Yellowspike - Dr. Guichet, Internal Femurs, Late 2014

Edit Post

Oh I mistakenly thought you were going for tibias! Another inch next year would be heroic.

Edit Post

Quote from: clarence on May 29, 2015, 11:03:07 AMOh I mistakenly thought you were going for tibias! Another inch next year would be heroic.

Yeah I'm starting to have my doubts about another inch. As much as I want it, I have to resolve this horrible hip swaying before I will start to feel "recovered."  It's the only thing getting me down right now. I'm not exactly sure if it's due to tight hip flexors, weak hip flexor muscles or weak glutes (probably a combination). Dr. G hasn't officially cleared me for leg weight training yet, but I've done some very light weight training because I NEED this resolved already.

I'm starting to feel like another inch would be futile because this has taken so damn long. It seems deceivingly easy (compared to this), but now I feel like it will much a lot harder than I realize. I definitely regret looking at some of the more amazing diaries for inspiration, because they are not the norm. This takes much, much, much longer than some diaries would have you believe. Maybe I'll keep the rods in a bit longer while I decide on another inch...I do want it...but this has been horrible. Not sure I could do it again.

Quote from: Alittletooshort on May 28, 2015, 08:42:35 PMHey Yellowspike,
I've seen the pictures you've posted and proportionwise they look completly normal to me. I know you had longer tibias compared to your femurs by around 5% if I remember correctly. Do you know what exact length your segments had before LL in mm.
Keep us updates
Cheers!

Sorry, I don't know the exact measurements. I just know my tibia/femur ratio was about 79% before the surgery.

Edit Post

Did your tibial muscles also get thinner/weaker from the stretching that occurred in your femurs?

If your dream height is 5'10+, you'll still be dissatisfied with your height at 5'9, won't you? In that case, it may not be worth enduring the pain of LL again, only to find yourself again disappointed. I'd say only do that last inch if 5'9 is your dream height or if it will at least get you to that much sought after state of mind where one really doesn't give a crap about height anymore.

I think putting so much emphasis on the numbers can lead to disappointment. Curing height neurosis is more about a feeling of deriving confidence and relief from becoming "tall enough" for one's own standards, which vary from person to person. Honestly, that's what I'm going for. It doesn't have to be a number, just a feeling that I am finally happy with my height and feel like I am who I am supposed to be, physically which I am currently in every major regard except for height.

Edit Post

Quote from: Taller on May 29, 2015, 02:49:56 PMDid your tibial muscles also get thinner/weaker from the stretching that occurred in your femurs?

If your dream height is 5'10+, you'll still be dissatisfied with your height at 5'9, won't you? In that case, it may not be worth enduring the pain of LL again, only to find yourself again disappointed. I'd say I nly do that last inch if 5'9 is your dream height or if it will at least get you to that much sought after state of mind where one really doesn't give a crap about height anymore.

I think putting so much emphasis on the numbers can lead to disappointment. Curing height neurosis is more about a feeling of deriving confidence and relief from becoming "tall enough" for one's own standards, which vary from person to person. Honestly, that's what I'm going for. It doesn't have to be a number, just a feeling that I am finally happy with my height and feel like I am who I am supposed to be, physically which I am currently in every major regard except for height.

Fair enough. Despite what I have said on here, it's actually not so much a number. I don't really have a dream height per se, at least not in terms of an exact number (well, I don't anymore). I feel now that my height is very close to being actually average, but not quite. So I think another inch would get me to the point where I genuinely wouldn't care much about height anymore. But I need time to think about it. Because this has taken very long to recover from.

Edit Post

Sounds to me like you're approaching this all very rationally. Good for you. Keep up the hard work on your recovery, but try not to think too much about height, even though the two are related in your case. Like you said, you can decide if you want that last inch later, but now your priority should be recovering. Just think of it as a workout instead of as LL recovery so that you keep your mind off of height and height comparison with others. I wish you all the best going forward.

Edit Post

Quote from: Taller on May 29, 2015, 03:09:05 PMSounds to me like you're approaching this all very rationally. Good for you. Keep up the hard work on your recovery, but try not to think too much about height, even though the two are related in your case. Like you said, you can decide if you want that last inch later, but now your priority should be recovering. Just think of it as a workout instead of as LL recovery so that you keep your mind off of height and height comparison with others. I wish you all the best going forward.

This means a lot to me. Thanks man.

I know not too long ago I was really obsessing over my gain/height. Now that I've had the chance to somewhat return to the gym and going out a bit more...5'8" is pretty good. Not great...but ok, and I surely don't think I would have considered LL had I been 5'8" naturally.

That being said...I suppose the knowledge of "well, I've already done it once, and the rods inside my right now are good for another inch" makes it seem very tempting. But the main issue for me now is to resolve this pesky hip swaying. I can deal with other side effects and even some occasional pain, I just want to be able to walk outside without feeling like an embarrassment.

Edit Post

Quote from: YellowSpike on May 29, 2015, 03:24:38 PM But the main issue for me now is to resolve this pesky hip swaying. I can deal with other side effects and even some occasional pain, I just want to be able to walk outside without feeling like an embarrassment.

That's a minor issue. It's just muscle tightness. It will resolve on its own over time with activity/stretching. Of all the problems LL can cause, if that's your biggest one you've done perfectly. You've gotten through all the high risk aspects of the surgery. This is just the "settling phase".

Edit Post

Quote from: maximize on May 29, 2015, 03:42:42 PMThat's a minor issue. It's just muscle tightness. It will resolve on its own over time with activity/stretching. Of all the problems LL can cause, if that's your biggest one you've done perfectly. You've gotten through all the high risk aspects of the surgery. This is just the "settling phase".

It's minor from a medical standpoint, yes...but not being able to be confident simply walking outside (especially now that it's summer) really sucks man. I've been stretching a lot but it hasn't seem to help much so far. Not sure what I have to do to resolve it.

Edit Post

There's nothing else you can do to expedite it. Tendon and ligament growth is exceedingly slow as they have very poor blood supply. It will just take time. You can't rush it any faster than the tissues can adapt.

It's for the same reason fractures often heal much quicker than sprains/strains. Bone is quick. Ligaments and tendons are not.

Edit Post

Quote from: Caribe on May 28, 2015, 05:42:01 PMHello Uppland

It is hard for me to sprint from a standing still position and run fast.. I think it is because muscles in some way loose the ability to coordinate... Remember all soft tissues around the femur are overextended and the muscles below your knees stay the same..I guess its a condition you  might overcome with  time or with lots of  kinesiotherapy..

Oh, I see. Does this influence your everyday life?

Do you feel weaker and/or clumsier than other people who naturally grew to your new height?

Thanks for answering mate.