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reds44
06-08-2007, 05:50 PM
Freel update: Talked to Ryan Freel. He said he has no idea when he'll be back. He's still having severe headaches. When asked if he thought it was career-threatening, he said, "I don't really want to think about that."

He said there are very few things he remembers from that day. He doesn't remember the play, but he does remember looking up and seeing people looking fown at him from the stands. And he remembers being in the ambulance.

Freel said the first dive days he spent entirely in bed. with headaches, nausea and disorientation. He will be seeing Dr. Kremcheck here soon and expects to see even more doctors.

This is certainly not a quick fix. Freel estimated that he's had 10 concussions in his life, but none had the lingering effects this one has.


-Trent

steig
06-09-2007, 06:15 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2898862


The Cincinnati Reds said Friday that injured utility man Ryan Freel is "slowly improving" from a concussion sustained in an outfield collision but hasn't been cleared for physical activity, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

Freel, who spoke Friday with the media for the first time since his injury, continues to experience lingering effects from the May 28 collision with Reds outfielder Norris Hopper, and admitted to feeling uncertain about his ability to come back, according to the Enquirer.

"For the first five days, I didn't get out of bed," Freel said of the post-concussion symptoms, according to the newspaper. "I had some pretty bad headaches, and nausea and dizziness. ... But [the headaches] has gotten better, so maybe [the injury] is getting better."

According to the report, Freel said he does not remember running or reaching for the ball before the collision -- only looking up and seeing teammates as he lay on the field.

"And I remember wondering, 'What is going on?' ... That's when it occurred to me I'd probably just had another concussion," he said, according to the newspaper.

Freel met with team medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek on Friday and has also met with spine specialist Dr. John Brannan, who prescribed rest and limited activity, according to the report.

"[But] I am a little nervous," Freel said. "I just want to know more about what's going on. ... I don't feel real comfortable as far as where I stand in terms of getting back [into the lineup]."

Freel also told reporters that he's had a history of concussions, and estimated there have been "six or seven" that he knows of, and a few others that he doesn't remember.

"It's probably nine or 10 I've had," he said. "But nothing like this. I'd bounce back in a few days, miss four or five days, but never had the lingering effects like this. I had some dizziness and some headaches, but not like I'm having now. This is totally different."

Doesn't sound good to me if he has had 9 or 10 concussions. Could he be the first baseball player forced out of the game in modern history due to concussions?

TC81190
06-09-2007, 08:42 PM
This is scary... :(

George Foster
06-09-2007, 10:03 PM
Even if he's activated, he will go down to Louisville for an extended period of time. If Hopper keeps hitting and Jr. stays healthy, there is not hurry.

jnwohio
06-10-2007, 11:31 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2898862



Doesn't sound good to me if he has had 9 or 10 concussions. Could he be the first baseball player forced out of the game in modern history due to concussions?

Mike Matheny has already retired due to post concussion syndrome. Cory Cosky is reportedly is on the verge of retiring for the same reason. These are both just in the last couple of years. There may be others for whom this was the underlying cause but the state of medical technology and understanding at the time of their injury did not recognize it as such.

I have read several places that were Freel a footballer, just from what is publically known it would probably be cut and dried that he is finished.

I think in part what made this situation so bad is that Freel absorbed a double shot on the play. The collision with Hopper's elbow was enough on its own to knock him out then his head took another blow when it hit the ground. Even boxers, who aren't moving at high speed to begin with, generally have their fall cushioned by the ropes or the opponent or are not out cold and just instinctually manage to protect theirselves as they go down. None of those mitigating factors were working to Freel's favor. He was out cold, moving at top speed, and went down like a bag of rocks.