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Until recently, Richard Reeves has lived a fairly routine life – working the overnight shift at a nearby hotel, doing freelance IT computer repairs, and painting. However, after experiencing such a severe break in his right foot that he and his wife heard what they thought was a gunshot, his life was turned upside down.
While simply walking barefoot through his living room in 2022, Richard, 52, of Monteagle, experienced a sudden and severe injury. A muffled sound resembling a pistol shot echoed through the room as his fifth metatarsal (the bone connecting the little toe to the ankle) snapped. His wife, sitting nearby watching TV, heard the alarming noise. Despite having peripheral neuropathy—a condition that impairs his ability to feel sensations in his feet—Richard knew something was seriously wrong.
The next day, an X-ray confirmed the break, which was so bad that Richard was left struggling to walk, unable to drive, and facing surgery with increased risks due to his borderline diabetic condition. Forced to rely on his wife to drive him to and from work, Richard followed strict instructions from his doctor to rest his foot, but his bone made no healing progress for six months following the accident.
Faced with the daunting prospect of surgery, Richard’s anxiety soared, heightened by the additional risks posed by his borderline diabetes. Diabetes, which impacts nearly 20 million men across the country, increases fracture risk and impairs healing. Diabetes damages the skeletal system, leading to problems like weakened bone quality, decreased bone strength, and slower bone healing.
Searching for an alternative, his orthopedic doctor, Dr. John Arnold of Southern Tennessee Medical Group, suggested EXOGEN™, a bone healing stimulation system. After using the device twice daily for two months, Richard was able to walk pain-free once more, and his follow-up X-rays revealed solid bone regrowth. In just a matter of months, he had gone from relying on his wife and a cane to get around, to regaining full mobility and independence.
“My usual life is back in my hands now,” said Richard, who is now able to resume his daily activities, such as standing to wash dishes and driving longer distances, and enjoy his favorite pastimes: reading, drawing, and painting.
Richard and his wife have even recently adopted two kittens since his recovery, making things a bit busier at home. Beyond the simple pleasures, Richard and his wife are now also looking forward to taking a few trips, such as to Huntsville, AL to see a movie.
