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Tommy John Surgery: The Bitter Truth

2013Pitcher2013Pitcher10+ posts

*This is a long read*

 

Hello All,

 

With the college seasons opening up, I wanted to follow up on a post I made roughly a year ago. Last season, my freshman season in college, on opening day I tore my UCL as well as minor bone fractures of the elbow. I underwent TJ surgery from a top MLB doctor, was told all the numbers of how successful the surgery was, etc. I am writing to you now, a year since my injury, to tell you a different perspective of the surgery; the non-successful perspective. To start off I took the surgery as serious as one could, I left the NCAA school I was at and moved back home so I could be close to a top-notch sports rehab facility while committing to a nationally ranked JUCO in the area. My rehab sessions were very intense (my doctors commands) everything was followed strictly to the protocol with the help of a staff of 2 therapists and 3 athletic trainers. We saw progress yet 3 months in there was still very limited range of motion, yet we continued and pushed our way to the throwing phase. It was very obvious early on in the throwing phase that something wasn't right, most throws ended in severe nerve pain, numbness, and overall pain. Throwing was halted as was any strenuous physical activity, we redid tests (MRI's, X-Rays, etc.) only to determine that the ligament was fraying but intact and the bone chips in my elbow were back. The pain continued to increase every week and eventually the doctor made the decision that my overall health was more important then my baseball career.

 

Roughly 6 months after my surgery it was obvious that I was never going to play again. I write this now, a year later, with severe nerve damage, bone chips, and pain that will probably be with me the rest of my life. Baseball is far in my rear view mirror, I attempted to keep it going when early JUCO practices started but my pain not only halted my throwing but my physical fitness levels as well. Being a college athlete I was relatively strong, it is safe to say now I put up about half the numbers in the gym that I used to, but with that being said I do still continue to work out; though there is pain, I workout nonetheless.

 

I guess I may be writing this because I want to get it out of me, write it down, tell people that not every TJ story is a success story. I remember doing research before the surgery and I could never find a negative article. I want players to be realistic, it is drilled into our heads again and again during the recruiting process but it is vital...pick a school you would stay at if athletics was taken away. I did not do this, I was a good student with a high GPA and 1700 SAT score and now I am stuck at a JUCO (not knocking JUCO/Community College).

 

TJ Surgery was the worst thing that happened in my life but subsequently led to the best discovery of my life. I was lost when I realized I would never play again, as players we are bred to embrace baseball as a lifestyle, we often joke it is something we cannot live without and for a brief time I felt this to be true. How could something that gave me the best moments of my life lead to my darkest days? Luckily I found another passion, my whole life I idolized stand-up comedy and after the injury I decided instead of sitting and sulking I would try my hand in comedy. This was the best choice of my life, I am now a relatively successful NYC comedian and comedy writer and I've found it ha truly filled the gap that baseball left in me. I still get to travel and as funny as it sounds, comedy is a whole lot alike to being a pitcher; all the pressure is on you.

 

With all this being said, I'm happy if any of you have read this far. My main points would be to truly pick a school you love and would want to stay at. But more importantly if baseball is taken from you, realize that is not everything. There is so much more to be learned off the field, there is so much to be discovered off the mound. On the diamond or off the diamond, chase your dreams. You never know what might happen, things may happen for a reason, who knows. But if you find yourself down due to an injury or the game being over for you just remember, things get better, just keep your head up. Thank you

 

Dan

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Stats4GnatsStats4Gnats10,000+ posts

Dan,

 

Thanx for taking the time to post. I have a son who had similar luck with a scope job on his shoulder, so I understand what it’s like to face the pain for a lifetime because of a surgery proposed as safe and successful, wasn’t.

 

I’m happy for you that you’ve found an outlet for yourself, but I’m wondering about what you believe was the main cause of the problem. Were your mechanics lousy, did you throw too many pitches, or was it something else?

2013Pitcher2013Pitcher10+ posts
This is a tough one, I started throwing curveballs at a young age and that led to a career of arm problems. I was also put in a situation, as are many pitchers, in the summer when one coach would be there to see you one day and the next day another coach wanted to see you, so I would throw multiple innings "showcase" setting back to back days probably trying to overthrow for the guns. I would say overuse would be my main cause, throughout high school I wasn't vocal enough on my overuse.
 
When I finally got to college I started throwing from the stretch only and had my motion changed to a CC Sabathia like motion where I would drop my arm right after leg raise, I also saw a significant increase in velocity (high school 84) (College 88) and I just think my arm couldn't handle it. I'm sorry I can't give you one answer but I truly believe it was a mix of factors, lots of signs along the way that I probably ignored due to inflated ego or whatever a 17 year old has!
 
Originally Posted by Stats4Gnats:

Dan,

 

Thanx for taking the time to post. I have a son who had similar luck with a scope job on his shoulder, so I understand what it’s like to face the pain for a lifetime because of a surgery proposed as safe and successful, wasn’t.

 

I’m happy for you that you’ve found an outlet for yourself, but I’m wondering about what you believe was the main cause of the problem. Were your mechanics lousy, did you throw too many pitches, or was it something else?

 

Stats4GnatsStats4Gnats10,000+ posts

2013Pitcher,

 

I wasn’t trying to trick you or beat you up, so I’m glad you gave an honest answer. FWIW, I too believe it’s a not just one factor, but rather a confluence of factors that make up a situation. Since this thread is basically your story, I’m gonna ask you something, and hope you give another honest answer. I’m really not interested in what anyone else has to say unless they’ve suffered something similar.

 

If it was mandatory for every outing you had from the beginning to the end to log a date, and the number of pitches you threw, and you, all of your coaches, and you parents had access to it, do you believe anything would have changed? IOW, were the people around you baseball savvy enough to understand what they were seeing?

 

Thanx

TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003

Thank you for posting.

TJS does not have a 100% success rate. And every one is different and everyone heals differently no matter what the procedure.

 

Son had a simple procedure to move his ulnar nerve and an elbow clean up. Everyone said he would be fine in 3 months, that didn't happen, it took longer. He was with his drafting team at the time, so his "job" was to rehab. I would imagine having classes and the strict rehab protocol isn't very easy.

 

Best of luck to you!

rynoattackrynoattack10,000+ posts
Originally Posted by 2013Pitcher:
This is a tough one, I started throwing curveballs at a young age and that led to a career of arm problems. I was also put in a situation, as are many pitchers, in the summer when one coach would be there to see you one day and the next day another coach wanted to see you, so I would throw multiple innings "showcase" setting back to back days probably trying to overthrow for the guns. I would say overuse would be my main cause, throughout high school I wasn't vocal enough on my overuse.
 
When I finally got to college I started throwing from the stretch only and had my motion changed to a CC Sabathia like motion where I would drop my arm right after leg raise, I also saw a significant increase in velocity (high school 84) (College 88) and I just think my arm couldn't handle it. I'm sorry I can't give you one answer but I truly believe it was a mix of factors, lots of signs along the way that I probably ignored due to inflated ego or whatever a 17 year old has!
 
Originally Posted by Stats4Gnats:

Dan,

 

Thanx for taking the time to post. I have a son who had similar luck with a scope job on his shoulder, so I understand what it’s like to face the pain for a lifetime because of a surgery proposed as safe and successful, wasn’t.

 

I’m happy for you that you’ve found an outlet for yourself, but I’m wondering about what you believe was the main cause of the problem. Were your mechanics lousy, did you throw too many pitches, or was it something else?

 

You seem to be really mature, and I think your honesty, candor, and ability to reflect on the past will serve you well in the future.  

2013Pitcher2013Pitcher10+ posts
Everyone around me was knowledgeable on arm care/pitch counts. It was me, I always had the bulldog mentality, if I threw a complete game I'd be the first one to say I wanted to close out the next game. When it comes down to it, it's on the pitcher himself to control what happens, nobody knows their arm better. Some of us abuse it because it's what we do, we want to pitch everyday if we can. 
 
Originally Posted by Stats4Gnats:

2013Pitcher,

 

I wasn’t trying to trick you or beat you up, so I’m glad you gave an honest answer. FWIW, I too believe it’s a not just one factor, but rather a confluence of factors that make up a situation. Since this thread is basically your story, I’m gonna ask you something, and hope you give another honest answer. I’m really not interested in what anyone else has to say unless they’ve suffered something similar.

 

If it was mandatory for every outing you had from the beginning to the end to log a date, and the number of pitches you threw, and you, all of your coaches, and you parents had access to it, do you believe anything would have changed? IOW, were the people around you baseball savvy enough to understand what they were seeing?

 

Thanx

 

2013Pitcher2013Pitcher10+ posts
I appreciate it! Thank you
 
Originally Posted by rynoattack:
Originally Posted by 2013Pitcher:
This is a tough one, I started throwing curveballs at a young age and that led to a career of arm problems. I was also put in a situation, as are many pitchers, in the summer when one coach would be there to see you one day and the next day another coach wanted to see you, so I would throw multiple innings "showcase" setting back to back days probably trying to overthrow for the guns. I would say overuse would be my main cause, throughout high school I wasn't vocal enough on my overuse.
 
When I finally got to college I started throwing from the stretch only and had my motion changed to a CC Sabathia like motion where I would drop my arm right after leg raise, I also saw a significant increase in velocity (high school 84) (College 88) and I just think my arm couldn't handle it. I'm sorry I can't give you one answer but I truly believe it was a mix of factors, lots of signs along the way that I probably ignored due to inflated ego or whatever a 17 year old has!
 
Originally Posted by Stats4Gnats:

Dan,

 

Thanx for taking the time to post. I have a son who had similar luck with a scope job on his shoulder, so I understand what it’s like to face the pain for a lifetime because of a surgery proposed as safe and successful, wasn’t.

 

I’m happy for you that you’ve found an outlet for yourself, but I’m wondering about what you believe was the main cause of the problem. Were your mechanics lousy, did you throw too many pitches, or was it something else?

 

You seem to be really mature, and I think your honesty, candor, and ability to reflect on the past will serve you well in the future.  

 

WklinkWklink500+ posts

Thanks for your story.

 

I know you attribute some of your issues with overthrowing in High School.  I know that our varsity team last year had one kid, a kid that starts his freshman year at a major D1 school, that threw some ridiculous innings during the HS season.  Needless to say he had a velocity dropoff during the playoffs and wasn't nearly as effective as he was at the middle of the year. 

 

Like you he was a bulldog but in talking with his dad he was also a kid that wouldn't tell a coach if his arm was tired or hurting.  Knowing this coach I can understand why he didn't do it.  What do you say to a kid that may be feeling like he is overthrown but is afraid to approach his coach about it?  My son has been lucky this hasn't happened yet but he is probably going to be the number1 or 2 starter this year.  I know he wouldn't say anything.

Stats4GnatsStats4Gnats10,000+ posts

2013Pitcher,

Everyone around me was knowledgeable on arm care/pitch counts. It was me, I always had the bulldog mentality, if I threw a complete game I'd be the first one to say I wanted to close out the next game. When it comes down to it, it's on the pitcher himself to control what happens, nobody knows their arm better. Some of us abuse it because it's what we do, we want to pitch everyday if we can. 

 

I assume that’s exactly the response most pitchers would give. I know I heard it from my own son on more than 1 occasion. It’s one of the most admirable and most reinforced traits in athletes, and likely the one contributing to more injuries than any other. It’s also why any coach who bothers to ask a pitcher how he “feels” and uses that as the basis for leaving him in, is a fool. But my question is, how can that paradigm be changed?

 

How can that spirit and determination be maintained while injecting common sense? I’m sure any effort to even just reduce that “bulldog mentality” will be met with those who scream about the pussification of athletes, so how do we teach kids who haven’t reached any kind of maturity that it’s good to want to get out there and compete, but never at the cost of injury.

 

Unfortunately it’s hard to get ideas like that across when the injury isn’t immediate. But you can bet your butt if it were, that macho idea would soon disappear. What’s sad is, even though the danger isn’t immediate, it is pretty much assured.

 

 

S Shoveit4Ks10,000+ posts

Man, what a great ending to a terribly authentic baseball tragedy. I hope your health progresses and you deal with less pain from the TJ moving forward but you know this...most successful comedians and/or writers suffer. That is the beauty of true comedy and why the "magic" happens with the audience. I wish you continued success. 

 

You sound a bit like my son in a few ways. He somewhat believes he's invincible....well OK he thinks he's superman, he wants the ball, he wants to shove it down batter's throats. He lives for the backwards K but loves the swinging K. He works fast and also has been told by..... IMHO the best college PC that his arm action after break is like CC Sabathia's. Not technically correct or ergonomically efficient regarding a pitcher's motion but he's able to get his arm up and through, on top fasssssst with power and velocity. 

 

In the end...i talk constantly about arm care with him, stress band/scap work and always ask how do you feel after his outings. Who knows how he will do this season, next year at Clemson or whatever the future brings for him in baseball, i just hope he is able to deal with LAB and find a passion like you did. BTW, he loves comedy.

 

Thanks for your post.

2013Pitcher2013Pitcher10+ posts
If I could go back that would be the one thing I would chance, speaking up. I feel like high school pitchers feel like they can be replaced if they say they don't want to pitch a certain day because their arm is hurting. What it comes down to is, if you're a top of the rotation guy, you're valuable to the team. You need to look at it from the bigger picture, sure I pitched a high amount of varsity games for the majority of my high school career but in the end where did that get me? I could have had a successful college career and who knows what else if I had just shut myself down from time to time instead of always wanting the ball. Yet no high school kid wants to hear that, it's all about invincibility in our heads I think we don't realize that an injury can happen at any minute.
 
 
Originally Posted by Wklink:

Thanks for your story.

 

I know you attribute some of your issues with overthrowing in High School.  I know that our varsity team last year had one kid, a kid that starts his freshman year at a major D1 school, that threw some ridiculous innings during the HS season.  Needless to say he had a velocity dropoff during the playoffs and wasn't nearly as effective as he was at the middle of the year. 

 

Like you he was a bulldog but in talking with his dad he was also a kid that wouldn't tell a coach if his arm was tired or hurting.  Knowing this coach I can understand why he didn't do it.  What do you say to a kid that may be feeling like he is overthrown but is afraid to approach his coach about it?  My son has been lucky this hasn't happened yet but he is probably going to be the number1 or 2 starter this year.  I know he wouldn't say anything.

 

2013Pitcher2013Pitcher10+ posts
Exactly, taking the bulldog mentality away from a pitcher is tough...and it's funny because the majority of pitchers who do go on to higher levels are the ones who usually have that mentality. You rarely see a kid who goes out and get's hit in every outing wanting to pitch every game that might be the correlation. When you continually have strong starts you want more, that's like anything in life when you find something that you're good at and it makes you feel good, you want more of it. If you throw a complete game, you want the ball again as soon as possible to keep the feeling rolling. I'm not sure you can ever take the bulldog out of the pitcher, but you can, however, inform of the realities of injuries and make them realize that there is still baseball to be played after the recruiting process. Look ahead and see where they want to be, a kid who was good in high school and blew it all out in college, or a kid who was smart and healthy in high school and had a full college career.
 
Originally Posted by Stats4Gnats:

2013Pitcher,

Everyone around me was knowledgeable on arm care/pitch counts. It was me, I always had the bulldog mentality, if I threw a complete game I'd be the first one to say I wanted to close out the next game. When it comes down to it, it's on the pitcher himself to control what happens, nobody knows their arm better. Some of us abuse it because it's what we do, we want to pitch everyday if we can. 

 

I assume that’s exactly the response most pitchers would give. I know I heard it from my own son on more than 1 occasion. It’s one of the most admirable and most reinforced traits in athletes, and likely the one contributing to more injuries than any other. It’s also why any coach who bothers to ask a pitcher how he “feels” and uses that as the basis for leaving him in, is a fool. But my question is, how can that paradigm be changed?

 

How can that spirit and determination be maintained while injecting common sense? I’m sure any effort to even just reduce that “bulldog mentality” will be met with those who scream about the pussification of athletes, so how do we teach kids who haven’t reached any kind of maturity that it’s good to want to get out there and compete, but never at the cost of injury.

 

Unfortunately it’s hard to get ideas like that across when the injury isn’t immediate. But you can bet your butt if it were, that macho idea would soon disappear. What’s sad is, even though the danger isn’t immediate, it is pretty much assured.

 

 

 

2013Pitcher2013Pitcher10+ posts
Couldn't have said it better, comedy comes from a dark place. I hope your son continues to have success and more importantly continues to have a healthy arm and career. Thanks for the kind words.
 
Originally Posted by Shoveit4Ks:

Man, what a great ending to a terribly authentic baseball tragedy. I hope your health progresses and you deal with less pain from the TJ moving forward but you know this...most successful comedians and/or writers suffer. That is the beauty of true comedy and why the "magic" happens with the audience. I wish you continued success. 

 

You sound a bit like my son in a few ways. He somewhat believes he's invincible....well OK he thinks he's superman, he wants the ball, he wants to shove it down batter's throats. He lives for the backwards K but loves the swinging K. He works fast and also has been told by..... IMHO the best college PC that his arm action after break is like CC Sabathia's. Not technically correct or ergonomically efficient regarding a pitcher's motion but he's able to get his arm up and through, on top fasssssst with power and velocity. 

 

In the end...i talk constantly about arm care with him, stress band/scap work and always ask how do you feel after his outings. Who knows how he will do this season, next year at Clemson or whatever the future brings for him in baseball, i just hope he is able to deal with LAB and find a passion like you did. BTW, he loves comedy.

 

Thanks for your post.

 

bsbl247bsbl2471,000+ posts

2013Pitcher,

I read your post and the majority of your Blog.  I'm sorry that your surgery was unsuccessful, but I applaud you for having a good attitude and attempting to help other young men in similar circumstances.

My son had TJS (including moving his ulnar nerve) in July of 2012 and missed the entire 2013 college season.  He had a pretty good 2014, but had to miss 6 weeks in the season due to elbow inflammation.  His FB/Cutter has tremendous movement, but his velocity was no where near his senior year of HS.  30-plus months post-op, his arm strength appears to be improving and his velocity is getting better.

Your statement regarding choosing the college to attend based on whether or not you're playing ball is spot on, and very mature for your age.  I wish you the best of luck, and thank you for sharing your story.

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