First game of the season and my starting pitcher hurts his elbow. It's right on the inside where the ligament is. He threw a pitch, looked over at me and told me to come out. I knew it wasn't good because this kid is hard nosed. I went out there and asked the questions, did the push / feel things and talked to him. I took him out immediately and put ice on it.
I'm looking for those of you who have experience with elbow problems and what to look for in terms of a serious injury.
I really don't think he's hurt that bad but I don't really know. He was in the third inning and was around 35 pitches (our cap for him tonight wss 65). He threw a fastball and he bounced it. The next pitch is when he called me out. He said he felt it pop and it got tight on him. I couldn't tell if there was any swelling.
After he comes out I gave him a few minutes then went back over and gave him another look. He had a full range of mobility and could take his fingers and pull them back (like the stretch - if that makes sense) with nominal pain. He would do it and look at me and say in a calm voice it didn't hurt but he could feel it.
I told his mom to take him to the doctor in the morning and she is.
I'm hoping for the best but not real sure because I have never had a guy with an elbow injury. I don't really know what to look for or signs of a problem.
When life hands you gators - make Gatorade
Posts: 1166 | Location: Kentucky but soon to be North Carolina | Registered: May 12, 2006
One check is to hold the elbow on the outside (away from the body) with the elbow bent a bit less than 90 degrees, the push on the side of the hand pushing the hand away from the body. To get a better description google valgus stress test. That will usually cause pain if there's a UCL problem, but other things can mimic a UCL problem.
It sounds like you did the right thing by pulling him and sending him to the doctor.
Posts: 4703 | Location: Southern CA, USA | Registered: January 02, 2003
Very possible UCL injury but it could just be a sprained ligament. A sprained ligament is still a tear so one must be careful, however, it's the best-case scenario from the sound of the "pop" symptom. The inside area is the key area and thus the mention of the UCL. ICE, ICE, ICE in moderation, along with swelling reducers and such until doctors visit tomorrow at the ortho specialist.
My opinion: Didn't rip it off the bone. If he stays in the game it's curtains. You did the wise thing and I think he'll be pitching again in about 3 to 4 weeks. Just my opinion and I am NOT a doctor nor an arm expert nor an athletic trainer of any kind. But you are asking and I am responding. Good luck coach, I hope he has a full recovery and is back in action in 2-3 weeks as opposed to 3 to 4.
Posts: 354 | Location: Michigan | Registered: September 02, 2007
My son is a catcher, and when his UCL let go, it happened on a single throw. He was throwing down to second between innings and felt a "pop" and burning sensation right after that.
More than anything, he needs to be seen by a qualified orthopedist, soon. If he goes to a primary care physician, chances are great that they won't know how to manipulate the elbow, i.e. valgus stress, and will probably diagnose it as tendinitis or a strain. Hopefully, that's all it will be, but if he goes to an orthopedist who is familiar with elbows, they can tell pretty quickly whether there is any likely injury to the ligament and will decide whether to prescribe an MRA.
Please let us know how he's doing after he sees the doc.
Posts: 1211 | Location: California | Registered: January 10, 2004
Thanks for your help and advice guys. I saw him this morning and he said it was tight and sore. I asked him when he was going to the doctor and he said he probably won't go. So the first thing I did was email his mom. Haven't heard back from her yet.
He's going to the doctor even if I have to drive him.
06catcherdad - great advice about the ortho doc instead of family doc. I will pass that on to his mom.
When life hands you gators - make Gatorade
Posts: 1166 | Location: Kentucky but soon to be North Carolina | Registered: May 12, 2006
If it's tight and sore, something is wrong. The key is to find out WHAT. He can waste time not going to the doctor, but that's all he's doing. He'll have enough time stretch out between when he's seen by a doctor and anything is done to treat it, other than rest and anti-inflammatories, so he might as well get in there sooner, rather than later.
One thing you should consider is advising him and his parents that he won't be allowed to throw on your team until he gets it checked out and provides a clearance from the doc, assuming it's nothing serious. That'll probably get him in there more cooperatively and sooner.
Posts: 1211 | Location: California | Registered: January 10, 2004
Originally posted by coach2709: I asked him when he was going to the doctor and he said he probably won't go. So the first thing I did was email his mom. Haven't heard back from her yet.
He's going to the doctor even if I have to drive him.
Definitely what you need to do. He MUST go to the doctor. That is, unless he WANTS to be out for a year.
I'll echo what 06catcherdad said about going to an ortho rather than a family doc. But I'd take it even a little further than that; he should be seen by an ortho who specializes in ARMS. I also like his advice regarding you not allowing him to throw until he gets checked out. Sore arms are not to be taken lightly.
I hope that the doctor visit reveals nothing very serious. But somehow I don't think that is going to be the case. Let us know, please.
Posts: 1773 | Location: Cook County | Registered: June 07, 2005
Originally posted by coach2709: First game of the season and my starting pitcher hurts his elbow. It's right on the inside where the ligament is. He threw a pitch, looked over at me and told me to come out. I knew it wasn't good because this kid is hard nosed. I went out there and asked the questions, did the push / feel things and talked to him. I took him out immediately and put ice on it.
I'm looking for those of you who have experience with elbow problems and what to look for in terms of a serious injury.
I really don't think he's hurt that bad but I don't really know. He was in the third inning and was around 35 pitches (our cap for him tonight wss 65). He threw a fastball and he bounced it. The next pitch is when he called me out. He said he felt it pop and it got tight on him. I couldn't tell if there was any swelling.
After he comes out I gave him a few minutes then went back over and gave him another look. He had a full range of mobility and could take his fingers and pull them back (like the stretch - if that makes sense) with nominal pain. He would do it and look at me and say in a calm voice it didn't hurt but he could feel it.
I told his mom to take him to the doctor in the morning and she is.
I'm hoping for the best but not real sure because I have never had a guy with an elbow injury. I don't really know what to look for or signs of a problem.
The primary care physician will usually say "ice, rest, no throwing for 3-4 weeks." You need to get this kid to an elbow specialist. They will push on the inner elbow to see where it hurts, then they wrack your arm in all different directions to see what is going on. For a high school aged player, they will likely (and should) do an MRI to get a better idea of what happened.
I've been down this road myself as an adult and it's not fun. Keep throwing and 3-4 weeks off can easily become 6-12 months.
Posts: 118 | Location: Southfield, MI | Registered: October 04, 2006
I have already told him he's not throwing for a long time. In fact after I took him out last night I was still on the field talking to the umpire and making sure my new pitcher got enough throws to get loose (I know you get as many as you need but wanted to make sure he took them). I look over at the dugout and the guy I just took out was getting ready to start tossing on the side.
I yelled at him to stop and thankfully did.
His mom does have an appointment scheduled for tomorrow to see an ortho doctor. She is a nurse so she is pretty knowledgable in most of this stuff.
When life hands you gators - make Gatorade
Posts: 1166 | Location: Kentucky but soon to be North Carolina | Registered: May 12, 2006
Originally posted by coach2709: Thanks again guys.
I have already told him he's not throwing for a long time. In fact after I took him out last night I was still on the field talking to the umpire and making sure my new pitcher got enough throws to get loose (I know you get as many as you need but wanted to make sure he took them). I look over at the dugout and the guy I just took out was getting ready to start tossing on the side.
I yelled at him to stop and thankfully did.
His mom does have an appointment scheduled for tomorrow to see an ortho doctor. She is a nurse so she is pretty knowledgable in most of this stuff.
Great, just make sure she verifies that they do a valgus stress.
Posts: 354 | Location: Michigan | Registered: September 02, 2007
By the way, if the doc does a valgus stress test and they have to peel him off the ceiling, or revive him, that's not a good sign. I can remember when Dr. Akizuki (SF Giants team doc, and one of the best elbow guys around) checked my son's elbow, he had him turning beet red, then sweating, then about to pass out. Dr. A's words "BAD sign!" His UCL was torn in two places. He's been trowing for a while with a partial tear that caused no pain, so nobody knew about it. The second one partly avulsed the ligament from the bone, and that is the one that hurt.
Since his surgery, he's had a rehab with no setbacks in his rehab and his arm is great. Go to the right surgeon if it's torn, not who your insurance wants to send you to, and get an equally good Physical Therapist, as they are as important after the surgery as the doc is who does the surgery.
Hopefully, he'll just need some rest and rehab, and will be good to go without getting that 6" scar.
Posts: 1211 | Location: California | Registered: January 10, 2004
Had a game tonight and there was a certified athletic trainer there. He gave him a really good look over and said it wasn't the ligament but just above it in some soft tissue.
He said the ligament still felt very strong and he had full movement. Said needed to rest and ice with antiinflamatories. Thinks he can start tossing by Friday.
I told him mom he still needed to go to the doctor and I think she is still taking him. The trainer did make me feel somewhat better.
When life hands you gators - make Gatorade
Posts: 1166 | Location: Kentucky but soon to be North Carolina | Registered: May 12, 2006
Coach2709 The most commun cause of pain in the inside part of the elbow is tendinitis and is probable the best prognostic of all possibles. Anti-inflamatories and complete arm rest is the main remedy. This is just for information, because the doctor is the one that could determinate what it is and what to do. Good luck to your player.
Faith is to believe what you don't see; The reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
a few years back, son heard the pop. went to the sports med. doc. he diagnosed a tired arm. 2 months later after an mra,.............. , tj surgery. make sure the doc puts him through the paces. i'm sure most would anyway, but i felt the need to say it.
Posts: 1549 | Location: new hampshire | Registered: March 25, 2003
I can remember when Dr. Akizuki (SF Giants team doc, and one of the best elbow guys around) checked my son's elbow, he had him turning beet red, then sweating, then about to pass out. Dr. A's words "BAD sign!" His UCL was torn in two places. He's been trowing for a while with a partial tear that caused no pain, so nobody knew about it. The second one partly avulsed the ligament from the bone, and that is the one that hurt.
