Reiss: Gronk working out and signs are good that he will avoid more surgeries

[Rob0729]

1. Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is still a couple of weeks away from having a definitive answer as to whether he will need a fourth surgery on his left forearm, according to sources. The last month has been more of a “wait-and-see” period, with Gronkowski essentially buying more time for doctors to determine if the infection has cleared. Gronkowski has been working in the Patriots’ offseason program, and for what it’s worth, one opinion from someone who has seen him is that he “looks great.” A month ago, surgery was seen as “very likely” but there has always remained a chance that it could be avoided. At this point, there have been no unexpected setbacks; however, as Gronkowski has already learned, things can always change quickly.

Quick-hit thoughts around NFL & Pats - New England Patriots Blog - espnBoston

 

[TruthSeeker]

Great news ! I'm not going to get to excited, like the article said, things can change fast, but I am staying optimistic.

 

[signbabybrady]

Time to panic the season is drawing closer and he still might need surgery. :deadhorse2:

 

[patfanken]

OMG - You ruined it, Rob. Now what will Wrong Borges and Mazz complain about.

 

[hwc]

I took antibiotics for an infection about 10 years ago. I'm still not sure if they worked or not, so I guess I'm a few weeks away from having a definitive answer on surgery, too. Of course, there's nothing wrong with me, so there's not much reason to expect surgery, but ya never know, right?

This whole Gronk thing seems like another story cooked up by Boston sports media out of pretty thin gruel.

 

[IllegalContact]

awesome.........when's the next shot with bibi jones?

takes one guy like gronk to balance the scale......the most human human on the pats

 

[BTTA]

The CDC and NIH have just posted releases suggesting that Gronk be on antibiotics, through his 40's, an a matter of national policy.

 

[Mike the Brit]

I took antibiotics for an infection about 10 years ago. I'm still not sure if they worked or not, so I guess I'm a few weeks away from having a definitive answer on surgery, too. Of course, there's nothing wrong with me, so there's not much reason to expect surgery, but ya never know, right?

This whole Gronk thing seems like another story cooked up by Boston sports media out of pretty thin gruel.

Unless your infection was on a metal plate inserted to hold together a bone fracture, your experience is irrelevant. Believe me, this is (potentially) a serious business.

 

[patriot lifer]

...and a collective knock on wood

 

[Frezo]

awesome.........when's the next shot with bibi jones?

Hey, we're trying to keep him away from infections.

 

[Mack Herron]

So no "unexpected setbacks" (just expected ones). I will remain cautiously optimistic, but if he starts the season with the plate in his arm I will hold my breath a little each time he falls or takes a hit.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Hopefully he'll be fine and hopefully they have some really strong pads to protect his forearm, maybe like a flak jacket, but for the forearm.

 

[kennyb]

So do they ever take the plate out or will they leave it in forever??

 

[Archeryaddict12]

So do they ever take the plate out or will they leave it in forever??

Should take it out, because another land like the playoffs and it breaks his arm again. That's why he broke his arm the second time I believe.

 

[Mack Herron]

So do they ever take the plate out or will they leave it in forever??

There are differing opinions on that. Lots of people walking around with metal inside them. But most don;t play NFL football. Problem is the plate increases the probability of a break at the margin of the plate, which is what happened last time he fell.

 

[Rob0729]

Should take it out, because another land like the playoffs and it breaks his arm again. That's why he broke his arm the second time I believe.

He has a larger plate than the one he had when he broke his arm the second time. This plate runs the whole length of his forearm. The first one only covered a part of it.

 

[hwc]

Unless your infection was on a metal plate inserted to hold together a bone fracture, your experience is irrelevant. Believe me, this is (potentially) a serious business.

Lots of things are (potentially) serious business. i could (potentially) get killed crossing the street this afternoon.

All this hubbub about Gronk was based on a whole lot of (potentially). He had surgery. The wound got infected. They started a course of aggressive antibiotics. Could the antibiotics have (potentially) failed to stop the infection? Sure. But, at the time the newspaper article was written, there was no evidence that the treatment wasn't working. The whole article was based on the treatment (potentially) not working. Same crap the media pulled with the (potential) for the treatment to not work with Brady's infection.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Lots of things are (potentially) serious business. i could (potentially) get killed crossing the street this afternoon.

All this hubbub about Gronk was based on a whole lot of (potentially). He had surgery. The wound got infected. They started a course of aggressive antibiotics. Could the antibiotics have (potentially) failed to stop the infection? Sure. But, at the time the newspaper article was written, there was no evidence that the treatment wasn't working. The whole article was based on the treatment (potentially) not working. Same crap the media pulled with the (potential) for the treatment to not work with Brady's infection.

Let me explain.

When you have surgery to put in a plate (well, flange really) one of the dangers is that the plate becomes the site of a severe bacterial infection. Patients are warned to look out for signs of inflammation and fever and to get in touch with the surgeon as soon as possible if they have any such symptoms. That's what evidently happened in Gronk's case. It is a serious problem and the question now is whether the antibiotic treatment has been sufficient to deal with it.

Yes, the media don't always get their facts right (although I have no reason not to trust Mike Reiss) but, in this case, it's not the media who don't know what they're talking about.

 

[VinnyPatrollie]

He has a larger plate than the one he had when he broke his arm the second time. This plate runs the whole length of his forearm. The first one only covered a part of it.

I say encase his entire body in metal plates....The Gronkinator!:rocker:

 

[Raymond]

Growing up in the 60's, I clearly had higher hopes in our technologies by now.

Like a Steve Austin rebuild.