Hi everyone! Can’t quite believe it’s been a month since the Super Bowl. In case you’re still feeling the sting, I’ve got some Celtics and Bruins injury thoughts to share in this week’s mailbag. Also, we found out this week why Patriots tackle Antonio Garcia was on the NFI list all season, so I share some information about his medical issue and how it could affect him going forward.
Didn’t get a question to me in time for this week’s mailbag? No worries! Hit me up on Twitter @jessdeede or check out the contact information at the bottom of this mailbag. I’m always glad to hear from you!
Gordon Hayward’s ankle was described by Yahoo! Sports' Chris Mannix as “still swollen and still purple-ish” at the All-star break. @GregABedard @BrianTRobb can you ask your Dr if this is bad or normal? (Scott S, @BostonsportZ)
What about the video he recently posted?
Patience. One goal.
More to come ➡️ @PlayersTribune pic.twitter.com/buD5E0oDjy
— Gordon Hayward (@gordonhayward) March 2, 2018
Hi Scott! This report doesn’t worry me. What looks “purple-ish and swollen” to a non-medical person may look “well-scarred-in and great” to me. So perspective is important. I haven’t personally seen Hayward’s ankle recently, but if it is a bit swollen and discolored there are normal reasons for that. The first is scar tissue. He had a major ankle injury and skin swelling and healing can lead to what looks like discoloration of the skin from a distance. Also, after an ankle-dislocation, the ankle is going to look a bit bigger or somewhat “swollen.” There is now hardware in the ankle and new healing bone. Another possibility is Hayward was having some issues with scar tissue, which is to be expected with an injury like this. Sometimes the treatment of scar tissue involves massage with tools that can cause bruising and swelling of the skin.
As far as the video, this is right where he should be. He's starting to do some activities and not just in-line drills. This is reassuring.
I’m still sticking to my original thought that we won’t see Hayward on the court for the Celtics until next season. I don’t think that this recent report represents any sort of a long-term setback for him.
Patriots’ rookie offensive tackle Antonio Garcia was placed on the NFI list in training camp last summer and Jeff Howe recently reported that his absence was due to blood clots in his lungs. While he is expected to make a full recovery, many have asked me…Huh? How the heck do you get blood clots in the lungs? (Mr.Quindazzi, @MrQuindazzi)
Mr. Q, this is an excellent question. Blood clots in the lung are called pulmonary emboli (PE). They occur when a blood clot forms in a deep vein in the leg or arm and moves to the lungs. A PE is a medical emergency because it interferes with the body’s ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide and puts a great deal of strain on the heart. Treatment involves using blood-thinning medication to prevent more clotting and help to break up the blood clots. These medications, called anticoagulants, increase the risk of bleeding. Because NFL athletes are constantly colliding as part of their job, they cannot play football on anticoagulants. The risk would be too high for a life-threatening bleed in places like the brain or spleen.
Very generally speaking, a PE is thought to be either “provoked” (there was an event that suddenly increased the risk for it to happen) or “unprovoked” (no clear reason). A few of the factors that can provoke a PE include recent surgery, a long flight, and immobilization in a leg cast or splint. We do not know if Antonio Garcia’s clot was deemed to be provoked or not. It’s an important distinction because an unprovoked PE is sometimes treated with lifelong anticoagulation.
Recent reports suggest Garcia will likely make a “full recovery.” The reality is that he has already survived the clot, so the biggest obstacle is cleared. Now he needs to get his body back in football shape. If he was cleared to start exercising, then that may mean that he was taken off of anticoagulation after 6 months and will be ready to play in the near future. We’ll need more information to know for sure if Garcia will be able to compete in the NFL going forward.
Is Patrice Bergeron really going to be ready to play in 2 weeks?
Bergeron fractured his foot during a game on February 4th. Initially, he was immobilized in a boot (probably to treat the pain), but X-rays were negative and he was thought to have a bad bone bruise. He attempted to play again the next day, but his pain persisted. A CT scan was done to get a better look at the bone structure and doctors found a fracture.
We do not know which bone Bergeron fractured, so it’s difficult to estimate when we will see him back. The team is saying they will re-evaluate him in another week or so, but I would not expect to see him playing again. Yes, I’ve been reminded many times of the fact that this is Patrice Bergeron, the guy who played with a punctured lung during the playoffs. I stand firm that this foot fracture will keep him out more than 2 weeks. A broken foot generally takes a minimum of 4 weeks to heal enough to play, even in a relatively protective skate. My best guess is that he’ll be out 4-6 weeks, but if we find out more about which bone is fractured I may be able to give you a more informed estimate.