Dwight update: Not close to a trade with Rockets

Well, I'm not even sure how much this still applies to the thread...but since I went through the trouble to do it, I'll post anyway (posted once elsewhere, too -- sorry).

 

Before a trade goes down Morey's medical staff will have interviewed every doctor involved, looked at every x-ray pre and post operation, and had their own doctors examine Howard. This is not rocket science. Hysteria is only fit for young girls.

 

Quentin Richardson

[rquoter]Stoudemire’s back specialist in Miami, Dr. Barth Green, treated Richardson in 2007 when he had his herniated disk surgery. Richardson, now coming off the bench for Orlando, was at the Garden on Wednesday.

“I kind of know what he’s(Stoudemire) going through on the level of the discomfort,” Richardson said before the game. “Some days you feel good, and some days you don’t. Tough to ride in cars and stuff like that. It’s good that it’s just bulging and it’s not herniated.”

Dr. Andrew Hecht, chief of spinal surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, clarified the difference between a bulging disk and a herniated disk, equating a bulging disk with jelly pushing against the wall of a donut and a herniated disk with jelly coming out of the donut.

Hecht said Stoudemire’s treatment plan, which includes an epidural, a steroid injection to reduce inflammation around the nerves where the disk is, was the common, conservative approach.

“This is where we start with a lot of athletes,” Hecht said.

“Most people get better without surgery,” he added.

Hecht said a bulging disk was the most common spinal problem in elite athletes.

“Almost the overwhelming majority of the time they get better with conservative care,” he said.

Hecht, who advises the Jets and the Islanders, emphasized that he could speak in only a universal way because he had not treated Stoudemire or seen the results of his magnetic resonance imaging exam.

Once the pain subsides and the inflammation goes down, Stoudemire is expected to be able to increase the intensity of his rehabilitation process. Indeed, his recovery is dependent more on the reduction of pain than anatomical change in the bulging disk. The disk can become less swollen, but many people live every day without the knowledge that they have herniated or bulging disks, Hecht said.

. . .

Richardson said: “You know, you got a sprained ankle, you can kind of play through that and it’s cool and it’s not that big a deal. But your back, it’s more delicate. It’s central to everything.”[/rquoter]

 

I've had back surgery for a herniated disc at the L5/S1, with titanium screws filled with bone marrow taken from a hip bone holding things together. While the surgery to stop the incredible sciatic pain I was experiencing down one of my legs did stop that pain, I've suffered from post operative chronic pain ever since. Yeah, chronic pain, everyday. So if I'm not in a good humor around here sometimes, that's probably the cause. Having said that, if the doctors associated with the Rockets say he's good to go, then I'm OK doing a trade for Dwight. Aside from his back, my big concern is what we have to give up for what might be a rental. I would give up a hell of a lot if he passed inspection and agreed to sign a new contract with us. Won't agree to do that? Then don't give up nearly as much.

Somewhere, you have to draw a line in the sand.

 

A doc can clear him to play what a doc can't do is be in his shoes and know if it hurts when he comes crashing down with a rebound, after a dunk, or after a blocked shot. All I am saying is we need to see the guy play extensive minutes to know he is okay. He may be 100% and he may 60 - 75% of what he was. The only way to know is see him play multiple games and do this at the trade deadline. Back injuries are not quite as cut and dry as some people apparently think. Having a history with a bad back makes me much more afraid that he will never be the same player than whether he will sign long term. The WORST thing that could possibly come out of this is we trade for him and he agrees to sign long term then promptly has his career cut short. Lets see him play significant minutes before pulling the trigger.

 

That's actually really good. I'm repping you. Impressed.

 

Ehh...I rethought Hennigan's designation.

 

Yes it does cut both ways, but you have to look at it from the angle of who has more to lose by making a deal now. Orlando has time and they will be wise to use as much of it as they need to to maximize their return.

The Rockets are more likely to lose out by the rookies being busts than even one of them becoming so good that they are deemed untradeable or a pick in the top of the lottery given that Toronto has improved (but yes they are still Toronto). The Magic may receive less in a total package, but at least they'll have a more accurate gauge of what they are ultimately receiving.

 

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Thanks!

I'm waiting for Morey to rep me for making him look so lean and mean.

 

This is an x-ray of mine right after surgery ... there are 3 more screws on the other side with rods holding it all together .. The H looking things are where my disc should be but they are completely gone..

Not comparing mine to DH,but my problems did start with a herniated disc and this is where I am few years later.

 

Stoudemire was horrible last year and looked like a shell of his former self. I heard he was told to put on "core strength/weight" during the off season to fortify the muscles supporting his back. In doing so, he lost a lot of quickness.

Stoudemire has sort of been breaking down for years though - not so with Howard.

 

This is gold.