my-ilizarov-experience-blog

[my-ilizarov-experience-blog]

July update:

Leg is getting more strength. Bone healing is not excellent as doctor sad but it is not bad. It is mostly my fault since I am not walking without crutches yet. I need to say exercises and trainings are giving me more strength. So moving without crutches (when I am trying) is getting easier. However there is still a lot of work ahead of me.

Implants are not that tight anymore since leg lengthening has been terminated some time ago. That is definitely a good news!

Image attached.

[my-ilizarov-experience-blog]

June update:

I missed to add some info last time and I did not upload image of course. So here it is straight legs :)

During stretching process -3 months- I ate +/-90 painkiller pills (Tramadol). Like a drag addict lol.

It is also worth to mention distraction process took more than 40 days since when distance between parts of the bone is getting bigger distraction needs to be slowed down.

[my-ilizarov-experience-blog]

June update:

Distraction is finally finished. Mentally May was the hardest I think. You are happy that something is about to finish but unfortunately it is taking longer. Well I made it but it is worth to describe pain I was and I am going through.

So the whole process is about the bone which is broken. So when you stretch your leg you are not actually feeling anything weird happening with the bone. There is the whole different story behind muscles, tendons and other not cut parts inside your leg. Muscle spasms/muscle contractions are something you need to get used to on daily basis. I experienced this muscle spasms for around week straight. Every few minutes it ‘catches’ and it hurts as hell. It was a big deal I was exercising as much as I could but it was all still too short (muscles, tendons). It needed to stretch until it was well-fitting the current bone length.

I attached images showing where the pain was the biggest and my foot not stretched enough (hard to keep it on 90 degree angle, which should be natural). It is all about rehabilitation right now...

[my-ilizarov-experience-blog]

May update: Bad news but keep up!

Implants are really painful. This stretching process is killing me with pain. Skin is thin as paper, shining and really tight around implants. Almost every week when I visit doctor he needs to cut the skin around implants so skin loosens a little. Besides that I was getting happy since I thought distraction is almost done. We thought it was... It turns out I am still missing 1.5 cm  (0.59 inch). 

Remember at the begging I told you my leg was +/- 4cm (1.5 inch) shorter. So somehow it turns out it is +/-5.5cm (2.15 inch) shorter. Distraction process took longer until the end of May. Doctor sad we can leave it the way it is - 1cm is not that big of a difference but I say definitely NO! If we are doing this lets do this properly. I want to be straight as hell :D

[my-ilizarov-experience-blog]

After appointment I found out that I should be able to walk without crutches . So I was a little surprise since I am still using crutches and maximum weight I can put on my leg is 40 kg (+/- 80 lbs) – only a little more that last time. There is no pressure I was asked to train and exercise as much as I can – It is not a big deal. Everyone adapt differently.

At doctors there was this guy. He was week after surgery and was saying he cannot sleep well, feels a lot of pain etc. I saw his at doctors week later so he was two weeks after surgery with Ilizarov apparatus on his thigh and he literally stood on his leg (keeping heath leg up in the air). You can only imagine my surprise.

I am trying to keep up with exercises but I can feel I am missing some muscles and tendons more and more. It is tough but I am trying to stay positive. Trying to focus on this nice height I am already having! I am officially 2.3 cm (0.9 inch) higher. +/- 2cm more to go.

I do not know how I associate this song with leg lengthening process but it happened so enjoy...

[my-ilizarov-experience-blog]

I figure something out and I would like to share it with you. I am feeling pain only when moving, walking or exercising a lot. Just figure that out after coming back from IKEA where I was walking. As you all know IKEA’s are huge... I felt similar pain when I was exercising too much but then nurse sad - It was your first time when you exercise properly. When there is no pain after it means you did not train enough. It is worth to mention I took painkillers this day for the first time. I was not even taking painkillers when I get back from the hospital so you can imagine the pain.

I can agree with exercising but also You do not want to exaggerate. I am doing my best trying to exercise three times a day. Always trying to do some progress but not at all costs.

Two more implants got infected. Doctor cut them. I put on them this sterile gauze I mention before in post. After few days it is coming back to ‘normal’. If you can call having nineteenth implants in your leg normal :D

[my-ilizarov-experience-blog]

First infection! But hey only around one implant from nineteenth so not bad. It hurts a lot though. When I press around it I can feel implant inside. So… I am not showing you infection. Everyone knows how it looks like and it is ugly. However on the first image you can see the place where it is happening (middle of apparatus). Also leg lengthening is making skin really tight around implants. And this is what I can show you (second image).

Now I was told to use special sterile gauze - AQUACEL AG+ Extra on infected implant. After two days it looks better but probably I will have to take some antibiotic pills – it will turn out soon enough. I am visiting doctor for my next appointment soon.

My heel feels numbness since the first day. What I was told damaged nerves can rebuild/regenerate long time up to six months. So I am not happy about that. Every step I am taking feels extremely weird. Remember this moment when you wake up at night and you can’t feel your hand because you slept on it? Yep! This is what I feel on my heel.

[my-ilizarov-experience-blog]

Three weeks...

Almost three weeks and my leg is longer about 1 cm (0.39 inch). I can definitely feel that my muscles and tendons are really stretched. I am doing what I was told by doctor – exercise with foot. I am stretching leg as much as I can. More pain now less pain later I guess. Three centimeters more to go…

I can also say I am not sleeping very well since sleeping on my back it is not my favorite.

[my-ilizarov-experience-blog]

Walking is not easy. I suppose to put a lot of weight on my leg but I can manage to step on my leg only with 30kg (+/- 60lbs). Doctor told me it is not enough so I am working out every day. I am trying to use every muscle of my leg to see progress. It is hard for me since my ankle was under surgery as well. I also cannot manage to move independently my feet up and down yet (tendon pain).

When I am asleep I should keep my feet straight (90 degrees angle). It is better for bone accretion.

[my-ilizarov-experience-blog]

First appointment is already behind me. Doctor says nothing about swelling so it is not a big deal since I have nineteen places where apparatus is attached to my leg.

Leg lengthening - distraction process is under control.

[my-ilizarov-experience-blog]

Eight days and counting...

I can tell sitting on the bed is way more comfortable than on the beginning. It is worth to mention I was not taking any painkillers at home at all I get prescription for them but I pass on taking them. Pain is constant but reasonable.

Standing position or sitting position feels weird at first. You can feel blood pumping into the leg but it is matter of minute or two and it is gone. I still cannot sit for a long time (4 hours tops).

[my-ilizarov-experience-blog]

The day has finally come…

Leg lengthening (stretching apparatus) every single day. It will become my routine now for at least 40 days. I will turn four screws marked on the image with green dots (also on previous post).

Process is easy - four turns per day. One turn every five hours on every screw by 90 degrees (90°). So after a whole day I’ll make a full circle 360 degrees (360°). This means I will stretch my leg by 1mm (0.039 inch) every single day.

Nice feeling knowing that the process of making you straight just started. I am really excited.

No pain yet and it is 3 days after I’ve started.

[my-ilizarov-experience-blog]

First days at home were no fun. First of all if you can, stay in the hospital longer than 3 days. This is how long I stayed and I regret this. It was not enough time for recovery. Ride home was absolutely horrible and it took only 2 hours. Sitting position was really hard to stand since I was feeling apparatus pressing down (just a feeling but still). Once I get home and sat on the bed (as on the picture) I felt relief. After two days at home leg was swollen but most of the pain was gone.

I do not want to scare anyone with my post! It is just the pain you have to deal with on the beginning. It was getting better and better every day…

*Important: First thing I did after I get home I covered three really sharp sticks with duck tape. I marked them on the image with red dots. You do not want to cut your sheets on your first night.*

[my-ilizarov-experience-blog]

Sooo much pain! Why I did this to myself…

First night after surgery was calm and quiet. Since I was attached to pump connected with my spinal cord constantly pumping painkillers into me I felt no pain. In the morning however pain started. It was ok on the beginning and awful later on. Hard to describe actually. Basically I was able to feel blood pulsation and pain around all the places where apparatus is attached to the leg.

It took me few hours to realize that most of the pain was coming from corrected ankle. Since this was the place with biggest interference to my body (many stitches, probably a lot of orthopedic chisel activity).

Second day in the hospital was not so tough since they gave me painkillers though my vein. Every 12 hours I could feel it is getting a little better and better.

My thoughts? ‘Why bring so much harm on yourself? I could stay shorter.’ Don’t worry it was all gone once I was at home with less pain...

[my-ilizarov-experience-blog]

Surgery took place late February at polish clinic located in Poznan city.

Whole process suppose to take up to 6 months. As discussed with Orthopaedist for the first 2 months I have to stretch my bone on daily schedule and visit Orthopaedist for weekly appointments. Next 4 months apparatus will stay on the leg. Purpose of that is bone accretion.

[my-ilizarov-experience-blog]

Long story short I’ve had shorter leg since I was 12. Tibia bone stopped growing so fibula was prevented from growing by orthopedic staple. This is how I gained 4 cm (+/-1.5 inch) difference and club foot in the meantime. I was living with it for next 16 years. It was all good till I started office work. My back suddenly was in pain. I could not go to the gym anymore, run or participate in any physical activity.

Well known Orthopaedist proposed left leg stretching. By using Ilizarov apparatus I could have my legs equal and ankle straighten.

As for now I will share with you +/- a year of experience with getting my health back - finally being straight and able to get back to active life which I always admire.