question - strained ucl

Welcome to the High School Baseball web! You've found a great website where many of us have learned much about helping our sons over the years, and hope you find it well worth your time and interest.

This is only my personal opinion, but if your son has a strained UCL in his elbow, I'd forget doing anything at all, especially a showcase. See if you can get your money back, or have it carried over for a later date. If you explain that he's injured, they might be willing to work with you.

Kids generally put a lot of effort into their performances at showcases, and I don't think anything good can come from your son doing this while injured.

It is far more important that your son has a chance to heal, than it is to workout at a showcase where he isn't likely to be able to demonstrate his abilities. He'll have more chances, provided you allow him to heal. Just my opinion.

Was an MRI done?

Be careful and make sure the strain is not a partial tear which by definitions are very similar. I get a chill up my back when an event factors into the recovery time. Many times competitive athletes will push themselves past what the body allows. Showcases are a reward, long term injuries can be life changing. Make your decision based on long term potential, not near term events.

quote:

Originally posted by rz1:
Was an MRI done?

No, just an X-ray. We requested an MRI and are awaiting the prescription.

We have come to the same conclusion that it is best to stay home and allow for his recovery. Thanks again.

A strained UCL is not something to be taken lightly as I'm sure you already know this. One bad throw and it could be worse in a second....just ONE throw. My son had tendonitis around the UCL last fall and we were instructed by the college coach where we had intended going for a showcase that it would be best to stay home and heal than to (1) risk further injury and (2) only perform at 90% and it leave a bad taste in Scouts mouth to his ability.

Son went to another showcase this past June and when he started throwing off the mound he experienced shoulder soreness and threw about as fast as he did in the 9th grade. A few scouts said they would "keep up with him" and walked off. Usually that's not a good sign.

Stranger things do happen though. He just received an offer today from a DIII program to play there in 2009. The college was one of those who said they would keep up with him.

sam-17

Be very careful how you deal with this injury. My son was told he had a very mild strain in his ucl which turned out to be a torn ucl. My son could hit with no problem and had most of his velocity.He rehabed for almost three months which did not help. I would make sure you see a specialist who deals with baseball players. We went thru three doctors before he was diagnosed properly.

SAM, I'll offer one more bit of evidence to what can happen if you don't treat this properly. My son never knew he had a problem until 1 single throw. He had a very durable arm, the high school coach even used him (against my wishes) to pitch one game of a double header, threw a 99 pitch 1-hitter, and then he caught all 7 innings of the 2nd game. He never had arm trouble at all...UNTIL he felt a "pop" and burning sensation on one single throw from behind the plate. His UCL had torn enough on that one throw that it finally hurt A LOT. We had two MRI's done, one an arthrogram with contrast, which I'm told is what you should have done if a tear is suspected. Neither MRI showed any injury, but three different surgeons all agreed that his elbow had too much opening and was almost certainly torn regardless of what the MRI's didn't show. When the surgeon came to talk to us after son's surgery, he told us that it was torn in two places. One partial tear looked to be older and the surgeon indicated our son had been playing with it for some time, wihtout knowing anything was wrong. The other tear was larger, and pulled away from the bone and doc said that was the one that finally caused the pain.

If your son has a strain or partial tear, do you want him doing any throwing until he's been properly treated by a qualified doctor and physical therapist? Nothing he misses out on today is so important as to give up his future for the present.

banditsbb, did our sons go to the same doctor? Just kidding, but not really. Same thing happened to my son, and I definitely agree with your suggestion to see a specialist who deals with baseball players. He is one week ahead of yours with the UCL surgery.

And 06catcherdad has some great advice, too....

quote:

If your son has a strain or partial tear, do you want him doing any throwing until he's been properly treated by a qualified doctor and physical therapist? Nothing he misses out on today is so important as to give up his future for the present.

Our surgeon, a White Sox doc, told us that he was "impressed with the extensive nerve damage". WOW!!!!

play baseball


Would like to keep in touch so we can compare notes as our boys go through rehab. Andrew is suposed to start therapy next week. Tell your son good luck.

this is an injury that only affects throwers. every day people don't need the surgery to function pain free. from the people i talk to,there is no real warning most of the time just the pop.very good succes rate with proper rehab. a good elbow doctor is the key.

thanks for the advice. my son did not experience a pop. he visisted a premier (in the area) sports medicine elbow specialist. he is undergoing physical therapy. we are going back to the doctor in four weeks to determine what step to take from there.

Sam17,

Good luck to your son. I hope the p.t. is successful and surgery in not needed. Keep us posted.

play baseball: Thanks four your good wishes. We'll keep you posted.

banditsbb: Good luck to Andrew. We'll keep in touch.

To update - MRI results showed a mild sprain with no partial or complete tear of the ucl. He has had 3 weeks of physical therapy and was given clearance to start a throwing program.

There you go---give him the best from HSBBWeb

Prayers are answered!

EXCELLENT!!!!!

We wish him the best! And lots more good luck!!!!

Just want to echo other advice here. Don't go! And don't throw. It is typical to come back too soon. Our son had a strained muscle near the UCL, and shut down for entire baseball season of soph year in high school. Best thing we ever did, although we had tremendous pressure from high school coaches to play (and it was hard to not see him in games)

We also had to go through three doctors, arthrogram, X-rays, and MRI - only one doctor read it correctly. He said it was a strain - rest it, and then put him on a throwing program. Today he is pitching in college. Your son needs you to make the right decision.