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What's the real deal with the Bengals' medical staff?


andybren

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From Whitlock's column:

3. Here's something I found interesting: Carson Palmer didn't let Bengals doctors operate on his knee, and he's doing his rehabilitation away from the Bengals' trainers.

Coaches will tell you that one of the key components for success is for players to trust the training staff and the strength and conditioning coach. Cincinnati players don't trust the Bengals' medical staff. I don't think Palmer will be ready for the start of training camp.

Other people on this board have mentioned the trainers/medical staff in negative terms, but I've never heard details. This seems like as good a time as any to elaborate...

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This is the same staff that "helped" Dugans, Warrick, Oompah-Nate, C. Perry....it's a wonder Housh ever recovered from his pulled hammy.

If I'm Palmer, I'd run a marathon on my bum knee before I'd let those butchers touch me.

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There is a huge difference between an athletic training staff that is focused on strength and conditioning and a highly trained and specialized injury rehabilitation staff. If you look at other articles, a coupel mention that athletes and reps want independent docs to do the surgeries since, well, they are independent. The rehab in So cal is more due to proximity to Carson's off season residence (read WARM WEATHER, which will be good for the rehab anyway). Other articles also mention that the new Bengals facility has all the latest and greatest equipment to rehab, so I don't think that is at issue. There is also a difference between the immediate period after the surgery and once the rehab moves back to focusing on what a professional athlete needs. Carson is schedule to be back in cincy for rehab once the offseason work starts, april/may timeframe I think.

I'll see if I can relocate some of the articles.

Pasquarelli:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2287897

"It is believed that Palmer will do the initial phase of rehabilitation in Los Angeles, then return to Cincinnati to continue working on his recovery under the supervision of team trainers."

BTW, how much value and credibility do you attribute to Whitlock, really?

This statement within the context of the article is preposterous for a couple of reasons:

1. Timeframe for recovery from this type of injury varies widely by person from 6 to over 12 months and depending on position of the athlete. Did anyone let Mcgahee anywhere near a field in his first year after the injury? No way. But he is a runner who depends on that joint to produce. Carson depends on his arm. Just look at Joe Namath in photos late in his career, and that was the 70s. Medicine is far more advanced now. so could me miss the majority of next season? Absolutely yes, he could. does anyone expect him to? No, they do not.

2. Bengals now have some of the most advanced, cutting edge and highest quality facilities of any professional sports franchise. MRI / Xray etc equip in the lockerroom, weight room and other peripheral facilities. Only thing they don't have is a bubble (covered practice facility/field).

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This is the same staff that "helped" Dugans, Warrick, Oompah-Nate, C. Perry....it's a wonder Housh ever recovered from his pulled hammy.

If I'm Palmer, I'd run a marathon on my bum knee before I'd let those butchers touch me.

Don't forget Brahm and Levi. I have heard of more Bengal related medical setbacks than all the other teams combined. Sure P-Dub, play on Monday night with a broken leg. And you could always count on a subsequent infection following any type of procedure. Ah, can you throw away the rusty tools already?!

Carson may have just saved his career.

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The doctor that did the operation also had some previous connection to the team. I also heard that Carson's agent had some influence the decision as well.

Renowned sports surgeon, Dr. James Andrews from Birmingham would have done the surgery but had a heart attack a few days before the game.

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The Bengals top Doctor/Surgeon had a heart attack weeks before the injury. That's the only reason that Bengals Doctors didn't operate on Palmer.

HELLO!?!?!?!?! The Bengals don't HAVE a surgeon. They have training staff. HUGE difference.

O.K., You guy's are as picky as my wife! Bengals PREFERED SURGEON. Clear enough for you bozo's?

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The Bengals top Doctor/Surgeon had a heart attack weeks before the injury. That's the only reason that Bengals Doctors didn't operate on Palmer.

HELLO!?!?!?!?! The Bengals don't HAVE a surgeon. They have training staff. HUGE difference.

O.K., You guy's are as picky as my wife! Bengals PREFERED SURGEON. Clear enough for you bozo's?

bozo0ma.jpg Got it.

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2. Bengals now have some of the most advanced, cutting edge and highest quality facilities of any professional sports franchise. MRI / Xray etc equip in the lockerroom, weight room and other peripheral facilities. Only thing they don't have is a bubble (covered practice facility/field).

True... how many times do you hear that players will get MRI's the next day, or two days after the injury? The majority of the time, because they have to do them at the local hospital. Carson was having his MRI at during the game. I don't know much about the training staff... but it seems like any training staff only gets negative publicity, because you only hear about them when players are out, and don't get back on the field right away.

The majority of our injuries don't keep players out for extended periods of time. Yes we can look back at problems with Warrick and others... but he hasn't exactly returned to form in Seattle either. Apparently their medical squad is no more qualified than ours. I imagine that this same type of discussion goes on among fans of all the teams, complaining about players that should have been back by now.

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True... how many times do you hear that players will get MRI's the next day, or two days after the injury? The majority of the time, because they have to do them at the local hospital. Carson was having his MRI at during the game.

Collinsworth's company, ProScan Imaging has a facility in PBS. That is why Carson was able to get his MRI done right there. The general public actually goes there daily to use that equipment.

Also, Someone mentioned Peter Warrick playing with a broken leg earlier. There is a difference between playing with a hairline fracture and a broken leg. Warrick played briefly in the Denver game in 2004 with what the team called a "bone bruise" which was a hairline fracture. I don't know if it was misdiagnosed by the staff or "misnamed" by Marvin.

He will not divulge medical details and I think the same thing can be said for the Chris Perry sports hernia thing last season. Until a guy goes on IR, Marvin isn't going to say anything, much less reveal the truth. SO saying we have a bad medical staff may not be totally fair or accurate.

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This is the same staff that "helped" Dugans, Warrick, Oompah-Nate, C. Perry....it's a wonder Housh ever recovered from his pulled hammy.

If I'm Palmer, I'd run a marathon on my bum knee before I'd let those butchers touch me.

Don't forget Brahm and Levi. I have heard of more Bengal related medical setbacks than all the other teams combined. Sure P-Dub, play on Monday night with a broken leg. And you could always count on a subsequent infection following any type of procedure. Ah, can you throw away the rusty tools already?!

Carson may have just saved his career.

Wait a second...how many games did Braham and Levi miss from their respective injuries? I seem to remember both coming back pretty quickly. Probably in large part due to their own personal determination, but then, isn't that the point?

The player must hold a large portion of the responsibility when it comes to rehabilitation. As long as the team is providing a competent staff/facility, isn't it up to the player to take the next several steps?

I started this thread hoping to hear details of specific cases being botched. Like Nate Webster coming back too early and getting hurt worse (was that a doctor's fault?). Or, were these injuries caused by poor training or facilities?

A list of injured players is not evidence. Nor is Carson's choice of an option outside of Cincinnati.

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Don't be dissing on doctors. They're not "butchers." However, I do know that once I get done with med school and residency, one of my goals is to be a sports surgeon, so maybe I'll be able to improve the Bengals staff!

Somehow I feel I'll be seeing you pull this off! If you do, don't forget your buds here!

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Jason Whitlock - ESPN

3. Here's something I found interesting: Carson Palmer didn't let Bengals doctors operate on his knee, and he's doing his rehabilitation away from the Bengals' trainers.

Coaches will tell you that one of the key components for success is for players to trust the training staff and the strength and conditioning coach. Cincinnati players don't trust the Bengals' medical staff. I don't think Palmer will be ready for the start of training camp.

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I doubt that the greatest knee surgeon in the world works for the Bengals. Palmer is a smart guy who realizes that his body is his career. I am sure he went to the best surgeon around. He isn't stupid and neither is Marv. The Bengals backed his move. He'll be back for the opening game.

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Add Rudi Johnson to the list of players that the Bengals medical staff successfully treated and had ready to play all season. I bet most have forgotten that Rudi hurt his knee prior to the opener, missed every Wednesday practice...and a few others as well, but was always ready to roll when the whistle blew.

BTW, he's supposed to get the knee cleaned out soon.

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