LLD - Leg Length Discrepancy

LLD

What’s that?  For this little blog post, it’s Leg Length Discrepancy.  This can be any difference in length between the 2 legs, often causing a limp, chronic pain, long-term anatomical issues.  The cause can be skeletal with the tibia or femur bones presenting with different sizes, or maybe a muscular issue, possibly a pelvic tilt.  Further, LLD can be from trauma or have a congenital origin.

Many will dismiss complaints of LLD as a minor issue.  I can attest to the fact that for many, many folks, a LLD over just ½” or greater can be disabling.  In my specific case, my right leg LLD originated with a 1983 motorcycle accident (along with 2 not-so-great orthopedic surgeons).  Over time my ¾” LLD caused severe osteoarthritis in my back, left hip & right ankle.  I began to wear a shoe lift & a light ankle brace.

How did this LLD play out up till now (~42 years after my accident)?  Decreased ankle mobility + increased pain led to severe limp, a leg brace & total hip replacement on my “good” side in 2017.  Did this help?  Well, my LLD went from ¾” pre-surgery to 2” post-surgergy.  This caused severe imbalance.  Luckily, my cobbler is excellent & he build up my shoe about 1.5”, then I can fine-tune with lifts.

In about 2021 I started wearing my super-woman bionic carbon brace.  Maybe not bionic exactly, but it’s allowed me to continue walking with relative ease despite zero (yep, 0) Cartlidge in my right ankle.  I can’t walk without my shoes (I hop around if needed), wear slippers or pretty sandals anymore….but I CAN walk & in this moment, I’m very happy.