Hey everyone,
Coming on here to update.
I am now literally 5 hours post bilateral tibia and femur removal. Before I get into that, I want to reflect a bit.
I started my LL journey 2 years ago starting with my femurs and then followed by tibias a year later.
The entire experience was more than just gaining height, it’s one of personal growth and maturity. I feel strongly that I’m a different person mentally before and after the surgery - not
to mention the lifelong friends I made. I no longer think about my height and my confidence level is through the roof. Small things that used to bother or annoy me no longer does. My mind is at complete peace. Before this LL journey, I remember at social gatherings, the day of the gathering would ultimately end that night about me thinking how short I was and how much it sucked.
Before the removal procedure today, from a walking and “normalized gait” wise perspective, my right leg was easily at 100% but my left leg was about 90%. On the left side I felt tight in my gluteals which contributed to a slight limp when I over used it. Right leg on the other hand felt completely normal.
I’m hoping that the left leg soreness is due to a screw from the rod sticking out and rubbing on the muscle, only time will tell. Regardless if it’s not, I know I’ll have to stretch my left leg a lot for it to catch up.
Now back to the removal. I decided to finally schedule the removal for many reasons including free time in my schedule, the curiosity of whether or not rod removal would take away my left gluteal soreness, the thought of metal leaking into my blood, and last, how annoying it would be to enter through airport security and have it go off. It made traveling with people who didn’t know I had this procedure look at me funny whenever they scanned my legs and it went off.
I had my pre op consult on 3/5/2021 and indeed it was found on X-ray that I had the bone thickening/corrosion of the rod issue that’s been a hot topic for the Stryde nail that ultimately led to its recall. I was ensured by Dr. Robbins that this had no long term consequences but they’re pulling it because they don’t know what’s causing the bone to react this way.
For me, I’m just super happy to finally get it out given that I’m a bit OCD when it comes to my health.
The removal process itself was as follow.
The night before mood wise was 70% excited that it’s finally going to be all over and 30% nervous because of the thought of going under surgery again.
Checked in at 6am, signed a bunch of paperwork, and the receptionist confirmed that I had someone taking care of me afterwards. Mood wise now 95% relaxed and 5% nervous, likely because it’s finally hitting me and me remember that this procedure is a lot less invasive, and a same day procedure in that I am literally going to walk out of the center without any aid.
7:30am I’m in pre op now, all shaved and changed into a gown. They said I’d be in about 30 more minutes so she gave me a little bit of versed to get me relaxed. Boy does this medication hit fast and it’s amazing. Wished I could get more. I think I got 0.5mg
7:45 - looks like it’s show time for me and the nurse came back and hit me with the rest of 1.5mg. I’m on cloud 9
5:00pm - back at hotel. So happy it’s all over!!! I woke up around 1-2pm. The pain is no joke. My tibia pain is fine but my femurs / hip incision sites is super painful. I needed crutches to actually leave and have them with me. I don’t know how others did this without crutches the first day. I’ve been in bed since getting back to hotel. It’s really sore type of pain more than anything else. I think it’ll be 2-3 days before I feel comfortable being alone. Definitely have someone be there to help you!! Call me dramatic but I asked for a urinal bottle so I don’t have to get up to go to the bathroom 😅 anyways so happy the journey is coming to an end ready to start my next chapter or heavily working out, getting scars removed, and getting in the best shape of my life.
More updates soon as I recover.
I want to also take a moment to thank this forum. Couldn’t have known about this procedure without this forum or even considered doing it without others diaries. I hope my diary will help someone else in a similar situation. And also, one recommendation, I had a really Positive experience with Dr. Paley and Robbins and team. If you can afford it, pay the premium to be safe. Even during the removal process they told me about all the issues that they encountered unique to stryde and that they aren’t concerned if it did occur.
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Topic: New Stryde Diary 2018 - with Dr. Paley (Read 28843 times)