OT: Cowboys C Travis Frederick diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome

It's a scary auto-immune neurological condition (ascending paralysis that in some cases sets in within hours). [FWIW, it's impossible to say whether this was caused by football; many cases are preceded by infections.] There's no way to know for sure what will happen with him, but I do wish him a full recovery.

Wow, that's terrible. Hope he recovers without long term damage.
Guillain-Barre syndrome - Symptoms and causes

Based on what the website says, I'd be surprised if he's able to play this year, but a return to football doesn't seem out of the question.

Hammer of Thor said:

Wow, that's terrible. Hope he recovers without long term damage.
Guillain-Barre syndrome - Symptoms and causes

Based on what the website says, I'd be surprised if he's able to play this year, but a return to football doesn't seem out of the question.

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I had a relatively mild form of GBS in, I think, 1991, and I spent about two weeks in St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton. It can present as anything from a mild case, with some weakness but still being able to walk, to full scale paralysis. In my case the cause was undetermined although an infection followed by a flu shot which preceded the event was suspected. Once the initial recovery was over and I was sent home it took several months before I felt near normal again- which appears to be normal. However, once you've healed it doesn't seem to recur so there's no reason to expect his career will be over.

This is nasty stuff! I hope he makes a full recovery, but I wouldn't expect to see him playing anytime soon.

I guess the one good thing about playing in the NFL, is the constant physicals the players get, catches stuff like this in the early stages.

Scary stuff. Best wishes to him for a speedy recovery.

wynpalmer said:

I had a relatively mild form of GBS in, I think, 1991, and I spent about two weeks in St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton. It can present as anything from a mild case, with some weakness but still being able to walk, to full scale paralysis. In my case the cause was undetermined although an infection followed by a flu shot which preceded the event was suspected. Once the initial recovery was over and I was sent home it took several months before I felt near normal again- which appears to be normal. However, once you've healed it doesn't seem to recur so there's no reason to expect his career will be over.

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What were your symptoms?

TheRainMaker said:

What were your symptoms?

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If I remember correctly it started with pins and needles in my extremities, then over a few days it progressed to weakness in my legs. so that walking became increasingly difficult. My GP diagnosed it and sent me to St. Elizabeth's as they were the local specialists in this syndrome- I was living in Andover at the time. Fortunately it didn't progress as far as it sometimes does, so no ventilator etc. was needed.

That's horrible. Wishing him the best. That is a devastating diagnosis.

It is a very interesting and complex disorder. I've seen patients with mild cases as well as those with more severe cases. Some make a full recovery, others having lingering, chronic issues. Best of luck to him.

wynpalmer said:

If I remember correctly it started with pins and needles in my extremities, then over a few days it progressed to weakness in my legs. so that walking became increasingly difficult. My GP diagnosed it and sent me to St. Elizabeth's as they were the local specialists in this syndrome- I was living in Andover at the time. Fortunately it didn't progress as far as it sometimes does, so no ventilator etc. was needed.

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Good to hear you overcame it.

patriot1136 said:

It is a very interesting and complex disorder. I've seen patients with mild cases as well as those with more severe cases. Some make a full recovery, others having lingering, chronic issues. Best of luck to him.

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It sounds as if his case is a mild one. They probably gave him the immunoglobulin therapy.
The mother of a friend had a more severe case than I and she has had lasting effects. I still have a higher propensity for pins and needles in my extremities than normal, but otherwise nothing else. Up until the 1990s I believe that the normal US diagnosis for GBS required that the patient not be able to walk, whereas in Europe it has been accepted for a long time that there is a broad spectrum of responses including retaining the ability to walk. St. Elisabeth's was involved in studies of this spectrum.

Patrick Eaves of the Anaheim Ducks was diagnosed with GBS just after the start of the 2017/2018 season. He missed the entire season but is expected to return for the 2018/2019 season.

Best Wishes to Travis Frederick for a full recovery.

GBS seriousness can vary wildly. Treatment has improved, but course can be unpredictable. Recovery can certainly be complete, but is not always. Any lower extremity paralysis could lead to significant muscle mass loss that would take time to recover, even after strength returns. Hopefully his course is quite benign. I have seen patients who needed a ventilator for some time due to respiratory muscle paralysis.