Dear members of the community, I have never experienced such anxiety in the past two months of my life as I do now, approaching my surgery date. My dream has always been to reach a height of 180 cm. However, my parents caution me about the risks involved in limb lengthening surgery, warning that I may walk unnaturally and be impaired for life, possibly regretting my decision. Being an aspiring actor, I fear not being able to walk normally even after a year of recovery. I have been actively reading through the forum, absorbing shared experiences and advice from fellow community members, particularly grateful for the insights provided. The consensus appears to lean towards selecting Dr. Paley’s hospital as the safest and most reputable choice.
Yet, I find myself conflicted as I encounter contrasting perspectives. Some suggest that opting for femur lengthening up to 5-6 cm poses minimal risks and that nearly all of Dr. Paley’s patients recover well without complications. Reports indicate that post-nail removal, patients can regain around 90% to 95% of lower body strength. On the contrary, concerns have been raised about the initial lack of lower body strength in some patients demonstrated in videos, with observations on challenges in activities like running and jumping. Moreover, there is skepticism about the authenticity and objectivity of recovery videos shared online, questioning potential biases in portraying post-surgery experiences, especially by hospitals with questionable reputations.
Despite having scheduled surgery at Paley Institute next month and made the necessary payments, I harbor doubts about the outcome. Postponing or changing the operation would come with financial implications, yet I struggle to find reassurance within myself. Committed to being responsible for my decisions as promised to my parents and myself, I realize that witnessing real-life experiences of limb lengthening patients at Dr. Paley’s institute is crucial to my understanding. I acknowledge the rarity of such individuals returning to share their stories, especially from this specific hospital. Hence, I extend a heartfelt invitation to anyone willing to spare a few minutes to connect and share their journey post-surgery between October 15th and January, offering my gratitude and gifts from my home country in return.
Yours sincerely,
Tom
.