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Author Topic: Looking to correct Arm Length Discrepancy with LL surgery  (Read 997 times)

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Armlet

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Looking to correct Arm Length Discrepancy with LL surgery
« on: December 12, 2022, 06:13:45 AM »

Hello everyone. I am new to this forum, and I understand that most people here are focused on getting LL on their legs for cosmetic stature increases, but I have a different situation that still relates to LL that hopefully someone here can help with. This forum seems like the right place for this. Bear with me a bit, this post is going to be a little long.


I am a 22 y/o male that lives in the USA. I'll start with some background in case the info might help. This part is about the cause of the discrepancy and a previous surgery on my right shoulder that is related. My right arm is approximately two inches/5.08 cm shorter than my left arm, give or take a little. I first noticed it when I was around 13 years old in 2014 so I have no idea when the discrepancy first formed. I showed my parents and that began a year-long process of visiting a handful of doctors and getting referred to an orthopedic surgeon who I would have sessions with for several months. My right arm being stunted wasn't the only thing going on. I could only raise my humorous to where it was perpendicular to the rest of my body, and that is what my parents and doctor were primarily concerned about. The range of motion on my right arm was so limited, it could be considered a disability. Fast forwarding to December 2015, I got surgery that month to correct that issue after many sessions of x-rays and tests to figure out what was going on. It turned out that half of the growth plate in my right shoulder somehow "died" while the other half was still alive and attempted to grow normally. However, because it was half dead the bone grew the wrong way and formed a "shelf" of bone around my shoulder which prevented it from rotating all the way, which stunted my arm's growth completely. Meanwhile, my left arm and shoulder developed completely normally. My surgeons removed this bone shelf and another mass of tissue that they couldn't even identify. They also could not determine exactly what caused half the growth plate to die in the first place. After the surgery I regained most of my range of motion and my right-side muscles and bones became better aligned.

While I am grateful for their great work, the matter of my stunted right arm was still there. I asked about LL for my arm to make it match the left, but this was dismissed by the doctor as an unnecessary cosmetic endeavor. I was upset that they seemed so unconcerned by it, but I chose not to make a scene over the topic. In the present time, I am seriously considering LL to fix it more than ever. I have done tons of research on the topic of LL and most of the stuff out there is about cosmetic stature lengthening or leg length discrepancy correction. Material about arm LL or arm length discrepancy is almost impossible to come by because it's just that rare, and LLD is already rare. My ALD causes me problems that range from small inconveniences such as being unable to comfortably rest my elbows on tables to larger issues such as being unable to do many workouts safely (I tried getting into working out and it didn't go well) and not being able to quite reach what I'm doing at my job sometimes (more on that later). It also is just a huge self-esteem drain. I hate seeing it in the mirror since it is like a physical manifestation of my failure. My goal in getting LL for it would be to relieve all these sorts of issues.

This is where you guys come in. There is lots of general info about LL out there that I've seen plenty of times, so I have a basic idea of some things. Said info is related to legs however, so as I mentioned earlier I am hoping that someone here will be able to offer some guidance about arm LL as I can find almost nothing about my situation. I will go over my main concerns.


I want to know what to expect in terms of a recovery time. I work a full-time job that is physically active and requires lots of walking, reaching, lifting, bending, and other physical action. I will probably be unable to work for some time if I do this surgery. What, if any, difference does it make if I'm getting arm LL as opposed to leg LL? Is the recovery shorter and can I bear some at least some weight with the arm?

Does arm LL cost less than leg LL, especially since for me it would be one arm with one device? By the way, I'm hoping that they can use the internal Stryde nail device on my Humorous. On the topic of cost, I am willing to consider going abroad if there's a good doctor and I can save thousands of dollars.

Who are the best doctors for arm LL? I generally know who the LL doctors are but not who is the best choice for arm LL.


During the original surgery, a metal plate with about seven screws was fixed to my shoulder area and a little bit of the upper humorous. I believe it was to hold certain critical bones in place during surgery. This plate was never removed and I still have it in my arm today. Would that cause any trouble with trying to get LL? I'm worried it will add expense and time to the process.


Would insurance cover this? I strongly believe it can be argued as a functional issue rather than a cosmetic issue since I have discrepancy and it causes me the aforementioned issues. I'd be totally ecstatic to pay a much smaller out-of-pocket amount rather than the whole thing. To find out if MY insurance covers it, I probably have to just ask.

I wanted to include pics but it won't let me. I will answer any replies as soon as I can, I will be busy with work. Thanks everyone.

 
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Cyborg5life

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Re: Looking to correct Arm Length Discrepancy with LL surgery
« Reply #1 on: December 12, 2022, 06:28:50 AM »

Hey, sorry to hear that. Don't know much besides the fact that as you said cosmetic arm lengthening is way less common than CLL and that the general consensus is that the humerus is way safer to lengthen than the forearm. From what i understand your humerus was the problem area, but you should take a look in the mirror and see if only your left humerus is short or if both the humerus and forearms are short as well. The best case scenario would be you only requiring humerus surgery since it is rare but still done sometimes for cosmetic purposes, whereas cosmetic forearm lengthening is pretty much unheard of.
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boklecrt

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Re: Looking to correct Arm Length Discrepancy with LL surgery
« Reply #2 on: December 12, 2022, 07:55:28 AM »

unnecessary wall of text

what you do is you call

rozbruch
assayag
paley

and over the phone you speak to their assistants and tell them you have a doctor certified arm discrepancy and what are your options for fixing it with internal nail or external frame

rozbruch for sure does TSF frame on humerus as ive seen it on a photo in a recovery pdf of his. that would be your best method for invasiveness and precision but obviously who would want that shyte on their arm for 1 year during consolidation

about the insurance, yes this is by no means a cosmetic surgery but fixing a certified disability so it will MOST LIKELY be covered almost fully
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Armlet

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Re: Looking to correct Arm Length Discrepancy with LL surgery
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2022, 12:27:27 AM »

Yes, only my right humorous is stunted. Fortunately, both of my forearms are normal so I would only need humorous lengthening.

From what i understand your humerus was the problem area, but you should take a look in the mirror and see if only your left humerus is short or if both the humerus and forearms are short as well. The best case scenario would be you only requiring humerus surgery since it is rare but still done sometimes for cosmetic purposes, whereas cosmetic forearm lengthening is pretty much unheard of.
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Armlet

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Re: Looking to correct Arm Length Discrepancy with LL surgery
« Reply #4 on: December 13, 2022, 12:29:49 AM »

unnecessary wall of text

what you do is you call

rozbruch
assayag
paley

and over the phone you speak to their assistants and tell them you have a doctor certified arm discrepancy and what are your options for fixing it with internal nail or external frame

rozbruch for sure does TSF frame on humerus as ive seen it on a photo in a recovery pdf of his. that would be your best method for invasiveness and precision but obviously who would want that shyte on their arm for 1 year during consolidation

about the insurance, yes this is by no means a cosmetic surgery but fixing a certified disability so it will MOST LIKELY be covered almost fully

Thank you. I know it was long I just included extra info just in case it changes the outcome.
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Nounoush

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Re: Looking to correct Arm Length Discrepancy with LL surgery
« Reply #5 on: August 15, 2023, 06:07:40 PM »

Hey ! I have (or had) the same arm limb discrepancy as you. I live in France and one month ago, I have done my arm surgery (right humerus shorter 8 cm than the left). I have currently an external fixator on. Everything is going well for now. Plus, I have gained 2.5 cm since. Moreover, I will start my physiotherapy Monday because I have started to lost range of motion.

It’s awesome actually. I am not afraid about scars. They will slowly fade away over time and it’s nothing comparable to the joy to have the same arm and everything else ..

Feel free to contact me if I can help because I understand how you feel.
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Armlet

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Re: Looking to correct Arm Length Discrepancy with LL surgery
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2023, 03:35:53 PM »

Hello! Sorry for the late response. I would love to have a discussion about this with you. I would like to start by asking you, do you feel better mentally after having it done? I feel terrible about my discrepancy often.
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reaching_goals

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Re: Looking to correct Arm Length Discrepancy with LL surgery
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2023, 05:56:22 PM »

Hey, just wanted to let you know i just recently got my cll surgery with Paley Institute and they had a patient there who was getting this corrected. If i were you i would definitely contact them since they have so many patients there doing surgeries that aren't cosmetic related as well. Im sure insurance will cover this for you especially if you have great insurance.
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Armlet

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Re: Looking to correct Arm Length Discrepancy with LL surgery
« Reply #8 on: August 28, 2023, 02:02:12 AM »

Thanks for the insight. Were you by chance able to talk to them and learn about their experience?
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reaching_goals

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Re: Looking to correct Arm Length Discrepancy with LL surgery
« Reply #9 on: August 28, 2023, 01:41:57 PM »

No problem, unfortunately i wasn't able to.
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Armlet

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Re: Looking to correct Arm Length Discrepancy with LL surgery
« Reply #10 on: August 31, 2023, 03:52:57 AM »

That's ok. Since you said you were there for cll, can you tell me what your recovery process was like and your accommodations? I'd like an idea of what I might be getting into.
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mate10000w

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Re: Looking to correct Arm Length Discrepancy with LL surgery
« Reply #11 on: August 31, 2023, 06:57:56 AM »

What nail is often used on arm lengthening?
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