Ryley is headed for surgery in a few days in NYC as his recent MRI and symptoms all season lead the Mets surgeon, Mets Milb medical staff, and the doctor at Boras Corp to advise him of this path. He'll be out the rest of the season with what they say is a 3-month window for rehab down in St Lucie.
Any advice from folks here who have gone through or have experience with this is appreciated.
TIA for prayers for safe surgery results and speedy recovery.
LFG Mets! Go Tigers!
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Will send you a pm in a bit. Dave had the surgery. Dr Altchek in NYC.
No advice but best of luck to your son.
And, wow - Boras has their own medical staff? Interesting, especially with the Rocker situation.
LFGM! Hopefully the most exciting double-play combo in baseball very soon.
I had the surgery a few years ago on non throwing arm. Make sure to get great pt. They relocated my funny bone (nerve) and sleeping on that side hasn't been comfortable since
My oldest son had the transposition surgery and my youngest "just" the decompression - neither competes at the level of your son, but I agree with the do the rehab part, listen to the PT's, and don't try to rush it. The elbow is immobilized for a while. Trust the PT's and that recovery happens. The older only played baseball for another year or two after at HS, the younger thru a couple years at D2. Neither has said anything about it being problematic afterwards. Unlike perhaps TJ or shoulder type surgeries, this one isn't cutting, stretching, or replacing something - it's either just cutting a sheath that the nerve runs in thus making it not constrict on every throw or it's moving it from under the elbow to a channel inside the elbow. The transposition requires a bit more work obviously and they'll usually clean up any scar or bone spurs that are probably rubbing against the nerve causing the issues. I'm not a doctor, just recall the description and cringing a little bit.
Thank you everyone.... I'll say it again, this board has great members.
You guys are in our thoughts. Hoping for a speedy and complete recovery.
He will be fine Dr. Altchek is THE best!!!
Ryley is out of surgery. The ulnar nerve was pinched in the flexor muscle. Now it's time for rehab/PT. LFG Mets! #ClemsonFamily
Great to hear, did he ever contact DK?
LFG Mets is right, they didn't do very well in Miami!
Sorry to hear that Ryley had to have surgery, but glad he is fixed + hopefully will be better than ever. Here's to a speedy + complete recovery ~
ShoveIt, I hate to hear that for Ryley. I’m not trying to put ANY damper on your hopes. Just tell Ryley to be real “in-tune” with his arm post rehab. Nick had the tingling in his ring and pinky finger and nerve conduction test that verified he had nerve entrapment. He had the nerve transposed, rehabbed and then felt the dreaded “pop” in his first BP session which led to TJ as a freshman at LSU. I’m IN NO WAY implying that is what is going on with Ryley, and I pray his diagnosis is correct and that’s all he has going on. But Nick also has a guy in his professional organization now that had what they thought was the same issue. He was able to rest over “Covid year” and then felt the issue arise again in ST. Was left in extended until a few weeks ago when it was decided he needs TJ. All I’m saying here is those symptoms apparently overlap a lot. I just hate seeing pitchers have to be cut open, but I also hate seeing guys miss 24 months instead of 18, especially at this stage in his career. I can promise you one thing, I will be praying for Ryley’s health. The recovery for the transposition wasn’t too bad, to the best of my recollection. He just has to learn to listen to his body.
Shoveit -- My son had the entrapment surgery between his freshman and sophomore year in college. You know this but rehab was the key. Happy to put your son in touch with mine for advice if you'd like. Dr. Kremchek did the procedure.
TPM, Ryley said he would reach out, he is about to jump on the plane and head home.
YG, thanks for the candor...Ryley was just telling me on the way to the airport a few days ago that he intends to hyper-focused on rehab. Who knows when the arms goes....let's hope and pray it doesn't and he's back up to 95-96 with no issues.
MAM, thank you for the offer. I never know what/when he will ask about other players and i will keep you in mind.
Son thought he broke hamate bone because of hand pain in that area of hand and inability to grip. At the same time, he says his UCL hurts. He's seeing an orthopedist next week. But, me playing Google Doctor wonders if it's UNE. There's nothing to point to where a hamate fracture could have occurred.
Questions for those willing to share:
What were the symptoms when first presented? Was it diagnosed right away or were there any misdiagnosis situations before you got the answer? Was surgery the initial recommendation or a last resort?
Thank in advance for whatever you are willing to share.
First, you should never try to diagnose your son's medical issues and he should not be guessing what it might be. If something hurts and is uncomfortable he should not be doing certain activities, example lifting or batting practice. It could be a number of things and the ortho should be one who treats sports injuries.
When DK was in AA his fingers tingled. It wasn't painful just annoying. He went to see team surgeon in STL after season ended and had an EMG with a neurologist, the diagnosis was actually correct that he needed surgery to move ulnar nerve from the groove in elbow to the side, but he opted to go back to the doctor in NY (NYM) who had done surgery a few years before on another issue. Ulnar nerve repositioning is not uncommon but needs a neurologist to aid in the diagnosis. In sons case the nerve had to be moved asap.
He had surgery that November and was still struggling in spring training, because while surgeon was moving the nerve, he had an elbow cleanup. That hurt! It took about 6-7 months before he felt almost normal.
TPM
I know I've elaborated somewhere before... First son - issue started as a 12 year old ('02) in LL. Mostly the tingling in the fingers and a pain in the elbow when throwing. Dr recommended shut down, tons of PT, etc., etc. - tingling and soreness persist... Had a nerve conductivity test, eventual result in transposition surgery. Long recovery, pitched again with no pain. Baseball stopped in '08 (OMG, I cannot believe how long ago that was) - he didn't pitch Sr year HS by choice as he and his Sr. teammates protested a coaching change (it's a sordid story). Third son, similar tingling sensations as a ~14 year old ('09), we "forced" skipping the rehab step, got the nerve conductivity test, got the entrapment relief surgery (essentially cuts the sheath entrapping the nerve). We used the same doctor (Heaps, in NH). Much shorter rehab, no issues afterwards. For him baseball stopped in '16 for a variety of other reasons.
Mine felt like pinky was on fire. Went to neurologist. Had surgery. It's a bit better but still annoying. In non throwing arm. Funny bone was relocated
Sorry to hear it's still annoying.
I sorry to read Franny. Hopefully the imaging will provide a better prognosis.
I injured mine working out with an over zealous trainer...was actually doing skull crushers when it happened....still have some pinky and hand numbness...one test we did was trying to touch pinky and thumb together...its weird having the nerve been moved...hard to sleep on that side now...Id be curious to see how it effected a player if it was his throwing arm
This coming week is a big one. MRI and orthopedist follow up 3 days after. It will be nice to have an idea on what's going on.
Ortho says muscle inflammation around the UCL and recommended 4 weeks rest. Kid says it's already been 4 weeks and still hurts like heck. (I think it's been barely 4 weeks...but whatever.) Ortho looks at the MRI again and says possible low grade proximal tear of the UCL and recommended another specialist for confirmation. That appointment is now next week.
This same orthopedist said broken hamate last week and now says it's fine and was just edema.
2nd opinions are always good. Luckily my BIL is an interventional radiologist and he has a sports guy in his partnership. Whenever we've had an MRI (Son 1 - shoulder, and Son 2 - Knee and elbow) we've ALWAYS asked the 1st Dr. to send the scan and reading up to his office in NE. His guy will turn it around in 10 minutes. All 3 times, he's confirmed what the original diagnosis (good or bad).
The guy we're going to is on the Major League Baseball Medical Advisory Committee. So, at least he's a baseball guy.
Well, it's not Ulnar Compression /Ulnar Nerve Entrapment. Grade 1 tear. Going the nonsurgical route. Rest, drugs and PT.
Good luck, hope it works out well.
Best of luck francis7. Praying for a full recovery
Thanks @edcoach and @anotherparent
Who knows? Time will tell. But the orthopedist is very well versed in it and felt strongly that another 2 weeks with rest and with a prescription anti-inflammatory, and PT, and then he should be able to do a throwing program.
He should be fine with rehab and the throwing program. He needs to be patient.
Tell him to listen to the doctor and PT and not to do anything he isn't supposed to do!
I am glad your boy is avoiding surgery but getting a 17/18 year old to be patient on his road to recovery will be a major challenge. Download the calm app and upgrade the membership now.
Franny, does your kid's facility have a PT or a recovery space? He should check in with them before the start of the session. They should be directing his training based on orth's orders. My kid does that and they work very closely with his Ortho so it gives me and my even more nervous wife some sense of relief. This is the only place the senior partner and I never complained about costs.
That's the one thing they don't have. But, they're good with following a recommended program. So, whatever the ortho recommends he can do it there in addition to what they are doing at his PT place.
