Made in SD: Wearable, pain relief technology - KSFY

CLEAR LAKE, S.D. (KSFY) - Chronic pain and opioid use are becoming an epidemic in the United States.

"We're doing it right here in the heartland of the US," said Greg Houlgate, founder of Oska Wellness. "Helping people get off of harmful drugs and really painful ways of dealing with chronic pain."

His company, right here in South Dakota, is looking to make an impact.

Oska Pulse, created by Oska Wellness, is a non-drug, non-invasive device that uses pulse electric magnetic field.

"People use this device instead of taking drugs or in some cases, they have to remediate or lessen their amount of drugs that they use," Houlgate said.

People like Tom Gerner. In 2016, Gerner hurt his back and spent much of the next year in and out of the doctor trying to figure out what was wrong and how to stop the chronic pain.

"I was taking Aleve like candy," Gerner said. "Nothing would work. I couldn't walk. The only time that I felt good was laying flat on my back.

The next year Gerner met Houlgate and discovered Oska Pulse.

"I mean I tell you, in that 40 minute span when I first put this in my pocket, instant relief and I was miserable when I got there," Gerner said. "It's the first time I felt relief in a year."

And he's had it on him ever since. The device is simple to use. You can wear it in your back pocket or with a strap that you can put on your body. Meaning no electrodes, no cables, and no gels.

"No matter where I wear the device, the field, so if I have it on my back, it works on my body," Houlgate said. "If I have it up on my shoulder it's going to treat an area, about the size of a beach ball."

And Houlgate says the best part is having the device made at a facility in Clear Lake, South Dakota.

"Having it made here in South Dakota with class A manufacturing is significant for us," Houlgate said. "We are committed to making the product here made in the USA."

Gerner said he can enjoy himself and have fun again and not be in that chronic pain.

"Its given me my life back," Gerner said.

The device sells for $400 online but Houlgate said if people get it through their local doctor, insurance may cover it. It is available over-the-counter and also from Sanford Health without a prescription.

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