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[pharmacology]

3 months post lengthening a valid timeline?

[ReadRothbard]

Are we talking completely without support using externals? How much lengthening? If you only do 5 cm, then probably two months. If you do 7-8, then probably 3+ months for wobbly walking.

[DonBones]

3 months post lengthening a valid timeline?

Normally I'd say it depends on distraction length, nail or some other parameter but if you ask like this it doesn't even matter. The answer is - no way will you walk normally after 3 months post lengthening. At three months post lengthening you will most likely still have pains, your muscles will be stiff and very likely you will have considerable problems with your gait.

Even if you had a conventional fracture you wouldn't be able to walk normally 3 months post surgery.

If you're going to do this, be very realistic with your expectations, this isn't a nose job.

[Masteryourlife]

Normally I'd say it depends on distraction length, nail or some other parameter but if you ask like this it doesn't even matter. The answer is - no way will you walk normally after 3 months post lengthening. At three months post lengthening you will most likely still have pains, your muscles will be stiff and very likely you will have considerable problems with your gait.

Even if you had a conventional fracture you wouldn't be able to walk normally 3 months post surgery.

If you're going to do this, be very realistic with your expectations, this isn't a nose job.

You did 5 cm with a wb nail .
At 5 months post-OP (3 months post lengthening) you should be able to walk normally or be almost there based on most stryde patients who were 20-30 yo ,that did also more then 5 cm .

[DonBones]

You did 5 cm with a wb nail .
At 5 months post-OP (3 months post lengthening) you should be able to walk normally or be almost there based on most stryde patients who were 20-30 yo ,that did also more then 5 cm .

It depends on what you consider normal. Sure, if someone poses for the camera, focuses hard, on an even surface and with a moderate lengthening amount then yes you can make it look decent. I can walk a short distance without you noticing that I had limb lengthening. I can even do a moonwalk, walk a few stairs, but all of this is a mere fraction of what I consider normal. Normal for me is to be able to walk just the way I did before surgery, on any surface, for the same duration.

I know you all want to be optimists and think this is done within months, but it's just not true. I am telling you this as someone who objectively speaking had very few issues.

[Masteryourlife]

It depends on what you consider normal. Sure, if someone poses for the camera, focuses hard, on an even surface and with a moderate lengthening amount then yes you can make it look decent. I can walk a short distance without you noticing that I had limb lengthening. I can even do a moonwalk, walk a few stairs, but all of this is a mere fraction of what I consider normal. Normal for me is to be able to walk just the way I did before surgery, on any surface, for the same duration.

I know you all want to be optimists and think this is done within months, but it's just not true. I am telling you this as someone who objectively speaking had very few issues.

I don't want to be optimistic , i honestly want to know what to expect to not fall into a deep frustration if at let's say 5 months post op, with conservative lengthening, I still feel so weird .
How does it feel tho?
Is it like after n intense leg workout as a beginner ?
That kind of muscle pain or more like bone pain ?
I'm talking about the post distraction phase; I can't find any usefull feedback on this regard .
No one really talks deeply about how it feels post distractions with a wb nail .

[DonBones]

I don't want to be optimistic , i honestly want to know what to expect to not fall into a deep frustration if at let's say 5 months post op, with conservative lengthening, I still feel so weird .
How does it feel tho?
Is it like after n intense leg workout as a beginner ?
That kind of muscle pain or more like bone pain ?
I'm talking about the post distraction phase; I can't find any usefull feedback on this regard .
No one really talks deeply about how it feels post distractions with a wb nail .

I personally feel no pain in my left leg, but there is sometimes an ache in my right. It's not really like anything I've felt before because stretching your soft tissues by two inches isn't like anything I'd ever do to it under normal circumstances.

My muscles on both legs are still tense and even though I don't have wide legs I tend to have a shaky walk when I don't specifically focus on walking straight (e.g. during physio) because my glutes are still weaker than before surgery.

It takes time for the body to adapt. Two inches of extra muscle, tendons, blood vessels and bone takes a very long time to build. If you look up a conventional fracture, you will see that it will take about 6 weeks to heal (i.e. for remodelling to start). The gap that has to heal in that case is about 1mm if even that. After that you will usually need many more weeks of physio.

I would be utterly naive to believe that a gap of 5cm or more (i.e. 50 times the amount of a normal fracture or more) would heal in barely three to four times the amount of time, and you could then just walk away "normally". The truth is, leg lengthening takes years.

[ReadRothbard]

I personally feel no pain in my left leg, but there is sometimes an ache in my right. It's not really like anything I've felt before because stretching your soft tissues by two inches isn't like anything I'd ever do to it under normal circumstances.

My muscles on both legs are still tense and even though I don't have wide legs I tend to have a shaky walk when I don't specifically focus on walking straight (e.g. during physio) because my glutes are still weaker than before surgery.

It takes time for the body to adapt. Two inches of extra muscle, tendons, blood vessels and bone takes a very long time to build. If you look up a conventional fracture, you will see that it will take about 6 weeks to heal (i.e. for remodelling to start). The gap that has to heal in that case is about 1mm if even that. After that you will usually need many more weeks of physio.

I would be utterly naive to believe that a gap of 5cm or more (i.e. 50 times the amount of a normal fracture or more) would heal in barely three to four times the amount of time, and you could then just walk away "normally". The truth is, leg lengthening takes years.

How is your walking, running, etc. now?

[zaozari]

Old school says it's about the double of the time to lenghten to consolidate. For example, if you lenghten 1 mm a day constantly to achieve 5 cm (50 days) , you would take further 100 days to consolidate. But currently surgeons specially not using externals and depending on all the biological response, tend to lenghten often slower and be more cautious before allowing full weight bearing by bone alone.
THEN, you'll have to keep physiotherapy and "learn" to walk again (it seems that this part varies widely among different people).
One of the things I'm learning here and elsewhere is: ANTICIPATE FRUSTRATION and prepare for PHYSIOTHERAPY, PHYSIOTHERAPY, PHYSIOTHERAPY. No worrying all the time, no crying, no panic, ..."No time to die" (007) :-)

[6CMFemurs]

Had surgery in January, finished lengthening in March and was totally fine by Summer. A pretty rowdy July 4th weekend comes to mind

[DonBones]

Old school says it's about the double of the time to lenghten to consolidate. For example, if you lenghten 1 mm a day constantly to achieve 5 cm (50 days) , you would take further 100 days to consolidate. But currently surgeons specially not using externals and depending on all the biological response, tend to lenghten often slower and be more cautious before allowing full weight bearing by bone alone.
THEN, you'll have to keep physiotherapy and "learn" to walk again (it seems that this part varies widely among different people).
One of the things I'm learning here and elsewhere is: ANTICIPATE FRUSTRATION and prepare for PHYSIOTHERAPY, PHYSIOTHERAPY, PHYSIOTHERAPY. No worrying all the time, no crying, no panic, ..."No time to die" (007) :-)

So if you distract for only 5 days you’ll be all healed and happy in 15 days, yes?

I don’t mean to spoil any your aspirations. In fact I can reassure you that your height neurosis will be solved, but this stuff takes years to complete. Be vigilant when you read this “old school” maths.

[DonBones]

Had surgery in January, finished lengthening in March and was totally fine by Summer. A pretty rowdy July 4th weekend comes to mind

No offence bud, I just had a look at your posts and you literally still have to them nails in your legs. You also said you haven’t run for years post surgery and still aren’t at 100% a whole 8 years post surgery.

This really proves my point. You say the words “fine” and “rowdy” 4th July and what not and to the aspiring LLers it sounds like you danced all night and then ran a marathon the day after when the reality is likely much more reserved.

For the record I am also totally fine, but I won’t call myself recovered before I can walk 10km every day, run, jump, dance, help my wife carry heavy stuff and have these nails out, at least.

Again my advice to everyone, be extremely careful what you read and manage your expectations. This surgery is effective but it will take time. It’s not over by the time you finish lengthening. It’s not over by the time you can walk unaided.

[Masteryourlife]

No offence bud, I just had a look at your posts and you literally still have to them nails in your legs. You also said you haven’t run for years post surgery and still aren’t at 100% a whole 8 years post surgery.

This really proves my point. You say the words “fine” and “rowdy” 4th July and what not and to the aspiring LLers it sounds like you danced all night and then ran a marathon the day after when the reality is likely much more reserved.

For the record I am also totally fine, but I won’t call myself recovered before I can walk 10km every day, run, jump, dance, help my wife carry heavy stuff and have these nails out, at least.

Again my advice to everyone, be extremely careful what you read and manage your expectations. This surgery is effective but it will take time. It’s not over by the time you finish lengthening. It’s not over by the time you can walk unaided.

Thank you for your comments .
There is always a personal and physical individuality in this surgery but your pov makes the most sense .
I'm at your same starting height and aiming for little more then you (5.5 to 6 cm max) but its roughly the same stats n since I'm waiting for stryde ,the pov of a former wb patient with same height n almost same goal its gold for me so thank u.

[zaozari]

So if you distract for only 5 days you’ll be all healed and happy in 15 days, yes?
I don’t mean to spoil any your aspirations. In fact I can reassure you that your height neurosis will be solved, but this stuff takes years to complete. Be vigilant when you read this “old school” maths.

I don't understand you. Maybe because you probably didn't understood me.
Why would I distract during 5 days to achieve 0,5 cm of lenghtening and theoretically 10 days more to consolidate?! I repeat everything I wrote: around 3 days for lenghtening and first degree consolidation of 1mm of bone, not "healed and happy" definitly. Just search. The fact that your are already doing LL doesn't make you an expert over decades of clinical practice and articles. Are you just bluntly stupid?
I answered what the person asked in the post and my answer was similar to others. I didn't even provide a forecast, I said he would have to LEARN AGAIN HOW TO WALK and that responses to that vary widely among diferent people. Total biomechamics and physiological recovery may even never be achieved.
Maybe you could tell us what is your "several years" forecast: 2 years, 5 years  10 years?
I also kindly ask you to respect what I share here in the forum. My neurosis has nothing to do with the post or my answer to the question Your comment is rude out of context. We are talking about bone lenghtening and consolidation here and now.
Take care of YOUR OWN NEUROSIS (didn't you know you also have one??), learn manners and sensibility, if you don't want to add more inches just of stupidity.

[6CMFemurs]

No offence bud, I just had a look at your posts and you literally still have to them nails in your legs. You also said you haven’t run for years post surgery and still aren’t at 100% a whole 8 years post surgery.

This really proves my point. You say the words “fine” and “rowdy” 4th July and what not and to the aspiring LLers it sounds like you danced all night and then ran a marathon the day after when the reality is likely much more reserved.

For the record I am also totally fine, but I won’t call myself recovered before I can walk 10km every day, run, jump, dance, help my wife carry heavy stuff and have these nails out, at least.

Again my advice to everyone, be extremely careful what you read and manage your expectations. This surgery is effective but it will take time. It’s not over by the time you finish lengthening. It’s not over by the time you can walk unaided.

Lol, I didn't run because I wanted to leave option of relengthening nail. Once I started running years later, I recovered pretty well. Maybe I am not as fast sprinting as I was when I was 21 at age 30, but I could smoke many of my friends my age running now, I hike 10 KM at a fast pace on a weekly basis and worked many physical jobs that require me carrying very heavy things all throughout University, even with the nails in. The question was when could I walk normally, and I was more than fine by the summer. Also, to be fair I never danced all night and then ran a marathon the next day even before LL, only a 10 Km for a charity event that our officer in the army forced us to run

[6CMFemurs]

Lol, I didn't run because I wanted to leave option of relengthening nail. Once I started running years later, I recovered pretty well. Maybe I am not as fast sprinting as I was when I was 21 at age 30, but I could smoke many of my friends my age running now, I hike 10 KM at a fast pace on a weekly basis and worked many physical jobs that require me carrying very heavy things all throughout University, even with the nails in. The question was when could I walk normally, and I was more than fine by the summer. Also, to be fair I never danced all night and then ran a marathon the next day even before LL, only a 10 Km for a charity event that our officer in the army forced us to run

[DonBones]

Thank you for your comments .
There is always a personal and physical individuality in this surgery but your pov makes the most sense .
I'm at your same starting height and aiming for little more then you (5.5 to 6 cm max) but its roughly the same stats n since I'm waiting for stryde ,the pov of a former wb patient with same height n almost same goal its gold for me so thank u.

You’re welcome. Good luck and take care 🤞🏻

[SuchLL]

I did 8 cm femurs with stryde nails and my gait was perfect just two months after stopping lengthening. However only I knew my legs felt heavy and not exact same as pre op. After another month my legs felt normal, but it’s a bit heavy to walk downstairs, no problems with upstairs though. I didn’t pay attention when that heaviness feeling was completely gone but it probably took another month. So for me it took 2 months to walk normally and another 2 months to feel completely normal. I’ve seen one person who also did 8 cm femurs and walked with limp two months after stopping lengthening. I’ve also seen one person who walked with limp even a year after lengthening… I think it’s hard to predict how fast you will be recovering because everyone’s experience can be so different.

[zaozari]

I did 8 cm femurs with stryde nails and my gait was perfect just two months after stopping lengthening. However only I knew my legs felt heavy and not exact same as pre op. After another month my legs felt normal, but it’s a bit heavy to walk downstairs, no problems with upstairs though. I didn’t pay attention when that heaviness feeling was completely gone but it probably took another month. So for me it took 2 months to walk normally and another 2 months to feel completely normal. I’ve seen one person who also did 8 cm femurs and walked with limp two months after stopping lengthening. I’ve also seen one person who walked with limp even a year after lengthening… I think it’s hard to predict how fast you will be recovering because everyone’s experience can be so different.

Congratulations for it has been so smooth!
What is the minimum time you have been told and still need to keep the nails in your legs?

[BelowTheMean]

I was on the slower side of recovery too. I thought I was walking pretty normal 3 months post-lengthening, but I really wasn’t. I found out later that people had suspicions about my walk and internally I felt that it wasn’t great either.

I’d give it more like 5-6 months for a normal walk, and that’s while focusing on my legs during the walk.

[DonBones]

It seems like the lack of a standard for words like "normal" is an issue. Since I had a dozen or so people PM me I want to share a video of what you can expect at 5 months post surgery with Betzbone, without IT Band release.

I hope the link works. Let me know if it does and I can upload more.

https://imgur.com/a/MLvzySF

What I can't do very well is walk on uneven surfaces. When we went to Tenerife 2 weeks post lengthening I had some trouble walking on the sand for instance or walking up and down in a mountainous region. So yeah, I can walk comfortably in my flat and at work, but imo "normal" means so much more and I have a long way to go yet.

I don't know about Stryde or Precise, maybe people recover much faster. Also people who do IT Band release maybe have fewer issues.

[justme11]

It seems like the lack of a standard for words like "normal" is an issue. Since I had a dozen or so people PM me I want to share a video of what you can expect at 5 months post surgery with Betzbone, without IT Band release.

I hope the link works. Let me know if it does and I can upload more.

https://imgur.com/a/MLvzySF

What I can't do very well is walk on uneven surfaces. When we went to Tenerife 2 weeks post lengthening I had some trouble walking on the sand for instance or walking up and down in a mountainous region. So yeah, I can walk comfortably in my flat and at work, but imo "normal" means so much more and I have a long way to go yet.

I don't know about Stryde or Precise, maybe people recover much faster. Also people who do IT Band release maybe have fewer issues.

Yeah the link works for sure. And I see what you're saying. You've obviously made tremendous progress! Please do upload more if you can.

[SuchLL]

Congratulations for it has been so smooth!
What is the minimum time you have been told and still need to keep the nails in your legs?

Thanks! That was 2020. I could remove them 9 months post lengthening based on my xrays, but I did tibias a year later so I decided to wait and remove all nails all together at the end of this year.

[SuchLL]

I was on the slower side of recovery too. I thought I was walking pretty normal 3 months post-lengthening, but I really wasn’t. I found out later that people had suspicions about my walk and internally I felt that it wasn’t great either.

I’d give it more like 5-6 months for a normal walk, and that’s while focusing on my legs during the walk.

After I went through the procedure and my mom watched me go through the procedure, both of us started to notice there’re many people who aren’t walking quite normal… including my dad. We both think he walks like a duck with a bit duck feet which is something we never thought before…

I think 5-6 months isn’t slow. When I just finished lengthening my doctor’s prediction for normal walk was 1 year. Any time shorter than 1 year is probably good recovery for 8 cm.

[zaozari]

Thanks! That was 2020. I could remove them 9 months post lengthening based on my xrays, but I did tibias a year later so I decided to wait and remove all nails all together at the end of this year.

Thanks for your feedback. Hope everything goes ok and would love to hear about when you remove your nails (all four at once? They say it's a relatively simple procedure, at least in femurs).
I wish that day will be like "liberation day" for you and you will be physiologically 100% or at least requiring no more than some additional physiotherapy.

[pharmacology]

It seems like the lack of a standard for words like "normal" is an issue. Since I had a dozen or so people PM me I want to share a video of what you can expect at 5 months post surgery with Betzbone, without IT Band release.

I hope the link works. Let me know if it does and I can upload more.

https://imgur.com/a/MLvzySF

What I can't do very well is walk on uneven surfaces. When we went to Tenerife 2 weeks post lengthening I had some trouble walking on the sand for instance or walking up and down in a mountainous region. So yeah, I can walk comfortably in my flat and at work, but imo "normal" means so much more and I have a long way to go yet.

I don't know about Stryde or Precise, maybe people recover much faster. Also people who do IT Band release maybe have fewer issues.

Wow your gait looks amazing, this is my goal 3-4 months post length

[SuchLL]

Thanks for your feedback. Hope everything goes ok and would love to hear about when you remove your nails (all four at once? They say it's a relatively simple procedure, at least in femurs).
I wish that day will be like "liberation day" for you and you will be physiologically 100% or at least requiring no more than some additional physiotherapy.

Thanks for the kind wishes! I stopped going to physiotherapy as soon as I stopped lengthening, but I’m stretching at home. Stretching is my habit and I do it no matter my muscles are tight or not  Most people who lengthened both segments chose to remove all nails at once. I could remove the nails in femurs during tibia surgery. I decided to keep them because I didn’t want any pain or swelling on upper legs to cause troubles for tibia lengthening and physiotherapy. (Swelling from LL surgeries usually last at least 3 weeks).

[AllinStryde]

Walking normal...as in up and down stairs, uneven terrain, inclines and declines...as if I had never had CLL done...I would say it took me nearly 2 years, honestly.  I could have probably reached normal-status earlier with some extra work at the gym.  But if you just let it take its course and heal up and regain muscle without going to the gym., I'd say 1.5 to 2 years post distraction.

[HateLAPELoveSTEM]

It depends on your own body and the lengthening method, as well as post-surgery caregivings, medications, your devotions into doing exercises, etc.

[zaozari]

Now after the ex "Sorcerer" changed the nickname to "PET" he's creating a double profile or changing the nickname again two days after the new "PET": Now the forum cancer is called "ManWithLeukemia". You're really sick, kid. And dishonest by trying to create confusion and disguising identities for all users.

You don't respect this forum, you don't respect people with severe diseases and you don't respect anybody shorter than 162 cm.

Don't forget you truly also need psychotherapy. Your body dysphoria is severe, you run the risk of crossing the psychotic border. You just don't accept your future without 16 cm lenghtening. You're in a path of self inflicted tragedy.

Or maybe you just need to go *uck yourself and go back to your cherished Redit