Son has shoulder issues 2nd trip to shoulder surgeon

You have 3 things going on...

1. What is the real diagnosis? I would go to the ASMI forum for help

2. Mindset. What's the rush to get back to pitching? Why the need for "winter workouts"? What is the worst thing that would happen if he didn't pitch for a year?

3. Advice for dealing with a kid that needs to sit for a while. Parents here can help.

The ASMI Forum is an excellent tool. Go there.

Thanks for the acvice on the ASMI forum I'm headed there now. I really do not want to rush him back, I think he feels that the longer he sits the further he is falling behind. I would like to wait until next March to do anything, We will know more Friday morning .

Don't rush him back to pitch! My own son had a stress fracture in his back, L5 pars, and could not throw from the mound for 18 months. This was from fall of his sophomore year until spring of his junior year. Make sure he is healthy and ready before you let him pitch again.

Wait for the final diagnosis from the doctor and his recommendations. Asking people for help when you are not 100% sure of what is wrong doesn't help at this point.
Your son's health is much more important than winter workouts, and keep in mind that all kids develop differently.
If you are seeing a qualified specialist they will give you their honest opinion and he may have to shut down for awhile or may be able to play but not pitch.

This is one of the reasons I really beleive that young pitchers should not begin too early.

Best in luck and let us know.

Shoulder injury is a serious injury for a pitcher. Best to let the doctors find what's wrong so that it can get properly treated. Fallball & winter workouts should be the furthest thing from the mind right now.

I agree with everyone else. Don't rush rush him back to pitch, wait for the final diagnosis from his doc, and check out the ASMI Website.

My son (2011 or college 2015? ) missed nearly eight weeks of travel ball in the 8th grade due to growth plate issues. Towards the end of that period, he fractured his back (sacrum) running down our stairs too fast at home, which added another six weeks away from the game. Needless to say, he did not pitch that entire year. His sophomore year he was diagnosed with a sprained UCL, and again, didn't see the mound during his HS season and was limited in the OF. It all worked out just fine for him. A little rest at your son's age will be good for him. Best of luck, your a busy guy with all these boys so close in age!

Patience!

This fall will have little to no impact on your sons long term career. Be thankful this didnt occur during his rising senior year.

As some have said rest may be the best thing for him right as a pitcher regardless of his current injury

Once you get the injury sorted out you might look into getting into a work out program with someone who knows how to train young teens. Our son improved the health of his arm/shoulder with a work out program.

I've known lots of folks with kids your son's age who had a rash of injuries following a growth spurt. It may be good to know that this doesn't necessarily mean he will have problems in a year or two, especially with a good work out program.

Thanks for all the replies, I will let you all know what they tell us after we see the shoulder doc on Friday. The waiting is the worst part. I keep playing it over and over trying to figure out if we did something wrong. maybe his mechanics are wrong? The pitch counts and rest days were to standards.

He went to his 8th grade tryout yesterday and told the coach that he was hurt and could not do much. The coach told him that since he played last year, and that the coach knows what he is capable of when he is healthy he will keep him.

MRI results, A small amount of cartilage is inflamed, but surgeon is not too worried about it. No ligament, labrum or tendon damage. He has a classic case of Little League Shoulder. Separation of the growth plate. Cannot do anything for 2 months, and then we will see if it's healing. He hopes that he is fully healed by December. We will run, core work and work on bunting this fall ....and gradually maybe hitting. I told him that we are in no way going to rush it. If anyone has had an injury like this in the past I would love to get any advice on the recovery process.

Well, that's certainly good news, Slider. Don't get me wrong, it's a drag and certainly will put a crimp in his immediate baseball plans. But it is not unusual and it is great to know that your son's discomfort is not as the result of any structural damage.

I had Osgood Schlatter's (the knee version of growth plate separation) when I was a teen. (My 12 year-old daughter is currently dealing with the ankle version). I was crazy about basketball and played every day for several hours. My knee started buckling and I had stabbing pain and tenderness below the knee cap. My pediatrician prescribed no running for 4 months. While I didn't eliminate running altogether (I was 15, after all), I definitely ceased the jumping and short bursts of acceleration.

My advice is to anticipate that your son is going to go stir-crazy, is going to be discouraged, and is going to want to throw anyway (maybe when you're not around). After resting he'll be rearin' to go. BUT...he must listen to his body: Pain = stop what you're doing to cause the pain.

And while I definitely could be wrong here, I'll bet dollar-to-donuts that your rising 8th-grader has been experimenting with a curveball. If he has been, here's some unsolicited advice: No more curveballs until he is 16 and has perfected his change-up. The number of HS juniors and seniors with chronic arm/shoulder issues dwarfs the number with plus change-ups. College pitching coaches' eyes light up when they see a HS pitcher with a mature change-up.

Ironically, my 6th grader has Osgood Schlatter's in his left knee.....good advice about the curveball and change up....thanks...


P.S. yes I have a 2013, 2104, 2016 and 2018 all pitchers.

quote:

Originally posted by slotty:
here's some unsolicited advice: No more curveballs until he is 16 and has perfected his change-up. The number of HS juniors and seniors with chronic arm/shoulder issues dwarfs the number with plus change-ups. College pitching coaches' eyes light up when they see a HS pitcher with a mature change-up.

bacdorslider,
Hang in there, he will be fine.

thanks guys for listening, I know he has along way to go, but he can't see that right now. TPM this has changed my perspective with all 4 of them