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Posted on Jun 1, 2021, 4:01 am
#1

Since there are no good full weight-bearing internal nails on the market in the US, I am wondering how well I would be able to function lengthening one leg at a time with precice. Does anybody have experience doing this?

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Posted on Jun 1, 2021, 5:03 am
#2

read a discrepancy diary, only one side was lengthened, It's definitely much easier. only downside is you'd be sort of crippled for longer but probably one of the best ways to do it if down time isn't a concern.

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Posted on Jun 1, 2021, 6:22 am
#3

Quote from: 6CMFemurs on June 01, 2021, 04:01:21 AMSince there are no good full weight-bearing internal nails on the market in the US, I am wondering how well I would be able to function lengthening one leg at a time with precice. Does anybody have experience doing this?


Currently I have external femurs and I wish I would have had precice, it’s not bad if you have a wheelchair you can get a lot of things done like getting food, brushing, showering, etc. You might need some support getting in cars etc tho

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Posted on Jun 1, 2021, 8:02 am
#4

I guess, I could rephrase a little bit too. Has anybody here been on crutches for an extended period of time? How functional were you?

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Posted on Jun 1, 2021, 8:07 am
#5

Here is a list of things I am hoping to do if I am able to go one leg at a time:

1) Work from home
2) Have a semi-normal social life
3) Drive back and forth to PT and do non physically challenging errands
4) Have normal sex life with my girlfriend
5) Attend a wedding of a really close friend 3 months post op.

Am I delusional to think I can do this on crutches, or is this reasonable?

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Posted on Jun 1, 2021, 9:33 am
#6

Quote from: 6CMFemurs on June 01, 2021, 08:07:23 AM5) Attend a wedding of a really close friend 3 months post op.

Am I delusional to think I can do this [...]


Yes. You're severely underestimating your recovery time. Especially if you're going to do one leg then the other.

6cm = 7 days post-op recovery + 60 days (lengthening at 1mm/day) + 6 weeks consolidation (42 days) = 109 days absolute minimum. Of being a gimp.

Then you need to do your other leg which involves overcoming the same pains/fear/regrets all over again. This is definitely, extremely dumber than doing both simultaneously because of the time waste, emotional/mental energy drain, and money waste.

Honestly just thinking about your plans makes you sound like a troll. But whatever, good luck

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Posted on Jun 1, 2021, 12:26 pm
#7

I have been thinking about this too. It seemed like a ridiculous idea at first, but I think it's doable and lets you be independent. If you are hiding this surgery then you have to stay away from everyone until both legs are done.

And in the worst case, first leg can take 10 months to fully consolidate (some say it takes 1-2 months per cm lengthened). You need the first leg to fully consolidate so that you can put all the weight on it. So it can be a very long process. See this guy called Sunshine's diary. He has still not consolidated 9 months after surgery. He did 8cm but even then it has been a long time.

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Posted on Jun 1, 2021, 12:28 pm
#8

Quote from: PerfectBody on June 01, 2021, 09:33:59 AM
Then you need to do your other leg which involves overcoming the same pains/fear/regrets all over again.


You have no option with the 2nd leg. It is no longer a cosmetic surgery, so fear and regret shouldn't be as much. But then I have not done this, so...

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Posted on Jun 1, 2021, 2:56 pm
#9

Quote from: Want-3-inches on June 01, 2021, 12:26:53 PMI have been thinking about this too. It seemed like a ridiculous idea at first, but I think it's doable and lets you be independent. If you are hiding this surgery then you have to stay away from everyone until both legs are done.

And in the worst case, first leg can take 10 months to fully consolidate (some say it takes 1-2 months per cm lengthened). You need the first leg to fully consolidate so that you can put all the weight on it. So it can be a very long process. See this guy called Sunshine's diary. He has still not consolidated 9 months after surgery. He did 8cm but even then it has been a long time.


The doc says he prefers to do 5 CM since this is tibia, he told me about 5 months post op to weight bear, so it would probably take another full month too to feel comfortable on my leg enough to go through this all again, so we are looking at year. In terms of hiding this, I don’t think that is really an option lol. I would be trading the secrecy of disappearing and doing this alone for the benefit of continuing to live the happy life that I have now.

 BTW this may have not been clarified, but I do have a rotational deformity that we are fixing too that causes me discomfort/functional restrictions (It is uncomfortable to put my feet together facing forward, and difficult to do exercises where knees and feet must be aligned) and is obvious to people when I walk and stand. That is at least 50 percent of the motivation for doing this surgery.

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