the light. If you have any degree of APT, or leg straigening issues, you see dramatic improvement as month 5 concludes. By end of 5 months, you're walking pretty darn good. I have a 5 month video in my diary. You're strength isn't quite there yet and sure some stiffness/tightness is still lingering; but nothing to sweat. All that starts to really wear away with continued use of the legs during the 6 month and beyond.
Standing for an hour should work out just fine....will be great for your post lengthening consolidation. Are you allowed to lean up against anything for that one hour? A little device or wall support never hurt during the early stages of consolidation. I have been following your diary; and it sounds like you're walking pretty darn good..so you will likely be just fine with standing up for extended periods.
Additionally, as far as your body weight goes. I also lost mass during lengthening and for me; it was mainly due to skipping meals, a loss of appetite, a lower quantity/quality of resistance weight training. I would try to stay on task eating wise, but would find myself eating only 2 meals a day on some days. Additionally, the lack of sleep contributes to weight loss. Very shortly, I would say 2 weeks or so, post lengthening, my diet returned to normal as did my sleep and I began to fill in upper body wise and my legs as well. By month 5 and 6, I'm approaching my old self again. I actually weigh more now than before by about 7 lbs...due to eating, sleeping and returning to the gym at the 5 month point. Plus, when you are finally able to walk long distances...1 mile, 2 mile+...your legs strengthen quickly and muscle memory also begins to kick in nicely!
Let me know if you have any more questions or feedback!
This is awesome InFullStryde!! Thank you, I feel a lot better knowing things should improve relatively soon. I'm definitely experiencing the tightness/robotic like state that you described. I wouldn't describe it as pain (in fact, the only pain I really felt the entire time was nerve-related issues towards the midpoint of lengthening that have all but disappeared by now), but my knee doesn't want to bend that much when I'm walking, and I'm swaying a lot from side to side. I'll notice a big improvement after each PT session, but by then I'm in pain/tired so the last thing I want to do is walk a lot those days.
Lack of sleep has definitely been an issue for me so that makes sense as something that exasperated weight loss. I feel the same way - I just don't have much of an appetite many days and need to force myself to eat. As I write this, I've been up almost 4 hours and only had a 50 calorie fiber bar and a coffee! Then again, I can pick up a pizza and eat 3/4 of it by myself even when I'm not all that hungry. I'll admit I haven't been watching *what* I eat as much as I'm making sure *that* I eat. Drive-thrus are way easier to navigate than walking to get something healthier.
Great point about standing. Yes, I'll have something to lean against and I suppose I can request a stool. I think the longest I've stood in one spot has been about 10 minutes (I'm not counting walking as "standing"), but it does start to tire me out after 10 minutes.
Sounds like the 5 month point really is the magic moment where things become way easier! I can't wait. Thanks again!
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This is awesome InFullStryde!! Thank you, I feel a lot better knowing things should improve relatively soon. I'm definitely experiencing the tightness/robotic like state that you described. I wouldn't describe it as pain (in fact, the only pain I really felt the entire time was nerve-related issues towards the midpoint of lengthening that have all but disappeared by now), but my knee doesn't want to bend that much when I'm walking, and I'm swaying a lot from side to side. I'll notice a big improvement after each PT session, but by then I'm in pain/tired so the last thing I want to do is walk a lot those days.
Lack of sleep has definitely been an issue for me so that makes sense as something that exasperated weight loss. I feel the same way - I just don't have much of an appetite many days and need to force myself to eat. As I write this, I've been up almost 4 hours and only had a 50 calorie fiber bar and a coffee! Then again, I can pick up a pizza and eat 3/4 of it by myself even when I'm not all that hungry. I'll admit I haven't been watching *what* I eat as much as I'm making sure *that* I eat. Drive-thrus are way easier to navigate than walking to get something healthier.
Great point about standing. Yes, I'll have something to lean against and I suppose I can request a stool. I think the longest I've stood in one spot has been about 10 minutes (I'm not counting walking as "standing"), but it does start to tire me out after 10 minutes.
Sounds like the 5 month point really is the magic moment where things become way easier! I can't wait. Thanks again!
It sounds like we are very similar in many ways in terms of our recovery process. Interestingly enough, I had realized that I was losing weight due to not eating much and my apetite wasn't there...so I resorted to comfort foods more than I would have prior to CLL...food like Pizza, Hamburgers, etc. I realized that there was no threat of me getting "heavy" and realized that this point I just needed some calories. I'd reach for some good Pizza and Ice Cream during these CLL times, ha ha.
Walking, ah yes , oh yes indeed. Waddling, Side to side, legs are not really bending as smoothly as normal....All that will start to come back nicely post lengthening. You'll look back at these times. I took videos of my old penguin, zombie, robot walk for keep sake memories..you soon return to form as month 4, 5, 6 roll around. All of that is merely a temporary status. I have concluded in my mind that natural walking probably can't exist during the lengthening phase; so I advise all future CLL'ers to realize that if you can stand up and waddle about for a few months then you are doing just fine. Golden months are month 5, 6, 7 ....at this point you're happy to be walking again and meeting all your necessities and easily able to coast back to an atheletic status as the year concludes!
Oh, I wanted to add another thing - Getting up from a chair! Yes, that will start to become much much easier around month 5 as well....as month 6, 7 roll around...you'll be able to most likely start to bounce out of the chair more similar to the old days. Give it time...It comes back to satisfactory levels soon enough.
You're doing great, man.
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Awesome update and insight IFS thanks bro! can't wait to be where you are right now, and by then I hope you stick around to see how you are doing, do you plan on removing rods at the year mark?
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Awesome update and insight IFS thanks bro! can't wait to be where you are right now, and by then I hope you stick around to see how you are doing, do you plan on removing rods at the year mark?
Hi Movie! Indeed.... You'll be here and beyond before you know it! Yes, I plan on removing at some point between 12 - 18 months, post - op. I haven't decided when, but I figure I'll make a decision once I see how the 2020 schedule is shaping.
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It sounds like we are very similar in many ways in terms of our recovery process. Interestingly enough, I had realized that I was losing weight due to not eating much and my apetite wasn't there...so I resorted to comfort foods more than I would have prior to CLL...food like Pizza, Hamburgers, etc. I realized that there was no threat of me getting "heavy" and realized that this point I just needed some calories. I'd reach for some good Pizza and Ice Cream during these CLL times, ha ha.
Walking, ah yes , oh yes indeed. Waddling, Side to side, legs are not really bending as smoothly as normal....All that will start to come back nicely post lengthening. You'll look back at these times. I took videos of my old penguin, zombie, robot walk for keep sake memories..you soon return to form as month 4, 5, 6 roll around. All of that is merely a temporary status. I have concluded in my mind that natural walking probably can't exist during the lengthening phase; so I advise all future CLL'ers to realize that if you can stand up and waddle about for a few months then you are doing just fine. Golden months are month 5, 6, 7 ....at this point you're happy to be walking again and meeting all your necessities and easily able to coast back to an atheletic status as the year concludes!
Oh, I wanted to add another thing - Getting up from a chair! Yes, that will start to become much much easier around month 5 as well....as month 6, 7 roll around...you'll be able to most likely start to bounce out of the chair more similar to the old days. Give it time...It comes back to satisfactory levels soon enough.
You're doing great, man.
Indeed, we are very similar! You made me feel better about the quarter pounder with cheese meal I had for lunch at McDonalds a few hours ago! Great information! Thanks again my friend.
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Indeed, we are very similar! You made me feel better about the quarter pounder with cheese meal I had for lunch at McDonalds a few hours ago! Great information! Thanks again my friend.
Lol, I didn't know what a Wendy's burger tastes like until CLL! I'm back to my veggies and chicken. lol. Talk soon, man!
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Lol, I didn't know what a Wendy's burger tastes like until CLL! I'm back to my veggies and chicken. lol. Talk soon, man!
Hey bud - what are your proportions like when you wear a tucked in shirt? Alot of people who work in an office will probably dress that way.
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Hey bud - what are your proportions like when you wear a tucked in shirt? Alot of people who work in an office will probably dress that way.
Hi Simon,
Great question. It looks good! I'll try to send a picture soon, but overall it looks just fine. I have long legs; but no one knows the difference.
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Hi Simon,
Great question. It looks good! I'll try to send a picture soon, but overall it looks just fine. I have long legs; but no one knows the difference.
Great - yes a picture/video would be great!
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Hi IFS.
Since you are already 7 months post surgery, can you tell us how are your scars?
I think a lot of people don't know you can get some pretty gross scars from this surgery and I've seen it myself when talking to some current patients.
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Hi IFS.
Since you are already 7 months post surgery, can you tell us how are your scars?
I think a lot of people don't know you can get some pretty gross scars from this surgery and I've seen it myself when talking to some current patients.
Absolutely. I will see if I can take a picture tonight and post them.
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Congratulation for your journey!
How does it feel to be 3 inches taller?
Have a good day.
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Congratulation for your journey!
How does it feel to be 3 inches taller?
Have a good day.
Hi Dark Prince!
I absolutely love it.
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Absolutely. I will see if I can take a picture tonight and post them.
Great! I would really appreciate that. Thanks man.
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Hi IFS,
At first thanks a lot for still being so much active on this forum !
When you have time to post it, I would also be intererested to the look of your scars as I couldn t see to many in the forum from other diary :)
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Hey IFS. I PMed you. ;)
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Hi IFS
I have a question concerning the biomechanics after doing 7.5cm femur lengthening. The normal tibia to femur ratio is 0.8 but after the lengthening mine will be 0.69. I would really appreciate if you could give me an insight on whether having longer femurs affects your motion.
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Hi IFS
I have a question concerning the biomechanics after doing 7.5cm femur lengthening. The normal tibia to femur ratio is 0.8 but after the lengthening mine will be 0.69. I would really appreciate if you could give me an insight on whether having longer femurs affects your motion.
Hi Tom Paul,
Great question. It is not the same feeling as it was before and it definitely takes time for your longer femurs to feel natural to you...Afterall; your legs are truly "new legs". Now that my femurs are 3 inches longer; there is certainly a difference in the way my steps work. My femur spans further with each step and my shorter tibias grab the ground much quicker; so in my gait training, I have worked on perfecting an updated stride. Fortunately, there isn't a noticeable difference and the walk is comfortable. Definitely a difference, however. I don't mind it; but it's important to note that your step changes after CLL.
Let me know if you have any more questions.
All the best!
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Hi IFS, when were you able to get out of bed without any assistance?
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Hi IFS, when were you able to get out of bed without any assistance?
Hi EZ,
It took me a while to be honest. I would say the first 1-2 weeks it was pretty difficult for me to get up on my walker on my own at all due to the post-surgery pain that I had in my left leg. Finally, at about day 14, I was able to independently get up on my walker and take steps. I was a bit of a late bloomer when it came to CLL recovery but a strong finisher; I guess one could say.
How are you doing so far?
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It's been a struggle trying to get in/out of bed. I literally can't get my feet off the bed without assistance, and forget about trying to get into bed without assistance. Once my feet are on the ground though, I can get into a walker easily... walk around, stand straight etc. it's only day 6 post op for me so hopefully it gets better. I just want to be able to get out of bed alone and take a piss! Lol
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It's been a struggle trying to get in/out of bed. I literally can't get my feet off the bed without assistance, and forget about trying to get into bed without assistance. Once my feet are on the ground though, I can get into a walker easily... walk around, stand straight etc. it's only day 6 post op for me so hopefully it gets better. I just want to be able to get out of bed alone and take a piss! Lol
I know how that can be EZ.... Toward end of week 2 and entering into week 3; you'll start to experience dramatic improvement. Then; in week 4,5 another nice jump. You'll definitely be able to get out of bed on your own within the next week or two. Keep us posted.
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It's been a struggle trying to get in/out of bed. I literally can't get my feet off the bed without assistance, and forget about trying to get into bed without assistance. Once my feet are on the ground though, I can get into a walker easily... walk around, stand straight etc. it's only day 6 post op for me so hopefully it gets better. I just want to be able to get out of bed alone and take a piss! Lol
EZ, I forgot to mention; but one strategy that worked for me was sliding my self on and off the bed by "scooting" onto the bed butt side first with legs extended, careful not to move the legs much. To get off the bed, I would scoot by butt forward off the bed, again, legs extended and not moving legs too much. Not sure if anyone else used this tecnhnique; but for those of us who really struggle with movement immediately after surgery, this might be an option.
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EZ, I forgot to mention; but one strategy that worked for me was sliding my self on and off the bed by "scooting" onto the bed butt side first with legs extended, careful not to move the legs much. To get off the bed, I would scoot by butt forward off the bed, again, legs extended and not moving legs too much. Not sure if anyone else used this tecnhnique; but for those of us who really struggle with movement immediately after surgery, this might be an option.
That's definitely an option I haven't tried. I usually have pillows under my knees to kinda bend them when sleeping to fight stiffness and it's a bit more comfortable. I might have to ditch those though.
I have another question for ya tho! I got my ERC device today and Ive taken the advice of lying flat on a surface, but I'm paranoid as hell about not putting it in the right spot and not getting contact. I honestly forgot to ask, but what's the margin for error do you think? is there a way you can actually screw up?
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Hi Ez, as long as you're on the line that was drawn for you... you are good. The magnet is very strong. You will not miss it. I advise you to buy a statiometer from Amazon..so that you can measure your gains every few days...
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Hi InFullStryde
I'm looking forward to your post where you explain the psychological effects of this surgery.
Take care!
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IFS what's up bro how is it going? almost 9 month post op?
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EZ, I forgot to mention; but one strategy that worked for me was sliding my self on and off the bed by "scooting" onto the bed butt side first with legs extended, careful not to move the legs much. To get off the bed, I would scoot by butt forward off the bed, again, legs extended and not moving legs too much. Not sure if anyone else used this tecnhnique; but for those of us who really struggle with movement immediately after surgery, this might be an option.
Hey InFullStryde, thank you for sharing your experiences! How much money would you budget to do 8 cm of femur lengthening with your doctor? Including living costs and everything?
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Hey InFullStryde, thank you for sharing your experiences! How much money would you budget to do 8 cm of femur lengthening with your doctor? Including living costs and everything?
Hi Cody,
I would estimate that the costs, including surgery, PT (co-pay w/ insurance), prescriptions (co-pay w/ insurance) and auxiliary equipment such as a walker, crutches, etc. come to about $75,000. I was fortunate enough to be able to undergo the CLL procedure in the comfort of my own home since I am local to Dr. M's offices so as far as living expenses... this would be in the range of what one could expect for about 90 days of lodging at a motel and your standard living expenses. I'd estimate that with travel and living expenses in mind you should probably budget about 80-85K.
I should mention also, that it's wise to have money stored away for possible complications or at least a plan on how you plan to pay to resolve complications should you enounter them. It's a very small % of procedures that run into complications; however, it happens and you get through it. Fortunately, I was complication-free.
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Good morning my CLL'ers!
I hope you're all doing well. Just checking in. I plan on providing an update here very soon; but real quick - For all intents and purposes... I'm doing great. I've been back to normal living for quite some time now (4 months roughly). As I concluded the 9-month mark of my post-operative recovery, I'm back to jogging and my legs are feeling very normal now and aside from the occasional tightness which continues to improve, it's easy to forget I had anything done. I'll be back with a more detailed update very soon.
Thank you again for all your support and whew, I'm glad this is just about over. I plan on removing my nails at some point in mid to late 2020 or early 2021.
All the Best!
IFS
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Do you recommend Dr Mahbobian InFullStryde?
What were some pros and cons of going with him?
He does a lot of CLL cases but does he do a lot of other ortho surgeries?
I don't live in that area so can you tell me about how other people in that area perceive him? Like do people in the LA area say "Oh you have a bone problem, you should go see Dr. M he is an expert ortho surgeon"? Or is he known only for CLL in particular? How did you find out about him?
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Hi Cody,
I would estimate that the costs, including surgery, PT (co-pay w/ insurance), prescriptions (co-pay w/ insurance) and auxiliary equipment such as a walker, crutches, etc. come to about $75,000. I was fortunate enough to be able to undergo the CLL procedure in the comfort of my own home since I am local to Dr. M's offices so as far as living expenses... this would be in the range of what one could expect for about 90 days of lodging at a motel and your standard living expenses. I'd estimate that with travel and living expenses in mind you should probably budget about 80-85K.
I should mention also, that it's wise to have money stored away for possible complications or at least a plan on how you plan to pay to resolve complications should you enounter them. It's a very small % of procedures that run into complications; however, it happens and you get through it. Fortunately, I was complication-free.
Thanks! Aside from required equipment (walkers, crutches, etc), what other objects did you find were helpful for being partially immobilized? Ex: I heard some people get bath towels when they want to wash but don't want to go to the shower and risk slipping.
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Hi IFS—how long does it take for the bone to fill in and harden after the growth stops? My distraction is smaller than yours but curious how long it took for yours?
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Do you recommend Dr Mahbobian InFullStryde?
What were some pros and cons of going with him?
He does a lot of CLL cases but does he do a lot of other ortho surgeries?
I don't live in that area so can you tell me about how other people in that area perceive him? Like do people in the LA area say "Oh you have a bone problem, you should go see Dr. M he is an expert ortho surgeon"? Or is he known only for CLL in particular? How did you find out about him?
Hi Limewalk, I'm happy to answer these questions.
Do you recommend Dr Mahbobian InFullStryde? Yes. 100%. Excellent surgeon and I have yet to see one recorded thread on a failed CLL. All of his patients from what I am aware of have been able to obtain at least 2 inches and most nearly 3 inches. I chose Dr. M because he was close by to my home and had a good track record of successful CLL cases.
What were some pros and cons of going with him? I wouldn't call it a "Con" per se, however, I believe that many patients may feel more comfortable with an integrated Physical Therapy program. Dr. M does not require you to lengthen in the city of North Hollywood, therefore he does not require you to attend his PT program and counts on his patients to sign up for certified PT programs at the location of their choosing. Most patients prefer to lengthen at home. I will say that Dr. M and staff work very closely with the PT program to ensure that the proper stretches and strengthing programs are being undergone.
The pros: Personable and Good Bedside Manner. Answers emails quickly. Will respond same day/night via any calls to his after-hours dispatch, performs a clean, complication-free install of the Styrde nail. Most of his patients are up and walking unassisted within a few of weeks his surgery. Minimal scars, and cost effective. He is offering the surgery at the lowest rate compared to the other CLL doctors and also is Care Credit eligble; so if you need to finance this surgery; you have this option. The most important thing that Dr. M did for me was assess my body every 3 weeks to determine safe lengthening. I was ready to stop at 2 inches because I was feeling very uncomfortable. He emplored me to continue to 3 inches because based on his assessment; he knew I could do it. I cannot tell you how important that 3rd inch was to resolving my height dysporia. Greatful for his candor and wanting to help me achieve the most out of this very difficult procedure.
He does a lot of CLL cases but does he do a lot of other ortho surgeries?
Most of Dr. M's surgeries are non-height lengthening procedures. He's a Doctor of Orthopedics. He resolves tears, twists, breaks, knock-knees, etc, etc, etc. Height Lengthening is an auxillery service that he offers and promotes to men and woman who suffer from height dysphoria; but CLL is not what most of his reviews are compiled of.
Overall, I urge you to review Dr. M's yelp profile and other review profiles. In addition, feel free to reach out to the variety of patients he has served via the forum.
Good luck and All the Best!
IFS
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Thanks! Aside from required equipment (walkers, crutches, etc), what other objects did you find were helpful for being partially immobilized? Ex: I heard some people get bath towels when they want to wash but don't want to go to the shower and risk slipping.
Hey again, Cody! I'll see if I can compile a list of things that helped me. There was so much and depending on your condition before CLL, you may require more or less. I'll create a separate post for this soon and hopefully by late October for you and others.
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Hi IFS—how long does it take for the bone to fill in and harden after the growth stops? My distraction is smaller than yours but curious how long it took for yours?
Hi Bgreeneee!
My bones had shown a real nice fusing together as early as 4-6 weeks post lengthening and I was able to resume most if not all activity, with exception to high impact weightlifting and running. Weeks 12+ post lengthening, I was much consolidated to a point where I could resume everything that my body was able to tolerate. I would give it 12 weeks post lengthening before making to much of an assessment of your bone growth.
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Hello ...
Just read your diary, seems to me as an incredible journey...
I have few questions...
1) Can you do all the normal activities like a normal person, I mean, if we meet right now would I be able to notice from your walking that you had ll, or your walking is back to normal as if nothing ever happened?
2) It would really be awesome if you could post some xrays of your consolidated bone, it'll help me a lot in my research of bone formation, alignment, and walking/running capacity....
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Hey i have a question,
How long did you need to wann normal so noboady nötiges that you did limbthening ?
What do you think can you travel the World ?
How fast can you rum?
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Hello ...
Just read your diary, seems to me as an incredible journey...
I have few questions...
1) Can you do all the normal activities like a normal person, I mean, if we meet right now would I be able to notice from your walking that you had ll, or your walking is back to normal as if nothing ever happened?
2) It would really be awesome if you could post some xrays of your consolidated bone, it'll help me a lot in my research of bone formation, alignment, and walking/running capacity....
Hi Dreamer!
First off, thank you for following my diary. My journey was an epic battle between my will-power and aging legs (I was 37 at the time of surgery)
1) I can do all the activities of a normal person and you would not be able to tell I had any kind of surgery. I would say that at about the 6-7 month post-operation; my gait was resolved enough to where no one could notice a thing. I'm now 12 months post-op and my walk is completely normal. I think my walk is even better than it was before surgery simply because I have a longer and more attractive, stronger stride. I am able to jog quite well also, however, my overall ability to run is not there. I partially blame myself for that since I have not been pushing it to hard since month 7 or so. I simply have been taking long walks and always up and about that that alone helps you. At this pace, with training, I should be able to run again in about 6 months is my estimate; which would bring me to 1 1/2 years post-op. We'll see how this goes. I can jog quite well...As I mentioned.
2) I haven't gotten x-rays done since month 7 and I believe they are in my dairy. Try to search around that 210-day mark and you should see them. They are the last x-rays I posted. My bones are totally fused and the callus is getting stronger. My belief is that as the bones heal; the muscles more or less fasten properly (Muscle is attached to bone), and this attributes to faster resolution toward recovery.
Feel free to let me know if you have any questions!
All the best,
IFS
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Hey i have a question,
How long did you need to wann normal so noboady nötiges that you did limbthening ?
What do you think can you travel the World ?
How fast can you rum?
Hi Wasser!
1) It took me about 6-7 months before my gait was resolved enough to be fully undetectable, in my opinion. Your gait continues to improve rapidly beyond the 4 and 5-month point, post-op. Today at 12 months post-op, my gait feels better than it ever has in my life.
2) I can travel the world and finally..I can do it comfortably!
3) I can do a slow to moderate speed jog. I'm not quite able to run (sprint) yet. When I try to run fast; It feels a bit painful and almost like I may be pushing it to far; so I stop that activity. I believe I'll be able to run at the 18 month post-op mark, at this pace. I'll keep the forum updated.
Thank you again for your question and feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions.
All the Best,
IFS
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Awesome man! Enjoy your life...
Also keep us updated ....if possible maybe you could upload some kind of a video to show your gait without revealing yourself....would be awesome....also latest x-rays would be interesting to see....
Just saying....
Enjoy!
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Have you taken down your vids bro?
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Hi InFullStryde.
I am scheduled for surgery with Dr. M in early March. I was wondering if you might answer a few questions.
1a. Have your femur rods been removed?
1b. If so, how is the recovery process? Is it easier than after the insertion surgery? Any details you can provide are greatly appreciated.
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Hey man once again congrats.
Are the scars really big from the procedure?
Also do you have any pics you could share of your legs ..
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Full Stryde, what is your wing span?
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Lol @bones. What's yours ?
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Are you back to normal life? I’m thinking if 2.5cm femur and 2.5cm tibia
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Hi Guys,
Been a while since I've updated. I'll be sure to chime in shortly on here. I'm back to normal living! It is now 1 year and 3 months post-op. I will just say that the surgery was life changing, worth every penny and the best decision I have ever made.
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Great to hear that everything is going good IFS! Have you had the rods removed yet? Do you find any niggles or pains after 1+ years post op?
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Hi IFS!
I just did 7.5 cm internal femurs. I just realised I have an anterior pelvic tilt/ hyperlordosis. I know you also had it. Can you tell me what did you do to fix it? After how long did it go away? Did your height increase by like 1cm after fixing it?
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Great to hear that everything is going good IFS! Have you had the rods removed yet? Do you find any niggles or pains after 1+ years post op?
Hi Nestor! Sorry for the delay in responding. It is now 1 year and 5 months since my surgery. I plan to have the Rods removed before the end of the year and likely within the next few months. I still have the rods in at this time. Right now, I rarely have any kind of pain and my legs feel completely normal. On occasion, I will feel a bit of soreness resulting from some tightness that I'm still working out in my quad muscles. All-in-All, I feel no pain and am very comfortable.
I'll be updating my diary shortly with more details related to my CLL outcomes, impacts, as well as the nail removal process.
All the Best,
IFS
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Hi IFS!
I just did 7.5 cm internal femurs. I just realised I have an anterior pelvic tilt/ hyperlordosis. I know you also had it. Can you tell me what did you do to fix it? After how long did it go away? Did your height increase by like 1cm after fixing it?
Hi Snowpiecer,
I completely understand what you're going through. Here is the good news. APT WILL GO AWAY and it is NOT a permanent state for you. Within about 2 months after I completed distraction, the APT wasn't noticeable. I still felt it however and as each passing month goes by, APT will resolve itself.
To fix it: Walk 1-2 miles everyday at least, do exercises that will stretch your quadriceps, and strengthen your glutes. Also, incorporate abdominal workouts. Your APT is from tight hips/quads and weak butt, abs. Planks are one of my favorite exercises to combat this. In all, we're just talking about 20-30 minutes of stretching and strengthening in these areas, each day We should all be doing that anyways regardless of whether we did CLL or not. In my diary I listed several videos that can help. Please browse through when you have some time.
Good luck and All the best,
IFS
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About the tendon release surgery what did the doctor told you about biceps femoris. It band. Did you meet an older patient
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Good to hear from you again IFS 1 year 5 months wow, time flies lol.
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Good to hear from you again IFS 1 year 5 months wow, time flies lol.
Hi Movie! It sure does, man. Congratulations on getting through the 'brunt' of the CLL journey. It's all good from here as we train and recover; but man o man; isn't it nice to walk again and be normal?! Ha - Ha. What a journey and life-changing. Another lease on life to be honest. Congratulations and let's keep in touch. Big things ahead for us both.
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Hi Movie! It sure does, man. Congratulations on getting through the 'brunt' of the CLL journey. It's all good from here as we train and recover; but man o man; isn't it nice to walk again and be normal?! Ha - Ha. What a journey and life-changing. Another lease on life to be honest. Congratulations and let's keep in touch. Big things ahead for us both.
Thanks IFS! definitely is (: haha. Yeah we'll stay in touch IFS glad to hear from you again man you've been MIA lately lol
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Hey! Did you look at both pictures? Cuz the one when I relax my body is below. Sorry to send this here. I exceeded the max number of messages in 1 hour xD
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Hey! Did you look at both pictures? Cuz the one when I relax my body is below. Sorry to send this here. I exceeded the max number of messages in 1 hour xD
Hi Snow! Yes, I sure did. You're doing just fine with the APT. The relaxed is fine for the 5-month point. The APT will gradually improve. One note: It's positive that you're able to tighten your abs and glutes and come that close to straitening. When someone has serious/severe APT, post-CLL, not even the flexing allows them to be closer to the upright position again. You're good to go and its all comparable to good/normal pace in the CLL process.
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Great to hear that! That's a relieve cuz I was really starting to worry about my APT. Thanks again for reviewing the photos. Much appreciate it. As of now, I'm gonna exercise even more everyday.
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Great to hear that! That's a relieve cuz I was really starting to worry about my APT. Thanks again for reviewing the photos. Much appreciate it. As of now, I'm gonna exercise even more everyday.
I must say; one of the harder aspects of the entire CLL process for me was where I needed to have patience post-distraction. Once distraction is completed; you just want the entire thing to be over with. Realistically, you start to feel normal and begin to celebrate around 6/7 months. 6/7 months is no big deal.
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It took me a week to completely read the theme of INS. From the first page to here, the powerful IFS is beautiful! It has given me a great incentive. I have been swinging whether to do it, I think, I am now Seriously consider doing LL surgery.IFS，thanks！！
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What a fantastic and inspiring diary.
You’re one of the reasons I’ll be going ahead with this procedure next year, hopefully with Giotikas or Paley.
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It took me a week to completely read the theme of INS. From the first page to here, the powerful IFS is beautiful! It has given me a great incentive. I have been swinging whether to do it, I think, I am now Seriously consider doing LL surgery.IFS，thanks！！
Thank you for the kind words, Lang! If you need any advice along the way, feel free to reach out!
All the Best,
IFS
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What a fantastic and inspiring diary.
You’re one of the reasons I’ll be going ahead with this procedure next year, hopefully with Giotikas or Paley.
Hi K1erz, I'm so glad that you found my diary helpful in your decision-making process. CLL changed my life for the better and I'm so glad I decided to go forward with this life changing procedure! You cannot go wrong with either surgeon. If you need any advice along the way; feel free to reach out.
All the Best,
IFS
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IFS do you have any pains still lingering around? I'm almost 1 year post op and my right knee and thigh have been killing me in the night lately it's been maybe like a week! /:
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Hi Movie,
It is completely normal to have lingering pains 1-year post-op. Another CLL Legend, Bone Stretching, was just mentioning that to me the other day regarding those lingering pains. Back at my one year point; I indeed had those "every so often pains". This comes from your body adjusting to "normalized" activity while it is still healing. One has to remember that we endured a 'traumatic' event to both of our legs and although we are one-year post-op; we are technically just approaching the 9-month point since our last lengthening session.
Having said all of this; I had lingering pains that came and went at the 1-year point as well. Now at 19 months post-op; I no longer experience any pain. My only reminders of CLL are a light stiffness at-times and I'm still working to regain full strength in my legs. This will take some more time, but I anticipate being closer to 100% at the 2-year point come January 2021.
Keep us all posted on how you feel, but I anticipate you're doing just fine. Perhaps lay off a bit on the training to let the built-up inflammation go down. I'm sure that this is all from pushing your legs very hard during your post distraction recovery.
All the best buddy!
IFS
P.S. I have to schedule my nail removal :::DREAD:::, Lol. So, I will be back shortly to FIRST summarize my CLL procedure experience, the impact it has had on my life, and provide a full play-by-play for everyone on how the nail removal goes! I'll keep you all posted on my surgery date! I can't believe I'll be be back in the OR soon. Ha!
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Yeah bro I've been relaxing and letting it heal and It's much better now than when I posted that last message lol! alright makes me feel much better thanks IFS!
yes I've heard 2 year post op is the golden time where a lot of people reported catching up with pre-op abilities.
Haha good luck on the nail removal! will you be doing it wth Mahboubian?
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Yeah bro I've been relaxing and letting it heal and It's much better now than when I posted that last message lol! alright makes me feel much better thanks IFS!
yes I've heard 2 year post op is the golden time where a lot of people reported catching up with pre-op abilities.
Haha good luck on the nail removal! will you be doing it wth Mahboubian?
Sure thing. Yes, will be having nails removed with good ole', Doc. M.
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Hello InFullStryde. I have a question. Does this surgery affect your libido or erection ability? ^^
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Hello InFullStryde. I have a question. Does this surgery affect your libido or erection ability? ^^
Not at all; but the high volume of ladies that your new confidence will present to you; provides for an entirely whole new challenge!
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Hi IFS and All,
This is my first my message on this board. I will soon start posting my daily experiences with the goal of trying to help other LL'ers.
I would like to start with thanking IFS for helping others, including me. @ IFS, I would like you to know that you are my man and you are my hero! You are part of this game, and your one of the reasons why I so far seem to be handling it well.
Thanks a lot Brother,
P.S.
You may call me SNC (Stryde Nail Challenge).
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Hi IFS and All,
This is my first message on this board. I will soon start posting my daily experiences with the goal of trying to help other LL'ers.
I would like to start by thanking IFS for helping others, including me. @ IFS, I would like you to know that you are my man and you are my hero! You are part of this game and your one of the reasons why I so far seem to be handling it well.
Thanks a lot, Brother,
P.S.
You may call me SNC (Stryde Nail Challenge).
Greetings SNC,
Thank you for sharing this! I am humbled and so,so grateful to be apart of your journey. Congratulations on making this tough decision. You will undoubtedly be successful. Keep going strong!
I always say that the decision to undergo CLL is never about necessity; it is not required and never needed. Going forward with CLL is all about doing something great for yourself. CLL is about doing what you WANT and is a personal decision based on your own truths and desires and not anyone else's. I will also add that the entire CLL experience is a special one. You not only elevate a very noticeable and physical, 2-3 inches higher, but you also grow in wisdom, heart, and perspective. You will never be the same person after CLL because you're quite simply better than ever before. It's hard to imagine but I know this to be true now. Feel free to reach out to me at any time if you have questions or feedback regarding it.
All the best,
IFS
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Hi IFS,
How are you, brother? I PM'ed you, but figured you may not have seen it, so I am sending this message. Just wanted to say hi and see if all is going well with you and your 8cm + life :D
Take care Bro,
SNC
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Bro i'm 3 weeks post op with Mahboubian. Not too far behind you. Thanks for sharing your experience. I'll be posting more so let's stay in touch
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Hi IFS,
How are you, brother? I PM'ed you, but figured you may not have seen it, so I am sending this message. Just wanted to say hi and see if all is going well with you and your 8cm + life :D
Take care Bro,
SNC
IFS Bro,
Please accept my apology for putting the wrong number. I should have said "your 3 inch + life". It would not make much of a difference though.
By the way, have you been recently tempted to also go for tibia lengthening?
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I remember when I first read this in February 2019
Im so glad this turned out a success story
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Hi IFS,
I can't wait for your update after getting the nails removed. So excited to read a success story. I was wondering what your hardest challenge was on your journey?
-brondo
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Hi :)
Congratulations of getting the LL done. I am planning to have surgery with Dr. M as well. I wanted to know, which Home PT therapist did you use?
Was it Patrick (recommended by doctor). Does Dr. M's surgery cost ($75,000) include PT sessions or we have to pay for them on our own?
Will you please share the details/name/contact of Home PT therapist that you used?
will you also share the details wheelchair transport service that you used?
Many many Thanks!
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Greetings CLL Warriors!
First, I want to apologize for being away for so long! Life, as it does with many prior CLL'ers, has been a whirlwind of busy and I'm happy to report I'm doing incredibly well. I have a mountain of messages and some forum posts that I have not had the opportunity to reply to; so again, my apologies and I will be responding, shortly. I'm back and here to help in anyway I can so please feel free to reach out!
I do have an update on myself however as it relates to the CLL process. I will be having my Stryde nails removed by Dr. Mahboubian on Thursday, November 19th (NEXT WEEK!). I expect it to go fantastically well. I'll be sure to keep each and every one of you up to date on the process and my hope is that I may be able to provide some great insight into what YOU may very well experience soon.
I'll return shortly and again, please feel free to ask any questions you might have on the entire process. I still anticipate creating a how-to/help guide for CLL'ers who are both going through and/or will soon be going through the CLL process.
Talk soon friends and ALL THE BEST!
IFS
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Great to hear from you. These two years must have flown by. I can't believe you're about to get your nails out!
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Greetings CLL Warriors!
..
IFS
IFS, I was worried about you and I don't think I was alone. I am so happy to see your message :D Take care brother. I'll see you nail free soon :D
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Greetings CLL Warriors!
I do have an update on myself however as it relates to the CLL process. I will be having my Stryde nails removed by Dr. Mahboubian on Thursday, November 19th (NEXT WEEK!). I expect it to go fantastically well. I'll be sure to keep each and every one of you up to date on the process and my hope is that I may be able to provide some great insight into what YOU may very well experience soon.
IFS
Tomorrow will be a big day IFS! I wish you the best, brother! You're the man and my hero!
Hope to hear the great news and see you nail free and walking by Friday :)
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Tomorrow will be a big day IFS! I wish you the best, brother! You're the man and my hero!
Hope to hear the great news and seeing you nail free and walking by Friday :)
Thank you, Man! Means a lot and appreciate your support. I'll provide the play-by-play on how it goes.
Talk soon!
All the Best,
IFS
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Great to hear from you. These two years must have flown by. I can't believe you're about to get your nails out!
Time sure does fly, buddy. Thank you for your kind words! One thing I have learned in my almost 40 years of life is that time operates like a never-stopping conveyer belt. The key is to hook your life-goals up to that kind of power. Imagine, making a connection with time, a superpower force that just keeps going forward, and never stops. I flung myself into the throws of the CLL process; time pushed me forward and I achieved the ultimate femur gains. I will do the same here and now with the Styrde nail removal. I have my overall feelings about the nail removal and I'll share them in my upcoming posts once the procedure is done.
Thank you again and All the Best!
IFS
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Greetings CLL Family,
I have arrived at the hospital for my nail removal surgery with good ole, Dr. M. It feels like dejavu and I cannot wait for the entire CLL ordeal to be all over with. I will be providing a play-by-play update on my stryde nail removal experience as soon as I am able. Hoping to WALK out of here today, guys. Please send your good thoughts.
All the Best,
IFS
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I’m positive everything will go smoothly! Wishing you an excellent removal!
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Greetings CLL Family,
I have arrived at the hospital for my nail removal surgery with good ole, Dr. M. It feels like dejavu and I cannot wait for the entire CLL ordeal to be all over with. I will be providing a play-by-play update on my stryde nail removal experience as soon as I am able. Hoping to WALK out of here today, guys. Please send your good thoughts.
All the Best,
IFS
Sending you my good thoughts and I hope positive energy. You are a super hero, IFS; It has really been an honor and blessing having you in the CLL community, helping so many of us with your guidance.
Say hi to Dr. M. for us. I'll see you walking out of there!
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you got this IFS!
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you got this IFS!
Movie and IFS, I would picture a day when the three of us get together for a drink! I hope to see that day!
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Good evening CLL Fraternity Mates, (ha ha).
As update - I had my nail removal surgery this past Thursday. I have summarized below:
Pre-Op Visit with Dr. M
During my initial pre-op appointment two days prior to surgery day, Dr. M summarized the procedure and was very confident that everything would go well. He went over the basics as far as preparing for surgery, etc. Lastly, and most importantly Dr. M emphasized that the surgery is not a simple procedure and there can be complications. I have listed some of the potential complications below:
1) Infection
2) Stryde Nail can break
3) Screws can be stripped
4) Fractures can occur
95% of the time all will go as planned, but there is a small volume of procedures that may have a complication. The doc will do all he can to mitigate the situation; however sometimes these events will happen. Be aware and ready but also know that success in this surgery is more than likely.
Surgery Day: I arrived at 5:30am at the hospital and was promptly checked-in and then directed to a surgery preparing area. I must admit it was surreal to be back in the same hospital where I had the nails inserted. All kinds of emotions were inside of me as I was basically following the same steps as the first procedure. While in the preparing room, I met with a very kind nurse and she proceeded to ask me pre-surgical questions regarding my general health and medications. Lastly, she set me up on an IV and wished me well! Shortly after meeting with the nurse, I met with Dr. M and the Anesthesiologist. Dr. M was his normal laid back and professional self. Very encouraging and made sure I was good to go forward. Anesthesiologist was very detailed and I appreciated that. Once all pre-meetings we're wrapped up, A nurse shaved my legs and rolled me into the surgical room. AGAIN, this was surreal to me. I was remembering the nail insertion surgery and couldn't help but to feel a rush of emotion as a result. I was a bit nervous, tad anxious, but mostly...to be honest, I felt excitement that I was FINALLY getting the nails out of my body and would be 100% me again. I'll go into more detail about the psychological impacts of CLL in a future post; but I will just add for now that the entire CLL experience for me has been borderline transcendental for my life. The pain and struggle of CLL is something that I would never wish upon anyone; but once you ultimately get through the CLL process successfully you are transformed into an individual who is stronger and smarter. You feel enabled and empowered like never before. Having gone through such a mentally and physically traumatic ordeal; you appreciate your life more and you might even find that you begin to tell a more accurate story about who you truly are. For many, it simply frees one of height dysphoria, an awful neurosis that can be resolved through this miracle of a process known as CLL.
Now back to the matter - Once in the surgery room, Dr. M started to associate with the surgical team and my anesthesiologist began to work on putting me to sleep. "That was Easy", I knocked out in a few minutes. Before I knew it; I was awake. A kind nurse was putting ice on my legs and greeting me as I started to awaken. My first thought, not even kidding was..."MY LEGS!" The last time I was in recovery my legs were ultra packed in ice and my legs felt like they weighed 100lbs each. Well, not this time. I was able to move my legs up and down, side to side, I could even do a partial bridge. I turned to the nurse and asked her and I'm sure she could sense the half-sleeping excitement .. "How am I doing? How did it go?!". The nurse replied. You did great, all went well. Surgery was a success!" I heard the Halllllllllllllllllllelujah music come on...(just kidding); but my goodness I was so relieved to know that all went well and to top it off, I was not in any kind of bad pain. I felt soreness at the incision areas as expected. The nurse then proceeded to ask me who she should call to notify that everything went well and that I was resting well in recovery. I alerted her of a family member and I overheard the great news....once again. "He did great during surgery and is now in "recovery".
Once I was packed with some ice, another nurse rolled me back into a short-stay hospital room where I was able to rest a bit. What was my next thought you ask? "The Catheter"....Oh no!...I looked down and YESSSSSSS! no Catheter. Ha Ha. If you read my diary at the beginning, I had one of the most awful experiences one could have. I won't rehash on that. I'm just glad that I did not have to deal with any catheter action this time. I rested some more and begin to experiment with my legs and wow, i could move them all around and was experiencing very little pain still. The moment of truth of course would be when PT comes by to help me up. Once PT did arrive it was none other than the same PT that I had 2 years ago after my 1st surgery. A great fellow and it was wonderful to meet again. Moment of truth, he helps me to my feet and to be honest, I grimaced with anticipation of my feet touching the ground; because all I could remember was the last time I did this during the 1st surgery. It was tough. Well this time...As my feet hit the ground and I began to apply my body weight, I was ecstatic to realize that I could fully weight bare and.........................WALK. I was taking steps on my own power and unassisted. The walk was quite slow, soreness felt in the incision areas, especially the hips, with slight sway, but all in all, I felt very little pain when walking. I was able to WALK out of the hospital unassisted and on the same day as surgery.
First night at home after nail removal surgery: When I arrived home, i focused on resting and icing up. From time to time I would get up and test the legs out. First night at home, i felt soreness around the incision areas so it resulted in a slower walk and I was careful standing up and sitting down. My main thing is to just make sure that the bandages stay clean and in tact over the next several days until Dr. M;s nurse can remove them. Pain level was very low. I did use the cane from time to time for balance assistance since I did tend to sway in order to compensate for the pinching like pain in the hip incisions. Pain wasn't too bad at all. I was able to get into bed without any issues and fell sleep on my back, just like old CLL times, lol. I wanted to make sure I didn't damage stitches or aggravate surgical areas. I slept very well, little to no pain when resting and only pain that I did feel was when pressure was applied to the incision areas and again it wasn't that painful...the pain wasn't sharp; just a sore, bruise or pinching like pain. No big deal.
Day 1 after nail removal surgery (Today) As to be expected, your muscles, especially your back hip/buttocks area will feel a bit tight when you first wake up after surgery. After a few warm up steps you're good to go. My walk was slow; but a bit faster today and I was able to move around without any assistance all day. I continue to be careful when I sit and stand, by holding on to some support. This is mainly for safety Additionally, I am able to go up and down the stairs easily but I do hold the railing for support. It's hard to tell when I will feel "back to normal" but at this rate, I imagine a couple of weeks I'll feel close to normal and then by week 3 or 4, I'll likely feel back to what I was before the surgery. Only time will tell, and I'll keep you updated on each day. The fact that I am able to ambulate (walk) around and easily use restroom, get into bed and even drive if I wanted makes me very happy.
Guys, I'm not using any pain killers other than tylenol and Dr. M advised that aspirin is a fine blood thinner for this procedure. All in all, I feel good and I'm very pleased. I'm in virtually no real pain and I can get around just fine after a pretty serious surgery. What else can a past CLL'er hope for? I'm happy.
I'll keep you updated and please feel free to let me know if you have any feedback and/or questions!
All the Best,
IFS
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Good evening CLL Fraternity Mates, (ha ha).
As update - I had my nail removal surgery this past Thursday...
IFS
Very happy for you IFS :D Enjoy your weekend, bro.
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Congrats on a successful removal surgery. I’m forever thankful for the time and efforts you put into your dairy. Looking forward to more updates of post removal as to prepare myself for my removal in the next couple months. Thank you!!!!!
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That's awesome bro! missed the long posts read throughs of what's ahead of my own journey as well. glad you're doing so well IFS, hoping to turn out the same for my nail removal procedure. looking forward to the next couple of weeks and updates from you.
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Thanks for the detailed post, IFS! I'm glad you didn't have a catheter in when you woke up from surgery. I'm still traumatized by that and couldn't help flinching when you mentioned it :P
It's crazy how much work we have to do after the nails are inserted, but taking them out is just an outpatient procedure! Best of luck on getting back to 100% post rod removal.
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Very happy for you IFS :D Enjoy your weekend, bro.
Thanks, Buddy! A toast is definitely in order soon!
Congrats on a successful removal surgery. I’m forever thankful for the time and efforts you put into your dairy. Looking forward to more updates of post removal as to prepare myself for my removal in the next couple months. Thank you!!!!!
Thanks, Azman. It has been a pleasure being in touch with the CLL community and I look forward to continuing to help out where I can. So many inspiring journeys are here on this forum.
That's awesome bro! missed the long posts read throughs of what's ahead of my own journey as well. glad you're doing so well IFS, hoping to turn out the same for my nail removal procedure. looking forward to the next couple of weeks and updates from you.
Thanks, bro! I'll keep the updates rolling. Things are looking good so far.
Thanks for the detailed post, IFS! I'm glad you didn't have a catheter in when you woke up from surgery. I'm still traumatized by that and couldn't help flinching when you mentioned it :P
It's crazy how much work we have to do after the nails are inserted, but taking them out is just an outpatient procedure! Best of luck on getting back to 100% post rod removal.
I know right! The Catheter situation was indeed traumatic to say the least. This was just another thing to overcome and we did it! Yes, indeed. Nail removal appears to be a piece of cake compared to first surgery. No broken bones and no cut ITB Band, make a huge difference. I'm walking around my house with no issue right now..slight sway and healing in hip area where the nails were taken out. Feels a bit tight and sore; but it's already improving and its only been 2 days.
Thanks again for your support, guys.
ALL THE BEST!!!
IFS
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Day 2 after nail removal surgery
Greetings CLL'er Family,
As update - I'm walking rather comfortably. I do feel some discomfort in the incision areas but it's easily tolerated. The pain can be described as sort of a pinch or charlie horse type bruise in the hip/buttocks region, where the nail was removed. Again, its not bad pain; but you do tend to watch out for it as you go through the motions of your day. You can experience the occasional "ouch" if not being careful. I'm walking with no issue without my cane, albeit slowly as I regain balance. My gait looks mostly normal as the sway from day 1 is already subsiding. I'm able to use the toilet, walk up and down stairs, and sit/stand without much issue, although I do prefer to hold onto something as support while I do these things since the incisions are still feeling a bit tender.
At this point, the hardest thing to do is standing up from a sitting position and that is obviously due to the incisions; however with a bit of support; its not a problem. More good news is that the legs are feeling soft, no swelling, and coloration is looking normal; little to no bruising from what I can see. Other than all this, the bandaging is bothers me a bit bit. I should be able to have the stitches and bigger bandaging removed within a few days or so.
Guys, its going well so far. I'm hobbling around a bit; but all in all I'm comfortable and most important I'm walking and in little to no uncomfortable pain.
I'll keep you all updated.
All the best,
IFS
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Day 3 after nail removal surgery
Hi Guys,
As update - Legs continue to feel better. My walking gait is mostly normal now and almost back to normal speed. Slightly sore on buttocks area; but not too bad at all. Can easily stand and sit down now in chair. Small bit of pain above left knee where the screw removal incision was made, so some difficulty using left foot push off that is needed when walking up stairs. I will continue to use right leg as the lead for walking up and down stairs until the left leg is healed. I anticipate all of that should resolve in a couple of days or so.
I'm no longer taking any pain medication and just taking aspirin as a blood thinner. I'll be going into the office tomorrow for work and plan on working out at home with machines since all the gyms are closed on LA due to COVID. Otherwise, I would have been at the gym working out the upper body using machines. I will note that I will be avoiding carrying free weights for at least 4-6 weeks as an extra precaution to preserve bone healing. One must keep in mind that each femur has 4 holes in it; where the nails were previously inserted. I will avoid rigorous running, jumping and/or any heavy leg workouts/weight training for 12 weeks per instruction by Dr. M.
Guys, all is great and I'll update you again tomorrow. Feel free to reach out with any questions or feedback.
All the Best,
IFS
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wow 3 days post op and almost back ti normal, that's awesome !
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wow 3 days post op and almost back ti normal, that's awesome !
Thank you, Movie. Fortunately, the nail removal procedure is not near the discomfort and downtime of the 1st surgery. It just goes to show you how much the leg break, lengthening, and IT Band release, make for a prolonged recovery. In the nail removal surgery, the doctor goes right back into the same openings as before however this time there is only an incision made through the muscle (to remove screws and rods) and those muscle incisions begin to heal very fast immediately upon completion of surgery. I am back to work, at the office today, and getting around well with no assistive devices. I will provide a new update, shortly on my condition.
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congrats on getting the nail out bro! I have a question for when you were in distraction, did you ever have a problem with wide legs/not being able to put your feet together? i know you got the IT band release during surgery, but even despite this was that ever an issue for you? thanks
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congrats on getting the nail out bro! I have a question for when you were in distraction, did you ever have a problem with wide legs/not being able to put your feet together? i know you got the IT band release during surgery, but even despite this was that ever an issue for you? thanks
Hi Ekul,
Yes, this is very common and to be expected. At about 1 inch, I began to become tighter in the quadriceps (Rectus Femoris, esp) and hamstrings, and as a result, the legs would start to pull more outward. You will want to stretch quads and hamstrings daily 2-3 time a day minimum and walk as much as possible (walker, crutches, cane, or unassisted, if you can). Stay active. I would try to stand up and perform some steps every 30-45 minutes, especially during distraction. The goal here is to keep things manageable. It will be inevitable that your legs will be pulled apart slightly and you will not be able to put them together 100%. Fortunately, after distraction, you will find that your legs will loosen with stretching, walking, and bone healing and you will once again be able to put your legs together again. You can anticipate many of the tightness side-effects like wide-legs, and duck-ass to start disappearing around month 5 and 6, post-operation, sometimes sooner.
I hope this helped. What you are going through is a normal CLL event. Feel fee to PM me a picture of your current wide-legs and how much you have distracted so far. I'll be happy to compare your condition to mine at the same process interval.
Take care and All the best!
IFS.
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Great to hear about your successful rod removal IFS! So good to see you begin the last phase of closing out the surgery related portion(s) of your journey - your diary is one of the most informative insights of LL on the internet. 100% agree on this experience being incredibly powerful, beyond the pure physical gain, but across our entire psyche.
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Great to hear about your successful rod removal IFS! So good to see you begin the last phase of closing out the surgery related portion(s) of your journey - your diary is one of the most informative insights of LL on the internet. 100% agree on this experience being incredibly powerful, beyond the pure physical gain, but across our entire psyche.
Thank you, Alchemist. What a journey, indeed.
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Day 4 after nail removal surgery
Greetings CLL Family,
Not much to report today other than all continues to improve. I worked out my upper body today and walked about 1/2 mile. I could have walked more but didn't want to risk being too sore tomorrow. Additionally, I returned to the office and was able to put in a full days work and was walking around just fine without a cane. My gait looks almost normal w/ slight limp with left leg, barely noticeable. I have my post-surgery follow up with Dr. M tomorrow and I expect all to go well. I will update again tomorrow!
All the best,
IFS
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Hi IFS
Congrats on finishing up your journey to CLL!! What an incredible moment to be free from rods!! I am so happy for you!!
I heard and saw the cases of rod removal. It is a really much easier process as compared to inserting nails. You have all the procedures done perfectly!! Now time to enjoy the pure joy of a new height!!
Wish you the best and happiness!!
Ghostfish~
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Hi IFS
Congrats on finishing up your journey to CLL!! What an incredible moment to be free from rods!! I am so happy for you!!
I heard and saw the cases of rod removal. It is a really much easier process as compared to inserting nails. You have all the procedures done perfectly!! Now time to enjoy the pure joy of a new height!!
Wish you the best and happiness!!
Ghostfish~
Thank you, Ghostfish. It has been an unforgettable journey!
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Do you feel any major difference without the rod? Like weight, flexibility and othef thing.
And as your journey is finish, can you copy and paste everything in a single thread?
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Do you feel any major difference without the rod? Like weight, flexibility and othef thing.
And as your journey is finish, can you copy and paste everything in a single thread?
Hi Jackie,
I do not feel much of a difference yet; but we will see in the coming weeks. To consolidate my thread in a easier read format, I recommend hitting the "print" button on the top right of my thread. This will allow you to print out the entire thread to PDF or to paper. I did not realize how long this thread had become..it comes out to 320 pages!
Hope this helps. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
All the Best,
IFS
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Day 5 after nail removal surgery
Greetings CLL Family,
All is well. I continue to improve. I'm walking fine, able to shower, go up and down stairs, drive and I appear to have a normal gait while walking. I have a slight limp on my left leg that is improving. Pain is non-existent at this point. Maybe a very minimal ouch, if I apply too much pressure on the surgical wound; but even that pain is going away now.
I met with Dr. M today and he certified with me again that the nail removal surgery was a success. The Staff Nurse Donna, removed my stitches and we chatted for a bit.
Per Dr. M. "You're good to go and don't need to come back".
Guys, it's over. I'm 100% completed with the CLL process. I will now focus on a full recovery and in a few months will begin weight training my legs again.
Thank you all again for your support and kind words. I'll return from time to time to the community to check-in on prospect and current patients. Additionally, I'll be back soon to update my diary on how I'm doing with my recovery and life in general. Feel free to reach out with any questions and feedback. I hope I was able to assist some of you with your CLL Journey. We are in this life together. Let's stay together.
All the Best,
IFS
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Congrats, IFS! I look forward to the day that I will be in your current shoes.
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That's right IFS! we're in this life together as CLL Brothers, happy you're doing so well at 5 days post op.
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Congrats, IFS! I look forward to the day that I will be in your current shoes.
Thank you, BTM!
It's only a matter of time. This all is over sooner than you know. With Covid-19 and your CLL being at the same time; it's a great snippet of life to focus on other areas too that you wish to refine and/or adjust.
Feel free to reach out with any questions or feedback. Here to help.
All the Best,
IFS
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That's right IFS! we're in this life together as CLL Brothers, happy you're doing so well at 5 days post op.
Thank's, Movie! Having gone through CLL, you'll find this procedure to be nothing in comparison. As CLL patients, know that your last leg in this race is fairly simple one. The hard part will be done with after you recover from surgery 1.
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Day 5 after nail removal surgery
Greetings CLL Family,
All is well. I continue to improve. I'm walking fine, able to shower, go up and down stairs, drive and I appear to have a normal gait while walking. I have a slight limp on my left leg that is improving. Pain is non-existent at this point. Maybe a very minimal ouch, if I apply too much pressure on the surgical wound; but even that pain is going away now.
I met with Dr. M today and he certified with me again that the nail removal surgery was a success. The Staff Nurse Donna, removed my stitches and we chatted for a bit.
Per Dr. M. "You're good to go and don't need to come back".
Guys, it's over. I'm 100% completed with the CLL process. I will now focus on a full recovery and in a few months will begin weight training my legs again.
Thank you all again for your support and kind words. I'll return from time to time to the community to check-in on prospect and current patients. Additionally, I'll be back soon to update my diary on how I'm doing with my recovery and life in general. Feel free to reach out with any questions and feedback. I hope I was able to assist some of you with your CLL Journey. We are in this life together. Let's stay together.
All the Best,
IFS
This almost brought me into tears! You did it brother! Not just that, but throughout the process, you inspired and guided so many; at times even better than close friends or medical doctors, with your wisdom and compassion.
I wish you the best in all your future endeavors.
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Congratulations IFS!!!
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Congratulations IFS!!!
This almost brought me into tears! You did it brother! Not just that, but throughout the process, you inspired and guided so many; at times even better than close friends or medical doctors, with your wisdom and compassion.
I wish you the best in all your future endeavors.
Thanks again, you guys. I'm not only 3 inches taller as a result of CLL; but I am also a much smarter, stronger, and grateful person, having gotten through this journey.
All the Best,
IFS
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may be the best diary i ve read thanks
one question before you get on with your life
did you have a fear of arthritis ? dr franz says that with every cm there is a deviation by one mm . does you have malalignment or valgus deformity ? what does yr xray says or can you share it ?
do you still have knee or hip pain ?
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may be the best diary i ve read thanks
one question before you get on with your life
did you have a fear of arthritis ? dr franz says that with every cm there is a deviation by one mm . does you have malalignment or valgus deformity ? what does yr xray says or can you share it ?
do you still have knee or hip pain ?
Greetings 184Dream,
Thank you for your kind words. Fortunately, I do not have a malalignment or valgus deformity. The one side-effect, I did experience after about 1-month post-op was Anterior Pelvic Tilt (Duck ass) and I also was unable to put my legs together. Both conditions resulted from having tight quadriceps. After about month 6-7, both conditions seemed mostly resolved (undetected by the eye). After one year, neither condition existed and all felt normal, as it did before surgery. One area that I continue to work on is my overall flexibility. I had very poor flexibility before surgery, so my tightness was greater compared to other CLL'ers. I'm about 80% Flexibility so I'm working on this. Otherwise, everything looks and feels normal. No knee or hip pain at all. I am only tighter than in the past. This improves as I stay dedicated to my stretching exercises. At this point, I'm not concerned with arthritis, but I have heard there is some risk in that. Feel free to let me know if you have any additional questions.
All the best,
IFS
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Hi IFS, truly amazing diary-- you're such a gem to this community. HUGE congrats on completing your LL journey and beginning a new one.
As it's been over 1.5 years now post op, how is your scarring doing? Do you have any images?
Are they superficial scars or are they keloid-type or indented?
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Hi IFS, truly amazing diary-- you're such a gem to this community. HUGE congrats on completing your LL journey and beginning a new one.
As it's been over 1.5 years now post op, how is your scarring doing? Do you have any images?
Are they superficial scars or are they keloid-type or indented?
Hi Frogger,
Thank you for the kind words and for reaching out. Great question. Fortunately, I am now just a couple of weeks prior to my 2 year anniversary of my CLL surgery. 1 month ago, I had my Styrde nails removed. The marks before Stryde removal we're so faint and fading nicely. They were flat, non-raised and were healing nice. During, my rod removal surgery, Dr. M went through the same incisions as he did to insert the nail and fortunately, the marks are very small, are non-raised and healing nicely. I'm going to let some time go by and will post the ultimate results. I was thinking of using some scar lightening cream as well. All in all, the marks are minimal and not that noticeable after a year+, as long as the doctor made clean cuts and post-surgery care as far as cleaning was done right. I'll return soon with images.
Thank you again and All the Best,
IFS.
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Amazing results! Do you think that similar minimal incisions are possible with Dr. Paley & Dr. Rozbruch compared to Dr. M?
How many individual scars per leg do you have?
Also, I recommend Bio-Oil if you’re looking for a good scar treatment. I’ve used it many times before on some other bodily scarring from sports and it works wonders.
Cheers.
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Amazing results! Do you think that similar minimal incisions are possible with Dr. Paley & Dr. Rozbruch compared to Dr. M?
How many individual scars per leg do you have?
Also, I recommend Bio-Oil if you’re looking for a good scar treatment. I’ve used it many times before on some other bodily scarring from sports and it works wonders.
Cheers.
Hi Frogger!
Thank you for the great tip. I just ordered myself some Bio-Oil! For the 1st surgery to implant the nails, I didn't use any special creams and the incisions still healed nicely and faded away. I'm excited to use the Bio-Oil since I'm sure that the marks will barely be visible at all if I'm using something that will help the skin heal.
Dr. Paley and Dr. Rozbruch are top-of-class surgeons and you can't go wrong with either of them. They leave very minimal scarring. Both surgeons are on record, commenting that they make every effort to reduce any post operative scaring since they understand many patients are self-conscious about that. Dr. Mahboubian, did a fantastic job in limiting the scarring on my body and I have no doubt that other experienced CLL surgeons will do the same. It's definitely worth asking about prior to the procedure taking place.
As far incisions - For each leg, you have one approximate 2 cm, thin-line incision where the nail is inserted near top of hip. You then have two thin line 1cm incisions proximal and distal (upper and lower, femur), where the screws were inserted to fix the nail in place. You will also have a 1-2cm incision above knee, to the side, where your IT Band was cut so that it can easily lengthen with you as you lengthen your femur.
I will emphasize that for the femur lengthening, the superficial scarring is not much and appears to heal nicely in the months after surgery. If one throws in some scar cream/oils, then I can imagine that the scarring is barely noticeable after a year or two. We shall see. As for me, I don't mind the faint lines. They are a very subtle reminder of the CLL battle I undertook and overcame, successfully.
Thank you again for your help.
All the Best,
IFS
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Hey bro congrats on being post op!
Since you used Stryde, could you see yourself performing above average in kicking such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing etc. You dont have to be elite performer (you'd be training since childhood for that lol), but just above average and give consistent good performance if that makes sense?
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Hey bro congrats on being post op!
Since you used Stryde, could you see yourself performing above average in kicking such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing etc. You dont have to be elite performer (you'd be training since childhood for that lol), but just above average and give consistent good performance if that makes sense?
Hi Tokito!
Thank you for the question. I am able to kick now with no pain or issue. My legs feel perfectly normal and the only deficit I am experiencing is that I'm still training to regain flexibility and strength in my legs. As long as one keeps strengthening and stretching; I have zero doubts that they can perform any kick they wanted and even compete again. I will say also that I believe it would take 2-3 years post-surgery before any kind of serious competing could take place. It takes that long to recover to competitive sports. It takes no more than 5-7 months to recover to regular function, like walking with a fully comfortable and regular looking gait.
Let me know if you have any additional questions.
All the best,
IFS
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Hi IFS,
So how are you feeling 2 months after taking the rods out?
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Greetings CLL Team,
I hope all is well. 2020...psh, what the hell was that?! Now that that's over, we're on to 2021 and we'll see how this year shapes up. I wanted to check-in and report that I am now at 64 Days Post nail removal surgery (2 Months), and I'm feeling back to 100% . As a quick note, I was able to walk normally, and back to my regular walking gate within 5 days after the nail removal. At this point I am back to regular jogging, flexibility is back to pre-op shape and has improved a bit and my legs feel much lighter and looser. I will begin to weight train and run more aggressively, begging in about 2 weeks. Per Dr. Mahboubian, it is safest to wait about 12 weeks before one performs high impact activity with legs, post-surgery. I look forward to getting back to normal leg training in February. The nails really do weigh a pound or two and by removing them, you're lighter on your feet. I advise to anyone who is hesitating to get the nails removed to get those nails out ASAP, after waiting about 12 - 18 months. You won't regret it and the impact of the nail removal surgery is not even remotely close to the initial CLL surgery you had. In other news...my confidence and comfort-ability is sky-high. I'm doing well in business, well with woman, and thankfully family is healthy, strong, and has been free from any COVID complications. I'm happier than ever and CLL definitely had a hand in that. I'll reach out again soon when time permits to add additional notes and perspective on the CLL experience, the impact that a successful outcome has had on my life, and I'll also touch on height dysphoria as well. Feel free reach out to me if you have any questions or feedback in the meantime.
All the Best,
IFS
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so happy to read this IFS!! can't wait for my removal 2 month recovery is great for removal
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so happy to read this IFS!! can't wait for my removal 2 month recovery is great for removal
Thanks Movie! Thankful it all worked out.
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Amazing full circle post. This journey and diary gave a lot of potential LLers like myself hope that something as life changing and transformative as LL is possible with the right mindset. Cheers to you and life IFS!
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Wow..... awesome man!!! I someday see myself in your position... personally for me, money is barrier, I don't know how I'm gonna collect a 100k... anyways...looking at stories like you l, movie and Alchemist.....always get inspired....
My only question....
Do you feel like back to normal, like to before surgery level in physical activities...like nothing ever happened...
At what point in your journey, were u at stage that we can u are recovered enough to blend in the crowd m no one can recognise u had any sort of surgery looking at your gait....??
Pls don't stop updating on this forum....every update we see from you ppl, we get a new ray of hope!!
All the best...
Happy for you.!
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Greetings CLL Team,
I hope all is well. 2020...psh, what the hell was that?! Now that that's over, we're on to 2021 and we'll see how this year shapes up. I wanted to check-in and report that I am now at 64 Days Post nail removal surgery (2 Months), and I'm feeling back to 100% . As a quick note, I was able to walk normally, and back to my regular walking gate within 5 days after the nail removal. At this point I am back to regular jogging, flexibility is back to pre-op shape and has improved a bit and my legs feel much lighter and looser. I will begin to weight train and run more aggressively, begging in about 2 weeks. Per Dr. Mahboubian, it is safest to wait about 12 weeks before one performs high impact activity with legs, post-surgery. I look forward to getting back to normal leg training in February. The nails really do weigh a pound or two and by removing them, you're lighter on your feet. I advise to anyone who is hesitating to get the nails removed to get those nails out ASAP, after waiting about 12 - 18 months. You won't regret it and the impact of the nail removal surgery is not even remotely close to the initial CLL surgery you had. In other news...my confidence and comfort-ability is sky-high. I'm doing well in business, well with woman, and thankfully family is healthy, strong, and has been free from any COVID complications. I'm happier than ever and CLL definitely had a hand in that. I'll reach out again soon when time permits to add additional notes and perspective on the CLL experience, the impact that a successful outcome has had on my life, and I'll also touch on height dysphoria as well. Feel free reach out to me if you have any questions or feedback in the meantime.
All the Best,
IFS
Your contributions to this community have been nothing short of priceless. THANK-YOU for coming back to update us all on how life is on the "other side" of it ALL including the removal.
So glad everything worked out for you man.
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Awesome IFS..Glad that everything worked out well for you..
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Wow..... awesome man!!! I someday see myself in your position... personally for me, money is barrier, I don't know how I'm gonna collect a 100k... anyways...looking at stories like you l, movie and Alchemist.....always get inspired....
My only question....
Do you feel like back to normal, like to before surgery level in physical activities...like nothing ever happened...
At what point in your journey, were u at stage that we can u are recovered enough to blend in the crowd m no one can recognise u had any sort of surgery looking at your gait....??
Pls don't stop updating on this forum....every update we see from you ppl, we get a new ray of hope!!
All the best...
Happy for you.!
Hi Dreamer,
Good question. Yes, I feel normal. I walk normally and I do not have any pain. I DO get the occasional "feeling", in my hip area since I'm only 3 months out of the nail removal; but it is not painful and it lasts maybe a few seconds. I can jog well and I am able to run and perform weight lifting with my legs now without any difficulty. I do want to make a point in saying that my approach to CLL was extra careful. I was not concerned about getting back to sports activity quickly and I rather just wanted to be careful to not hurt my recovering legs. I made a conscious decision to not perform high impact training until 90 days after my nail removal. As a result, my legs are not "athletically" strong or flexible, yet. I recently started working my legs more impactfully and I'm already seeing progress. I feel and appear completely normal and I'm fully recovered from CLL. I will continue to work hard toward being able to actively participate in sports.
Thank you for the question and I will be back regularly to update and help out the CLL Community! We are all in this together!
All the Best,
IFS
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Hi Dreamer,
Good question. Yes, I feel normal. I walk normally and I do not have any pain. I DO get the occasional "feeling", in my hip area since I'm only 3 months out of the nail removal; but it is not painful and it lasts maybe a few seconds. I can jog well and I am able to run and perform weight lifting with my legs now without any difficulty. I do want to make a point in saying that my approach to CLL was extra careful. I was not concerned about getting back to sports activity quickly and I rather just wanted to be careful to not hurt my recovering legs. I made a conscious decision to not perform high impact training until 90 days after my nail removal. As a result, my legs are not "athletically" strong or flexible, yet. I recently started working my legs more impactfully and I'm already seeing progress. I feel and appear completely normal and I'm fully recovered from CLL. I will continue to work hard toward being able to actively participate in sports.
Thank you for the question and I will be back regularly to update and help out the CLL Community! We are all in this together!
All the Best,
IFS
Have you ran a long distance yet, such as a mile? If so what was your time? I want to know if it's possible to be able to run again within 2 years of getting the surgery.
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Hi Phantom,
Honestly, haven't really been doing too much running since I'm not really a runner type. I'm more into weight lifting and my cardio consists of more of a "stand-in-place" calisthenics type cardio. I have done a short jog - I'm not sure how long it was; but it lasted about 8-10 minutes and it felt very normal. You should have no problem jogging at the 2 year point and I'm sure you'll be close to your old time in 2 - 3 year's time as long as you keep working at it. I feel normal again.
Thank you for the question!
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Hi Phantom,
Honestly, haven't really been doing too much running since I'm not really a runner type. I'm more into weight lifting and my cardio consists of more of a "stand-in-place" calisthenics type cardio. I have done a short jog - I'm not sure how long it was; but it lasted about 8-10 minutes and it felt very normal. You should have no problem jogging at the 2 year point and I'm sure you'll be close to your old time in 2 - 3 year's time as long as you keep working at it. I feel normal again.
Thank you for the question!
That's reassuring, thanks for replying!
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Hey man.... eagerly waiting for your update!
I'm sure you are doing great !
Please update with your current stats...a video update of you running or doing something athletic would be really awesome....maybe hide your face like movie ....
Keep improving!
Wishing u the best!
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The video be really helpful! I will appreciate that.
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@Marco @Dreamer
Thank you for checking in, guys! Sure thing - I will create a video showing how I move these days. I'll see about putting something together over the next week or two.
Quick summary of how I'm doing, 875 days (2 Years, 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days) - Post-Opp
1) Feeling more confident than ever about my height and appearance
2) Back at gym full time and feeling strong
3) The company I founded has surged well into the multi-7 figure revenue zone and only grows better each day
4) Legs are feeling normal and I'm seeing bi-weekly improvement as I begin to train them more diligently, now that my nails are out
5) My beautiful catch of a girlfriend finds me incredibly attractive and even when I'm in a room with tall men, her eyes are glued on me because I'm self-assured, confident, in-control and clearly the boss. I'm a high value man with a unique stature. Love it.
6) Woman in general are responding to me in a great way for those same reasons I noted above
7) I have a sincere and authentic, Love it or Leave it, attitude and I never settle because there is too much at stake. I'm loving this journey I'm on right now.
8) Life is great and CLL has a big part to play in that fact
Guys, this was just a quick summary and I have so many more details to share; which I will as soon as I find some free time. Feel free to ask any questions you might have. I'm here to help!
All the Best,
IFS
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Wow that's awesome IFS congrats on all your accomplishments ! Thats the right attitude ;D ;)
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Congrats on the huge accomplishments IFS.
Having the rods removed, you have completed the journey. It would be extremely interesting to hear about your progress as we rarely get to hear about this stage.
In your experience, what were the most challenging things to endure in the period between finishing lengthening and up until the rod removal?
Are you currently working on improving somethings now that the rods are out and you can focus completely on 100% athletic recovery?
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Appreciate the update IFS. Nice to see people update 2+ years post-op when they are well into normal living.
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Wow man! I wish all the best for u....I am eagerly waiting for you to share details....n the video! Would like to hear more
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Yeeeah me too
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Hey infullstryde, do you still get surprised when you look across the room at some one you think is taller than you, yet you get next to them and discover you as tall or even taller than than them???
This is still happening to me every time! I STILL shocked all the time when I see myself taller than the next guy that I initially thought was taller than me. Crazy man, just crazy!!
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Hello, I am an Asian living in Korea. What I'm most curious about is the change in calf thickness. Is there a difference in calf thickness compared to before surgery?
The other surgical procedure has a thickening change.(precise tibia,externel tibia)
I wonder if Stryde tibia is different from them
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Hey infullstryde, do you still get surprised when you look across the room at some one you think is taller than you, yet you get next to them and discover you as tall or even taller than than them???
This is still happening to me every time! I STILL shocked all the time when I see myself taller than the next guy that I initially thought was taller than me. Crazy man, just crazy!!
This still happens to me a lot lol
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I hope u look my comment soon:)
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Hey man, eagerly waiting for an update! I hope you are doing great!!
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975 days Post-Op OR 2 years, 8 months, 1 days ago
It's been a while guys! I've return to life full swing; so apologies for the delay in updating! Here are some answers to some questions as well as a brief update on how I am doing....
Hey infullstryde, do you still get surprised when you look across the room at some one you think is taller than you, yet you get next to them and discover you as tall or even taller than than them???
This is still happening to me every time! I STILL shocked all the time when I see myself taller than the next guy that I initially thought was taller than me. Crazy man, just crazy!!
I sure do. There was this guy at the Gym that I befriended and he was pretty short, but still 2-3 inches taller than me. Keep in mind, I was 5'1" before my CLL. I honestly thought that he was even taller than that because I felt so much shorter than him. At 5'1; you feel shorter than everyone on the planet. With that being said, after I completed CLL i stood at a whopping 5'4.25". Never in a million years did I think I would be taller than this friend. Well, one day... I show back up at the gym and BOOM...I stand next to him and I'm taller than he is. I was pretty stunned. What this taught me was that...YES, I was shorter than everyone; but my mind was making the height issue even worse than it was. In situations where I may have only been a couple of inches shorter; I was actually thinking that the difference was much greater. This is apart of height dysphoria. I'm not sure if he notice; but it was pretty cool. 3 inches is ALOT of height to gain no matter what your starting height is!
Hello, I am an Asian living in Korea. What I'm most curious about is the change in calf thickness. Is there a difference in calf thickness compared to before surgery?
The other surgical procedure has a thickening change.(precise tibia,externel tibia)
I wonder if Stryde tibia is different from them
My surgery was on the femurs; so I'm not sure about tibias. I will say that after the CLL surgery I lost about 75% of muscle in my femurs. My thighs were twigs. Now, after almost 3 years of normal walking and weight lifting; my legs feel back to normal size.
Congrats on the huge accomplishments IFS.
Having the rods removed, you have completed the journey. It would be extremely interesting to hear about your progress as we rarely get to hear about this stage.
In your experience, what were the most challenging things to endure in the period between finishing lengthening and up until the rod removal?
Are you currently working on improving somethings now that the rods are out and you can focus completely on 100% athletic recovery?
Great question Dream! The most challenging part of the "In between stage" is simply recovering your strengthen and flexibility. I'll add that immediately after you complete lengthening; you're walking around like a duck and you usually will have some slight "duckass". If you're not familiar with the CLL process; this can be disheartening because you're simply concerned how the condition and how long it will last. I'm happy to report that your flexibility returns to normal after a couple of years with some work and your duck ass goes away with in months. Just keep working at it. It's worth adding that no one will really notice your Duck Ass or lack of flexibility unless it's pointed out to them. You'll be able to easily cruise through this strange "in between" state and will be just fine in a matter of weeks and some months.
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Guys, I'm doing great. My body has return to mostly normal. I'm still working on flexibility and leg strength...bare in mind that I really never worked out my legs prior to CLL (since high school); so it's hard to compare before and after; but I will say that I can jog normally and walk for miles on end. My career is booming as my business is shooting to 8 figures as I approach a personal clip at a 7 figure salary position. I have a beautiful girlfriend as well, and I get attention from other beautiful woman, despite being only 5'4.25". Just because you're short doesn't mean you can't be handsome, rich, and happy. I'm all these things. I'm actually the boss of tall men. They all work for me and that's how it will always be.
Love you guys and your journey's are awesome to read about. Feel free to update me and/or ask me questions as needed.
All the Best,
IFS
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Thats awesome IFS! Enjoy the good life you've created man! you deserve it ;D
only gets better from here, cheers! We love you too !!
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This diary almost single handedly made me feel more comfortable with the surgery. I'm undergoing surgery in late September now. Thanks so much for your contribution to the community
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Congratulations on making it across! You are one of the CLL legends and will always be remembered as one... Enjoy your new height and I hope you achieve new heights in your life as well!
Just a request...pls don't abandon us .... Ppl usually disappear at this stage and it is completely understandable...Bt we would really really love to hear what exactly happens once you make it across... would love to hear updates about your physical as well as other aspects of life!
All the best man!
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Thats awesome IFS! Enjoy the good life you've created man! you deserve it ;D
only gets better from here, cheers! We love you too !!
Thanks Man!
This diary almost single handedly made me feel more comfortable with the surgery. I'm undergoing surgery in late September now. Thanks so much for your contribution to the community
I'm so happy that my experience has lead you to what I believe will be one of the best investments you can make in this life! Good luck and I'll inbox you some information to help you along the way.
Congratulations on making it across! You are one of the CLL legends and will always be remembered as one... Enjoy your new height and I hope you achieve new heights in your life as well!
Just a request...pls don't abandon us .... Ppl usually disappear at this stage and it is completely understandable...Bt we would really really love to hear what exactly happens once you make it across... would love to hear updates about your physical as well as other aspects of life!
All the best man!
I will sure keep in touch with my CLL Warrior Family. I look forward to posting additional updates as the future becomes the present.
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I wholeheartedly agree with InFullStryde. This is probably THE best investment you’ll ever make. My surgery was a year ago and I’m feeling pretty good fellas. Reaching 6ft is wonderful, but the real joy is not having the dysphoria. I now learned that the actual height really doesn’t matter.
This procedure is expensive as heck. But I’ll tell you what, I much rather pay for CLL than a Mercedes Benz that will end up losing value anyways. Getting rid of height dysphoria and having a new life is invaluable. I bet if this was $200,000, people would still go for it.
The only thing is people like InFullStryde, Movie, StydeChallenge and I really really really lucked out by getting the chance to have the Stryde Nail. Being able to walk right from the get go was a huge opportunity for a speedy recovery!!
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Hey IFS....I am still eagerly waiting for that video man , lol! I hope you are doing great and your business is booming! I would love to hear about a quick update....how are your legs? Does it all feel back to normal in terms of flexibility, tightness, strength? Any lingering pain or numbness? How about running and jogging and athletic activites?
Holing to hear about an update soon! Have a great day man!
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Thanks man for this amazing diary 😊