Hey everyone,
I’m here back on the forum having reached a stage where I can jog, work out, and resume my regular routine. Although my X-rays from earlier this year indicate that my bones have healed, I haven’t engaged in sports or fast sprints and don’t plan to for a few more years.
Flashback: I underwent limb lengthening of more than 8cm with ATL under Dr. Pili/Catagni. I prefer not to disclose the exact amount of lengthening for safety reasons and to avoid setting an example. Following the procedure, I wore an external fixator for about 16 months, which was quite good considering the significant lengthening I underwent. My bones showed quick regeneration, possibly due to my frequent walking. I returned to my desk job within two weeks post-op, although it wasn’t easy due to swelling in my legs and limited time for stretching. I intend to dedicate more time to stretching during this experience as a lesson learned.
I walked for two hours daily starting a month after the operation until the frame removal, which accelerated my consolidation to the point where I could even jog slightly with the frames at the 11-month mark.
Currently, I can jump but haven’t tested my explosiveness. Standing on my toes is effortless for me. I haven’t experienced the side effects typically associated with ATL when done correctly. However, I do notice a slight pronation in my feet, which doesn’t bother me much but could potentially affect me if I were to run or sprint, making me more susceptible to falls.
Initially, I was quite short, close to 160cm, and the limb lengthening made a significant positive impact on my life, leading me to believe I can achieve my full potential after my second LL surgery.
I have scheduled my surgery with Dr. Betz in a few months. In the meantime, I am jotting down questions to ask Dr. Betz during our meeting. Some intriguing topics include Reverse Planning to prevent axial deviation and inquiring about the advancements made in Betzbone stability over the years and the post-improvement failure statistics.
Please feel free to suggest any other points I should discuss with the doctor during my initial consultation.
Regarding the choice of Dr. Betz for planning another 8cm lengthening, I have decided to refrain from documenting my distraction post the 8cm mark to avoid setting a negative example. While Dr. Pili offers Stryde for $52.5K, I prefer more than an 8cm increase, and he also suggests LON for $20K, but I opt against external methods this time due to the existing significant scars on my tibias (lol).
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