Have questions for a long-term LL veteran? Ask them here!

Edit Post

Quote from: ghkid2019 on September 22, 2020, 07:11:42 AMSo MDOW, you did this surgery around 25/26 age right? I am wondering how your confidence changed in the direct few years right after you recovered from the limb lengthening ordeal. In terms of your personal confidence, social life, enjoyment out of socializing, and overall human connections. Obviously I know now that you stopped giving a sheit about height but let's say, late 20s, what do you think you gained from LL from a interpersonal aspect (that you probably wouldn't have gained without the surgery).

Thank you MDOAgua.

It was a big confidence boost at first.  Huge.  I spoke out more in groups and was more comfortable being the center of attention, and reached out to people individually without feeling as scared or unworthy of doing so.

And I still have the increased confidence; maybe I take that for granted now and should appreciate it more.

I think part of my lack of confidence came from being skinny also.  That three inch boost in height made me feel more formidable and less like a potential victim even though my weight hasn't changed much.  Height alone will keep many bullies away even on a really skinny guy.

Edit Post

Hey MDOW.
I did 6cm on tibia with Betzbone and im 4months Post surgery now.
My question is, when did you start so have a normal life again like going downstairs and upstairs and when did you ditch the crutches.

Edit Post

That took me about six months, but it was gradual so the speed and confidence going up (and especially down) stairs depended on the situation.

Edit Post

Hey man really appreciate this post and your will to answer our questions...

I am almost 28 and ever since I was 14 I had a complex with my height (167 cm) and been thinking about it...so as just said, just for the confidence boost it may be worth it (and to overcome this complex) so although there could be complications afterwards like the ones you are having, I fear the other most (the one I live with...) because it makes me feel I live not to my fullest potential...if I can even give words to my feelings...

In the end to me its like this, you trade a mental issue for a physical issue...thing is complexes can endure a lifetime...even if happily married, wealthy, etc, etc...that's my fear...

Anyway, what are your thoughts on Monorail with LON as I may do that in Turkey

Do you ever feel like cold in your bones? where you had LL of course, like the sudden change of weather? specially on winter.

Pardon my ignorance but why is having longer legs a problem (if they are not extremely long) compared to people with natural longer legs than torso ratio?

Thanks a lot!

Edit Post

Quote from: Zion on October 23, 2020, 12:19:36 AMIn the end to me its like this, you trade a mental issue for a physical issue...thing is complexes can endure a lifetime...even if happily married, wealthy, etc, etc...that's my fear...

Yeah a lot of people are wealthy and either married or in a serious relationship who get this done.

QuoteAnyway, what are your thoughts on Monorail with LON as I may do that in Turkey

It's fine in general but there seems to be more risk of misalignment.  Take it easy while you're in those monorails because they don't hold the bones in place as well as the cages.

QuoteDo you ever feel like cold in your bones? where you had LL of course, like the sudden change of weather? specially on winter.

Nope.

QuotePardon my ignorance but why is having longer legs a problem (if they are not extremely long) compared to people with natural longer legs than torso ratio?

Compared to someone who's naturally proportionate to me, probably very little.  In fact, I had exceptionally great balance, flexibility, and agility at my old height.  I did gymnastics as a kid and wanted to be in contests like Amercian Gladiators or Ninja Warrior.  Maybe this is just what most normal people are able to do.

Edit Post

What has been the worst experience you've had as a result of this surgery? Also how tall are you now?

Do you think about how different it could've been had you gotten this surgery in the later years where technology has improved a bit since the initial surgery you've had? Seeing as we have PRECICE and STRYDE now.

Edit Post

Quote from: SartBimpson on November 05, 2020, 12:25:24 PMWhat has been the worst experience you've had as a result of this surgery? Also how tall are you now?

Definitely the exertional compartment syndrome.  Second would be the scar from where they broke the left leg.  It was big and hypertrophic, and in a place where skin is very thin/tight.  I had three surgeries on that one.  178 cm.

QuoteDo you think about how different it could've been had you gotten this surgery in the later years where technology has improved a bit since the initial surgery you've had? Seeing as we have PRECICE and STRYDE now.

The difference is small.  Fitbone, ISKD, Albizzia, and Bliskunov all existed in 2007 for people who wanted and could afford internal lengthening nails.  Those are improvements but didn't change the experience that much.

Edit Post

 Hi, this is from previous post I made earlier this year...This Surgery has resulted in ongoing issues for me, both my Tib's (anterior) have skin numbness and tingling still after 4 years (Precice 8 cm LFemur, Fitbone 5.3 cm RFemur - both Retrograde i.e through the knee insertions).
LKnee now has max 130 Deg flexion with at times a strong pain in my distal anterior/lateral femur and superior lateral Patella, with variable associated uncomfortable swelling, RKnee is now very noisy and "clicky", which makes even light semi-Squats uncomfortable - both knees are always stiff (even worse in the mornings, and horrible in winter) and are at times quite sore around top of patella.
I still have a 2.7 cm LLD, and getting down and up from the floor is a struggle (even though I am  a pretty fit/strong  62 KG/179 cm) and I find it very hard to pick up something from the floor especially with a baby/toddler in my arms!).
Basically I dont take pain killers (I value my brain) , but I need a hot bath at the end of each day to soothe my aching knees and stiff back (and I try to eat a low inflammatory diet).
I can no longer run (chasing kids is out !), as my knee range is limited, and I do some kinda weird shuffle instead.
The Tib/Femur ratio feels strange (my tibias now feel stubby and ineffectual), and the Tib/Fem ratio looks weird and I am quite self-conscious about it (it was about 0.83, (ideal is 0., now about .74 Right leg and .70 LeftLeg).
Basically to feel 'Normal" I think I need to add the missing 2.7 cm to my R.Femur, and also add at least 4 cm to my Tib's (5cm would be ideal but time and risk factors preclude this ), this would bring my T/F ratio to ~ .77 i.e within the range of normal variation.

Edit Post

This is really helpful man thanks a lot. I have few questions for you.
Please reply if you have the time. You had the surgery done in 2007 which is more then 10 years and that’s shockingggg. I’m so happy for you... could you please tell me how your feeling now, if you can walk like a normal person, run like a normal person, if there are any difficulties.
Also could you please suggest a good surgeon for me who is fairly cheap about 50k or max 60k. I have Dr Giotikas and Dr Parihar in mind. Not sure which one to go for ... my goal to go for 2 surgeries, 5inches in total. Advice from someone like you would mean a lot to me. Please take your time and reply any feedback, advice, information is fine, thanks a lot! Hope your well, still can’t imagine how anyone is able to walk normally with 2 surgeries or even 1 it just seems risky and complicating even thou I have read alotttt of diaries...

Edit Post

Quote from: Gman23 on November 12, 2020, 08:49:45 PMcould you please tell me how your feeling now, if you can walk like a normal person, run like a normal person, if there are any difficulties.

I can walk and run normally.  My balance is a little worse than it should be due to the higher center of gravity.  Sometimes my calves feel a little stiff, and I have minor tendonitis in my patellar ligaments.

QuoteAlso could you please suggest a good surgeon for me who is fairly cheap about 50k or max 60k. I have Dr Giotikas and Dr Parihar in mind.

They seem like good choices.  I was also considering Dr. Jamal Abu Nemer in Ukraine when I was thinking of doing femurs several years ago, but his entry on the doctors page hasn't been updated since then, so I don't know what the latest on him is.