RB - Femurs with Dr. Betz - March 2021

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Quote from: RB on April 14, 2021, 09:46:55 AM14th of April 2021 - 35 days post-surgery (3.1cm taller)
Hey Serilium,

Clicking is almost painless now. The right leg is ridiculously easy to click, while the left is a bit stiffer and takes a bit longer to click, but is also as painless as the right. The wide legs are still there but they haven't become any worse as of yet which is a good sign.

This process is very mentally draining and full of discomfort. I cannot wait for the day I finish clicking but I know there is still a lot of work to be done before I get there. Being alone in the hotel room, being unable to even have fresh air is tough but I know things will improve mentally when I am able to see my family in 10 days.

I have still yet to notice any height difference, although I can definitely notice that my femurs are longer, which is kind of cool to see.

I have also attached an x-ray I took at 2.3cm. Dr. Betz was very happy with the early callus formation and says I am an above average bone grower, which makes me think that I will continue at 19 clicks until at least 4cm to avoid any pre-consolidation issues. Any thoughts?

Feel free to comment and ask questions!

fantastic to hear man

I think you should continue becuase your bone growth is indeed strong. Betz usually makes you click everything at once right? Perhaps try splitting it to 2 times a day equally split or so if he gives permission? The last thing you want is another operation to rebreak the femur.

anyways i sympathize and ur hanging in there for now and hopefuly it get better

cheers

Edit Post

Quote from: RB on April 14, 2021, 09:46:55 AM14th of April 2021 - 35 days post-surgery (3.1cm taller)

Hey guys,

I have finally hit the 3cm mark. It's crazy how quick this process goes by, even if it feels like the days sometimes last forever. I am now back in my home country, currently quarantining in a government hotel for 2 weeks (which absolutely sucks but it needs to be done before I can go back to my home). I left Germany on the 10th of April after a terrific 3 week stay at Elke's house. I cannot say enough about how great the stay at Elke's was and how lovely of a lady she is. Now that I am on my own in a hotel room, I realise how much assistance she provided and how good her cooking was  . I also met some other former patients who were there for nail or screw removal surgeries and they provided some excellent advice and info for the remaining process ahead. If anyone is considering where to stay after the hospital, definitely stay with Elke.

In terms of the last cm, it has largely been similar to the one before it. Basically all my surgical pains have gone with the exception of some slight sharp pain in my right hip which pops up from time to time. Walking with the crutches is similar and walking unassisted is still limited to very small distances due to the tightness of the IT band and the weakness of the glutes, but that being said I am very mobile and independent.

Hey Serilium,

Clicking is almost painless now. The right leg is ridiculously easy to click, while the left is a bit stiffer and takes a bit longer to click, but is also as painless as the right. The wide legs are still there but they haven't become any worse as of yet which is a good sign.

This process is very mentally draining and full of discomfort. I cannot wait for the day I finish clicking but I know there is still a lot of work to be done before I get there. Being alone in the hotel room, being unable to even have fresh air is tough but I know things will improve mentally when I am able to see my family in 10 days.

I have still yet to notice any height difference, although I can definitely notice that my femurs are longer, which is kind of cool to see.

I have also attached an x-ray I took at 2.3cm. Dr. Betz was very happy with the early callus formation and says I am an above average bone grower, which makes me think that I will continue at 19 clicks until at least 4cm to avoid any pre-consolidation issues. Any thoughts?

Feel free to comment and ask questions!

Hey RB, cool, thanks for the update. Side note, is it natural for the nail to reach so high up in the femur?

Is there a chance you'll upload a video of you walking (just a timed video with you walking away from the camera is good enough)? It has been more than 1 month and this is theoretically a fully weight bearing nail. Moreover your bone growth is as Betz said above average. I would love to understand what walking looks like at the 1 month mark after this operation.

Thanks a lot

Edit Post

Quote from: Serilium on April 14, 2021, 12:19:32 PMfantastic to hear man

I think you should continue becuase your bone growth is indeed strong. Betz usually makes you click everything at once right? Perhaps try splitting it to 2 times a day equally split or so if he gives permission? The last thing you want is another operation to rebreak the femur.

anyways i sympathize and ur hanging in there for now and hopefuly it get better

cheers


Yeah for now I will continue at 19 clicks which is a fraction under 1mm. When I take an x-ray in 2 weeks, I will check callus growth and re-evaluate after speaking with Betz.

Quote from: pownzorgeek on April 15, 2021, 08:00:23 PMHey RB, cool, thanks for the update. Side note, is it natural for the nail to reach so high up in the femur?

Is there a chance you'll upload a video of you walking (just a timed video with you walking away from the camera is good enough)? It has been more than 1 month and this is theoretically a fully weight bearing nail. Moreover your bone growth is as Betz said above average. I would love to understand what walking looks like at the 1 month mark after this operation.

Thanks a lot

I believe it's a normal insertion of the nail based on other Betz x-rays I've seen.

I'm happy to PM you a video of me walking at home when I get out of quarantine next week. Right now there isn't much space to walk and my walk has sort of regressed a bit due to pain in the right leg so I am using the crutches most of the time even in the hotel room. Once I am back home, I will work on my walk again and film it, I'd just rather send it privately than post it in this diary due to privacy reasons. 

Edit Post

Quote from: RB on April 17, 2021, 06:44:15 AMYeah for now I will continue at 19 clicks which is a fraction under 1mm. When I take an x-ray in 2 weeks, I will check callus growth and re-evaluate after speaking with Betz.

I believe it's a normal insertion of the nail based on other Betz x-rays I've seen.

I'm happy to PM you a video of me walking at home when I get out of quarantine next week. Right now there isn't much space to walk and my walk has sort of regressed a bit due to pain in the right leg so I am using the crutches most of the time even in the hotel room. Once I am back home, I will work on my walk again and film it, I'd just rather send it privately than post it in this diary due to privacy reasons.

Hi RB, sure, we can do via PM, thanks.

Edit Post

Quote from: RB on April 14, 2021, 09:46:55 AM14th of April 2021 - 35 days post-surgery (3.1cm taller)

Hey guys,

I have finally hit the 3cm mark. It's crazy how quick this process goes by, even if it feels like the days sometimes last forever. I am now back in my home country, currently quarantining in a government hotel for 2 weeks (which absolutely sucks but it needs to be done before I can go back to my home). I left Germany on the 10th of April after a terrific 3 week stay at Elke's house. I cannot say enough about how great the stay at Elke's was and how lovely of a lady she is. Now that I am on my own in a hotel room, I realise how much assistance she provided and how good her cooking was  . I also met some other former patients who were there for nail or screw removal surgeries and they provided some excellent advice and info for the remaining process ahead. If anyone is considering where to stay after the hospital, definitely stay with Elke.

In terms of the last cm, it has largely been similar to the one before it. Basically all my surgical pains have gone with the exception of some slight sharp pain in my right hip which pops up from time to time. Walking with the crutches is similar and walking unassisted is still limited to very small distances due to the tightness of the IT band and the weakness of the glutes, but that being said I am very mobile and independent.

Hey Serilium,

Clicking is almost painless now. The right leg is ridiculously easy to click, while the left is a bit stiffer and takes a bit longer to click, but is also as painless as the right. The wide legs are still there but they haven't become any worse as of yet which is a good sign.

This process is very mentally draining and full of discomfort. I cannot wait for the day I finish clicking but I know there is still a lot of work to be done before I get there. Being alone in the hotel room, being unable to even have fresh air is tough but I know things will improve mentally when I am able to see my family in 10 days.

I have still yet to notice any height difference, although I can definitely notice that my femurs are longer, which is kind of cool to see.

I have also attached an x-ray I took at 2.3cm. Dr. Betz was very happy with the early callus formation and says I am an above average bone grower, which makes me think that I will continue at 19 clicks until at least 4cm to avoid any pre-consolidation issues. Any thoughts?

Feel free to comment and ask questions!

Hey RB. Great progress. Your X-ray showing Callus formation looks very good.
Congrats on completing almost more than one-third of the lengthening process, growing 3 cm in one month is mind-boggling!

What size of Betzbone nail did Dr. Betz use for you?
Also, How long did you stay at the hospital before moving to Elke's house?
Right now, how many times in a day and for how long do you do stretches/PT?

Anyway, overall, it seems you are doing great and I am glad to see your progress so far.

Edit Post

Quote from: chasing_higher_dream on April 18, 2021, 08:09:57 PMHey RB. Great progress. Your X-ray showing Callus formation looks very good.
Congrats on completing almost more than one-third of the lengthening process, growing 3 cm in one month is mind-boggling!

What size of Betzbone nail did Dr. Betz use for you?
Also, How long did you stay at the hospital before moving to Elke's house?
Right now, how many times in a day and for how long do you do stretches/PT?

Anyway, overall, it seems you are doing great and I am glad to see your progress so far.

Thanks man!

I have the 12mm Betzbone. I stayed at the hospital for 10 days before going to Elke's. I try and do my stretches about 2/3 times per day. One time in the morning, then after clicking and then before I go to bed.

Edit Post

Quote from: RB on April 20, 2021, 01:18:34 AMThanks man!

I have the 12mm Betzbone. I stayed at the hospital for 10 days before going to Elke's. I try and do my stretches about 2/3 times per day. One time in the morning, then after clicking and then before I go to bed.
How would you describe or compare the pain to?

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Awesome to see these results already RB! Hope it pays off as you expect it to be Looking forward to more updates.

- Is walking without crutches doable? And did you fly home without any problems or did you go by car

- Are you doing the PT all by yourself or do you need a professional Physical Therapist throughout the lengthening phase?

- Also, I am wondering if you plan to go to work after you can leave quarantaine? And if so, what kind of work do you do if I may ask? 

- Did Betz say something about the possible additional cost if complications would occur?

I am considering Betz as well, especially now that Stryde is not available. Take care mate!

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Quote from: Jason125 on April 20, 2021, 04:20:05 AMHow would you describe or compare the pain to?

It's hard to describe but now that I am 6 weeks post surgery, it sort of feels like constant discomfort in the form of sore legs rather than pain. There are times when I will have some sharp pain in a particular area of the leg that feels like a painful cramp or when the medication wears off, but for the most part after the surgical pains are gone, it's more so the constant discomfort that wears on you mentally. But there is rarely acute pain.

Quote from: maxnl050 on April 20, 2021, 07:28:49 AMAwesome to see these results already RB! Hope it pays off as you expect it to be Looking forward to more updates.

- Is walking without crutches doable? And did you fly home without any problems or did you go by car

- Are you doing the PT all by yourself or do you need a professional Physical Therapist throughout the lengthening phase?

- Also, I am wondering if you plan to go to work after you can leave quarantaine? And if so, what kind of work do you do if I may ask? 

- Did Betz say something about the possible additional cost if complications would occur?

I am considering Betz as well, especially now that Stryde is not available. Take care mate!

Thanks mate!

-Walking without crutches is doable but only for small distances due to a tight IT band and weak/atrophied glutes. I am going to work more on my unassisted walk when I am out of quarantine but right now it has sort of regressed and is still very penguin like so I use crutches majority of the time. I flew home and it was a very tough flight because of how far I had to fly home lol but I got there in the end.

-In Germany I did a combination of professional PT and my own PT. Now that I am home I plan to do professional PT 2/3 times per week and the rest on my own.

-I have just resumed working remotely again from quarantine. I work in business/sales for a large company and run my own business on the side. It's doable to work remotely but my focus has been really poor due to the medication and constant discomfort.

-There would be additional costs if the complication required additional surgery so barring an additional surgery everything is included in the original price.

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Hey RB, awesome thread appreciate the intel.

Quick questions: why did you decide to stay in Germany for so long instead of just going home right after the 10 days in the hospital? Also, was 10 days a requirement or could you leave sooner if you’d like?