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[cheekycabs]

Summary
Age: 33/M/Canada
Starting height: 165 cm or 5 ft 5 in
Finishing height: 172 cm or 5 ft 7 in
Method: External Ilizarov
Country: Azerbaijan
Doctor: Dr. Bagirov / Dr. Babek
Duration: 5 days hospital, and then back home

September 27 - Surgery Day. No complications, the spinal block freaked me out and the sound of power tools and hammers. Stayed in the hospital 3 days, wasn't able to walk really. Sat up in bed and did knee motions, but that was all that I could handle.

October 1 - Sent home and was recovering on my own then. My girlfriend was helping me change bandages and go to the bathroom, I was just recovering, no motion or walking, just resting. I'm getting most of the information second hand as I don't speak the language and my girlfriend is relaying it. Had a small bit of bed sores, but nothing serious.

October 7 - First day doing lengthening, prescribed by the doctor to do quantity x 8 90 degree turns (apparently 2mm) for the first 2 days. Even today I am confused with the sizes, so on a #10 bolt, 2 notches would be a 90 degrees... I'll try and post a picture. Crazy painful. Was prescribed a trauma painkiller, various mineral pills, relaxation pills, was having a lot of issues sleeping at night. Feet were swelling.

October 17 - About 10 days into lengthening, and with the right combination of pain killers, I am able to walk. Was completely freaked out when my left ankle burst into about a cup of blood on the floor, it was swollen beforehand, so I had elevated it. My wounds look pretty gruesome, but the doctor has said it's not infected, I'm not sure I believe it.

October 23 - Finally seeing some good progress. Stretching a lot in bed when I can, working out with weights in bed, then taking a shot of painkillers and doing some walking with a walker. Even able to go up and down stairs! Went to the city and walked 600m in 2 hours, felt great to get out.

October 30 - Strangely tweaked my ankle some how, and it's been shooting pain and ruined my day completely. Wasn't able to sleep, had to take an injection, put me out of commission for at least 2 days, maybe more. My ankle is really, really numb and I'm not sure what to do now. I try walking on it but it feels like it's on fire.

So, all in all I'm a bit unsure. My left ankle may possibly be infected. My right ankle was tweaked from walking, and I'm not sure how to deal with it. I'm trying to do as much physiotherapy as possible, doing toe touches in bed to stretch my achilles. Sometimes a stiff breeze shoots pain into it. Also, I get some weird nerve tweaks in my ankles that just come up randomly.

Hopefully there's someone out there who's doing the same, and we can talk about it. Some days it's boring boring! First x-ray will be in a few days, I hope someone can tell me how much I've lengthened. It feels like 1.2cm, as I've done about 60 turns at 0.25mm a 90 degree bolt turn.

Not sure if these are infected...

https://imgur.com/nsks3i4

https://imgur.com/5K7Fj8C





I'm turning this bolt 2 red markers 3 times a day. So when the red marker crosses twice, this is 90 degrees. I'll try 3 turns each day, 0.75mm, but I'm not entirely sure if it's right.

https://imgur.com/AQKQUOW

[doomsday]

they are infected and you need antibiotics as soon as possible. You should not lengthen if a doctor is not near by to monitor  everything...

[cheekycabs]

You're sure about it? I have no problems walking on it, no pain specifically on that point either... The doctor has said to use just an antibiotic cream but no pills yet.

[doomsday]

if you have cream then it is ok. Follow your doctors recommendation.

[Bushguy]

Wow i think you are running lot of risks, i recomend you to do some xray to check if everything is ok.

[cheekycabs]

Could you elaborate which risks you think are mostly crucial? I'm always up for constructive criticism. My xray should be in the next few days, and I will definitely post it here.

[Bushguy]

Im not an expert, but leave hospital just 3 days after surgery...risks are high also, you are in Canadá and your doctor in Rusia, i mean if something happens (hope not) you are far away from him
Of course im not blaming you, just pointing something.

[cheekycabs]

I'm in Baku, Azerbaijan. I'm originally from Canada, but I live in Baku. I can go to the hospital tomorrow if I wanted... I'm not in the hospital but the doctor has said I can leave after a few days, and just check in with problems. I am staying at my own apartment doing lengthening and recovering.

[cheekycabs]

My right ankle is really painful, as I can barely walk on it. Made it about 2 meters before having to quit.

I have a feeling it may be a sprain/muscle tear, but I am not sure how to tell. One thing for sure, is it is always painful, lying down or not. I couldn't sleep with it.

I had a sudden shock on my ankle 2 days ago when going up some stairs, so I feel that could be it. So, I asked my doctor about taking pill antibiotics, he's told me that I don't need to use it unless I have a fever.

Right now my ankle is just elevated and iced, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed this fixes it. Can anyone offer advice?

[fivetenneeded2016]

Summary
Age: 33/M/Canada
Starting height: 165 cm or 5 ft 5 in
Finishing height: 172 cm or 5 ft 7 in
Method: External Ilizarov
Country: Azerbaijan
Doctor: Dr. Bagirov / Dr. Babek
Duration: 5 days hospital, and then back home

September 27 - Surgery Day. No complications, the spinal block freaked me out and the sound of power tools and hammers. Stayed in the hospital 3 days, wasn't able to walk really. Sat up in bed and did knee motions, but that was all that I could handle.

October 1 - Sent home and was recovering on my own then. My girlfriend was helping me change bandages and go to the bathroom, I was just recovering, no motion or walking, just resting. I'm getting most of the information second hand as I don't speak the language and my girlfriend is relaying it. Had a small bit of bed sores, but nothing serious.

October 7 - First day doing lengthening, prescribed by the doctor to do quantity x 8 90 degree turns (apparently 2mm) for the first 2 days. Even today I am confused with the sizes, so on a #10 bolt, 2 notches would be a 90 degrees... I'll try and post a picture. Crazy painful. Was prescribed a trauma painkiller, various mineral pills, relaxation pills, was having a lot of issues sleeping at night. Feet were swelling.

October 17 - About 10 days into lengthening, and with the right combination of pain killers, I am able to walk. Was completely freaked out when my left ankle burst into about a cup of blood on the floor, it was swollen beforehand, so I had elevated it. My wounds look pretty gruesome, but the doctor has said it's not infected, I'm not sure I believe it.

October 23 - Finally seeing some good progress. Stretching a lot in bed when I can, working out with weights in bed, then taking a shot of painkillers and doing some walking with a walker. Even able to go up and down stairs! Went to the city and walked 600m in 2 hours, felt great to get out.

October 30 - Strangely tweaked my ankle some how, and it's been shooting pain and ruined my day completely. Wasn't able to sleep, had to take an injection, put me out of commission for at least 2 days, maybe more. My ankle is really, really numb and I'm not sure what to do now. I try walking on it but it feels like it's on fire.

So, all in all I'm a bit unsure. My left ankle may possibly be infected. My right ankle was tweaked from walking, and I'm not sure how to deal with it. I'm trying to do as much physiotherapy as possible, doing toe touches in bed to stretch my achilles. Sometimes a stiff breeze shoots pain into it. Also, I get some weird nerve tweaks in my ankles that just come up randomly.

Hopefully there's someone out there who's doing the same, and we can talk about it. Some days it's boring boring! First x-ray will be in a few days, I hope someone can tell me how much I've lengthened. It feels like 1.2cm, as I've done about 60 turns at 0.25mm a 90 degree bolt turn.

Not sure if these are infected...

https://imgur.com/nsks3i4

https://imgur.com/5K7Fj8C





I'm turning this bolt 2 red markers 3 times a day. So when the red marker crosses twice, this is 90 degrees. I'll try 3 turns each day, 0.75mm, but I'm not entirely sure if it's right.

https://imgur.com/AQKQUOW

I had similar issues too...if it hurts a lot and the pins move slightly or hurt when you move the pins, then it is infected. The skin around it becomes soft. although you wont require antibiotics till its red or in a different colour and you have fever, but I took augmentin D 1000mg ,thrice a day which was okay.

I had similar situation when I had ATL. it was gone just after a second(literally) after the pins were removed. But the doctor said taking painkilers were not needed. However avoid weight bearing

[fivetenneeded2016]

You're sure about it? I have no problems walking on it, no pain specifically on that point either... The doctor has said to use just an antibiotic cream but no pills yet.

If no pain, the doctor is right..you dont require antibiotics. Also dont abuse antibiotics coz eventually the bacteria could become immune to it and later if you are at a point where antibiotic is needed, the bacteria could be immune

[fivetenneeded2016]

I'm in Baku, Azerbaijan. I'm originally from Canada, but I live in Baku. I can go to the hospital tomorrow if I wanted... I'm not in the hospital but the doctor has said I can leave after a few days, and just check in with problems. I am staying at my own apartment doing lengthening and recovering.

I was in similar situation where i returned back to my country in a week and i joined work too within 10-11 days post op Dont bother much, be careful but its easily managable! good luck

[fivetenneeded2016]

My right ankle is really painful, as I can barely walk on it. Made it about 2 meters before having to quit.

I have a feeling it may be a sprain/muscle tear, but I am not sure how to tell. One thing for sure, is it is always painful, lying down or not. I couldn't sleep with it.

I had a sudden shock on my ankle 2 days ago when going up some stairs, so I feel that could be it. So, I asked my doctor about taking pill antibiotics, he's told me that I don't need to use it unless I have a fever.

Right now my ankle is just elevated and iced, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed this fixes it. Can anyone offer advice?

Just lie down. avoid weight bearing till you goto the washroom. I dint have anything at the ankles. I had 2 screws on my feet that too for a month post ATL. So I can relate. is doctor going to eventually remove the screws at ankles soon?

[cheekycabs]

Not soon, maybe months. I've put antibiotic cream on the open wounds. I've also put a compress on my foot to cut the swelling.

I am almost convinced it's a sprain, but I don't know how to help it either. I'm just in bed, on painkillers and it's still nagging. I tried elevating it and it  hurts. I'd say the pain is 6/10 annoying, not enough to scream but enough to keep you awake.

Really out of ideas. Which is sad because 2 days ago I was really progressing well. Walking in the city and going up and down stairs. Now I Can't take 4 steps.

[fivetenneeded2016]

Which is sad because 2 days ago I was really progressing well. Walking in the city and going up and down stairs. Now I Can't take 4 steps.

it was the exact same for me bro, i could cycle/use the elliptical, walk 4-5km almost with no pain. Most of it, even 2 weeks post ATL. But just in 2 days, I was bedridden :/. Stay strong buddy!

[cheekycabs]

For sure it doesn't hurt if I wiggle the pins, no pain at all. However, there is yellow discharge draining from the wound pretty consistently. I've tried asking my friend who's a nurse, but she' said it's 50/50. No fever yet, so I will keep consistent on just cleaning it with water and draining it/changing the bandages.

Thanks a lot man!

[TemakiSushi]

Infection can get worsen drastically and suddenly
Worst thing you can get is deep infections which reaches to inside of your bone.

Why not go to see a doctor ASAP especially before this weekend

[cheekycabs]

So, I showed the doctor, and he says it's not infected, it's just new skin forming...?

Really losing my faith in Russian doctors. I mean, just give me some sort of answer to say you care.

Is there anyone who can help me out? Please someone tell me this is normal...

Right ankle. Apparently new skin. Just a bit smaller than a dime.





Left ankle.

[cheekycabs]

Also the maintenance/cleaning is so random. Some days he says don't put antibiotic, some days he says just clean with soap and water. Physically touching/wiggling the pins doesn't hurt.

[doomsday]

if I had   like this my doctor would tell me to take antibiotics. Personally I would take them for 5 days and see if they help. Also my doctor told me to change my dressing only once a week because blood and crust closes the wound and prevents bacteria from getting in and causing the infection.

Im 99% sure this is a proper infection...

[cheekycabs]

So you weren't cleaning/changing dressing every day? Most days I've been using betadine and alcohol on my pin points and putting gauze

[doomsday]

WTF? alcohol ? Jesus. Alcohol is too strong and kills natural bacteria allowing more infection.

https://www.rnoh.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/patient/16-23_rnoh_revision_13-176_rnoh_a5_pg_16_pin_site_care_web_release.pdf

[cheekycabs]

Okay, going to just wash it out with saline and bandage. Picking up some penecillin pills now.

[cheekycabs]

First X-Rays! Doctor says that everything is aligned well, but need to speed up my turns as it's close to consolidating. Photo 5 kind of worries me. I hate to say I don't fully trust my doctor, but of course I'm open to opinions if anyone sees anything weird...

[doomsday]

he is right , dont take any supplements with vitamin d or calcium and go faster.  The bones are bridging.

[cheekycabs]

This experience has really shown how little of a response I'm getting from this place. The doctor hasn't specified how many turns I need to do, but just turn faster. My schedule says to do 2 turns (.5mm) so faster means 3? Can you advise? And no mention of holding off the vitamins... but I will take your advice on that too.

It was quite funny, both doctors almost deliberately avoided talking to me today as I visited the clinic, both had more important things to do. Just hard to get any kind of answer from these guys.

[cheekycabs]

They really were just happy to say "yes it's aligned, go home" and have me go on my way.

[cool]

They really were just happy to say "yes it's aligned, go home" and have me go on my way.

This seems concerning. I hope you see some relief. Can you go back to your home country or even America and get care there? You don't have to pay for your surgery again, so it won't be very expensive.

It's better than having to deal with doctors who don't care.

[cheekycabs]

I live in the city that I did my surgery, Baku Azerbaijan. I am very far from any kind of western medical health care...

[HeightGain]

Your antibiotics will kill 'friendly' bacteria as will the alcohol. That is nothing to overly worry about.

If you think you have an infection you could try and get a sample of the infected area and get a lab to culture it for type of bacteria and sensitivity.

Your personal details look like they might be on those x-rays, don't know if you knew that

[cool]

I live in the city that I did my surgery, Baku Azerbaijan. I am very far from any kind of western medical health care...

But you have written Canada in the opening post