Kilokahn,
It's always better to be safe than sorry. Make sure you take those frames off only when the doctor absolutely say that you can.
What about the calcium tablets (vegan variety), multivitamins, and greens? Have you been taking those? I believe they aid with bone formation. I would recommend that you perform daily physical activities, which will help with circulating those blood to the calf areas.
Personally, I did 200 sit-ups daily plus a variety of other exercises routines while I was in India. Is there a gym where you stay? Inactivity will lead to muscle atrophy and hinder recovery. Make sure you exercise whenever possible, though I know the frames and the pain will make it difficult to move around.
It's also good to have a LL buddy or a roommate, so you guys can encourage and advise one another.
And I don't know about the place where you are stay, but mine was close to the mall. I used it make it a habit of going there every day (even in frames) for a cup of coffee or for lunch. You'll be surprised by the number of Indian women who are interested in you just because you are a foreigner.
I had a nurse who said she liked me (while I was laying in a hospital bed going for my 4th surgery) and a few contacts at the mall (while I was in wheelchair). Life is short, make sure you have fun whenever possible.
Cheers,
No More Mal-Kahn-Tent - External Tibias - Dr Parihar
Quote from: YellowSpike on March 31, 2015, 02:32:05 AMI know what you mean. That's what held me back for a while, even though my doctor was telling me I could walk. You will get there my friend!
Does your doctor believe you can walk unaided now?
I haven't asked him, but my body is telling me the answer is no. Freaking tibias, man...
Quote from: Smallguy on April 01, 2015, 03:22:24 PMKilokahn,
It's always better to be safe than sorry. Make sure you take those frames off only when the doctor absolutely say that you can.
What about the calcium tablets (vegan variety), multivitamins, and greens? Have you been taking those? I believe they aid with bone formation. I would recommend that you perform daily physical activities, which will help with circulating those blood to the calf areas.
Personally, I did 200 sit-ups daily plus a variety of other exercises routines while I was in India. Is there a gym where you stay? Inactivity will lead to muscle atrophy and hinder recovery. Make sure you exercise whenever possible, though I know the frames and the pain will make it difficult to move around.
It's also good to have a LL buddy or a roommate, so you guys can encourage and advise one another.
And I don't know about the place where you are stay, but mine was close to the mall. I used it make it a habit of going there every day (even in frames) for a cup of coffee or for lunch. You'll be surprised by the number of Indian women who are interested in you just because you are a foreigner.
I had a nurse who said she liked me (while I was laying in a hospital bed going for my 4th surgery) and a few contacts at the mall (while I was in wheelchair). Life is short, make sure you have fun whenever possible.
Cheers,
Most of my exercise consists of walking in a circle over and over in my office. According to Dr Parihar you need to walk around and not just back and forth, although I didn't ask him why one is better than the other. I've been taking oyster shell calcium, zinc, vitamin D and vitamin C. I get a lot of protein too b/c I eat a lot of red meat.
There is a gym at my apartment complex but I feel too vulnerable going outside with my frames still on. I think I'll be able to do a lot more exercises once these frames are off because I'll have more ROM in my ankles. These wires impede a lot of movement just because of the pain they cause.
When I was in India I didn't like talking to any of the women there outside of my physiotherapists. Was too nervous about making a cultural faux pas. I get the feeling that most women there aren't into flings and would want to attach herself long-term to any guy they get physical with.
Hey , Bud was reading about you, actually i too want to go through LL, its hard but from this suffering,
where are you now in which hospital of india, coz i am also from India want see what exactly the procedures is about,
It will also boost you as i am a very happy go lucky guy.
please replay.
Quote from: KiloKAHN on April 06, 2015, 07:59:19 PM
Most of my exercise consists of walking in a circle over and over in my office. According to Dr Parihar you need to walk around and not just back and forth, although I didn't ask him why one is better than the other.
Walking in circles involves a constant change in directions which obviously is more challenging.
walking really is the only thing that gets you better
i did the same thing you did in my apt... walked a lot the other day...then got very sore
today my calves are not toght at all, and feeling much better
Quote from: KiloKAHN on April 06, 2015, 07:59:19 PMI haven't asked him, but my body is telling me the answer is no. Freaking tibias, man...
Most of my exercise consists of walking in a circle over and over in my office. According to Dr Parihar you need to walk around and not just back and forth, although I didn't ask him why one is better than the other. I've been taking oyster shell calcium, zinc, vitamin D and vitamin C. I get a lot of protein too b/c I eat a lot of red meat.
There is a gym at my apartment complex but I feel too vulnerable going outside with my frames still on. I think I'll be able to do a lot more exercises once these frames are off because I'll have more ROM in my ankles. These wires impede a lot of movement just because of the pain they cause.
When I was in India I didn't like talking to any of the women there outside of my physiotherapists. Was too nervous about making a cultural faux pas. I get the feeling that most women there aren't into flings and would want to attach herself long-term to any guy they get physical with.
thats another negative to externals... the damn ankle ring definitely contributes to the ballerina issues... my ankles were swollen until i had frames removed
realistically, to be able to walk unaided normally, 5 or 6 months should do it for you
Quote from: samruddhi on April 06, 2015, 08:07:02 PMHey , Bud was reading about you, actually i too want to go through LL, its hard but from this suffering,
where are you now in which hospital of india, coz i am also from India want see what exactly the procedures is about,
It will also boost you as i am a very happy go lucky guy.
please replay.
Hi,
I left India way back in October. Now I'm healing back home. I did my surgery at Mangal Anand Hospital in Chembur, Mumbai with Dr. Mangal Parihar.
Quote from: SAD on April 06, 2015, 08:11:13 PMWalking in circles involves a constant change in directions which obviously is more challenging.
I guess the constant shifting puts more pressure on the bone than just walking straight constantly.
Quote from: crimsontide on April 06, 2015, 08:26:16 PMthats another negative to externals... the damn ankle ring definitely contributes to the ballerina issues... my ankles were swollen until i had frames removed
realistically, to be able to walk unaided normally, 5 or 6 months should do it for you
The funny thing is the ankle ring didn't bother me at all while I was lengthening, but during consolidation it's quickly become the most bothersome. I wouldn't mind having to continue wearing this if it weren't for the ankle ring. My physiotherapist said he doesn't want me to come back until my frames are removed because the ankle ring prevents him from doing a lot of stretching exercises on me.
yes, the ring and pins suck!!!!!
i could not do a thing with the frames on...they limit motion...
life will be easier oce the fixator is off
Congratulations on your awesome journey. It looks like you really planned this out well and have got the process down to a text book response so far. No major complications. Good follow up by your doctors. Good consolidation so far. Playing it safe. Really fantastic. You seem like a very even-keeled, calm, and measured person which has served you well.
I have a few comments/questions.
1) First, I might have missed something, but I didn't see how you came to decide between Dr. Dhawan and Dr. Parihar. Both offered Hexapod and had similar concepts of how to fix the fibula. What made your choice Dr. Parihar?
2) In all of your research, did you come across any surgeons who struck you as reputable and were using the Hexapod in North America or Europe?
3) One of the things that struck me reading your diary, especially in the context of the other discussion we were having about methods to avoid chronic joint pain and OA in LL, is that of all the pains you describe in this thread, none of them seemed to be deep joint ankle/knee pain. Most of the pain you experience seems to be related to stretching of the soft tissues and nerves, as well as perhaps pressure from the pins themselves. Calf pain, equinus pain, below the knee pain, etc.
Understanding that you are still in your frames and thus can't truly test them yet, how do your joints themselves feel? Besides the stiffness externally from the muscles and ligaments, do the axes "feel" correct? Does the front/back motion feel natural? Do you have any sense of a "catching" or "clicking" or "internal friction/grinding"? I know it will be hard to get a clear answer on what I'm asking. Even children with growing pains can get a deep joint ache as everything stretches, and it doesn't mean there's anything wrong inside their joints. But still I'm curious for your perspective.
4) I agree with your idea that if you can avoid drilling into the tibia it may be ideal. This sort of Ilizarov with Hexapod you chose is really as "minimally invasive" a leg lengthening as can be performed while maintaining good alignment.
I wonder if an even better alignment (with the risk of more skin scarring) could have been attained via adding the middle pins from the start. I didn't do a before/after comparison, but your tibias appeared a bit curved in the post op. I don't think this will be a problem. Lots of people seem to have a bit of curvature to their tibias. The most important aspects of alignment seem to be whether your joint lines are horizontal in plane, and whether your vertical axis measured from top of tibia to bottom of tibia is good. But for those of us who don't care what our skin looks like, I wonder if the middle pin option from the start would add greater stability and thus lower risk of deformity.
If you're talking to Dr. Parihar and can ask him his opinion on this, I'd appreciate it.
5) Lastly, have you experienced any psychological benefits from the new height yet? I know as you said you are not yet again socially active, but even with the crutches/walkers, have you noticed yourself taller back home around family and how has it felt if so?
Keep up the good work. If I can have as relatively uneventful a journey as you have when my time comes, I will consider myself very lucky! 
Quote from: maximize on April 11, 2015, 04:52:45 PMCongratulations on your awesome journey. It looks like you really planned this out well and have got the process down to a text book response so far. No major complications. Good follow up by your doctors. Good consolidation so far. Playing it safe. Really fantastic. You seem like a very even-keeled, calm, and measured person which has served you well.
I have a few comments/questions.
1) First, I might have missed something, but I didn't see how you came to decide between Dr. Dhawan and Dr. Parihar. Both offered Hexapod and had similar concepts of how to fix the fibula. What made your choice Dr. Parihar?
- It was a combination of things. Having been a fellow of Dr Paley certainly helped, as well as his greater amount of experience (he's been doing this since 1991). He's also just got a really good vibe about him. I really got a feeling during our consultation that I would be in good hands. He's also constantly leading workshops on Ilizarov surgeries, probably more than anyone else in India.
Quote2) In all of your research, did you come across any surgeons who struck you as reputable and were using the Hexapod in North America or Europe?
I found some doctors that use a TSF as standard practice, but most would respond that they absolutely do not perform cosmetic lengthening. I think there are maybe 5 surgeons in the USA that will do it, and all of them seem to prefer or insist doing internals, which were out of my budget.
Quote3) One of the things that struck me reading your diary, especially in the context of the other discussion we were having about methods to avoid chronic joint pain and OA in LL, is that of all the pains you describe in this thread, none of them seemed to be deep joint ankle/knee pain. Most of the pain you experience seems to be related to stretching of the soft tissues and nerves, as well as perhaps pressure from the pins themselves. Calf pain, equinus pain, below the knee pain, etc.
Understanding that you are still in your frames and thus can't truly test them yet, how do your joints themselves feel? Besides the stiffness externally from the muscles and ligaments, do the axes "feel" correct? Does the front/back motion feel natural? Do you have any sense of a "catching" or "clicking" or "internal friction/grinding"? I know it will be hard to get a clear answer on what I'm asking. Even children with growing pains can get a deep joint ache as everything stretches, and it doesn't mean there's anything wrong inside their joints. But still I'm curious for your perspective.
I don't have any of those odd sensation that you mention. As far as I know everything is normal in my joints. I just continue to have some muscle pain which I assume will go away once I get these frames off and stretch my muscles out some more.
Quote4) I agree with your idea that if you can avoid drilling into the tibia it may be ideal. This sort of Ilizarov with Hexapod you chose is really as "minimally invasive" a leg lengthening as can be performed while maintaining good alignment.
I wonder if an even better alignment (with the risk of more skin scarring) could have been attained via adding the middle pins from the start. I didn't do a before/after comparison, but your tibias appeared a bit curved in the post op. I don't think this will be a problem. Lots of people seem to have a bit of curvature to their tibias. The most important aspects of alignment seem to be whether your joint lines are horizontal in plane, and whether your vertical axis measured from top of tibia to bottom of tibia is good. But for those of us who don't care what our skin looks like, I wonder if the middle pin option from the start would add greater stability and thus lower risk of deformity.
If you're talking to Dr. Parihar and can ask him his opinion on this, I'd appreciate it.
If the pins were added in the middle at the get go there would have been greater stability. Probably wouldn't have needed a hexapod to correct the alignment later if those were there first. But from what I was told, there's no difference in the final alignment between adding the pins first or adding them at the end like was done to me. My tibias had a natural curvature about them from the beginning:
From what I've been told, lengthening just makes the curve look a little more pronunced simply because you're stretching the ends further apart. But from the x-rays Dr Parihar said my alignment was good and that opinion's been repeated by my local ortho and radiologist reports.
Quote5) Lastly, have you experienced any psychological benefits from the new height yet? I know as you said you are not yet again socially active, but even with the crutches/walkers, have you noticed yourself taller back home around family and how has it felt if so?I've had comments from family members and friends that make it seem like th added 6 cm was a dramatic difference. That alone has done a lot to help my self-esteem.
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