Hello everyone! Just wondering if anyone is or has used a bone stimulator ( orthofix )? It is a belt that I have to wear about four hours a day for bone stimulation. Almost reminds me of Darth Vaders belt! Been wearing it now for two days. All Thoughts and comments welcome. Peace to all.
I've got an electronic bone growth stimulator, a different kind from yours. I have the EBI SpinalPakII. It has two sticky pads that go on my back, one on each side of my incision about 4-6 inches apart. The pads have electrodes that hook up to a little pack that fits into my pocket. It has two rechargable batteries that I change daily, and I wear it 24/7 except in the shower. I can't feel it at all, but supposedly the two electrodes interact electronically and stimulate bone growth. They're seeing bone growth happening, so I guess it's doing something.
I'll do whatever has even a remote possibility of helping! I want bone to grow!
I have no idea why my doctor hasn't put somthing on me to help me fuse. So far I had 2 non-unions and looking at another one. I'm not sure yet but I will find out on Jan 8th if my bone is growing or not. My surgeon get's really upset about me not fusing , I understand it's not his fault I don't fuse , I just wish he would stop lying to himself and I about me fusing.
I'm going to mention the bone stim on my next surgery if need be. i don't hope for another , I just hope to be better, and I will do whatever it takes to work this next time. Does a CT show bone growth well ?
After my first operation I used one like you have . I had a fusion problem and had to have a second operation. This time I had a bone stimulator inserted into my back that runs from a battery. Doctor says it can stay in and not removed after the battery runs out.
I had my surgery on friday and got to say an moving around pretty well. Not jogging yet, but at home and loving being with the kids. The first night in the hospital was horrible. trying to forget that, bu all in all, no pre op pain rearing its head. I am having a Bone growth stimulator fitted soon because I chew smokeless tobacco and that is a no no for fusions. Studies I have read on the internet say these things are amazing! good luck and it was good to see you here.
I had a three level cervical fusion in Feb 2005. 2 of the grafts meshed nicely, but the 3rd one was stubborn and, a full year after the surgery, no healing had taken place in that one joint. I was given a bone growth stimulator to wear several hours a day and the results were miraculous. Within 2 months from the time I started using the stimulator, the graft had 90% meshed with my own bone.
--Lou
I had a three level cervical fusion in Feb 2005. 2 of the grafts meshed nicely, but the 3rd one was stubborn and, a full year after the surgery, no healing had taken place in that one joint. I was given a bone growth stimulator to wear several hours a day and the results were miraculous. Within 2 months from the time I started using the stimulator, the graft had 90% meshed with my own bone.
--Lou
I had a three level cervical fusion in Feb 2005. 2 of the grafts meshed nicely, but the 3rd one was stubborn and, a full year after the surgery, no healing had taken place in that one joint. I was given a bone growth stimulator to wear several hours a day and the results were miraculous. Within 2 months from the time I started using the stimulator, the graft had 90% meshed with my own bone.
--Lou
I had a three level cervical fusion in Feb 2005. 2 of the grafts meshed nicely, but the 3rd one was stubborn and, a full year after the surgery, no healing had taken place in that one joint. I was given a bone growth stimulator to wear several hours a day and the results were miraculous. Within 2 months from the time I started using the stimulator, the graft had 90% meshed with my own bone.
--Lou
Thank you guys for your input! I will keep wearing it everyday, sounds better than not! Japutie, glad you are home!!!!! I smoked for along time. I have not touched cigarettes now for 22 days now!!! never will again! All I have to do is think of that first night in the hospital Anyway I am routing for you. Again, Thanks everyone for your imput!!!
Thank you guys for your input! I will keep wearing it everyday, sounds better than not! Japutie, glad you are home!!!!! I smoked for along time. I have not touched cigarettes now for 22 days now!!! never will again! All I have to do is think of that first night in the hospital Anyway I am routing for you. Again, Thanks everyone for your imput!!!
Thank you guys for your input! I will keep wearing it everyday, sounds better than not! Japutie, glad you are home!!!!! I smoked for along time. I have not touched cigarettes now for 22 days now!!! never will again! All I have to do is think of that first night in the hospital Anyway I am routing for you. Again, Thanks everyone for your imput!!!
I had my surgery on friday and got to say an moving around pretty well. Not jogging yet, but at home and loving being with the kids. The first night in the hospital was horrible. trying to forget that, bu all in all, no pre op pain rearing its head. I am having a Bone growth stimulator fitted soon because I chew smokeless tobacco and that is a no no for fusions. Studies I have read on the internet say these things are amazing! good luck and it was good to see you here.
I chewed copenhagen for 20+ years, had to have one first thing in the morning everymorning , well back in 2004 I quit cold turkey , as I went in for my surgery I gave my wife my can and said no more ! That was it, I stopped. It was hard. Anyway, I wonder if thats why I'm still not fusing ?
Hey! thanks for input on the stimulator, don't feel as silly wearing it now. Hey Japutie, I smoked for over ten years, I quit nov 28, 06 23 days no smoking. I will never smoke again, if I even think about wanting one all I have to do is think of the first night at the hospital I know it is a hard thing to quit, but I believe it is so worth it for my recovery and yours. One day at a time I quess!!!! well can't sit anymore. must go.
love to all
For some reason I can not read all the posts on this thread??? So I if someone has asked my a question and or a hello/comment I am not ignoring you. Just wanted you guys to know.
Glad to see that your back from surgery. I had the bone stimulator that you have. It was kinda funny the first time that I was wearing it and talking on the phone, I kept hearing this beep and was like what the heck is that....because of my meds and all, I thought that I was losing my mind..
I was afraid to sit at the computer with it...ha, I thought that I might spark something.lol
Wishing you a happy holiday season and a speedy recovery,
Bernie
Hi every one. I am new here, just registared....I was searching around about the SpinalPakII Bone Stimulator and found this room.
Just a quick history...I have had four back surgeries stating in 1991 and the last one in 1994...two disks removed from my lumbar area....then in 2000 I ruptured two disk in my neck, they had to come out and hardware put in....I also had hard ware put in my back but after a year that had to come out.
Then as luck would have it, I just had my second neck surgery because a couple weeks ago I ruptured another disk in my neck just below the bottom of the hardware that was put in, in 2000. So I am very fortunate to still have the same wonderful spinal surgeon that I have had since 1991.....and on March 29th just a little over two weeks ago, I had my second neck surgery...only this time he said that the old plates can come out because the bones have fused really strong and looked good, then he would implant a new plate at the surgical site of this surgery. It all went well, other than scar tissue had adhered to my esophaus and there was a small tiny tear therer but he called in another surgeon just to be on the safe side, a couple stitches and all was well. I came home the next day and as opposed to wearing my hard collar I still have from my first neck surgery, I only have to wear the soft collar, which is so much better to deal with.
I had my staples removed yesterday and that is when they hooked me up to the bone stimulator. I still have my tens unit that I was given back in 1992 which at times I have used....but where the tens unit, you can feel the electical impulses, I was very shocked to find out that with the bone stimulator it is at such a high frequency that you don't feel anything at all. I was told that I have to wear it 24/7 except when I shower and I have to wear it for six months.
So this surgery marks my sixth spinal surgery and I honestly hope that it is my last spinal surgery. I am not sure how many disc one person can have removed and still have a functioning spine and I really don't want to find out.
I have been on Disability since 1991 and I am here to tell any one that Social Security Disability does not make a person rich by any means.
Any way I have not use this stimulator long enough to say it does or does not work for me, but I do know that I trust my surgeon, I have had him for many years and since I was given the stimulator, I have seen more and more people with them and also have read so much about it on line. So I guess times do change, technology moves forward, and things improve and get better.
Thanks for listening, for letting me tell my story and I wish all of you a quick and healthy recovery and continued good health. Hope to hear from some of you soon, glad to be able to be here.
I have no idea why my doctor hasn't put somthing on me to help me fuse. So far I had 2 non-unions and looking at another one. I'm not sure yet but I will find out on Jan 8th if my bone is growing or not. My surgeon get's really upset about me not fusing , I understand it's not his fault I don't fuse , I just wish he would stop lying to himself and I about me fusing.
I'm going to mention the bone stim on my next surgery if need be. i don't hope for another , I just hope to be better, and I will do whatever it takes to work this next time. Does a CT show bone growth well ?
Thanks
I would for sure mention it to your doctor. I just started wearing one a few weeks ago after I had my second back surgery. I had a 3 level fusion of the lumbar spine and the bottom level didn't take at all, but the rest of it did. I have already been for a follow up appointment and something seems to be helping. It is kind of a pain to wear but if it helps it heal then it is worth a try for me. My doctor told me since I have never been a smoker that the reason I didn't fuse was probably because I lived off of a lot of anti-inflammatorys on top of my pain meds. It seems to help the pain meds work better. I don't know if you take alot of meds like that but it is something to consider.
Anyway I am routing for you. Again, Thanks everyone for your imput!!!
