- leg lengthening (long... no pun intended)

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Sorry if a message similar to this also comes through. bloody

computer!

Yes, I had the operation in 1986, I was 13.

It was my parent's decision, I really had no idea of what was going

to happen (got a REAL shock when I first woke up and saw all the

metal attatched to my leg).

Can't really say whether I'm happy about it, but I have gotten over

it (as much as I can) and am living a full life. I do have problems

as a result (mostly joint pain in my 'good' leg from trying to

compensate for my 'bad'leg) however we have no way of knowing what

problems may have arisen if I'd never had the surgery.

You are right about the operation (leg is cut and pinned, then

attatched to a metal frame that does the 'stretching'. The leg is

drawn apart gradually, then the frame removed and full leg plaster

put on. The hospital stay is a couple of months (for the actual

stretching), then the plaster for however long it takes for new bone

to grow between the two cut pieces. All up it is about 9 mths for the

total process. My leg was lengthened about 5cm.

I don't know how old your son is, but the best advice I can offer you

is to let him know about the whole process. I really resented not

being told about it properly before it happened. The kids here sound

like a bright and curious lot, don't underestimate them.

I NOW know how hard it must have been for my parents, and they NOW

know how scared and hurt I was. I kind of feel like we went through

it separately, when we should have gone through it together.

Anyway, I wish you lots of luck in making your decision..... ask ask

ask questions and bug those doctors into telling you all the options,

risks etc...

Goodluck

Seeya,

Bree

* Oh, about the laser option. It was mentioned here, but I'd never

heard about it, but CERTAINLY worth investigating.

* A tip, if possible try to arrange you son's time in plaster in the

cooler months, nothing worse than full leg plaster in mid summer!!!

Yech!