(Sunday) Day 199 Post Op - Day 106 Consolidation/Recovery Phase - DISTRACTION COMPLETED...[7.5 cm Achieved / 3 inches Taller!]
Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood afternoon CLL'ers,
I wanted to come with another update. Sorry that I was actually delayed a couple of weeks. I had intended on creating a walking video that was accompanied by my latest X-Rays as well as pictures of my Nail Insertion marks on my legs. Well, I became so wrapped up with work and life in general(all good things) AND my legs felt decent enough; that I actually decided to postpone my appointment a few weeks. So, now my next X-Rays will be in early August which will mark about 7 months post-op.
My status is that I'm doing well. I'm walking with no issue and will try to have a video for review very shortly. I actually believe I'll wait to do the video at my 7 month post op appointment at Dr. M since it's only 2 weeks from now. I'd like to deliver the X-Ray, Video, and Scar pictures in one clean package for you guys.
Legs are getting stronger, I can do full squats. Walk looks 95% normal. Caveat is that when I sit down for a long period of time or lay down such as when you first wake up, my quads fell pretty darn tight and i need to warm them up and stretch them for a little while before the tightness wears off. It gets a bit better each and ever day but it's definitely something that I'd like to see resolve it self soon.
I'm able to walk up and down stars properly without holding an guard rails. I can walk with no issues 1.5 to 2 miles continuous without having to take a rest. My legs do need to continue to strengthen however; as I do start to feel tired a bit early during these walks. It will take time. I'm actually planning some heavy walking in August for events like Disneyland! and more which will really push me and I can't wait to do that.
Flexibility is at about 80% I would say. Strength of my legs at this point, I'd say is maybe 50% since I have played it safe and not hit the gym hard with my legs yet. My strenthening to this point has focused around body weight training mainly and some light weighted squats and walking. I still have some ways to go; but it gets a bit better each day. My Anterior Pelvic Tilt (Duck Ass) which I was reporting about prior; is very very subtle at this point. Actually; its not noticeable to anyone other than me since I know how I was before CLL. For all intents and purposes, the Duck Ass is gone; but as my glute muscles come back in, and I continue to walk, this is all going to return to normal. I'm so so close. I hope this is good news to some of you out there who are just coming off the phase 1 of CLL and have APT. It will certainly go away; just keep stretching and walking.
As far as PT, I'm attending formal PT 2 times a week and I believe I will continue this up until mid August. At that time I will likely take over my own PT chores and discontinue formal PT. I plan on stretching and working out my legs for the rest of my life at this point. I have just adopted the practice of improving flexibility and leg strength as a daily routine in effort to stave off any ill impacts of CLL as I age.
I'll continue to re-summarize for all of you as time wears on; however, I will say that I believe my recovery was a tough one; but is going very well. I overcame my obstacles. I had the surgery at 37, barely ever walked or exercised my legs for nearly 20 years, and had very average to below average flexibility. Was very tight in hips as well. I had to really battle to make this process a successful one. Gratefully, I lengthened 3 inches!...After 2 weeks post lengthening; my gait resembled a somewhat regular gait...(maybe 60%)...and after 5 months and 1 week, post op, the Walk looked pretty normal; but was still a bit tiresome after a while and I had to focus effort to maintain a regular gate. At 6 months; the gait is pretty normal...(90%-95%) and the tightness is mainly something that you realize you have but isn't too noticeable to the outside. At this point one can take strolls in the park, malls, etc and it's a really nice place to be again. At this rate, I expect major gains in August and September; which would mark a 9 month point. Isn't Stryde incredible?
Guys, Thank you again for all your support and for having my back. What a challenging and rewarding process CLL can be for each and every one of us. I don't think I could have been as successful throughout the procedure if it wasn't for your demonstrating of true empathy for a fellow man like myself.
Let me know if I can be of any assistance to you as you pursue your journey OR if you simply want to bounce off feedback. I'm a man who was successful at 5'1 and genuinely happy. I felt like my growing in height was the only thing I was not successful in during the course of my life, ha ha. So I decided to change it. Now I'm 5'4 and I'm even more happier than before. I'll sum up the more deeper details of how this experience impacted me in a future post.
All the best,
IFS
P.S.
Hi IFS! Eagerly awaiting a new video upload from you - cheers and thanks for keeping us posted all along your amazing journey!
Thank you for checking in JEE! Coming right up with the video! Appreciate you following my journey.
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Topic: Diary - January 2019 - In Full Stryde with Dr. Mahboubian of North Hollywood. (Read 152371 times)