Topic: Koehne Diary 21/22 | Unilateral Tibia + Femur (Read 23794 times)

Siegfried · « **on:** October 14, 2021, 06:14:21 PM »

Hey guys, I have surgery with Dr. Koehne tomorrow - first thing in the morning. I will be doing my left side, tibia and femur first and do my right side as soon as bone healing allows for it. We will be using Precice 2, since Stryde has been off the market for almost a year now.

I am a male in my mid-twenties and planning on lengthening 9cm in total, which would make me stand at a satisfactory 176cm. I was not planning on writing a very detailed diary, but I will decide to provide updates from time to time, since my lengthening procedure in particular will take longer than most.

indication · « **Reply #1 on:** October 14, 2021, 06:29:46 PM »

Best of luck! Are you planning to stay in Bavaria throughout?

Siegfried · « **Reply #2 on:** October 14, 2021, 06:31:02 PM »

No, I will be staying in my hometown in the north of Germany most of the time.

indication · « **Reply #3 on:** October 14, 2021, 06:36:53 PM »

I am also considering this doctor. I will be very curious to hear your feedback on him.
Thank you

Thehighest · « **Reply #4 on:** October 14, 2021, 08:09:20 PM »

price of your treatment?

Siegfried · « **Reply #5 on:** October 17, 2021, 07:31:59 AM »

Day 3 Post op. Leg Hurts like crazy but it seems to get better. Unfortunately only my tibia was done, since nuvasive did not get the licence for the 12mm nail in time, which was supposed to be used for the femur. Nuvasive really screwed me this year. However I will be able to come back in 4 weeks to get my left femur done, according to nuvasive.
At least it should not make any difference to my healing schedule, since tibia usually takes longer to consolidate anyway.

ilovescience · « **Reply #6 on:** October 17, 2021, 07:33:31 AM »

Quote from: Siegfried on October 17, 2021, 07:31:59 AM

Day 3 Post op. Leg Hurts like crazy but it seems to get better. Unfortunately only my tibia was done, since nuvasive did not get the licence for the 12mm nail in time, which was supposed to be used for the femur. Nuvasive really screwed me this year. However I will be able to come back in 4 weeks to get my left femur done, according to nuvasive.
At least it should not make any difference to my healing schedule, since tibia usually takes longer to consolidate anyway.

If it hurts really bad you should have taken pain killer. The hospital should have offered that.

Siegfried · « **Reply #7 on:** October 17, 2021, 07:35:37 AM »

Obviously I am on painkillers...

indication · « **Reply #8 on:** October 17, 2021, 08:00:14 AM »

Quote from: Siegfried on October 17, 2021, 07:31:59 AM

Day 3 Post op. Leg Hurts like crazy but it seems to get better. Unfortunately only my tibia was done, since nuvasive did not get the licence for the 12mm nail in time, which was supposed to be used for the femur. Nuvasive really screwed me this year. However I will be able to come back in 4 weeks to get my left femur done, according to nuvasive.
At least it should not make any difference to my healing schedule, since tibia usually takes longer to consolidate anyway.

Kohne did not tell you this before the surgery? Its really surprising.

So you just one one tibia surgery done so far?

Did you consider any other German doctors too? I am also considering Peter Thaller. Any thoughts on this? Thanks

Siegfried · « **Reply #9 on:** October 17, 2021, 08:30:14 AM »

Yes he told me and I had the choice to postpone the tibia surgery, but I decided against it, since I didn’t want to lose more time. Yes I have done me left tibia so far and will to my left femur in a few weeks if everything goes as planned.

Peter Thaller is a good choice, but he is extremely hard to get in touch with and does not prioritise cosmetic limb lengthening patients. He prefers to stick to medical cases.

indication · « **Reply #10 on:** October 17, 2021, 08:41:15 AM »

Thanks for the answers. Yes Peter Thaller hardly responds to cosmetic inquiries

Are you doing it unilaterally for mobility reasons?

Body Builder · « **Reply #11 on:** October 17, 2021, 10:47:34 AM »

Doing both segments at the same feet only and then the other is a very bad idea. You would have done at least cross lengthening (right femur, left tibia and the opposite) to avoid so much stress on the soft tissues of each leg at the same time.
Also, as you want to lengthen "only" 9cm, you could achieve 7.5 cm only with femurs and consider yourself done with much less risks, money and time. Doing both segments for 9cm doesn't worth it. If everyrhing goes fine then go to 11cm total. It won't be very hard (5cm on tibias and 6cm on femurs).

So sorry I am a little strict but I only write all these to warn other future LLers that this is not a good way to do LL as it has way too much drawbacks compared to benefits.
Still I wish you a safe LL journey.

Keep strong!

Siegfried · « **Reply #12 on:** October 17, 2021, 12:50:19 PM »

I will stick to the plan. My doctor and I have thought everything through. thanks

Siegfried · « **Reply #13 on:** October 17, 2021, 12:51:13 PM »

Siegfried · « **Reply #14 on:** October 17, 2021, 12:51:53 PM »

Quote from: indication on October 17, 2021, 08:41:15 AM

Thanks for the answers. Yes Peter Thaller hardly responds to cosmetic inquiries

Are you doing it unilaterally for mobility reasons?

Yes, it was my doctors idea, since it allows for mobility via cruthches from day 1

Charizard · « **Reply #15 on:** October 17, 2021, 02:06:48 PM »

Quote from: Siegfried on October 17, 2021, 07:35:37 AM

Obviously I am on painkillers...

Can you mention which meds are you on?

Siegfried · « **Reply #16 on:** October 17, 2021, 02:47:42 PM »

Oxycodone and ibuprofen

Charizard · « **Reply #17 on:** October 17, 2021, 03:07:06 PM »

Quote from: Siegfried on October 17, 2021, 02:47:42 PM

Oxycodone and ibuprofen

How is your sleeping schedule? Does pain wake you up in the middle of the night or you are sleeping spotless?

Siegfried · « **Reply #18 on:** October 17, 2021, 09:06:51 PM »

Pain is not really an issue at the moment. It was pretty bad on day 1/2 post op. But with the right pain medication it’s fine and I don’t even think about it. Im taking 2x oxycodone daily, which is not a long-term strategy obviously.

Sleeping is fine as well. However all these things might change once I start distracting.

6CMFemurs · « **Reply #19 on:** October 17, 2021, 11:05:28 PM »

Hey Siegfried,

How is your mobility on one leg? I am doing unilateral tibia lengthening (left leg first) in December and am curious how easy it is to get around/how functional you are in the first few days and week post-op.

Siegfried · « **Reply #20 on:** October 18, 2021, 12:24:24 PM »

I’ve been mobile on crutches since day 3. works great, since you have one healthy leg

BetzLandLiberator · « **Reply #21 on:** October 18, 2021, 12:55:27 PM »

Quote from: Siegfried on October 18, 2021, 12:24:24 PM

I’ve been mobile on crutches since day 3. works great, since you have one healthy leg

Are you using european crutches (forearmas) or american crutches (armpits)?
And how do you wak with them: can you lightly touuch the ground with your lengtheing foot or do you have to keep away all the time, just hopping?

Siegfried · « **Reply #22 on:** October 18, 2021, 04:12:24 PM »

Quote from: BetzLandLiberator on October 18, 2021, 12:55:27 PM

Are you using european crutches (forearmas) or american crutches (armpits)?
And how do you wak with them: can you lightly touuch the ground with your lengtheing foot or do you have to keep away all the time, just hopping?

European crutches. I'm supposed to step on the ground lightly with my lengthening foot.

6CMFemurs · « **Reply #23 on:** October 18, 2021, 05:29:16 PM »

How many days after surgery do you start physical therapy?

Siegfried · « **Reply #24 on:** October 18, 2021, 06:31:20 PM »

Lengethening starts after 1 week and physio after 2.

Siegfried · « **Reply #25 on:** October 18, 2021, 06:33:57 PM »

Quote from: 6CMFemurs on October 17, 2021, 11:05:28 PM

Hey Siegfried,

How is your mobility on one leg? I am doing unilateral tibia lengthening (left leg first) in December and am curious how easy it is to get around/how functional you are in the first few days and week post-op.

Where are you doing it? Are you planning on doing 6cm?

6CMFemurs · « **Reply #26 on:** October 18, 2021, 10:51:53 PM »

I will be doing it in the US. I also have deformity on the tibia I am fixing. My doc recommends 5 CM along with gastroc. recession but I am stretching like crazy trying to avoid it if possible. My screen name is 6 CM femurs, because I lengthened around 6 CM on my femurs in 2014.

Siegfried · « **Reply #27 on:** October 19, 2021, 01:08:42 PM »

Day 5 Post-OP. Feeling surprisingly okay. Pain is not really an issue any more, apart from a continuous numbing sensation in the knee / shin. The excruciating pain from day 1-2 is gone, however I was expecting it to be much worse. The sleeping pills and hard painkiller such as oxycodone made the first few days very manageable. It almost numbed out the pain entirely, but it has some side effects (constipation, brainfog, exhaustion, stomach cramps), which were not too bad on my side. I've been off oxycodone since day 4 and will stick to consuming my other basic pain meds, such as ibuprofen.

I've been on crutches since day 4 as well, it works surprisingly well, since you have one healthy leg to stem most of the bodyweight on and to propel you forward. Contrary to my expectations, you are supposed to step on your lengthening leg lightly instead of "hopping" on the healthy leg. As we know with Stryde, mobilization of the fractured leg promotes bone growth, therefore walking on the fractured leg (within reason) is encouraged.

I'm finally leaving to go home tomorrow and will start lengthening by day 7.

6CMFemurs · « **Reply #28 on:** October 20, 2021, 06:32:06 AM »

Awesome man. Glad to hear we can put a tiny amount of weight on 50 lbs nails and won’t have to totally hop. Excited to see how you progress through this journey and glad you aren’t in too much discomfort.

Siegfried · « **Reply #29 on:** October 28, 2021, 09:39:12 AM »

Hey guys,

I'm about 2 weeks post op now and distracted about 0.5cm in my left tibia so far. I had my first check up appointment yesterday and everything seems fine so far. Pain is absolutely manageable so far. The only meds I'm taking atm is novamin 3x a day.
As a matter of fact, I have taken up working after 1 week from home. Fortunately I'm self-employed and can freely decide when and how much I want to work, which is a blessing during these times.

The next surgery for my left femur will take place next week Friday. I've been told that femur surgery might be more painful than tibia, since it affects a larger portion of the body and the swelling affects sitting and lying down stronger than tibias do. However, ill just take every day as it comes and will try to stay positive. Mindset is everything during such a long and restricting journey.

indication · « **Reply #30 on:** October 28, 2021, 12:48:13 PM »

Glad to hear everything is fine

Limb Lengthening Forum

Author Topic: Koehne Diary 21/22 | Unilateral Tibia + Femur (Read 23794 times)