30 Day Post Op UpdateA lot to report on since my last real update at about 10 days post op.
I can truly say that things have gotten much better as the weeks have passed. Another recent patient of Dr. M has been great in providing me with details of his experience (femurs) about 9 months ago. He was pretty much on point with just about everything he shared. Thank you!
My PT has been great, and made me see that proper stretching can make lengthening a breeze, up to a certain point of course. There have been a few days where the pain has really by frustrating, but is gone after stretching with my PT. The pain is not grueling or excruciating at all, just nagging and frustrating at times.
Like nothing I am well into my 5th week post op. It has progressively gotten easier and easier for me.
At Week 3I started more easily moving from the bed to the wheelchair. I was able to finally pivot from the wheelchair into the passenger front seat of my car.
I had my second post-op appointment with Dr. Mahboubian. XRays showed great bone formation and that I had lengthened 1.5 CM. Dr M. asked me to increase lengthening from from 1mm per day to 1.32mm per day for a week. This hasn't caused any discomfort yet.
Bathroom use is still a challenge by myself, I need help to get on to and up from the toilet. Using the over the toilet commode is painful, probably due to the hard plastic and bony legs and butt now.
SLEEP is a little tough as I find myself waking up around 4:00 to stretch out my legs a bit. Having to sleep face up is difficult and tiring. Dr. M said it was ok to sleep on my side but it is uncomfortable and a little painful. It almost seems like I can feel the upper screws on the side, and also the weight of my body and other leg over the lower one is a little painful.
PAIN PILLSI have cut down to 2 Norcos per day. One in the mid morning and one before bed. Every now and then I'll take a 5 MG muscle relaxer (Flexeril), this seems to help a tad also. I'll also incorporate a couple of Tylenol if needed in between the Norcos.
PHYSICAL THERAPYI was having a therapist come to me 4 times a week. Cost is $100 per visit. $1600 per month....ouch. The in home therapy would incorporate about 10 minutes of massage into the quad muscles and how it helped! I am now going to a local therapist who is combining 2 days of water therapy in the pool and 2 days of regular stretching. I've only had a few sessions in the pool so I can't really say this is helping yet. I am of course able to walk unassisted in the water which is great for relaxing the hip muscles. Do yourselves the favor and pay a therapist if you can, it will save you lots of unecessary pain and make recovery quicker. You or family cannot quite do it the same, period.
PAINIt varies day by day but I can't really say it has been above a 4 into
week 3. Again stretching and massage make the pain fade quickly. It typically is either non existent or between 1-2. The pain seems to in my knees and hips.
WEIGHT AND MUSCLE ATROPHYI had told myself before surgery that I wouldn't let this affect me. Yeah right!! There really is no way to avoid it. I've lost about 15 lbs, and lost my legs and butt. Simple fact is if you don't use it, you'll lose it. My legs look like twigs. I'll gain it back. I'm eating well, taking vitamins, but the weight came off and so did lower body muscle.
WEEK 4 and 5I'm still only a few days into week 5, but things keep getting better and better.
I was having a real tough time getting into the shower, so I was doing thorough towel baths daily, but it was getting hard not being able to take a proper hot shower and bathe properly. I finally was able to to get into the shower about 26 days post op. The key for me and my shower setup was helping myself with the use of a transfer board, this is a must for any LLer. This made moving from the wheelchair into the shower chair much easier. God how good a hot shower makes you feel! So good for the mind and spirit.
I am able to get unto and up from the toilet by myself now with proper use of the walker. The commode is still painful as heck.
I am also regularly up on the walker taking steps around the house. I don't worry as much as I'm down to about 150 lbs. which is only slightly over the Precise2 weight limit (70 lbs per leg). I have to be absorbing about 30% or so with my arms.
Precise 2 LengtheningAs we've all read in other femur diaries, the lengthening itself doesn't hurt, while the machine is working. You really don't feel anything. You might feel pain afterwards on ocasion due to the stretched tissue. The only other thing I've noticed, is that if the controller is cold (it has some metal trim) and you put it on your leg, you'll get pain afterward from the cold aparatus touching your leg. Sounds weird but it's the case for me.
Heat PadsFuture LLers, do yourselves a favor and invest in some heat pads and a heated blanket. What a difference this can make when you have pain. I ordered several different ones from a place called Grampas Garden (online), and man have they been well worth it.
In closing this update.- Please don't underestimate this surgery. You won't be able to do this alone through week 4, or maybe throughout the entire recovery. You WILL need help. You won't be able to go back to work business as usual after 2 weeks, no way! It will be difficult to handle the simplest tasks.
- BUT things definitely get better and easier as the weeks pass by.
- Although it varies from time to time, pain is not that bad. It is never excruciating.
- For what you'll gain, the sacrifice is small and time flies. I hope my recovery continues to be issue free, as it has been so far thank God.
- invest in a knowledgeable PT and stretch. Stretch, and stretch.
- Dr. Mahboubian has treated me well. No complaints at all. People complain that he advertises and makes money off of this surgery, REALLY? All of the other Dr. M patients I have communicated with seem to feel the same. Nothing is ever 100% perfect. It will not be anywhere you go. I am happy so far however. Dr. M. and team have been very professional.
- I am now exactly 1.025" taller ! Even now I CAN feel the difference. One little inch.
- I am grateful to God and my wife and family for helping me through this. It is a dream being realized.
Thank you all for reading. I hope it will help someone who is nervous about doing this as I was.
Below .... The Precise device at work on my legs. No comments about the sheets please!! I have been using my daughter's bed as it is lower than mine.
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Topic: Internal Femurs with Dr. Mahboubian - Los Angeles (Read 36557 times)