Bone Stimulator

Today I got a new cast and the Exogen Bone Stimulator. "The EXOGEN^◊ Ultrasound Bone Healing System is an ultrasound device that you apply over the fracture site and is safe to use 20 minutes a day. The system emits a low-intensity, pulsed ultrasound signal. The ultrasound waves have been shown in laboratory tests to stimulate genes and growth factors that are critical to your body’s natural bone healing process."

It's to be used over my 2nd and 3rd metatarsals. I guess from the x-ray yesterday, those two fractures have not shown much healing compared to the other fractures. Let's just hope it works.

The doctor told me it was covered by insurance but today the Exogen rep wasn't sure if it was covered fully. He said I may have to pay 20%. The device retails for about $3K so I would like it to be 100% covered.

It came in it's own carrying case. Inside is the device, ultrasound gel to put on the transducer thing that goes against my skin, and a strap with applicator to use once I'm in a boot and out of the cast.

I forgot to take pictures today but once I was at home, this is what it all looks like. I open this plug in my cast, pull out felt plug. The felt plug prevents "window edema" (swelling). Then I apply gel to the transducer and enclose it inside the hole so it's next to my skin. The transducer is round, flat, and black, and fills up the hole completely. Then I turn on the device. It's automatically detects if there is gel otherwise it won't start. Then it counts down from 20 minutes. It keeps track of how many times you've completed the routine. There are only 150 times before the battery has to be replaced.

This unit is mine to keep. The rep said it was illegal to sell it but I saw them for sale on Ebay. hmmm?? Maybe I can help defray some of my medical expenses when this is all done. I'm just kidding. I don't know why they can't be reused though. The company that makes it is Smith and Nephew, based out of Memphis. This is used for bones all over your body.

Now I'm in a cast for four weeks so other than the newness of this bone stimulator voodoo (how the doctor described it) there is nothing else all that exciting. Well, maybe the new blue color. My foot is back to feeling tight inside the cast. So far, it's been pretty uncomfortable tonight.

Tonight I drove the truck down the mountain to pick up my son. He had a soccer game in Decatur and another parent brought him back to Huntsville, so I met them at the pool. The pool is about 4 miles away. That's makes 3 times I've driven in the past 6 weeks. I'm going to start driving to my carpool buddy's house on a regular basis. It will help to keep a pillow in the truck and SUV to prop under my leg for added comfort.