Thanks for the input--especially from a fellow powerlifter and bodybuilder. My tibias are 38.1 cm long, so 15-20% of that would be 5.7 - 7.62 cm; however, I would rather be conservative and do no more than about 18-18.5% of my initial limb length (which is 7 cm). Would you advice stopping the lengthening as soon as your doctor makes the call than any more would require ATL?
''slow and steady win the race'' my distraction was in 6 months long. During that time, I lost my walking ability after 5cm, from 6cm to 8cm I turned the screw as slow as possible, sometimes i did not turn the screw for days, many days I extended the gap only 0.25cm or 0.5cm only. I always stay on top of my legs, period
from 6cm-8cm probly took me like 3 months, I lost my walking ability and gained it back during this period, back and forth, very painful training everyday. I was on bed for weeks on and off and I was on my feet for weeks on and off. Because I did this very slow, at 7cm I could walk unassisted for like a short distance ''on a good day''. At the end, at 8cm, I could still walk with my right leg, my left leg lost it's strength after 7cm. Man, lots of stuff happened, I should of written my diary but in short it's all about standing and walking. I should have stretched more, only thing I regretted
Anyway, as you can see, I've always stayed on top of my legs, always tried to stand, always tried to walk so I knew how my body responded after each inch gained, I knew I would recover and I did and you will too if you do it slow. Many LL guys on this forum paranoid about pre-consolidation, they extend their legs so fk fast like there's no tomorrow which is funny. Pre-consolidation is a complication, it's a problem but some of them talk about it like a good indication of healthy body by fast bone generation. My bone consolidation is perfect and I did this very slow, can't preach enough why ''slow and steady win the race''. If you have control over your legs, you will know when enough is enough and only you know it more than anybody else. I don't like the idea of atl or it band release, for me, it's better to keep the same structure. I would rather go with 5cm rather than 8 with atl release. Given your athletic background, I refuse to believe you will need this extra surgery regardless, you will be fine
Again, 5cm is easy anyone can do 5 maybe ''weak, old lady can't''. All doctor would agree with me
6cm is not hard -7cm is hard but doable
8cm is super super super hard, don't do 8cm if you don't know what you are doing