Theres no magic dr. or nail. Yellowspike and I both had a less than ideal recovery with the widely considered best dr.'s.
Yeah, I've been of the opinion lately that LL is sorta like a "life is like a box of chocolates" scenario. You can be young and in great shape (as I have no doubt you were pre-LL, programdude), and still struggle with recovery. I was no slouch and in great shape pre LL (especially because I did Guichet's pre-training program and slayed the hell out of it), but I'm also a bit older than PD (in my very early 30s). Paley and Guichet are the best two docs easily, and PD and I were both in great shape prior to LL and recovery wasn't overnight by any stretch of the imagine. I honestly think ShyShy (even though I know for a fact he worked VERY hard throughout the entire process) was very, very fortunate. Kudos to him, I say. I busted my ass and never missed a single workout at the gym or isokinetic while I was clicking...but it was still (and still has been) very arduous.
I think what has hindered me are my work commitments. I didn't give myself enough time, but I couldn't just quit my job. I'm stuck working at home from 8-5:30PM every day, but I'm doing the best I can. Yesterday I was able to walk without crutches to my family's house and back no problem. I just need crutches for stairs now, but once my left leg consolidates, I think my recovery will speed up. Overall, I think many of us underestimate the recovery time based on certain (very lucky and I would say rare) peoples' magnificent recoveries.
I'm inquiring with Dr. G now how fast recovery would be for another inch next year. He said it would only take 2-2.5 weeks to get that last inch, but I'm asking him if side effects (duckass, funny walking) would be less from an inch (I'd imagine they'd be, but who knows). I'm thinking I tell work next year this is for the rod removal, and then just delay the removal until I get a new job. I will figure it out, I want that last inch lol