Body Builder - External Tibias - Doctor Withheld - 2011 - Building upwards!

[plastikman]

Hey BB,how are you man.It's been some time till your last update and we're wondering how everithing goes with you.
I hope you are enjoying your height and your tendons are now strong enough for doing everithing you wish.
Give us un update when you can will you!!

Best wishes,

Plastikman

[Body Builder]

Hey dude!

My tibias are at least 95% consolidated (I can't see the new bone with a naked eye) and in 1 month I will be monorail free.

I have some pains and tension that make me limp a little right after my right knee which is probably caused from a pin but I should wait to remove monorails to be sure where it comes from.
I hope it is not something significant.

Now, about my tendons things are getting better everyday. Of course I am still not close to normal because they are not very strong and I can't walk for distances but the different compared to precious months is more than obvious.
I can easily raise my heels (not a single heel raise however, it is a ittle soon for that) and I can walk relatively good for about 100 metres without crutches.
I should wait about 2 months more to walk relatively normal for bigger distances and about 6 months to be able to run again.

I think that things will be good with my tendons and I will be about 90% compared to normal tendons, but I should wait at least 6 months more (now I am 4 months after ATL) to have some edaquate results about my final condition.
If I am not happy I could still do an AT reconstruction like Craig and have back most of the tension and the power I had, but this will give me again the ugly 6cm BF I had and I should work very hard to reduce it (and to reduce 6cm BF to zero is from very hard to impossible which means I should wear some shoes with small lifts to walk completely normal).
So I really hope I will be about 90% close to normal and not do any other operation in my tendons.

That said, I am very happy that I can walk inside my house without any crutch and I can go out and walk good distances (500-600 metres and maybe more) with only one crutch.
Also, my legs are stronger and my gastrocnemius look completely normal, while before 2 monthys looked very skinny.
However, my tendons still need strengthening as my gastrocnemius and knees, but I think that after I remove my monorails things will be much better and I'll soon return back to my preLL life that I've missed so much, with 8cm more height!
We'll see.

Keep strong guys!


ps A special thank to the strong LL hero Ant and to LL legend Craig for their precious help and support. Guys I wish you the best!

[crazy+6]

Hey BB,

Good to see you started walking better now:)

God bless
Crazy+6

[Dookieman]

BB that is so good to hear!

[Body Builder]

Hey Crazy! I wish you a fast and strong consolidation!

Dookie, thank you mate! I hope you'll do your LL as soon as possible!

[6ftby2014]

Great to hear from you BB. Glad to hear about your progress.... don't be a stranger!

[devon]

Hey Body Builder,

How are things going since your last update a month ago?

[Body Builder]

Hey Devon!

On the next week probably I will be frame free and this is the most important for now.
My tendons are getting stronger and I can walk for more than 300 metres completely unaided. I can also raise my heels quite easy (yesterday I almost did a single heel raise too!) and I can also do 5-6 steps with my heels raised.
But my main problem is that I limp a little on my right leg and I am almost sure that this idiot doctor I have, lengthened my right tendon more that he should and I have this gait that comes from tendon overlengthening.

However, if I try I can walk very close to normal and most people won't see that I limp.
But if I don't try at all and walk naturaly, then the limping is obvious.

My calfs also are much stronger than before and everything else is fine with a small exception of my right knee which sometimes feel a little tension and some minor pains, but I think that (especialy the pain) come from the limping, because this foot is not as stable as the left.

To sum up, I am very happy that after a year (11 months to be more specific) I am about to be frame free!
After that I will do an MR scan to see what is going on with my tendons (especially the right one which troubles me) and there are strong possibilities that I may do a tendon reconstruction, as Craig did.
6cm BF will be back of course, but now that my legs are much stronger than before, I truly believe that I can work hard with PT and walking and reduce BF.

LL trip won't end when I remove my frames, as it should and I always imagined.
But I can walk now completely unaided for some good distances, and I really believe that after a second surgery in my tendons, things will be much better and I will enjoy my new height without any more problems.
I am optimist and I hope that everything will be ok.

Keep strong!

[OneSevenOne]

Hey Devon!

On the next week probably I will be frame free and this is the most important for now.
My tendons are getting stronger and I can walk for more than 300 metres completely unaided. I can also raise my heels quite easy (yesterday I almost did a single heel raise too!) and I can also do 5-6 steps with my heels raised.
But my main problem is that I limp a little on my right leg and I am almost sure that this idiot doctor I have, lengthened my right tendon more that he should and I have this gait that comes from tendon overlengthening.

However, if I try I can walk very close to normal and most people won't see that I limp.
But if I don't try at all and walk naturaly, then the limping is obvious.

My calfs also are much stronger than before and everything else is fine with a small exception of my right knee which sometimes feel a little tension and some minor pains, but I think that (especialy the pain) come from the limping, because this foot is not as stable as the left.

To sum up, I am very happy that after a year (11 months to be more specific) I am about to be frame free!
After that I will do an MR scan to see what is going on with my tendons (especially the right one which troubles me) and there are strong possibilities that I may do a tendon reconstruction, as Craig did.
6cm BF will be back of course, but now that my legs are much stronger than before, I truly believe that I can work hard with PT and walking and reduce BF.

LL trip won't end when I remove my frames, as it should and I always imagined.
But I can walk now completely unaided for some good distances, and I really believe that after a second surgery in my tendons, things will be much better and I will enjoy my new height without any more problems.
I am optimist and I hope that everything will be ok.

Keep strong!

We're with you buddy.

Good luck!

[devon]

Congrats on your progress Body Builder!! Wow 11 months with frames, what a relief to have them off soon!!  Please keep us updated on your progress and I'm so happy to hear you are in such good spirits

[Body Builder]

Quick update.

Today I had X rays and finally my bones are fully consolidated.
Also, my doctor removed my monorails (he left my foot only with the pins) and I made 3-4 small steps completely unsopported! My first steps with my new bone!!

Then he put back my monorail but he didn't tightened it much, to give more pressure to my bone.
Next wednesday I will completely remove the devices and one week after that, I'll go for the surgery to remove the pins and have a cosmetic surgery on the pinsides.

So, If everything is ok, in 2 weeks I will be completely frame free!!

I'll soon post my new X rays.
Stay strong dudes!



ps1 The removal of the monorail was painful because the pins were trembled a little and when I try to walk, the 3 last pins of both legs, gave me much pain (I can walk only with crutches right now) but the pain recedes and I think that tomorrow I will be much better.

ps2 Here I need the opinion from experienced LL'ers. Is there any possibility to lose any height when I completely remove my monorails? My doctor is absolutely sure that I won't, but I need your opinion too because I don't want to lose even 0,5cm!
So, didd you saw any difference in your height after frame removal??   

[Dookieman]

CONGRATS Body Builder!

[around7]

ps2 Here I need the opinion from experienced LL'ers. Is there any possibility to lose any height when I completely remove my monorails? My doctor is absolutely sure that I won't, but I need your opinion too because I don't want to lose even 0,5cm!
So, didd you saw any difference in your height after frame removal??   

I think it would happen if your bone is not really full consolidated and you would have small fractures along the gap and it would reduce, like a bulding with 8 pavements and one of then fall, and it becomes a building with 7 pavements...

About the cosmetic surgery to remove scars, can you tell how much is it? Do you think the results will be good?

[Body Builder]

Thanks Dookie!

Around, my bone is fully consolidated.
If it wasn't I think it would brake, not reduce its length.
But I am not completely sure and that's why I want some opinions about that.
What about your situation? Have you seen any height loss when you removed your internal nails?

And generaly, has anyone seen any loss in his height after frame removal??

Now, about scars removal, my doctor will do it for free.
He also told me to use a special lotion (I don't know its name, when I buy it I'll tell you) and after about 6 months the pinsides won't be obvious at all.
I don't know if he is right, but I have a little dark skin and hair in my legs, so I also think that scars won't be obvious.

[6ftby2014]

Thanks Dookie!

Around, my bone is fully consolidated.
If it wasn't I think it would brake, not reduce its length.
But I am not completely sure and that's why I want some opinions about that.
What about your situation? Have you seen any height loss when you removed your internal nails?

And generaly, has anyone seen any loss in his height after frame removal??

Now, about scars removal, my doctor will do it for free.
He also told me to use a special lotion (I don't know its name, when I buy it I'll tell you) and after about 6 months the pinsides won't be obvious at all.
I don't know if he is right, but I have a little dark skin and hair in my legs, so I also think that scars won't be obvious.

Don't worry a bit about scars man. They are like battle wounds and are very cool ( chicks dig scars).

As for the loss of length. I would also like to hear if this has happened to anyone. From a physical standpoint, it is not very possible at all. Once the bone calcifies, it does not have much as far as elastic properties at all. If you put too much pressure on calcified callus material prematurely, you should feel ( or possibly even hear) a little crackling ( this happened to a patient on here I believe maybe Chomp? I would have to really go back and find it but I am pretty sure someone had this crackling sound and stopped walking, he was still in frames though) ..... I doubt that your doctor would allow you to walk too early and risk this.

[around7]

Thanks Dookie!

Around, my bone is fully consolidated.
If it wasn't I think it would brake, not reduce its length.
But I am not completely sure and that's why I want some opinions about that.
What about your situation? Have you seen any height loss when you removed your internal nails?

And generaly, has anyone seen any loss in his height after frame removal??

Now, about scars removal, my doctor will do it for free.
He also told me to use a special lotion (I don't know its name, when I buy it I'll tell you) and after about 6 months the pinsides won't be obvious at all.
I don't know if he is right, but I have a little dark skin and hair in my legs, so I also think that scars won't be obvious.

I think the cosmetic surgery for scars is interesting, it would avoid any possible question about similar scars in both legs.
I have heard some people lost some height after removal, but it happenned because they were not fully consolidated. How to know we are fully consolidated for sure? With xrays? If doctors say yes , I think we must trust them.
In my case, I didn´t remove my nail yet, however I didn´t grow exactly  how much I have lengthened, maybe 0,5 cm less. But we have already seem this discussion in other topics here.
Another point, is the hole where the pin was fixed, there is no bone there when you remove the pin, I don´t know if you can loose some mm with the time, but I would not care about this...

[Body Builder]

Hey 6ft!
This is what I also think.
Bone is not elastic to lose height, so the only reason is if it breaks, even a little.
But in this situation, you may hear it and more over, you will feel it. If a bone breaks, even a little, I am sure it will cause pain.
But I am not 100% sure so I would like to hear some more opinions.

Around, I thought that you removed your internal nails!
Yes I knew about the difference between your gained height and your lengthening, but I am talking now only about height loss after frame removal.

For sure I will know in about 2 months, when I would have removed my monorails and I would walk normal without crutches.
I hope I won't lose anything but we'll see.

[around7]

Hey 6ft!
This is what I also think.
Bone is not elastic to lose height, so the only reason is if it breaks, even a little.
But in this situation, you may hear it and more over, you will feel it. If a bone breaks, even a little, I am sure it will cause pain.
But I am not 100% sure so I would like to hear some more opinions.

Around, I thought that you removed your internal nails!
Yes I knew about the difference between your gained height and your lengthening, but I am talking now only about height loss after frame removal.

For sure I will know in about 2 months, when I would have removed my monorails and I would walk normal without crutches.
I hope I won't lose anything but we'll see.

You will not lose man, don´t worry about this...

[around7]

Jay7 removed his nail few days ago, maybe he will can say something about his height... I remember in someone´s diary, don´t know if jay7 or jamee, someone told Guichet said it is possible to lose about 3mm because of soft tissue acomodation...

[6ftby2014]

It is possible to lengthen femurs and not gain the exact height you lengthened because the femur bone is slightly angled ( when you stand, it is not exactly vertical) so if you lengthen the bone 7.5cm, it is possible to only gain 7-7.25 in height but this is not due to bone loss, it's just  the geometry of the femur.