Dwight's Back, General Info (Great Recap of Interview w/Dr. Klapper on ESPN 710)

[dfchang813]

Just listened to Dr. Robert Klapper, chief of orthopedic surgery at Cedar Sinai and ESPN 710's resident expert.

Some highlights:

1. From an orthopedic surgery standpoint he would much rather have Dwight's back than Andrew's knees.

2. The knees have a much more "chronic injury" issue than Dwight's back which is an "acute injury" that can be repaired with very little sequelae.

3. After surgery, you can't play basketball and engage in any heavy physical activity for 4 months.

Why?

Because the injury is a disc herniation: a small amount of the nucleus pulposus or the "shock absorber" of the disc got squeezed out. It is a VERY SMALL amount. You get rid of the "squirted out" material with a 1 inch incision under a microscope.

There is a 5-10 percent chance that returning to physical activity too early could herniate more material. That's obviously not good because you've reherniated the disc and have to remove more of the extruded disc.

Bear in mind that Dwight was fully recovered, pain free, and ready to work out probably a few weeks after surgery (it is only 1 inch incision after all). BUT returning to physical activity too early gets you that 5-10 percent chance. Keep in mind that means there is a 90 to 95% chance that if he came back after only a month or so he would be fine.

But he is Dwight Howard and so they are being super, super cautious.

4. He had surgery 04/20/2012 which means he should be able to resume training, weights, basketball activity, etc around 08/20/2012 if everything goes according to schedule and he feels no pain, etc.

5. Per Dr. Klapper, based on that schedule Dwight should be ready for opening night (10/30/2012). He'll have 2 months to get his conditioning back. Again assuming he recovers as expected and at his age and conditioning there should be NO REASON for any setbacks.

6. Dwight will ALWAYS know he had surgery, he'll ALWAYS feel just a little different. That's unavoidable. BUT that feeling doesn't affect his ability to do what he needs to do. Per Dr. Klapper as fans we should be able to tell NO DIFFERENCE in the way he plays. He should have essentially NO difference in his skills, athleticism, etc.

7. By way, reading some medical papers addressing the effects of laminectomy on NBA athletes, those papers support Dr. Klapper's assertion that Dwight should be back as good as new.

8. That should answer the question why teams are still willing to kill themselves to get Dwight Howard despite this "back injury" issue. It's a non-issue moving forward. Also why he and his agent are very comfortable not extending and waiting for the end of the season to sign a new max contract. They know, all-world BEAST 3x DPOY Howard is coming back this year. With Stephen A interview, Dwight pointed out that he absolutely felt he could have won a 4th straight DPOY if he had been fully healthy. He's ready to come back and remind everyone who he is on the basketball floor. Trust me, he may be smiling but this whole Dwightmare did affect him and he's going to playing with an edge, especially on defense.

The most dominant defensive force in the NBA basically feels disrespected and the league has NO IDEA what is coming down on them from the 5 slot.


Summary: If everything goes according to schedule, we should hear something by the end of August that Dwight is starting to work out again on the court, lifting, running etc.

Chances are good that he'll be ready for the start of the season.

Chances overwhelmingly good that there will be no lasting effect from this particular injury.


Final point: He played with a lot of pain and discomfort when the incompetent, dumbass Magic medical staff misdiagnosed with "back spasms." He said it was more pain than he had ever experienced since he was in the league.

That's why the thing that hurt him personally the most in the media was that he was faking an injury and quitting on his team. He put up All-Star numbers last year playing with a herniated disc.

When I think of Bynum taking plays and games off and openly admitting it while Dwight is still putting up the numbers he did with an injury that ultimately required surgery and in a toxic, destructive environment . . . I think there is no doubt the sort of heart and work ethic Dwight is going to bring to our team.

Hope all of this is a bit reassuring.

[Krispy Kreme]

i just hope the same "doctors" that "helped" karl malone, don't touch dwight howard
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[UAdevil]

Surgery? He should have just gone with acupuncture.

[thurloly]

Really nice read!

Thanks for the info.

Too excited and can't wait to watch this new team now more than ever!

[dood23]

Just come back healthy

[Voices]

6. Dwight will ALWAYS know he had surgery, he'll ALWAYS feel just a little different. That's unavoidable. BUT that feeling doesn't affect his ability to do what he needs to do. Per Dr. Klapper as fans we should be able to tell NO DIFFERENCE in the way he plays. He should have essentially NO difference in his skills, athleticism, etc.
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.....
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ALTHOUGH HE STANDS 6 FEET 2 INCHES, JIM BUSS ATTENDED JOCKEY SCHOOL WHEN HE WAS 20.

[Mr. Zero]

Missed it. Thanks for the recap.
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Phil Luke

[City_Dawg]

[shaqobe2000]

LOL at comments on Bynum's knee

[BlakeJay]

[12]

[ForrestHump]

This is what I've been talking about every since he LA rumors in the summer came back up, I told my fellow Laker fans that he will be fine once he finishes rehabbing.

Dwight has been taking things VERY SLOWLY, his injury is nothing big but it has that small chance of coming back IF not treated right.

Let's not forget this is the 21st century, there are hundreds of millions at stake.
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"What's with this dishwasher, chico?"

[Balki Bartokomous]

EFF YOU BRENDAN HAYWOOD WITH THAT BUSH LEAGUE CRAP !!!!
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"Now we're so happy we do the dance of joy."

[32]

Thanks dfchang813.
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Nobody in the NBA can touch the Laker brand, which, like the uniform color, is pure gold.

[enemy_territory]

Hey dfchang do you know how many of his discs were herniated and where along the spine they were located?
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Rob Lowe
Also good to know that #NBA commissioner #DavidStern is against the free market. Hey Dave, move to China. #Lakers

[oldschool32]

[1hu2ren3dui4]

Thanks for that great recap. I wasn't sure where the doctor was talking and where you were interjecting your thoughts but it was a very informative post. Thanks.
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-Most people learn by saying mother, numb, horse, angry... I learned mine by saying Lakers, add gas. - HRD.

[GoldenThroat]

I listened to the interview as well, and that's a phenomenal recap. Great stuff. Thank you.

[markjay]

Great info. Thanks.

I am so glad that we have both Jamison and Hill signed. That means there will be no need for Dwight to rush back to play heavy minutes early on.

[ForrestHump]

[Texas_Pete]

Thanks OP. This thread should be stickied for Laker fans like me who don't get the 411 like SoCal Laker fans. This is very reassuring indeed.

[GoldenThroat]

[JIFISH]

Can Dwight park in the handicap spaces until his back is fully rehabbed?
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The spirit of Mamba is with us all the times. Pau Gasol

[postandpivot]

[Atticus]