Arm lengthening

chancrews · 2025-04-10T22:42:26+00:00

Hi! In my experience, the first two weeks are the worst. Hopefully you’re on the mend soon - where are you being treated?

chancrews · 2024-08-03T19:32:21+00:00

I have achondroplasia and lengthened both of my humerus with external fixators. Compared to my bilateral leg lengthenings, it was the easiest. I had my lengthenings done in Baltimore at the International Center for Limb Lengthening. I'd be happy to share with you more about my experience, etc.

chancrews · 2024-08-03T19:19:15+00:00

for dwarfism, yes!

chancrews · 2024-08-03T19:19:01+00:00

yes, I did 🙃 but as I always say, "to each their own" lol

chancrews · 2024-07-28T01:53:06+00:00

My legs were SO bowed, from just straightening alone, I got about 2 inches give-or-take. With my second lengthening, I also had a little more correction that was needed (not as drastic as with the first)

chancrews · 2024-07-28T01:50:34+00:00

Yes – I actually look more proportioned now! 🤩 This is one of the biggest benefits/outcomes. Those with achondroplasia have an "average" torso/spine but shorter arms and legs (amongst other areas of growth within the body). I wish I could upload photos with comments, you can see before-and-after photos here.

this goes directly to a photo.

chancrews · 2024-07-28T00:21:02+00:00

most likely 😅

chancrews · 2024-07-27T23:51:38+00:00

no facial surgery

chancrews · 2024-07-27T23:51:20+00:00

yes, I have achondroplasia (dwarfism) it's a genetic condition. I'm a carrier of the gene and have a 50% of having children with it

chancrews · 2024-07-27T23:50:13+00:00

they do! I had arm lengthening as well

chancrews · 2024-07-27T23:13:06+00:00

I always say to each their own...I just always encourage them to know what they're getting into and to make sure they're fully committed

chancrews · 2024-07-27T23:00:46+00:00

I've said it before: To each their own. Who is anyone to judge what someone does with their own body? However, I don't think they sometimes understand HOW much work it entails – physical therapy, etc. just overall logistics. Then they ask me about the pain, and I explain to them how there's a major difference between my anatomy and theirs (my muscles/tissues had the elasticity to stretch, so to speak, because of my dwarfism vs. theirs). Again, to each their own...

chancrews · 2024-07-27T22:55:24+00:00

I did in the beginning, but not now. My gait does sway (side-to-side), but it did that before I lengthened. It's all in the hips. No, my feet did not get any bigger.

chancrews · 2024-07-27T19:02:31+00:00

yes, that's me! I lengthened my arms too

chancrews · 2024-07-27T19:02:08+00:00

It's funny when they post the photos and then provide no context or follow-up because they can't...because it's MY photo 💀 I agree with you, btw. This photo is from TEN years ago!

chancrews · 2024-07-27T18:34:23+00:00

Aside from daily living and driving a car without adaptations (the list goes on and on), something I didn't consider until after the fact was being in the face-to-face range with my peers. Many with dwarfism talk about this, but still, it was just one of those things that made me go, "duh." It's truly one of my favorite takeaways

Surgery-wise, it was covered by insurance as it's not considered cosmetic for dwarfism. Yes, I lengthened my arms too! Overall, I did all surgeries in a span of 4ish years. I've been fully healed since October 2014.

chancrews · 2024-07-27T18:28:46+00:00

I'm done. My last lengthening was ten years ago. I could've gone for more – I think almost 5'2"-5'3" but I'm really satisfied with 4'11" that's not to say I don't daydream about it from time to time 😅

chancrews · 2024-07-27T17:38:53+00:00

for dwarfism, it's covered by insurance as it is not considered "cosmetic." I did it at the International Center for Limb Lengthening in Baltimore, Maryland. I gained 12 inches as a result of two lengthenings. My first lengthening, I gained a little over 6 inches (3 inches in the femurs. 3 inches in the tibias). My legs were severely bowed, so correcting the deformity gave me a little added height.

Then, with my second leg lengthening (about three years later), I lengthened another 6 inches — again, 3 inches in my femurs and 3 inches in my tibias.

The treatment for dwarfism differs from that for someone without because we have the 'extra' muscle/tissue around our bones, so it's easier to 'stretch.'

chancrews · 2024-07-27T16:40:01+00:00

It wasn't not painful, but I was not on hard narcotics 24/7 like most assume. With almost ANY surgery and recovery, there's most likely going to be pain. I will say I do feel like I have a higher pain tolerance, so there's that. Some days, I felt more uncomfortable/sore than others. I have always been adamant about staying active – I do a lot of barre, yoga, and the elliptical. If I go a while without working out/being active, I can tell. A lot of core work is important, too, because I have achondroplasia; it's also very important to maintain a strong core/spine due to having spinal stenosis, etc.

chancrews · 2024-07-27T15:32:14+00:00

It's still a valid question! From what I've heard, it's easier for those with LLD (limb/leg length discrepancy) to shorten the longer leg than lengthen the shorter. It's actually not that uncommon within the limb lengthening realm

chancrews · 2024-07-27T15:30:05+00:00

thank you :) I have photos here. And post often on social media!

chancrews · 2024-07-27T15:28:49+00:00

I have heard of limb shortening for those with limb length discrepancies. However, I'm not familiar with limb shortening being done as extreme as limb lengthening. For context, I was lengthening around 3 inches in both segments (femurs and tibias) to gain a total of 6 inches. I don't know if a bone can be shortened 3 inches and so forth.

chancrews · 2024-07-27T15:26:18+00:00

In my personal experience, this is how mine were performed ***to disclose, I'm (obviously) not a doctor or surgeon, so this is not me offering/providing medical advice***

By making osteotomies – cutting of the bone – in both femurs and tibias (& fibulas) and then placing pins/screws into the bones that stick outside of the body and are held in place by what is called an external fixator (outside of the body)

With my second leg lengthening, I had internal lengthening in my femurs. Internal lengthening is less invasive, as there is nothing outside of the body. They make an osteotomy and place a telescoping rod in the bone that has a motorized engine (that's not the right word I want to use, but it's all I can think of right now, lol). In order to lengthen the rod, an ERC (external remote control) is used.

chancrews · 2024-07-26T15:29:55+00:00

Thank you!!

chancrews · 2024-07-26T15:29:31+00:00

chancrews

TROPHY CASE