Zachary Watson, a 34-year-old avid mountaineer, faced a life-altering injury on August 9th while climbing Bugaboo Spire. A seemingly routine climb turned into a nightmare when a large block of rock dislodged, sending him falling approximately ten feet. In an instant, his ankle was severely damaged—his talus bone was forced through the skin, accompanied by extensive bleeding and instability. Zachary was left with multiple fractures, tendon ruptures, and a significant risk of avascular necrosis (AVN).

The Initial Injury and Emergency Response

Zachary recalls the intensity of the injury:

"I was climbing the Northeast Ridge of Bugaboo Spire when a large block shifted, causing me to fall about ten feet. My talus bone was pushed through the skin, and the pain was unbearable."

After stabilizing himself, Zachary quickly took emergency measures, including applying a tourniquet and sending an SOS signal via his satellite communicator. The rescue was complex, involving a helicopter long-line operation, and he was airlifted to Kelowna General Hospital.

In the hospital, the full extent of his injuries was revealed:

• A fractured talus requiring screws for fixation
• Transected peroneus brevis tendon
• Partially severed peroneus longus tendon
• A two-thirds transected Achilles tendon

Despite the successful surgeries that stabilized his joint, Zachary faced the grim reality that his ankle would never be the same, and the looming threat of AVN remained.

Turning to Red Light Therapy for Recovery

As Zachary embarked on the long road to recovery, he knew he needed to find new ways to support his healing process. He believed that red light therapy could play a crucial role in improving circulation, reducing inflammation, and accelerating tissue repair. This led him to PRUNGO’s FluxGo device.

“I received the Prungo FluxGo set, and I absolutely love it so far. Although I can’t use it on my ankle yet due to the cast, I’m confident that it will aid in my healing once I can start using it.”

Week 1: Managing Knee Discomfort

While waiting for his cast to be removed, Zachary decided to start using the FluxGo device on his left knee, which had been injured earlier in the year. He had suffered a grade 2 MCL sprain and had been favoring that knee while hopping around on his injured leg for months.

After a week and a half of use, Zachary reported noticeable improvements:

"I've been using the device twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. The lingering discomfort from my MCL sprain has started to dull down a bit. It's not fully gone, but it's certainly not bothering me as much as it did a couple of weeks ago."

Though Zachary’s primary focus was his ankle, he found the device’s impact on his knee promising and was eager to begin using it on his ankle once his cast was removed.

Week 2: Continued Progress on the Knee

By the second week of using the FluxGo device, Zachary noticed even more significant relief. He had been using it twice a day for about 20 minutes on a strong setting, and his knee discomfort had greatly diminished.

"I wouldn’t say the discomfort is completely gone, but it has significantly reduced. I hardly think about my knee anymore. I’m confident that daily use will speed up the healing of my talus fracture once my cast is off."

Zachary also found a creative solution to work with his cast—by using a window in the cast, he was able to place the FluxGo module directly over his ankle.

"I’ve been using the window to drop the FluxGo module inside. It's been great to use even while my ankle is still in the cast. I hope to see accelerated healing in the coming weeks."

Looking Forward: Expecting Significant Results

Zachary's recovery process is far from easy, but he remains optimistic. He looks forward to seeing tangible benefits once he can use the FluxGo device on his ankle. He has regular check-ups, with his next scheduled appointment on November 18th, when he hopes to transition to a boot.

"I'm excited to see how this therapy can help me recover. I’m scheduled for another CT scan in December, and I’m hopeful that FluxGo will be a key part of my recovery journey."

Zachary’s story is one of resilience, combining physical recovery with a positive mindset. While he continues to face challenges, his commitment to using innovative treatments like FluxGo is shaping the future of his recovery.