Gardner hurting....back is a problem.

[TheShredder]

Redskins | Gardener Hurting - posted at KFFL (http://nfl.kffl.com)

19:42 PT: Jason Gould reports for Redskins.com DT Daryl Gardener (back spasms) missed practice Tuesday. He was taken to a specialist in Virginia for further evaluation. Trainer Dean Kleinschmidt did not put a timetable on Gardener's return, saying it's possible he could play this weekend, if the spasms stop.

Is this guy going to be a part-timer or what?

[Awesome]

Bad news. He's one of those guys that in my book, don't have to practice much during the week b/c he's so good when healthy.

Let him rest Monday-Saturday. But come game time, he better be rolling

[Atlanta Skins Fan]

Can a DT wear a back brace?

There is back trouble in my family (fortunately most of it has escaped me), and sometimes a brace can do wonders.

I've seen QBs in flak jackets -- why not a back brace for a DT? Or, if it's just the lower back, he could wear a Home Depot belt.

Holding him out of practice may be a good idea, but he should still be exercising. I've been told that strong back muscles help avoid and relieve back trouble.

[Henry]

Is this guy going to be a part-timer or what?

Well, that WAS the idea before Dotson got hurt. Gardeners gonna need to take plays off. We knew this when we signed him. Now we have to hope some of the young guys can step up (God I hate saying that) into a rotation with him.

[bulldog]

look, the guy has had no work for awhile and then dived in. A mild setback was to be expected.

other players have had disk/back problems and usually they have to start a strengthening regime of stretches and such to tighten the muscles around the problem area.

these back injuries will never be 'cured' but they can be managed with appropriate care.

Joe Montana went through ongoing rehab for his back several years after his back surgery was deemed a success.

At 6'6 Gardener I think is best suited to switching between DT and DE based on the downs.

I agree that playing him 40-50 snaps a game at DT is going to wear him down prematurely.

That is why it is important we find a #3 tackle from the group in camp (Cowsette, Arp, etc) who can come in and join the regular rotation.

[Bonedoc]

He can wear a back brace for support. A molded back support would go a long way to lumbar stabilization, particularly in the down stance of the DT position. It would decrease some of the torque that aggravates the lumbar discectomy that he's still recovering from.

I still think that he's playing himself into shape and will need some basic conditioning to get to where we need him. It generally takes a solid year of recovery to perform at this level.

While it's possible for him to return to full unrestricted activity I think that we need to protect our investment and get a third tackle to lighten his load.

We need to hire John Riggins as a special back consultant. He'll coach Gardner on the finer art of weekday rehab vs game-day recovery.

We can bring Riggo's lumbar traction and six-pack out of the boughs of Redskin Park. Maybe the traction will fit one of the "Beast's" legs. I hear he enjoys the hard liquor as opposed to Riggo's brew. It will work well for "Medicinal" purposes, or the oft-encountered snake bite that frequents Redskin Park.

[indyskinsfan]

I must note that John Riggins suffered from spasms in his last three years in the NFL. His worst when yep, LT got to him too, like he did Joe Theismann, by getting a wicked shot on Riggins already painful hip and upper buttock area. To think that LB, put out two of the most formidable members of a once great offense.

Riggins however, was already at the late stages of his career anyway, and yet he survived like the true warrior he was, by using those stretches, exercises and massages. Others do that regularly in the league, some who wouldn't even be able to play this weekend without it.

[TheShredder]

I do like the idea of the problem being remedied. The real issue is if this is going to be another pain in the ***. I hope the best for this guy and his health, but is he going to war each week or every other week?

[BogeyMan]

I have had a couple of rounds with back spasms myself - they usually clear up with muscle relaxers:high: and a couple of days of rest. Unless there is a structural problem with the back, the way to prevent them is stretching and strengthening the abdominal muscles. Actually, my back spasms came during "weekend warrior" activities like playing basketball after sitting behind a desk all week.

My expert medical opionion:rolleyes: is that Gardner will be fine once he gets back into game shape.

[Golgo-13]

Wow! It's cool to have a "bonedoc" to give us the info on the situation. Maybe you should send an email to the Redskins trainers. Thank's for the medical info. :notworthy

[TheShredder]

Ya, my chick says I'm the bonedoc!

[skinz fan]

Im a Physical Therapist who specializes in the spine and there is no specific brace for the lower lumbar region. Even the soft elastic belts you see guys wear is not proven to support thte lumbar spine. If it is a degenerative condition, Gardner will live on muscle relaxers and possble steroid injections to keep the inflammation down.

Anyone with back questions, please feel free to ask. (Thats including the cervical as well) Take care

[skinz fan]

Hey Bonedoc! Why would you have a brace from a microdiscectomy. I have never seen any patients who have had that type of surgery require a brace escpecially someone like Gardner who is in better shape than mist of us. This will be a chronic problem for Garnder and thats why Miami didnt hesitate to let him go. Once a chronic back....ALWAYS a chronic back

[PCS]

Okay. that's it. l say it's time to amputate.....What? okay. so that may be a little Extreme.

[indyskinsfan]

As a "patient" that had the L4 and L5 surgery to my lower back (Lumbar area), I can tell you that taking pills will not be "enough" for performing at "crash and bang" in the NFL. Another example is Antonio Davis, of the Toronto NBA team. He had surgery similar to mine as well. His regime of preparation was just as I had stated.

The "stretching" involves, actually pulling the knees to the chest, while laying flat, with knees bent. The other stretch is to lift the buttock off the floor, while, while hands flat to each side, knees bent, while holding your breath about 12 seconds and then gently loweing your buttocks, while exhaling. This gives some relief to the lower spine, while also "strengthing" the muscles.

Geez, just diss my stuff ok, it's alright :laugh:

Another thing, I never, ever wear a brace to the tender area of the surgery, because it actually protruds enough to cause further pain to the lumbar!

Thank you.

[NavyDave]

Hopefully rest for Gardener and a 3rd guy stepping up will keep us from doing something drastic.

Like overpaying for a Sammy Adams

[Atlanta Skins Fan]

Originally posted by NavyDave

Hopefully rest for Gardener and a 3rd guy stepping up will keep us from doing something drastic.

Like overpaying for a Sammy Adams

I don't want to see another DL player acquisition. Cowsette and Arp need to fill in for Gardener when necessary. Or Wynn can move inside and they can play Ladairis Jackson or Arrington at end.

Except for the interior OL, we need to be cutting players at this point.

[NVskinsfan]

Originally posted by BogeyMan

I have had a couple of rounds with back spasms myself - they usually clear up with muscle relaxers:high: and a couple of days of rest. Unless there is a structural problem with the back, the way to prevent them is stretching and strengthening the abdominal muscles. Actually, my back spasms came during "weekend warrior" activities like playing basketball after sitting behind a desk all week.

My expert medical opionion:rolleyes: is that Gardner will be fine once he gets back into game shape.

That, and game time adrenalin will kick in!:thumbsup:

[Bonedoc]

All my comments relative to Gardner are based on three things:

!) I'm a practicing Orthopaedic surgeon.

2) I've had two L4-5 laminectomies

3) I'm a lifelon Redskin fan.

As the above posters have noted, stretching and sttrenghtening are the hallmarks for prevention and rehab of any injuries. No patient will achieve optimal results without aggressive Physical Therapy before, and after, treatment for a back, or any other injury. Over the years I've had the oppurtunity to discuss/see the catre given by the Orthopods and trainers at Redskin Park. It's a quality operation.

Most athletes, at the professional level, do not rely solely on the team physician for finaldirection of their care They seek multiple opinions. This helps to reassure the player, his family, the agent and us , the fans. Most team physicians welcome a chance to have outside sources. This is not the glorious undertaking , pleasing but ownership and players alike, despite your best intentions and treatments.

Bracing is used to add additional support to an injured area. It is not intende to serve as a full-time device. You rarely see a player wearing his knee brace, flak-vest or ankle brace, outside of game/practice situations, unless he's still in need of support. My patients are out of their aplliances as soon as possible . They may resume use when participating in a sports/work activity.

Gardner might benefit from using a molded lumbar support while in practice or game-time play. This will not remove the need for stretchin or strenghtening. That's why we have year-round condtioning, and training camp, at just about every level of sports. Despite our best conditioning, in compliant or non-compliant athletes, injuries occurr. It's football. It's the nature of the beast.

Anyone who has spent time in a weight room, or , watched Bulgarian weight-lifters, might recall the use of their leather weight belts. This gives lumbar and abdominal support to allow them to rigidly support the spine. After they 've performed their hernia-wrenching lifts, they release the belt . Neither they, or Home Depot workers , have the belt tightened all the time. You use it as needed.

Hopefully Gardner's problems are confined to muscle spasms. This should respond to anti-inflamatories, muscle relaxants and stretching. If it is from a recurrent disc, stenosis, nerve-root scarring , micro-fracture of the lamina or any of the myriad of pathological problems that challenge patients or physicians, we'll be in for more serious challenges.

As has has been stated, you get "chronic" problems once you've had back injuries/surgury. They can be mild or severe. You don't nescessarily become an invalid. You frequently can pursue normal sport/work activity. If you're lucky, you continue to enjoy life and face the possible uncertainty of future recurrent problems. If you're not , you can have a life-time of hell. Maintaing flexibility and strength allows me to get through six hour operations (No, I don't leave the pati)ent on the table to make bank deposits).

Sorry for the long-winded essay. I have no specific knowledge of Gardner's medical condition. Each and every back injury/patient is as different as you and I. We hope for the best for him and the team. I don't know why Miami got rid of Gardner, it may have been more than just medical concerns. Snyder and the Skins thoiught it was a good investment. It may be a crap shoot. I don't see any better current options (Pleassssse ,no Sam Adams responses. His beer-belly will spasm his back faster than Gardner's injury).

HTTR