Parents Doctor "clearance"

[Deleted member 18037]

The other thing to keep in mind, is doctors don't want to be libel. They will go into CYA mode. Because they really don't like malpractice suits.

 

[profmom]

We have had conversations on here before about fractures and slippage. If your daughter was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis, almost all orthopedists and a lot of coaches will say "quit." Spondylolysis is a different story. It is quite important that you inform yourself and that you work with a doctor who understands the special demands of gymnastics. This back stuff can have lifelong effects. It's not just about litigation prevention.

 

[nycgymmom]

We have had conversations on here before about fractures and slippage. If your daughter was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis, almost all orthopedists and a lot of coaches will say "quit." Spondylolysis is a different story. It is quite important that you inform yourself and that you work with a doctor who understands the special demands of gymnastics. This back stuff can have lifelong effects. It's not just about litigation prevention.

It is spondylolysis...and that is what I am trying get to find a doctor who understands the demand of gymnastics and that is where I am falling get short. I have done all the research I could do but want true professional guidance

 

[LLmom]

The Hospital For Special Surgery, first of its kind Women's Sports Medicine
https://www.hss.edu/womens-sports.asp

Dr Goolsby...well trained at a highly respected fellowship (at a location that is big into gymnastics). I'd recommend her.

As an aside...without giving medical advice...it is my experience that the return to play advice and direction will often be more detailed and more supportive of return to sport (even gymnastics) from a primary care sports medicine physician (they train in family Med/peds/etc and then sports...not surgery). It seems that often, but not always, surgeons do less return to activity advice, and may leave that to therapists instead. So if your athlete doesn't require surgery, consider seeing a non-surgeon to help guide you.

 

[rgmom]

The Hospital For Special Surgery, first of its kind Women's Sports Medicine
https://www.hss.edu/womens-sports.asp

Yes, we went to the Hospital for Special Surgery for my daughter's diagnosis of spondyliosis. She was told she would be able to return to gymnastics fully, and she is certainly trying to do so, after a very long recovery. But we will see in the end if that's realistic.
If you want the doctor's name we used, please PM me.

 

[bookworm]

We've had 3 serious surgical repairs along the way....OCD of the elbow, torn ACL , torn Achilles...and were seen by Orthopedic and Sports med specialists and were never told to "just quit" by any of them. To be fair, the surgeons did say that any of these injuries "could be career ending" but we're willing to work with us on getting them back to gym.

Let me be clear though, we followed their advice to the letter...elbow guy said "I don't want her even in the gym AT ALL for the next 6-7 months, PT only"...and that's what we did...and , 9 years later, she's never had an issue with her elbow...while it was career ending for many of her teammates because they listened to the coach , who wanted them "back in the gym, doing something" after 2 weeks and all but one ( and there were about 15 of them) left the sport because their elbow never healed right, it happened to the other one etc...

With the ACL and achilles, both were about a year of PT and rehab and they were eventually cleared to return to gym. Not sure what the OP has for an injury but to be told to stop from the get go is concerning...especially when you consider Ashley Lambert at World Class had a cervical fracture and was in a halo for months in 2011, had scholarships from Alabama and LSU pulled because they saw her as damaged goods but went on to compete quite successfully for Nebraska....and got cleared by doctors to compete...so I don't know what to say other than exhaust all your options..

 

[nycgymmom]

Dr Goolsby...well trained at a highly respected fellowship (at a location that is big into gymnastics). I'd recommend her.

As an aside...without giving medical advice...it is my experience that the return to play advice and direction will often be more detailed and more supportive of return to sport (even gymnastics) from a primary care sports medicine physician (they train in family Med/peds/etc and then sports...not surgery). It seems that often, but not always, surgeons do less return to activity advice, and may leave that to therapists instead. So if your athlete doesn't require surgery, consider seeing a non-surgeon to help guide you.

Than you ! I am starting to realize that...and by the grace of God she doesn't need surgery.

 

[nycgymmom]

We've had 3 serious surgical repairs along the way....OCD of the elbow, torn ACL , torn Achilles...and were seen by Orthopedic and Sports med specialists and were never told to "just quit" by any of them. To be fair, the surgeons did say that any of these injuries "could be career ending" but we're willing to work with us on getting them back to gym.

Let me be clear though, we followed their advice to the letter...elbow guy said "I don't want her even in the gym AT ALL for the next 6-7 months, PT only"...and that's what we did...and , 9 years later, she's never had an issue with her elbow...while it was career ending for many of her teammates because they listened to the coach , who wanted them "back in the gym, doing something" after 2 weeks and all but one ( and there were about 15 of them) left the sport because their elbow never healed right, it happened to the other one etc...

With the ACL and achilles, both were about a year of PT and rehab and they were eventually cleared to return to gym. Not sure what the OP has for an injury but to be told to stop from the get go is concerning...especially when you consider Ashley Lambert at World Class had a cervical fracture and was in a halo for months in 2011, had scholarships from Alabama and LSU pulled because they saw her as damaged goods but went on to compete quite successfully for Nebraska....and got cleared by doctors to compete...so I don't know what to say other than exhaust all your options..

Thank you...I will follow doctors orders to a T, but doctors aren't doing that. I want them to tell what to do besides quit. She has spondylolysis

 

[nycgymmom]

The other thing to keep in mind, is doctors don't want to be libel. They will go into CYA mode. Because they really don't like malpractice suits.

Definitely understand that.

 

[bookworm]

Thank you...I will follow doctors orders to a T, but doctors aren't doing that. I want them to tell what to do besides quit. She has spondylolysis

Actually we had a pars fracture too.... and my daughter was in a hard back brace for 16 weeks , no gym...and came back to do well at JOs later that year......I guess I might phrase it to them, "what do we have to do so she CAN return to this sport?"

 

[tomtnt]

wow, your gym suffered 15 elbow OCD??? over what time period? Even in gymnastics, it shouldn't be THAT common....

we've had 2 over the last 5 years requiring surgery. 1 came back, did awesome and a freshman in Div. 1 program this year. The other gymnast had bunch of complications and switched to diving. always worries me when DD complains of elbow symptoms!

We've had 3 serious surgical repairs along the way....OCD of the elbow, torn ACL , torn Achilles...and were seen by Orthopedic and Sports med specialists and were never told to "just quit" by any of them. To be fair, the surgeons did say that any of these injuries "could be career ending" but we're willing to work with us on getting them back to gym.

Let me be clear though, we followed their advice to the letter...elbow guy said "I don't want her even in the gym AT ALL for the next 6-7 months, PT only"...and that's what we did...and , 9 years later, she's never had an issue with her elbow...while it was career ending for many of her teammates because they listened to the coach , who wanted them "back in the gym, doing something" after 2 weeks and all but one ( and there were about 15 of them) left the sport because their elbow never healed right, it happened to the other one etc...

With the ACL and achilles, both were about a year of PT and rehab and they were eventually cleared to return to gym. Not sure what the OP has for an injury but to be told to stop from the get go is concerning...especially when you consider Ashley Lambert at World Class had a cervical fracture and was in a halo for months in 2011, had scholarships from Alabama and LSU pulled because they saw her as damaged goods but went on to compete quite successfully for Nebraska....and got cleared by doctors to compete...so I don't know what to say other than exhaust all your options..

 

[nycgymmom]

Actually we had a pars fracture too.... and my daughter was in a hard back brace for 16 weeks , no gym...and came back to do well at JOs later that year......I guess I might phrase it to them, "what do we have to do so she CAN return to this sport?"

She currently is in hard brace also...

 

[profmom]

That is really breathtaking, Bookworm. One of my son's teammates had elbow OCD, and the coach was extremely cautious with his recovery, because he said this is one you absolutely cannot rush.

I'm also glad to be in a gym where the coaches know the docs in the area. When my DD was going through her back problems, we were finally able to move forward after she saw the doc our gym owner recommended. That particular doc has worked with probably a half dozen or more gymnasts with back problems from our program. The men's side likewise has a wrist doc and an ankle/knee doc they like a lot. It's a virtuous circle, as the more the coaches and doctors collaborate over gymnastics injuries, the better both are able to support injured athletes and help them to recover fully -- or make the hard decision to transition out of the sport.

 

[nycgymmom]

Thank you everyone for all your information. My goal for my child as is hers is to return to the sports she loves as long as that is a God's will. When she does return I want to be guided by a doctor who truly understand the demand of the sport and respects what these young grls/ladies do.

 

[gymdog]

It is spondylolysis...and that is what I am trying get to find a doctor who understands the demand of gymnastics and that is where I am falling get short. I have done all the research I could do but want true professional guidance

Drive to Boston and see Dave Tilley...if he tells you to quit then it is for the best.

 

[nycgymmom]

Drive to Boston and see Dave Tilley...if he tells you to quit then it is for the best.

Honestly I have heard of him and that would have been my next move.

 

[gymdog]

Honestly I have heard of him and that would have been my next move.

I think at this point he seems worth it...I know he loves gymnastics and is pretty invested in trying to help kids find a way to continue. He also is extremely well educated about the demands of the sport and imbalances that can lead to injuries. I think he will either be able to help or give a fairly definitive answer about why another sport might be a better pursuit.

 

[CuriousCate]

To be fair most orthopedics do lol

Not true. I'm ortho and neither me nor most of my colleagues hate it. Most of us actually like it for the strength, balance, core, and element of "cross training" involved. Many were gymnasts. Most (me included) only hate the push from the coaches to see "their" choice of docs (ie non-op sports who send kids back too early), which is way too controlling IMO. Most also don't love the crazy high hours for young ones (like 20hours for 7-9 year olds, etc). Most of us will tell you that an injury is healed but have to advise you that there is a risk of it happening again if it occurred from overuse in any sport, not just gymnastics (actually more common in swimming, running, baseball, tennis, etc where there is repetitive motion and same muscle groups being used). I've never told anyone that they cannot return, but I make sure they know the risk.

 

[bookworm]

Not true. I'm ortho and neither me nor most of my colleagues hate it. Most of us actually like it for the strength, balance, core, and element of "cross training" involved. Many were gymnasts. Most (me included) only hate the push from the coaches to see "their" choice of docs (ie non-op sports who send kids back too early), which is way too controlling IMO. Most also don't love the crazy high hours for young ones (like 20hours for 7-9 year olds, etc). Most of us will tell you that an injury is healed but have to advise you that there is a risk of it happening again if it occurred from overuse in any sport, not just gymnastics (actually more common in swimming, running, baseball, tennis, etc where there is repetitive motion and same muscle groups being used). I've never told anyone that they cannot return, but I make sure they know the risk.

You sound like the doctor we had ...he told us "no gym AT ALL" because he knew that our coach DID push for kids to come back way too early and we made the decision together that we would follow his rules because he said "if you don't , there's no point in continuing to be seen if your coach is going to be the doctor"...the coach at that particular gym had a certain doctor that most of the other kids saw and he seemed to spout the party line that the coach wanted...and those kids don't have workable elbows....when the coach asked me if I "realized the repercussions of possibly missing a whole season for this when you could see someone who wouldn't push for that", I said "well she needs her elbow for a lifetime so she may miss the season"....she came back towards the very end and went to regionals on 2 events and placed top 3 so predictions of her demise were premature

...the fact that in this gym alone there were 15 ( and actually probably 20 by the time we left) kids with OCD told you that the number of reps was too high to begin with ...and only 2 kids (one of which was my daughter)were able to continue in the sport tells you something....

 

[profmom]

I should say here that sane coaches are a useful piece of the puzzle. One reason the gym owner likes his go-to back guy is that this orthopedist WILL say "it's time to find a different sport" if he thinks that a child's back is not going to tolerate high-level gym in the long run. Everyone involved wants the gymnasts to succeed and stay in the sport, but not to the point of significantly risking long-term negative life consequences.