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[OzBoy39]

Thank you Will.

Yes it does feel fantastic indeed. And at the same time, one thing that I believe many people who've gone through this and struggled a bit acquire is the appreciation for being healthy.
Anyhow, my X-rays 3 months into consolidation

https://imgur.com/a/Nw8UbSE

Takeaways are...
1. Bone is growing (slowly on my right leg)
2. One of the screws near my right knee has bent. Doc says not to worry too much but I need to take it easy with walking and excercising in general.
3. Nails are ever so slightly bent too. Nothing to worry about but it shows that a regime of 3000 to 5000 steps a day Monday to Friday and about 5000 to 10000 on weekends can I reduce some potential fatigue in the hardware.

And he sort of guesstimate another 2 to 3 months to see a full consolidation in both legs.

The struggle continues but as mentioned at the beginning, the new height makes up for it everyday.

[OzzieRock]

Hey Ozboy, thanks so much for taking the time to contribute to this forum, wishing you all the best in your recovery.
As a fellow Australian, any specific advice or issues in getting the surgery done? How were the long distance flights to and from Europe, getting through the airports, I’m assuming exchange rates led to increase costs, have you found a local doctor to work with while back in aus?  etc.

I’m getting surgery start of 2024 but it just seems like alot more issues to consider being from Australia…

[OzBoy39]

Hey buddy,

Thanks for that.
My first advice we come from such far a distance is to do whatever you can to book a biz class return flight.

Getting through airports was kind of a breeze when you're on a wheelchair. At each airport the staff were super helpful and carried me and my luggage around. I had zero problems  there.

Re the exchange rate i do remember that by the time you converted your expenses from EUR to AUD things started to get  expensive, but  we are indeed spending about 100K overall so... Not a big deal overall

I am only working with my GP and a general physiotherapist. None of them had any prior experience or exposure to LL.
 
The GP role is kind of a supporting role. He got the report from the doc from Greece and then just kept monitoring me throughout the months. Physio is just tailoring and adjusting standard rehab routines to my condition after reading and researching about it. So 0verall no big dramas.

After doing the same routine day in day out in Greece for more than 3 months, you sort of become the expert of your body and already know what you should and shouldn't do.

So yeah, i wouldn't stress much about the distance.
Where are you planning on doing it?

[Kanye Western]

Hey Oz,

Life back to pretty much normal now? When you planning on taking out nail?

Also, were you able to walk quite well after 3 weeks post OP?

[OzBoy39]

Hi Kanye,

Sort of. When I say normal i mean i can operate more or less normally without having to rely on crutches... However, right now I have the agility and strength of a sedentary 90 yr old.

My Xrays are looking good where the bone ends have finally reached each other but they aren't yet calcified.
Doc estimated another 2 to 3 months for full consolidation (my bones have been slow growing from day one).

I definitely couldn't walk normally 3 weeks after lengthening. Even now i don't walk "normal". I can walk, but it's noticeable by everybody that i got some issue going on.

It's improving on a weekly basis but slowly. If I push too hard with walking or exercising, i get really sore.

So yeah, still going through the process, but life as in the basic daily functions are back to normal.

[OzzieRock]

Very helpful man, thanks so much for your reply. Thanks for sharing with everyone too. I was planning to do through Donghoon lee in South Korea due to travel distance being less, but your diary is potentially changing my mind as Donghoon is booked out for ages. I was worried about the long flight back from Europe or US but seems like you navigated that pretty well. Note I’m only doing 4cm (I 100% know that is enough for me and all I need), so my recovery should hopefully be a little quicker.
I’m from Melbourne by the way. Great to hear another aussies journey…. Please continually keep us updated. Thanks again

[OzBoy39]

Good to hear. Glad if I can help with my experience.
Man, 4 cm is a little over a month of lengthening. Not even the time to enjoy Greece lol.

Yeah I'm sure you'll be much quicker in recovering.

[p00293]

I can't imagine 'enjoying Greece' while lengthening tbh. Now I might have a skewed perspective as I only completed surgery last week but the idea of going out sightseeing etc seems so far off from my reality right now...it takes all my strength just to get to the PT sessions, do my stretches, click, and just general surviving as a guy without any use of his legs where even basic tasks takes 10x as long as they did before.

Does it get any better? :S Don't get me wrong I'm still glad to be doing the surgery but when I hear people talking about going out to restaurants, bars, the beach etc I just can't imagine it...

[OzBoy39]

Sure it gets better. You only 1 week post op. You're in the midst of the worst time period. I'm sure in a couple of weeks from now you'll start to think differently.

Provided you're on a gnail. If you're on precise...well then you're stuck on a wheel chair for a few months

[p00293]

Sure it gets better. You only 1 week post op. You're in the midst of the worst time period. I'm sure in a couple of weeks from now you'll start to think differently.

Provided you're on a gnail. If you're on precise...well then you're stuck on a wheel chair for a few months

Yeah I'm on gnail. Clicking on the left leg is extremely painful and I've never managed to do that by myself, need the nurse to come help me.

Then I see people posting they do all 15 clicks in a few mins with no pain and then hit the beach after, feels like a different world. I guess I'll just hope it gets better!

[OzBoy39]

If it helps try go watch the videos i made on page 2 or 3...
I had problems clicking with what the nurses call "conventional" technique with your legs spread on a pillow and you pushing the knee down. It never worked for me.

Then i worked onto he clicking myself and changed  to a different technique which made clicking super easy. Check the videos and perhaps try for yourself.
Slowly....very slowly is the key to avoid pain.

Plus it's only the first week. It indeed is painful. But it gets way better.

[p00293]

If it helps try go watch the videos i made on page 2 or 3...
I had problems clicking with what the nurses call "conventional" technique with your legs spread on a pillow and you pushing the knee down. It never worked for me.

Then i worked onto he clicking myself and changed  to a different technique which made clicking super easy. Check the videos and perhaps try for yourself.
Slowly....very slowly is the key to avoid pain.

Plus it's only the first week. It indeed is painful. But it gets way better.

Just tried your video. Managed to click my right leg by myself although that's always been the easier leg (still, first time I've clicked alone, so that's progress!).

Left leg still hit a wall of resistance and pain.

Do you know if the Dr will provide stronger pain meds to get over this initial clicking period? Or if there's some backup plan in these cases where the clicking causes immense pain? At this point I'd be quite happy for them to just sedate me and click my left leg while I'm asleep...would that option be entertained? I guess the nurses that visit would be able to do the injection if so?

[OzBoy39]

Where is the pain? Hip and groin area? And also, is the pain occurring whilst trying to reach the clicking point or is it painful when it clicks?

If the first, try easing into the rotation very...very slowly.  I mean... Really slooowllly.

Start twisting, and as soon as it starts hurting a little bit.... Hold it right there in that spot of initial pain for 20, 30seconds...as long as it takes for the pain to subside. Then push a little further and stop as soon as you feel pain again...repeat until it clicks.

In 90% Of cases this pain is due to the muscles fighting that movement... As if you were trying to do a split. If you're able to relax, the muscles will let go. For me... It was a matter of holding the leg for ages twisted at an angle where I felt a level of pain that I could tolerate...and then progressing when the pain goes down.

Also watch your femur and how it rotates. Sometimes I was just in a wrong angle and not really rotating the femur (imagine the nail into the bone and try to follow it's axis).

In any case, i did hear about some patient having to be sedated for some clicking session but i think it's quite an extreme case. Ask the doctor or the nurses. See what they think.

Please try the approach above. That is what did it for me. Slow...super slow, advance millimeters at a time...

 

[p00293]

Where is the pain? Hip and groin area? And also, is the pain occurring whilst trying to reach the clicking point or is it painful when it clicks?

If the first, try easing into the rotation very...very slowly.  I mean... Really slooowllly.

Start twisting, and as soon as it starts hurting a little bit.... Hold it right there in that spot of initial pain for 20, 30seconds...as long as it takes for the pain to subside. Then push a little further and stop as soon as you feel pain again...repeat until it clicks.

In 90% Of cases this pain is due to the muscles fighting that movement... As if you were trying to do a split. If you're able to relax, the muscles will let go. For me... It was a matter of holding the leg for ages twisted at an angle where I felt a level of pain that I could tolerate...and then progressing when the pain goes down.

Also watch your femur and how it rotates. Sometimes I was just in a wrong angle and not really rotating the femur (imagine the nail into the bone and try to follow it's axis).

In any case, i did hear about some patient having to be sedated for some clicking session but i think it's quite an extreme case. Ask the doctor or the nurses. See what they think.

Please try the approach above. That is what did it for me. Slow...super slow, advance millimeters at a time...

 

Thanks a ton. Just managed a click on the difficult leg by myself. Yeah, the pain was in the groin area - I did what you suggested and just went super super slow.

15 of those a day will definitely suck but at least I know its possible now! Feeling more optimistic now than before.

[OzBoy39]

In a week or 2 this'll be super easy! For some reason as you get used to it and time passes your body seems to relax and allow to reach the clicking point so much easier.
Almost too easy. You'll see what I mean.
Anyway glad that worked. Good luck on the journey ahead

[p00293]

In a week or 2 this'll be super easy! For some reason as you get used to it and time passes your body seems to relax and allow to reach the clicking point so much easier.
Almost too easy. You'll see what I mean.
Anyway glad that worked. Good luck on the journey ahead

Yeah done 2 days of 15 clicks now, it's way way easier than before.

You should get that new technique patented or something, lol. It's a lifesaver!

[OzBoy39]

I should get a dollar for each click done in that way...
I'd be a millionaire in a few months... And taller lol!!!

[Will955]

Hey OzBoy, how are you holding up?

How much have you lengthened by now? And how are you feeling about this new height?

Any hiccups or other info you wanna share?


Hope all is good. Cheers

[OzBoy39]

Hi Will,

Well as per many other diaries, I too  have lost a bit of drive  about updating the diary. Apologies for that.

I did lengthen about 8.2cm but I was done with the clicking around mid December last year. 172cm now. (Easily 175cm with shoes).

Fast forward 6 months to today and ...

I haven't recovered yet. I walk without crutches, but still with a limp, with difficulty, and if I walk too much, with pain.

I can't sit below 50cm without helping me with my hands, let alone squatting and I have the last little bit of duck ass lingering...which contributes to my walk hips saying..

I would say that compared to my "athletic" ability presurgery, i am at about 30%

The progress is constant but extremely slow. And it gets frustrating at times.  You really gotta stay super patient.

Plus I'm not doing a great job stretching as I have to take care of 2 businesses and a kid.

However, my bones have joined and i hope in 4 weeks (next x-ray) i can see some good calcification going on. Progress for me has really started to pickup in the last few months where my bones have started joining. I'm not sure but i think that has a lot to do with the recovery.

The new height is super great. It makes all these struggles bearable. I feel good with myself. I meet with people who were taller than me and looked good... And now I am taller than them.

Not much else to be honest. It is a long ride that's for sure. For all the ones out there who haven't done it. Do not kid yourself. 3 months ain't gonna cut it. Some lucky people manage to do it in a very short time, but the majority of us need about 1 year to get back to a somewhat normal walking.

With this, until next x-ray (or until i manage my first body squat), keep grinding. I'm out!

[akali]

Thank you for the detailed diary. I’m really happy for you! Makes me happy to see you enjoying your taller height 

[hippo60]

Not much else to be honest. It is a long ride that's for sure. For all the ones out there who haven't done it. Do not kid yourself. 3 months ain't gonna cut it. Some lucky people manage to do it in a very short time, but the majority of us need about 1 year to get back to a somewhat normal walking.

With this, until next x-ray (or until i manage my first body squat), keep grinding. I'm out!

Thanks for the update man! What does your doctor think about your progress? Is he surprised? I know stretching is painful but it's important to keep doing it after lengthening as well (I just finished lengthening myself). I know easier said than done..are you at least doing some PT?

And I'm glad you mentioned 3 months ain't gonna cut it. I think way too many people here are in delusions about that. Even if you spend a lot of time on rehab and able to recover faster, it still takes time to recover. Hope your next x-rays are good!

One last thing. I saw you help p00293 earlier in the thread. I know you haven't spent much time here lately but I strongly suggest you spend 5 minutes to quickly skim through some of his posts. He's been a gigantic jerk, lashing out on anyone who would question anything he says, and driving away good people from this forum. He definitely doesn't deserve any help from us, he should spend his LL suffering alone.

[p00293]

This nonce hippo is following me around the forum, angry after the mods told him to fk off when he started bleating for his safe space. Pay him no mind, the police will hopefully be taking him away soon.

[OzBoy39]

Guys... Stop it!
What's the f.....g point of going at each other. We're all in the same boat here! All with the same problem. All strong  people I'd like to say who went through or are about to go through some crazy surgery to improve their life.

Whatever the reason you 2 are bitching about each other, it ain't worth it.

Anyway, doctor keep telling me that my recovery is average. If I were to do stretching regularly, right now i would probably feel much much closer to a normal walking person. Yes,  im doing PTregularly twice a week but not much else aside that.

But things have improved drastically in the last few weeks and i believe it's really something that has to do with my consolidation finally happening...

We'll see what the next few weeks bring us

[youyin12]

Hi! Do you think less lengthening would speed up recovery and preserve more athleticism? For example, 5-6cm on femurs.

[OzBoy39]

Yes, 100%

[jerrytheman]

Hi! Do you think less lengthening would speed up recovery and preserve more athleticism? For example, 5-6cm on femurs.

What is the actual logic in this question? You asked this on multiple forum posts.

I mean Do you think less lengthening would speed up recovery and preserve more athleticism? For example, 1-2cm on femurs? or do you think 9-10cm will be quicker to recover? Cmon man

[sphenopetroclival]

Hi Everyone,

I've been reading pretty much all of you in this forum since I decided to jump in and book my surgery and I must thank each and everyone of you who posted their experiences, the details of PT, surgery, hospitals, doctors. You've been an incredible source of information.

Also a big shout out to Vic from @Cyborg4Life. He is th hero among us and deserves all the success he can get.

In about 2 weeks time (Aug 24th) I'll go for a bilateral femoral lengthening through G-Nail with Dr. Giotikas in Athens.

I have explored various options before this but the combination of being a weight bearing nail (although with a gruesome  ratcheting mechanism lol), the package that Dr. G. offers (they include full PT in the cost... that's quite good), his reputation and overall the "vibe" of competence that I got in my 1 hour consultation with him convinced me that he is the right option. Ah.. and the location. You can't beat Greece in summertime.

I'll be staying at the Novotel in Athens, which is the closest hotel to the PT centre with all the amenities i was looking for (gym, pool, various restaurants...big breakfast...).  If anyone is staying there too, please reach out and we can grab a few drinks together.

I thought I start this diary to share my experience, the goods, the bads... the ugly (hopefully not) and the achievements and get in return some much needed support from people that understand what most of us are driven from when going through this.

A bit of background. 38 years old, 164cm, 64Kg caucasian male. Live in Australia with my wife and an amazing kid (the real pain here is to leave him for about 2 months but my wife has been supportive of this from day one. Nobody else knows about this. Not my family  not my friends. This is a solo journey and I'm lucky I can actually afford it (money and time).

About my current build... I'm fairly athletic and in good shape. Use to go hard-core to crossfit gym until 6-7 months ago when I literally stopped doing lower body hypertrophy sessions and only concentrated on stretching.

I still kept my upper body routine somewhat but just in order to.. maintain. I believe that will help heaps during lengthening to be able to move around. I did lose a lot of cardio stamina though as i havent been going to classes sonce then.

On the other hand, my flexibility gains have been quite satisfying. I'm at a point where as far as hamstrings go, I can easily go palms to ground with my elbow bended somewhat. On  the hip flexor side, I can't quite gauge how flexible they are but I've been concentrating most of my efforts on those recently as I understand and I feel they will be key to success and are notoriously harder to stretch than the hammies.

What are my goals?
Well, I set myself a 3 tiered goal. I'd like to aim at a minimum of 7cm as tier1, which will make me happy as ill get closer to average (and with shoes i should reach close to 175cm), but if I feel good the ideal goal would be between 8-9cm.

If then things progress better than I expect (Im not holding my breadth here) I would venture the double digit goal as my ultimate target. Yes I understand this is risky and all that and I do appreciate everyone providing comments to other patient to don't risk a healthy body for an extra cm. I'll see how thing go and follow the Doctor's and PT's advise when I'm there.

Other than this, I hope I can manage to squeeze in some trip around Athens as I believe this time of the year the weather should be awesome (I like hot sweaty climates).

Anyway, hope to be able to provide insights that will help other prospective patients, do don't shy away from questions.

Cheers
OzBoy

If you have recent imaging data please put it at this thread.

[thankscience]

Hey Ozboy, hope everything's going well. Did you use a stadiometer at all when you finished lengthening/have you measured your height? Slight duck ass aside, do you think you got a "real" full 8.2cm from the nail?

[OzBoy39]

No I didn't , but I'm pretty sure I still am about 1 cm shorter than I should be...  I still have some duck ass.

Yeah I think I got pretty much full height minus duck ass.
But I haven't really measured myself with a stadiometer.

[Will955]

No I didn't , but I'm pretty sure I still am about 1 cm shorter than I should be...  I still have some duck ass.

Yeah I think I got pretty much full height minus duck ass.
But I haven't really measured myself with a stadiometer.

Missing height seems to be a problem some people experience. But as you said, when your duck ass get better over time it might even itself out.

Giotikas is still the one I probably will go for. He seem very competent in his interviews.

The only thing I worry about is that one death case he had. But from what I remember it was a patient unwilling to cooperate with Giotikas? That person was also on the older side if I'm not mistaken. 


Thanks for keeping us updated with your story. Very inspiring as always.

[Bagga]

Missing height seems to be a problem some people experience. But as you said, when your duck ass get better over time it might even itself out.

Giotikas is still the one I probably will go for. He seem very competent in his interviews.

The only thing I worry about is that one death case he had. But from what I remember it was a patient unwilling to cooperate with Giotikas? That person was also on the older side if I'm not mistaken. 


Thanks for keeping us updated with your story. Very inspiring as always.

1. If you know nothing, dun wrote nonsense
2. The patient who died was not old and what u meant not co-operate with Giotikas. Who told u that?