Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Doctor Brady to the consultation room

You have to think that Sidney Crosby is probably wondering about the state of health care these days, the Penguins start player seemingly going more than a year before someone in the medical world discovered that in addition to the many concerns over his concussed status, there was apparently a wee problem with his neck.

Reports have it that it's a cracked vertebrae in his neck to be exact, C1, C2 for those marking their medical charts at home, which considering how long it took to discover, already puts the home user ahead of the real doctors and technologists in the real clinics and hospitals.

As Cam Cole asked over the weekend in this National Post article, How did doctors miss Sidney Crosby's neck injury.

Indeed, that is a pretty simple question, especially when you count the number of times that Crosby has been in a doctor's office in the last twelve months, not to mention the visits to rehabilitation specialists and any other number of medical professionals, all in a quest to find answers to Crosby's medical troubles.

One of the more intriguing  items from Cole's article is that Tom Brady, the New England Patriot's quarterback was the one who recommended that Crosby travel to a specialist in Utah, seemingly putting Brady a few miles ahead of the pack of medical specialists that missed the neck problems.

Brady's next assignment, perhaps to advise Steven Tyler that anthem singing isn't his thing...

The revelation about the neck injury came not from the Penguins or the NHL, but from Sportsnet's Bob McCown, who delivered the diagnosis while taking in the events of the All-Star game, spoiling Gary Bettman's weekend with uncomfortable facts, that being, the league's main marquee attraction has been living with pain for over a year and nobody could figure out why.

The cracked vertebrae reportedly have healed over on their own, without any medical intervention and Crosby has once again taken to the ice with his Penguin team mates engaging in light workouts, but we do not seem to be any closer to his return to the ice and the Penguins seemingly have no idea how far along the path of recovery that their star player is at.

National Post-- Diagnosis of Sidney Crosby's neck injury only produces more questions
National Post-- Sidney Crosby diagnosed with neck injury in addition to concussion
National Post-- Sidney Crosby travels to California to see neurological spine specialist
Globe and Mail-- Crosby may have had fractured vertebrae as well as concussions
Globe and Mail-- Sidney Crosby still playing the waiting game
Toronto Star-- New Crosby neck injury muddies waters
Toronto Star-- Sidney Crosby has abnormality between two vertebrae, doctors say
Toronto Star-- Injury speculation runs rampant after Crosby revelation
Toronto Star-- Sidney Crosby skates but health questions linger
Toronto Sun-- Crosby skates before Penguins practice
Toronto Sun-- Pens need Crosby back for playoff push
Pittsburgh Tribune Review-- Penguins say captain Crosby's diagnosis is promising
Pittsburgh Post Gazette-- Crosby has neck injury
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette-- Crosby joins Despres and Staal on ice

The latest developments on the injury front, once again are providing for thoughts on the future of the Penguin's captain, with more than a few weighing in with thoughts that Crosby may be closer to retirement than a return to the game.

That will be a discussion between Crosby and his agent, both of whom have to be wondering about the Penguins dedication towards the cattle, er the hired help, the lack of diagnosis on the neck injury and the string of concussions that not only Crosby but a few other Penguins have suffered surely food for thought when it comes to contract renegotiation time.

In the end of course any decision on the future for Sidney Crosby will of depend on his health, something which perhaps won't be left in the hands of the doctors around the Penguins igloo these days.

Globe and Mail-- Is it time for Sidney Crosby to retire?

No comments: