Hey man,
I also work in the engineering sector (construction) and planning on doing this surgery next April/May.
Do you think taking a month off work will be enough? I think if I follow a routine like yourself I should be OK. I’m trying to perceive to everyone I’m just going through a “late growth spurt”.
Quote from: vincentfreeman on November 26, 2022, 06:45:40 AMTo be honest I have been working about 6-8 hours a day every day at maybe 70% of usual productivity since I flew here except operation day. I personally didn't find it difficult to focus, less energy and time obviously with constant stretching, exercises etc. but being busy with work has actually kept my busy and hopefully will help the time pass. That said I am not sure if that would work for other people. Also I have taken 1-2 months of leave in case my performance was poor, but ended up not really needing it. You just need a contingency plan if something goes wrong or you aren't able to think, and also assume your productivity will be greatly reduced and work can't be your number one priority (recovery/healing always comes first.)
I am also very early into this, so will need more time to assess but If I was working day after surgery I think I will be able to continue to do so.
Vincent Freeman - Femur Lengthening w Becker/Betz - Nov 2022
Day 5
I feel goddamn amazing. I don't know if this is a honeymoon period because I was extremely flexible prior to the surgery and eventually the tension will catch up with me but I am walking very nimbly, and can actually walk slowly without crutches already. Slept 12 hours last night - they switched out the pain meds yesterday no more oxycodon, to pregabolin and honestly initially the pain was worse but by today, nerve pain is greatly reduced/nearly gone and I sleep so well on it.
I went for a long long walk today, maybe 15-20 minutes, was a bit tired by the end of it but I feel good.
Now up to 30 clicks in both legs total. Left leg clicking is insanely easy (lots of accidental clicks) right is a bit tougher, but so far it's not too difficult, I tried the "overextending the first click technique and that seems to work - I can crank out 10 clicks in a few minutes on each leg. Obviously this will get harder as the tension increases but my fear of clicking is somewhat reduced for now anyways.
I transfer the rehab centre tomorrow at 3pm. Excited to have access to a gym, and train hard each day. My only fear is that this feels a bit too good to be true, very little pain, good sleep, rapid recovery and I am just waiting for the other shoe to drop and for everything to be utterly horrid as I expected. I imagine this will happen when I reach the point of maximum tension that Dr. Becker talks about.
Quote from: Kanye Western on November 26, 2022, 01:38:30 PMHey man,
I also work in the engineering sector (construction) and planning on doing this surgery next April/May.
Do you think taking a month off work will be enough? I think if I follow a routine like yourself I should be OK. I’m trying to perceive to everyone I’m just going through a “late growth spurt”.
Can you work from home? You can work after a month in the sense that you are on a laptop attending a few zoom meetings, maybe signing some paperwork, but you definitely can't get as much done as usual, and if you are going to the office daily that is simple not doable.
Expect that you will spend at least 6-8 hours per day in some way related to the surgery (stretching, clicking, physio, gym etc.) that leaves you with very little time and energy for anything else, so if you have to attend work physically I would take more time off work than that. Basically your number one priority needs to be the recovery not work, so try to set things up accordingly.
Regarding what to tell work, I told them I was having IT band release surgery and bow leg correction and would be on crutches for a while but could return to work remotely after 4 weeks. I was wearing like 3.5 inch shoe lifts for a while prior to the surgery at work, so don't really thing anyone will notice the height difference. t
I haven't needed any time off work (laptop based, emails, light programming etc.) except surgery day, but there is a lot of variation between people and I don't know how normal my body's reaction has been - I have had one of the fastest recoveries of any patient according to Dr. Becker a day after surgery, so this may not be your experience. I am a little bit obsessive so I think constant, constant stretching of multiple kinds (static, PNF, active etc.) pretty much at least 8 hours a day has helped. But in 2 weeks time I could be in severe pain and unable to work as much so I wouldn't rely on my experience just yet to determine what is realistic.
Hope that is somewhat helpful, I will keep you posted how it plays out, but I suggest maybe read a few other becker/betz patient diaries and see what their journey is like
Quote from: lessthanavg8300 on November 25, 2022, 07:09:20 PMConsider just doing 2.5inches on your femurs and calling it a day. Youll be about 5'10 at that point which is a great height. Doing more will cost you in many dimensions. But you do you, not trying to discourage.
I appreciate the concern, obviously it's fairly individual - it's not about a particular number I want to achieve the best possible version of myself - whatever that means in terms of proportions height etc. I don't want to be a good height, if I am going to break my legs open and spend 1-2 years of my life recovering I don't want to be "okay" I want to be at the upper end/"ideal" height (what that means varies based on your proportions, starting point, aesthetic etc.). This is just me though, if you are happy with less more power to you.
I'm young, fit, my wingspan is 6 '1, my femur to tibia ratio is more tibia weighted so this will improve my proportions/biomechanics closer to the ideal not make them worse, I am extremely flexible as a starting point and I have spoken to a lot of Becker patients who have done 10cm+ and their recovery is quite good (better than I even required/expected). Obviously there is some luck, genetic differences, training/rehab differences between people but I am confident I can lengthen 10cm+ and recover full eventually (will take a very long time). I just don't see any reason to stop at 2.5 inches unless something changes along the way - I will still listen to my body and be informed by other patient experiences - if everything starts to be severe and debilitating at like 6-8cm than maybe I stop then, but my goal at the moment is the maximum amount.
Quote from: Growth.journey on November 25, 2022, 10:12:14 PMGood luck Vincent.
I am currently almost 6cm in with betz and it’s going well.
It will be a super hard journey but worth it in the end. Clicking will be the main obstacle as it’s different for everyone , but happy to share some tips and eventually it becomes easy.
Happy to answer any questions.
Thanks man! been reading your diary and lots of really useful tips there (I have a lot of things in common with you including left leg being a lot easier to click than right!) let me know anything else you discover along the way and good luck with your lengthening phase as well!
Youre very lucky with that wingspan and leg proportions. Id def shoot for the longer amount on femurs then. For me, my wingspan is about 5'9, so my new height will match almost perfectly.
Vincent, do you find the cold weather in Freiburg challenging as far as warming up & stretching the muscles? Are the sleeping rooms relatively warm?
165 Euro per day including all meals, PT sessions and massage in Rehab?
I was told it was 311Euro per day
Quote from: Bagga on November 27, 2022, 03:06:55 AM165 Euro per day including all meals, PT sessions and massage in Rehab?
I was told it was 311Euro per day
I think 165 is just the base accommodation at the centre, the rehab first two weeks are included in the package anyways, at a certain point you are moved to a hotel inside the same building as the rehab facility and the rooms there are 165 a night. It might be more for physio and massage *after* the first two weeks which are included. I will ask today and confirm.
Quote from: elanxr on November 27, 2022, 02:24:49 AMVincent, do you find the cold weather in Freiburg challenging as far as warming up & stretching the muscles? Are the sleeping rooms relatively warm?
The weather in Freiburg compared to most of Germany is actually not too bad because it's in the south. Local says that it is the sunniest place in Germany. Given it's winter it's still very cold but it has been reasonable. Everywhere you go is very well heated, obviously going for a walk at night is difficult if you dont have like thermal under garments and many many layers given the cold, but if you are mostly indoors everywhere is extremely warm with adjustable heating settings. I would say half of the days I have been in Freiburg have been 10-14 degress (celsius) with very sunny nice weather and the other half like 6-8 degrees and with a lot of wind and rain. Overall the weather was better than expected. But warming up indoors is a non-issue just make sure to bring thermal layers for when you go outside.
Now at 50 clicks on both legs - that's 2.6mm + 6mm initial gap - crazy to think I am almost 1cm taller!
So far clicking has been fairly painless, just a dull ache in my legs that is unpleasant/distracting but not unbearable. The lyrica has worked really well for me - have been able to sleep every night and seems to reduce pain quite well. I am checking out of the hospital today and moving to the physio/rehab centre because my recovery has been so quick. Excited to use the gym and go hard on stretching/training routine as well and get some better nutrition (higher protein intake, less sugar etc.)
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