Dwight Howard receives bone marrow aspirate injection in his right knee

Jesus H .... all these big words regarding medical procedures has me shaking about another Yao situation.

Is it something in the water around here that all our top sports stars have to do down with injury?

 

I'll remain optimistic until I know more! I think the most probable result is we get Dwight at 65% and hope that it's enough to get us all the way.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>In talking with a surgeon, bone marrow aspirate procedure is to speed healing process using own stem cells, rather than plasma as in PRP.</p>&mdash; Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/563035972758421504">February 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>In Howard's case, cartilage has worn down. Has never had it cut away. PRP &quot;not as good&quot; as bone marrow, which is better for regenerative.</p>&mdash; Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/563036593255374848">February 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Depends on extent, area of issue. MT <a href="https://twitter.com/Rocketsbia">@Rocketsbia</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen">@Jonathan_Feigen</a> procedure seems like a good long term, short term idea? Or experimental</p>&mdash; Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/563037366349479936">February 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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I try not to buy into it but I really believe that Houston sports are cursed

 

I remain optimistic for next season.

He is done for this year. This news isn't surprising to me or a let down. I was expecting him to be done for the year awhile back.

Hopefully they don't try to rush him back from this procedure because it sounds like there is a chance this might work without having to do microfracture and that it might actually be more beneficial than microfracture. I'm certainly curious about it.

 

no he isn't, we just need him to be right for the playoffs

 

I think Dwight's problem is more like wearing than tearing, so it's NOT Yao situation, which was the latter.

If this procedure works for him, I hope the doctors allow him to get another one in the off-season so that his knee has plenty of time to regenerate cartilage.

 

Any resident doctor on this board? Care to opine?

 

Thanks for the link but that is a different procedure, but it was a good comparison because it was in a judo athlete. That was actually a surgical procedure where they took the stem cells from the hip and grew them in a lab for a month and then added them to a collagen gel. When they did the surgery they put the gel on the hurt part of the knee and then covered it with a little "flap". The result looks like it was very good, but it took a year to fully recover.

That's the simple translation for anyone who didn't want to read that.

 

The doctor friends I have seem to be a little mixed about it. Some are saying that it could very well mean the Rockets window just shrunk to about 2 years. Others are saying that if they caught it quickly enough, there's a very good chance we could see Dwight come back strong. I guess we're in wait-and-see mode. I will say the comparisons to Amar'e are incredibly premature and completely unfounded with what we know so far. I'm not saying that might not eventually be the case, but based on what's happening RIGHT NOW, it doesn't seem like an apt comparison at all.

 

There is a chance maybe they can push him to be ready for the playoffs, but we are hearing about a procedure that needs multiple injections and takes 2 to 12 months to see results. I'm also going to just guess he can't put too much weight on that knee while they are doing this procedure as well.

To me there is no reason why they should push him. It would be short sighted and probably ruin any chance of a full recovery for Dwight.

 

Well Dwight's contract has more 2 years after this year so I'd be happy with that.

 

Hmm, now that flexibility strategy Morey was talking about makes full sense.

Spoiler

 

And so continues the Rockets luck of injured players.

Looks like all we're going to get out of Dwight is one somewhat healthy full year.

 

Wishing for some Asik then that 1st rounder

 

Seems like everybody on this board is a doctor.

 

Why didn't Dwight have procedures like this in the offseason? his knees could not have degenerated all in a few months of the season. Rockets doctors are slipping again. Never identify issues early.

 

Nah, but the Holiday Inn Express was absolutely packed last night.

 

Yes, yes... I see. Thank you.

Oh dear God.

 

What's left but to be hopeful that he could be ready to go by playoff time? Get well soon, big guy.

Of course, I bought his jersey this past summer.