Labrum injury – bad timing

Wow, you're right...awful timing.  Not much you can do other than get it checked out and see what they say.  It's obviously not working for him as it is so "playing thru it" to get thru the showcase/tourneys/etc this summer is not a likely scenario....and the potential for doing more damage if you don't know what the problem is is also there.  There's no easy answer....I guess if it's me, I'd get it looked at as soon as possible and if needbe, adjust the summer accordingly.  If he's been talking to coaches once you know the diagnosis just be upfront with them and keep them updated.  Good luck!

I wouldn't worry about missing anything!  I would worry about getting him healthy.  If he gets healthy, he'll have plenty of time to show off.  Fall of Sr. Year is a great time.  If he gets right by Fall, he can go to the Arizona Fall Classic which is a great event for kids to be recruited from.

Ryan got hurt 1st of June, after Jr. year.  (Meniscus)  Since they operated and repaired the Meniscus, he missed the entire summer.  He played football in the Fall, so he didn't showcase, and this put him in a bad place.  Ultimately though, he went JC, and now he is a starter at the D-1 level.  

The key is to be safe and get healthy.  It will work out.

Thanks Buckeye and Ryno. You guys are always on it!

Yes, my sons both went through similar issues their rising Senior summers. 

IMHO, get the MRI done. And get to an ortho doc who truly understands throwing athletes. I’d go to the Andrews Institute in Pensacola. 

Once that is done, you’ll understand appropriate next steps. 

As far as recruiting a 2019 player at his stage in the recruiting timeline and projected level of college play/interest, I would skip the tournament play.  If he is able to perform this summer, college recruiting for him will solely be about getting seen by the coaches and admissions reps from the colleges on his vetted list of schools.  Tournament play, in my experience, won’t help that. Showcases that his colleges attend and campus visits/interviews are more important. 

Good luck!

Always get an MRI, dont listen to the docs and the initial assessment, especially when this isnt about a HS player who is done playing. I cant tell you how many times i hear mis-diagnoses before MRIs.

I hope he is not hurt and gets back to 100% in no time...keep us in the loop on the MRI results and update on his rehab.

Shoveit4Ks posted:

Always get an MRI, dont listen to the docs and the initial assessment, especially when this isnt about a HS player who is done playing. I cant tell you how many times i hear mis-diagnoses before MRIs.

I hope he is not hurt and gets back to 100% in no time...keep us in the loop on the MRI results and update on his rehab.

+1

Shoveit4Ks posted:

Always get an MRI, dont listen to the docs and the initial assessment, especially when this isnt about a HS player who is done playing. I cant tell you how many times i hear mis-diagnoses before MRIs.

Thanks Shoveit! So how does this work exactly - arrange for an MRI on our own and get a doc to read it or insist with your existing specialist that an MRI is performed?

Some insurance companies these days have protocols ( in your sons case xrays and meds) so Just tell the doctor you want him to have an MRI. End of discussion on that one as his protocol didn't work. If there is nothing serious, hopefully, he can prescribe therapy.

In our experience if you show up back in the office saying we did the treatment you prescribed but it still hurts,  you'll get the MRI.  But if you gotta pay you gotta pay.

I'm curious - did your son continue to play after warming up hurt, or did he stop?

Also, does he do band work?  People who know more than me recommend band work for throwing athletes, not just pitchers, especially if they have had a hint of shoulder trouble.  They also recommend staying away from certain lifts.  It may be helpful to see a PT who can help your son with workout routines  that don't stress his shoulder.

JCG posted:

In our experience if you show up back in the office saying we did the treatment you prescribed but it still hurts,  you'll get the MRI.  But if you gotta pay you gotta pay.

I'm curious - did your son continue to play after warming up hurt, or did he stop?

Also, does he do band work?  People who know more than me recommend band work for throwing athletes, not just pitchers, especially if they have had a hint of shoulder trouble.  They also recommend staying away from certain lifts.  It may be helpful to see a PT who can help your son with workout routines  that don't stress his shoulder.

Thanks for the response JCG.

I don't think the MRI will be a problem. We've got several avenues for that as Mrs. Tequila works in the medical field and has a lot of contacts. I just didn't really know the sequence of events i.e. can you just "carry" an MRI to a specialist and tell them this is what we've got.

He stopped throwing after warm-up with the exception of playing catcher in a benefit slow-pitch softball game later in the afternoon where he was basically just lobbing or under-handing the ball back to the pitcher.

He's not been doing band work but that is on the agenda and he's got a personal trainer that will be putting together a warm-up program for him to incorporate this. He also has a regular lifting regimen but nothing overhead to date. I've got a lot of faith in his trainer as he has a very good reputation locally, has been in the business a long time, and is a former division 2 catcher.

Sounds like you have great resources. Just to clarify by PT  I meant physical therapist.  Nothing wrong with a good trainer, esp former athlete, but their training isn't the same.

Oh absolutely agree on the PT thing. If that's the case, I know we'd rather get that going sooner than later. Thanks again!

Unless I missed it his expected level to be recruited hasn't been mentioned. Since it’s leading into senior year I'm guessing anywhere from mid major to top D3. There are multiple avenues to make baseball work out. All it takes is a kid who wants it badly enough. Due to timing what could be lost is using baseball to get into a college he may otherwise not been accepted. My son had two injuries post junior year. He was out from Saturday afternoon of the first travel tournament through two weeks before senior season. It worked out for him academically and athletically. Good luck.

Don't feel alone.  It happens to far more than you think.  It is never a good time for an injury, always costs something but eventually happens to all who stay in it for any length of time (usually more than one) and play hard enough.  

Whatever the diagnosis, use resources to see the right type of medical help in a timely manner, follow any PT to a tee and do not rush him back until healthy enough.  

My son was in a similar situation (2016). Pain in shoulder after summer of sophomore year. Getting a lot of interest from college coaches (calling HS coach and inquiring) after couple of showcases. Ends up missing entire junior year of HS baseball. Even though he was not 100% he did a couple of showcases in summer before senior year. He hit well enough to get some attention and was contacted late summer by D3 college coach that would have been a great fit but did not get through admissions. He had another coach from an academic D3 call him after the HS season but son had already committed to one of his dream schools for the academics. D3's will recruit late into the his senior year of HS so there is still time. He needs to get healthy! My sons arm was never the same but good enough to be recruited.   

RJM posted:

Unless i missed it his expected level to be recruited hasn't been mentioned. Since it’s leading into senior year I'm guessing anywhere from mid major to top D3. There are multiple avenues to make baseball work out. All it takes is a kid who wants it badly enough. Due to timing what could be lost is using baseball to get into a college he may otherwise not been accepted. My son had two injuries post junior year. He was out from Saturday afternoon of the first travel tournament through two weeks before senior season. It worked out for him academically and athletically. Good luck.

 

I sort of tacked on towards the end of my OP that my son is targeting–and has had some interest from–higher academic D2 and D3 schools, though no offers have come his way. Thanks for the input and luck!

This happened to my son a couple of weeks ago. Pain was on back shoulder. I brought him for a sports massage on his shoulder and visit to chiropractor. They both worked extensively on area & showed him pre / post stretching techniques. Worked out for him .

Everything will be okay. Worst case scenario he misses out on some recruiting over the summer and has to work twice as hard to be seen when he is healthy.

i know the school I ended up committing to in high school hadn’t seen me until winter of my senior year. Large mid major school. Ended up not working out and signed with a junior college over the summer.  Spots are always open somewhere. I would definitely recommend the juco route if playing d1 is the ultimate goal.

im in a similar situation right now. Draft interest , tommy john after my junior year at d1. Come back for senior season, more scouts come and watch, end up with a concussion and knee injury limiting me to only hitting and jogging the bases. Hit a 390 foot single off the wall Thursday...

Good news is, I had a good friend go in for labrum surgery, turns out the labrum was in tact and his pain was alleviated by cleaning out the surrounding area and only a month of recovery.

best of wishes