I had an Illizarov on my leg for almost 2 years and it's not as bad as you might think! AMA.

Mine was way more complex than the one pictured in the article, consisting of 9 titanium rings/joints and 19 bone support needles (38 exit wounds!).

In my case they removed 2 inches of my tibia, and completely removed my fibia; and I basically walked on the illizarov for almost 6 months while the bone grew in. Everyday, 4 times a day, I had to turn a dozen little screws and nuts 1/8th of a turn, slowwwly extending my bone as it grew together. Occasionally the doctor would pull a Hail Mary on me and crank that shit tight. I'd be in pain for a few weeks after that, but I could still walk on it and I was never prescribed pain meds. it was basically like wearing braces for your teeth, on your leg... you get used to it and carry on.

The pain was minimal, but chronic. I was walking on it after just a few days out of surgery. Within a couple weeks I was bouncing around on it like it wasn't a thing (I was 11yo). After a few months I'd occasionally run/jog/wobble on it. When I had it put on at the Cleveland Clinic, I was given an award for the youngest to ever wear one. When I had it taken off, I was given another award for the longest ever worn. Two awards I could do without.

The entry wounds were a pain in the ass though; a never ending infection battle. Daily cleaning with peroxide and saline, constant weeping and puss. I had to prevent the skin from scabbing around the needles, so I also had to 'break' the entry wounds.

The part I hated the most was the crossed signals in my brain/instincts. I was /always/ aware that the bone was broken, and that I shouldn't be walking on it. Sometimes my brain would freak out and make my knee/muscles go limp as some kind of safety instinct. Everyday when I woke up I'd have to sit and think about my first steps or my brain/muscles wouldn't cooperate.

Anyhow, yeah, life's been a real bitch. I lasted 1 year after getting it taken off, before breaking it again.