Thumb Injury Info/Help

The very first thing I'd do is get a referral to an orthopedist WHO IS EXPERIENCED IN DEALING WITH BASEBALL PLAYERS. You'll get advice and direction more applicable to your son's situation if he's seen by someone with baseball injury experience. You might start with one of the loca minor league teams in the area, and ask who they send their players to. The training staff is who you'd want to speak with. You could also try the Nationals or one of the college programs in the area to see who they send their players to.

Which ligament? UCL? Gamekeeper's thumb? Avulsion fracture? Perhaps contact his college and see if they can schedule an appt with the docs they use...since they will be doing the rehab and follow-up anyways.

In any case, I trust you have already been seen by an MD...but you do NOT want to wait too long on any decision as delays can really hamper a full recovery.

He has been seen by his PCP and an Ortho who has made a referal to a hand surgeon. I contacted the Nats team Dr. who then referred me to someone who wouldn't be able to see my son until sometime in Sept. We are trying to move quickly as that is the medically prudent thing to do (from what I've been able to research) and also since he will be reporting to school later this month. Unfortunately as well, to see someone "out of plan" would most likely be beyond our means as hard as that is to say as well as it seems that those "expert" physicians that I have tried to contact are busy and can't get to him for weeks.

This is why I thought I would check with the websters to see if there are others out there with like experience to share. Thanks for the feedback.

My son an 08 catcher is seeing local college ortho for bicep tendonitis.Maybe local colleges trainers could help?

Good Luck

quote:

Unfortunately as well, to see someone "out of plan" would most likely be beyond our means as hard as that is to say as well as it seems that those "expert" physicians that I have tried to contact are busy and can't get to him for weeks.

2 things.

1. ASAP is what we want in order to get back on the field, but, "getting it done right" is more important.

2. HMO shake in fear of the word "litigation". If the hand guy they want you to see does not have experience and/or the know-how to perform an athletic procedure let them know this is NOT a procedure to get him through everyday life, rather, it is potentially "career ending". We had to use that card when dealing with our HMO and I was surprised how accomadating they were.

Good luck!

Duffman,
RZ1 offered you very sound advice. I don't have first hand insight into the recovery time for such a procedure, but I'd assume it's months rather than weeks. The fall season may be out, and your son may possibly be looking at a redshirt situation. Nothing wrong with that in the long run!
At any rate, like RZ1 said, your haste to get it fixed should be tempered with the need to get it done right.

Without knowing more about the school he 's attending, let me offer one more thing-

Many (most) schools offer secondary athletic insurance for sports related injuries. Your plan will still be the primary. This option could very well offset the costs of seeing an out of plan specialist. Check with your son's coach on this ASAP and make sure he's fully aware of the situation. Maybe he can help with first hand knowledge and insurance details.

Good luck and keep us posted.

I broke my right thumb 2 years ago,and this year I dislocated my thumb and had bruised tissue in my right thumb again

My advice is DO NOT RUSH BACK.I came back 4 days later,even after I was cleared to play,but I only reagrivated the injury and essnetially missed all but 2 weeks of the season.

Ice it every night,and massage by the bone each night as well.Keep it in a splint

Thanks to all for the suggestions. Without going into a long dissertation in the original post I left some detail out for brevity's sake. We are not in a hurry and wanting to get things done right trumps all other considerations. The quickness aspect was more related to what the 1st Dr. said and what research that I've been able to do - that ligament repairs done soon after the tear are the preferred option. We will check with the coach on secondary insurance through the school.

Today it got better and more confusing: 2nd opinion from hand surgery specialist says the exact opposite of last weeks Ortho - no surgery needed, no tear, just a strain (they even differ on what part of the thumb was injured). He's put him in a splint for several weeks for follow up. Which one is right? How do I know? I would think an MRI would be difinitive but neither Dr. will order one. Now we're looking at possibly getting a 3rd opinion!

I think a third is a real good idea, although the news from the hand guy sounds encouraging for sure. Usually those guys get paid a lot more to cut than splint.
He should definitely go see the team doc as soon as he gets to school, if not sooner.

quote:

Today it got better and more confusing: 2nd opinion from hand surgery specialist says the exact opposite of last weeks Ortho - no surgery needed, no tear, just a strain (they even differ on what part of the thumb was injured). He's put him in a splint for several weeks for follow up. Which one is right? How do I know? I would think an MRI would be difinitive but neither Dr. will order one. Now we're looking at possibly getting a 3rd opinion!

It sounds like with conflicting consults you have grounds for an MRI. I would approach it on those grounds. If the docs are part of the same HMO you have a some advantage that others don't. The HMO is there to provide medical service. If two of their docs have conflicting ideas it is the responsibility of the HMO resolve the conflict. Contact the HMO with the conflicting facts and ask who is right, they will not take sides, that is the time say "lets resolve it with an MRI". Tie their hands with their own egos.

It's worth a try. I am a survivor of an HMO war and if I wasn't such a jerk about demanding service they would have added me to the list of walked on members. You don't have to get the injury fixed today, but identifying the problem is a "today issue".