Injured HS Athlete - afraid that MRI may trigger future DQ?

ALF648

ALF648

5-Year Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2019
Messages
244
My DS is a HS junior who pitches. Long story short he was injured last year eventually diagnosed as micro-fractures of olecranon (bone bruising) in his right elbow. He had 2 MRIs last year - one at diagnosis and another months later to assess extent of healing.

He has injured his arm again and does not want to get an MRI and diagnosis for fear that that could trigger a DQ next year for having recurring elbow issues.

I have not been able to find that injury diagnosis in searching for DodMERB codes.

Has anyone been in this situation before - not seeking an MRI for fear of DQ? As a dad eventually I will have to step in and help him make the right decision but I understand his perspective.

Does anyone have any experience with this injury and DodMerb?

Thanks
 
Thanks and I agree with you and I want him to get the MRI. I suspect his concern is that if he has a SECOND diagnosis that that may be a challenge.

My DS is not yet an applicant and did not want to swamp Mr. Mullen with a pre-emptive email.
 
ALF648 said:
Thanks and I agree with you and I want him to get the MRI. I suspect his concern is that if he has a SECOND diagnosis that that may be a challenge.

My DS is not yet an applicant and did not want to swamp Mr. Mullen with a pre-emptive email.
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I understand. If there is something wrong he may be able to get it addressed before applying. Speaking from experience, I don't think that a 2nd diagnose would matter much. He already has the diagnosis and will most likely be required to provide supporting information concerning it.
 
The RIGHT answer is:

1. Folks should not shy away from treatment when needed period.
2. I’m always swamped with emails, 24/7/365. I wouldn’t be doing this, in this capacity, if I didn’t want to help. He should email me with the minimum of the details above.
3. At worse case, better to find out now, instead of AT WP and then be separated after all other opportunities have dried up.
4. At best, all is well.
5. The FAST sticky under the DoDMERB tab awaits him😁
 
Thanks Mr. Mullen. I do want him to get the right treatment but I am trying to respect his concern...He will be in touch via email. I appreciate it
 
No. You obviously have taught him well! His email was exponentially better than those I receive from many “Osprey Parents.” ( The evolution of Helicopter 🚁 Parents - Osprey Parents not only “hover,” they go @ Mach 2 also!)
 
Does he want to play ball for a SA?? Has he reached out? Doesn’t help with the MRI but that may potentially be a cool ending to this story 🙃!
 
Justdoit - he absolutely does and has been in touch w/ the RC. The challenge is that he lost last season/summer and may lose this one as well. The recruiting window for HS class of 2021 is closing quickly.

But here's the thing - and this may come off as proud dad stuff - DS is determined to attend a specific SA and if he doesn't get an appointment next year plans to go to college and reapply. So he isn't worried about missing recruiting windows for other colleges. His plan is to get healthy and then keep working as hard as he did last summer and fall (beyond practice 15+ hours per week lifting, stretching, throwing etc.) and put himself in position to walk on. Our eldest pitches in college so DS understands exactly how hard it might be for him to pull it off...but he is undaunted.

We are not a military family so when he told us what his plan was last year we had to stop and think. But looking at what he's done and who he is it now makes perfect sense to us why he has chosen the SA path. We will continue to hope for the cool ending to the story...
 
ALF648 said:
Justdoit - he absolutely does and has been in touch w/ the RC. The challenge is that he lost last season/summer and may lose this one as well. The recruiting window for HS class of 2021 is closing quickly.

But here's the thing - and this may come off as proud dad stuff - DS is determined to attend a specific SA and if he doesn't get an appointment next year plans to go to college and reapply. So he isn't worried about missing recruiting windows for other colleges. His plan is to get healthy and then keep working as hard as he did last summer and fall (beyond practice 15+ hours per week lifting, stretching, throwing etc.) and put himself in position to walk on. Our eldest pitches in college so DS understands exactly how hard it might be for him to pull it off...but he is undaunted.

We are not a military family so when he told us what his plan was last year we had to stop and think. But looking at what he's done and who he is it now makes perfect sense to us why he has chosen the SA path. We will continue to hope for the cool ending to the story...
Click to expand...

Is the pitching causing the injuries? If he stops pitching, would his arm heal properly this improving his chances of getting in?
 
ALF648 said:
Justdoit - he absolutely does and has been in touch w/ the RC. The challenge is that he lost last season/summer and may lose this one as well. The recruiting window for HS class of 2021 is closing quickly.

But here's the thing - and this may come off as proud dad stuff - DS is determined to attend a specific SA and if he doesn't get an appointment next year plans to go to college and reapply. So he isn't worried about missing recruiting windows for other colleges. His plan is to get healthy and then keep working as hard as he did last summer and fall (beyond practice 15+ hours per week lifting, stretching, throwing etc.) and put himself in position to walk on. Our eldest pitches in college so DS understands exactly how hard it might be for him to pull it off...but he is undaunted.

We are not a military family so when he told us what his plan was last year we had to stop and think. But looking at what he's done and who he is it now makes perfect sense to us why he has chosen the SA path. We will continue to hope for the cool ending to the story...
Click to expand...
Your story sounds very similar to my DS story. He too is a pitcher. Was disqualified for a patella injury from soccer. Has been in contact with WP coach and even got their attention at the camp last summer. After his 2nd patella injury we went for the mri and it showed no real damage. DODMERB still disqualified him. I would say go get him looked at. You really don’t know what will happen on DODMERB end but you can start the healing process on your end now and he will be stronger by the time he’s ready to go. Just my 2 cents. Best of luck.
 
A1Janitor said:
Is the pitching causing the injuries? If he stops pitching, would his arm heal properly this improving his chances of getting in?
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A1- yes. 100%. If he stops throwing the injury resolved itself and he’s has no lingering pain or mobility issues.
It’s a weird injury that could be driven by his unique throwing mechanics or by the bones not being fully hardened yet... The real question he has is if he gets second diagnosis of the same injury if it will increase DQ likelihood

in any case he has shut down throwing. And we will be scheduling the MRI
 
Megtrip said:
Your story sounds very similar to my DS story. He too is a pitcher. Was disqualified for a patella injury from soccer. Has been in contact with WP coach and even got their attention at the camp last summer. After his 2nd patella injury we went for the mri and it showed no real damage. DODMERB still disqualified him. I would say go get him looked at. You really don’t know what will happen on DODMERB end but you can start the healing process on your end now and he will be stronger by the time he’s ready to go. Just my 2 cents. Best of luck.
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Thanks for this. I think that’s the plan we will follow
 
To be crystal clear lest anyone thinks we may be just throwing darts on decisions at DoDMERB.


DoDMERB applies the medical accession standards in DoDI 6130.03 (https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/613003p.pdf) Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, and Induction in the Military Services, using this overarching policy below:

1.2. POLICY. It is DoD policy to:
a. Use the guidance in this issuance for appointment, enlistment, or induction of personnel into the Military Services.
b. Use common medical standards for appointment, enlistment, or induction of personnel into the Military Services and eliminate inconsistencies and inequities in the DoD Components based on race, sex, or location of examination when applying these standards.
c. Ensure that individuals considered for appointment, enlistment, or induction into the Military Services are:
(1) Free of contagious diseases that may endanger the health of other personnel.
(2) Free of medical conditions or physical defects that may reasonably be expected to require excessive time lost from duty for necessary treatment or hospitalization, or may result in separation from the Military Service for medical unfitness.
(3) Medically capable of satisfactorily completing required training and initial period of contracted service.
(4) Medically adaptable to the military environment without geographical area limitations.
(5) Medically capable of performing duties without aggravating existing physical defects or medical conditions.
 
MullenLE said:
To be crystal clear lest anyone thinks we may be just throwing darts on decisions at DoDMERB.


DoDMERB applies the medical accession standards in DoDI 6130.03 (https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/613003p.pdf) Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, and Induction in the Military Services, using this overarching policy below:

1.2. POLICY. It is DoD policy to:
a. Use the guidance in this issuance for appointment, enlistment, or induction of personnel into the Military Services.
b. Use common medical standards for appointment, enlistment, or induction of personnel into the Military Services and eliminate inconsistencies and inequities in the DoD Components based on race, sex, or location of examination when applying these standards.
c. Ensure that individuals considered for appointment, enlistment, or induction into the Military Services are:
(1) Free of contagious diseases that may endanger the health of other personnel.
(2) Free of medical conditions or physical defects that may reasonably be expected to require excessive time lost from duty for necessary treatment or hospitalization, or may result in separation from the Military Service for medical unfitness.
(3) Medically capable of satisfactorily completing required training and initial period of contracted service.
(4) Medically adaptable to the military environment without geographical area limitations.
(5) Medically capable of performing duties without aggravating existing physical defects or medical conditions.
Click to expand...
Totally understand the process. I hope my comment didn’t come across as saying it was a dart throwing process. If so, I do sincerely apologize. 😐 I know how overwhelming this process can be for both parents and applicants. I would hate for his DS to not seek attention for his injury because he’s fearful of a disqualification. A disqualification isn’t the end of the road. Just makes for a longer process and creates very anxious parents. 😂
 
Mr. Mullen has been in touch w DS and we will have his perspective soon.
We fully appreciate the process and had assumed that the original injury would trigger a process but believed that it would have been resolved satisfactorily. My son’s concern is that a second diagnosis could make it much more difficult to make it through - my goal was simply to test that assumption with this community.
Thanks to all for the insights
 
ALF648 said:
A1- yes. 100%. If he stops throwing the injury resolved itself and he’s has no lingering pain or mobility issues.
It’s a weird injury that could be driven by his unique throwing mechanics or by the bones not being fully hardened yet... The real question he has is if he gets second diagnosis of the same injury if it will increase DQ likelihood
in any case he has shut down throwing. And we will be scheduling the MRI
Click to expand...
My son had the same type elbow pain by the time he got to high school. I was his youth baseball coach and put him on the mound too often. I ruined his arm and he never pitched in high school. He was always the shortstop, quarterback, point guard type of kid and he couldn't even play shortstop anymore due to the throw from the six hole. He did fine in the outfield especially since the school hired me as an assistant and I coached the outfield and could shut him down in practice when his pain got to be too much.

He could do everything but throw consistently. He had speed and hit for power and average. He made All-Met in the DC metropolitan area and still holds the single season HR record at his school. He could even throw a football without pain and still can to this day. He gets along just fine in his daily life and occupational requirements. If I had to do it over I would have never put him on the mound.
 
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ALF648 & Megtrip - Both sons NOW have the answer they need via email :groupwave:

Megtrip - "Totally understand the process. I hope my comment didn’t come across as saying it was a dart throwing process. If so, I do sincerely apologize. 😐 I know how overwhelming this process can be for both parents and applicants. I would hate for his DS to not seek attention for his injury because he’s fearful of a disqualification. A disqualification isn’t the end of the road. Just makes for a longer process and creates very anxious parents. "

LARRY ANSWER = Not in the least!:) It was a general comment for all parties to say that I wouldn't be on here if transparency wasn't a big thing for us. I don't smoke, so there are no smoke filled rooms and backroom deliberations. We call 'em as we see'em. Thx!
 
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