Injury Time Out

Let me get the baseball news out of the way. Aaron Judge avoided arbitration by accepting an offer off $8.5 million for the 2020 season. He is still a bargain. Mookie Betts set a record with a $27 million deal from Boston. Cody Bellinger, the NL MVP, did quite well in avoiding arbitration as did the Yankees’ duo of Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela.

Alex Cora, already under suspicion for sign stealing while with Houston, now has a similar accusation against his 2018 Boston Red Sox. This sounds like some serious trouble ahead for him after MLB completes its investigations.

More importantly, at least to me, is that I had PRP injections (Platelet Rich Plasma) in my L peroneus tendon. Three to be exact. They hurt like heck, as the needle which is used to send the plasma into the affected areas to promote healing, is moved around just enough to get into the tendon. There is no anesthesia—just some topical coldness spray, which does almost nothing. No fun at all.

It is an interesting procedure—one which Medicare calls “experimental.” That is code for they aren’t paying and the out-of-pocket cost is hefty enough. Blood is drawn from the arm like any other blood work. Then the vial is placed in a spinner for 10 minutes to separate the plasma. Those spinners go for a cool $12,000, with other needed accessories jacking up the cost for the physician. 

Then comes the actual injection. No matter how much the doctor apologized for the pain, that didn’t deter him, nor me. He used a fluoroscope to monitor the locations after we had rigorously identified the pain spots. I had been through this previously almost 4 years ago, in nearly the same spot.  I was definitely encouraged by his gleeful shouts of “bullseye’ and “home run” to punctuate what he thought was a highly successful procedure.

There were differences between the two procedures. I left Manhattan in a walking boot in 1996. On Tuesday, I left the Millburn site in a tennis sneaker. The prior injection had 2 spots, as opposed to the 3 I received on Tuesday. While both required me to ice the spot and elevate my foot, I didn’t recall tas much post-injection pain as I experienced on Tuesday night into Wednesday. I was definitely hobbling, and since I wasn’t allowed any Advil/Aleve/Motrin or topical pain reducers, it was a rather uncomfortable night spent on the cellar couch. The pain was such that I called the doctor to find out if Tylenol was in play. He permitted me to take some, and the pain quickly relented and my limping became almost non-existent. 

I am allowed to conduct normal activities for now. Walks, weights or any other gym-like activities are forbidden. I have reviewed an article on the Internet from the University of Wisconsin regarding recovery from PRP. I am, in this instance, ahead of the Wisconsin formula, which would have kept me non-weight bearing for 3 days, using crutches and in the boot. So for that I am grateful.

I still ice the ankle a couple of times daily and will sleep with it elevated, this time bravely moving back to the bedroom. I am limiting my steps—I did not even leave the house on Friday. Two weeks is the next doctor’s appointment to assess the situation—that conforms with the Wisconsin timetable. 

Physical therapy might be next—that happened the last time. We’ll see. The doctor left me in a positive mindset and I am not going to do much to create problems. It worked well previously—there should be no reason that it won’t work again. 

I am continually amazed at the advances in medical science which puts athletes or those way past their prime back exercising or playing the sports they love. I think about the horrible knee surgeries Mickey Mantle and Joe Namath endured over 60 years ago. Had they had the opportunity for arthroscopic surgery, their careers would have been even more magnificent. Ditto ex-Yankee great Mel Stottlemyer, whose arm soreness was probably a rotator cuff injury for which arthroscopic surgery   could have extended a potentially great career.

Of course, the most famous medical procedure is the one named after the pioneering athlete who was the guinea pig for those who would later follow and earn millions a result of being able to throw again. That is “Tommy John” surgery, named after the left-handed pitcher who pitched in New York, Los Angeles and Anaheim among other stops, recording nearly 300 wins in the process, most of them after Dr. Frank Jobe performed his magic on John’s elbow.

Comparatively, PRP is an easy procedure. Ironically, Kristaps Porzingis, the former Knicks star and now a member of the Dallas Mavericks, underwent PRP injections this week for a sore knee which had sidelined him since New Year’s Eve. The Mavs “commonly" use PRP for pain in “a variety of injuries,” as well as for “preventative maintenance,” according to ESPN.

Porzingis is not alone on the injury report for this week. Josh McCown, the 39 year old back up QB for the Eagles was forced to come into the game when starter Carson Wentz entered the concussion protocol in the second quarter of the home playoff loss to Seattle. McCown suffered a torn hamstring, which he gutted out to end the game, since Philadelphia had no reliable third QB on the roster. The injury is reported to be so severe—he apparently tore the muscle from the bone, which will require surgery to reattach the muscle—that he will be out for about 6 months, assuming the injury does not effectively end his career. 

Julian Edelman, the star receiver on the New England Patriots, has two upcoming surgeries—one for his knee and one for his shoulder. New York Jets QB Sam Darnold underwent successful surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left hand. 

Which makes me think about the grotesque finger displacement which Philadelphia 76’ers star power forward Joel Embiid suffered this week. He, too, will have ligament repair surgery and his return is unknown. My frame of reference is Steph Curry, who is still far removed from returning to the Golden State lineup after his finger injury and surgical repair. 

Even Rutgers has a player, top guard Geo Baker, who suffered ligament damage to his non-shooting hand and is out indefinitely. Rutgers has played well thus far in his absence, racking up wins at Nebraska and at home against #20 Penn State.

Another injury is the wound that Minnesota WR Adam Thelen suffered to his ankle in practice. The injury was significant enough that it required stitches. His status for Saturday’s game at San Francisco is in question. Teammates Jayron Kearse and Stefan Diggs are also banged up.

RB Mark Ingram of the Baltimore Ravens has had lingering calf issues that restricted him in practice this week. He is expected to play against Tennessee. Probable MVP Lamar Jackson has been suffering from the flu and is expected to play. Longtime observers will remind us that at this time of the year, almost every NFL player is banged up or ill.

Buffalo DE Jerry Hughes played in last Saturday’s game at Houston with torn wrist ligaments. That injury did not make the injury report, which has drawn the ire of the NFL. 

Sidney Crosby, the face of the Pittsburgh Penguins, is nearing a return from core muscle surgery. Top NBA Draft pick Zion Williamson, of the New Orleans Pelicans is working out with the team and is close to making his long-awaited debut.

Injured Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa, still recovering from season-ending hip surgery, made a decision to opt out of his senior season to play in the NFL. The fact that he still is projected as a high draft choice in the upcoming NFL Draft speaks to his ability to have significant surgery yet be expected to compete at an elite level.

Anthony Davis, the center the Lakers acquired in a trade with New Orleans, tumbled hard to the floor in a game against the Knicks this week at Staples Center. He suffered a contusion to his Gluteus Maximus and was scheduled to sit out in Dallas on Friday night. The injury looked scary and might easily have ended the Lakers run at a championship. Lebron James and crew seemingly dodged a bullet.

Kyrie Irving, the embattled star guard for the Brooklyn Nets, formerly of Boston and Cleveland, had a cortisone shot on December 24 to his aching right shoulder, as Irving tries to avoid surgery. There is no word of exactly when or if he is going to play.

Not to worry. Much ballyhooed Nets superstar Kevin Durant, out for the year after surgery for his Achilles tendon tear during the NBA Finals while still with Golden State, has engaged in a Twitter beef with former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Kendrick Perkins about who the better player on the team was. Perkins said Russell Westbrook was the best player on the team. Durant disagreed and the two exchanged personal shots at each other.  Again, this confirms that childish behavior by supposedly grown men can occur off the court.

Enough with the injuries, at least for now. In my Facebook posts, I received encouragement from Jack Simcsak, a former Highland Park football star who went on to punt at Virginia Tech. That, along with all of the other endearing wishes from friends, was so nice. 

I also had contact with another Highland Park alum. Jack Fertig was a three sport star at HPHS who later played at Upsala College before pursuing a career in coaching which led him to stops at Tennessee, USC and Fresno State as the Director of Basketball Operations for legendary basketball coaching icon, Jerry “The Shark” Tarkanian. 

Jack writes a blog and today he posted a Facebook memorial to Mike DePalmer, one of his two closest friends at Tennessee. DePalmer was a jock, just like the athletic lifer Jack became. Those who know tennis recognize the name—he co-founded the DePalmer-Bollettieri Tennis School in Florida with Nick Bollittieri. Bollittieri and his subsequent Academy were known for producing some of the greatest tennis players ever—Andre Agassi was his prized pupil. 

Before his fame, DePalmer did something extraordinary. He taught Jack Fertig tennis by relentlessly going on the court day after day with his adult pupil. 

Coaches might tell you otherwise, that this is what they do. What makes this story unique is that this famous man in tennis circles did this out of friendship. A person could not ask for more. 

Personally, I am sorry for Jack’s loss. As a tennis player, I am saddened as another innovator departs. 

I will remember this story when I make my expected return to the tennis courts from the injury list after the miracle of PRP heals me.