What is the frame removal surgery like?

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Hey, i'm a 19 year old patient undergoing the lengthening phase of LL and i have about 1 month left of my 6cm journey here. I was just curious if anyone who has gotten LL could explain to me in detail what the frame removal surgery feels like? I know that my doctor performs it under anesthesia but what will I feel like after the surgery? Pain level if any? Stiffness? Relief? Please explain if possible, thank you

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It's mostly a feeling of relief as your legs will feel lighter and less stiff. There may be some itchiness where the pins were removed and you'll probably feel a little wobbly/unbalanced when you first get walking again, but it's cake compared to the first days after frame installation.

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For me it was really painful where the sites of the pins were. So much that fir the first 2-3 days I walked only a few and painfully.
After about a week I was almost painless.

However, I had monorails where the screws are huge. I believe that with Ilizarov things will be much easier.

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I had five monorail-pins removed from my right leg and three axial screws put in to lock my tibia nail while I was having general anesthesia.
When I woke up, I didn't have to stay in the hospital and could use my leg immediately. No stitches needed for the remaining pin-holes.
The following two days, 1x600mg Ibuprofen was more than enough for me to keep the pain level at zero.
Hope this information helps you.

I will try to remove the other fixator myself soon since I don't need the tibia nail in my left leg to get locked anymore.
If it's gonna be too painful, I'll just go to the hospital, but I'm I'm eager to find out first.

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Quote from: gastly47 on July 22, 2017, 12:25:48 PMHey, i'm a 19 year old patient undergoing the lengthening phase of LL and i have about 1 month left of my 6cm journey here. I was just curious if anyone who has gotten LL could explain to me in detail what the frame removal surgery feels like? I know that my doctor performs it under anesthesia but what will I feel like after the surgery? Pain level if any? Stiffness? Relief? Please explain if possible, thank you

Had it done without anesthesia didn't even ask for painkillers. The painful part is when the pins/rods are being removed but it doesn't hurt that bad, you don't need anesthesia for that, ask for a strong opiate painkiller that should be more than enough. And after it's gone I don't remember feeling any pain at all.