Parents So many injuries

[LGnyc]

DD went to the hand specialist today. I was so upset with her orthopedist who spent 7 months with us and then said his original diagnosis was likely wrong. Turns out, he was wrong about being wrong! Upshot: The hand specialist believes she DOES have gymnast wrist, which in her case means inflammation around the growth plate. He reiterated that although it's sore and tender, there is no long term damage, which is the most important part. She also has an extra bone in her hand, which functions a bit like a growth plate and that is inflamed as well. Given that this is her third bout with wrist tenderness, he does want us to consider that her body is just not made for gymnastics. However, the fact that the left wrist DID seem to heal make him somewhat optimistic.

Treatment: 6 weeks to 3 months in a removable cast. She's already been off of it for 3 weeks, but not casted so he's not sure he's counting it, damn him. But we go back in a month, which would be 7 weeks (by my mommy counting). Hopefully she will be much improved by then.

Incredibly, despite these repeated injuries, she's determined not to retire and come out the other side. Luckily she has qualified for States and as long as she's not at the 3 month end of this thing, she can conceivably get her skills back in March to compete States in April. Wish us luck.

Until then, she will focus on lots and lots of front tumbling (FLO FT anyone?), leaps and turns, and conditioning. She actually did a pitch perfect one handed round off full on Tumble Trak.

 

[cadybearsmommy]

DD went to the hand specialist today. I was so upset with her orthopedist who spent 7 months with us and then said his original diagnosis was likely wrong. Turns out, he was wrong about being wrong! Upshot: The hand specialist believes she DOES have gymnast wrist, which in her case means inflammation around the growth plate. He reiterated that although it's sore and tender, there is no long term damage, which is the most important part. She also has an extra bone in her hand, which functions a bit like a growth plate and that is inflamed as well. Given that this is her third bout with wrist tenderness, he does want us to consider that her body is just not made for gymnastics. However, the fact that the left wrist DID seem to heal make him somewhat optimistic.

Treatment: 6 weeks to 3 months in a removable cast. She's already been off of it for 3 weeks, but not casted so he's not sure he's counting it, damn him. But we go back in a month, which would be 7 weeks (by my mommy counting). Hopefully she will be much improved by then.

Incredibly, despite these repeated injuries, she's determined not to retire and come out the other side. Luckily she has qualified for States and as long as she's not at the 3 month end of this thing, she can conceivably get her skills back in March to compete States in April. Wish us luck.

Until then, she will focus on lots and lots of front tumbling (FLO FT anyone?), leaps and turns, and conditioning. She actually did a pitch perfect one handed round off full on Tumble Trak.

Hoping that it heals quickly and that she can compete at states! You gotta love that gymnast determination! I can't really speak to this myself, as we have not tried it, but do you have any specialists in your area that do prolotherapy injections? I know of a gymnast who struggled from gymnast wrist for months, and even though tests were showing she was healed, she was still having pain and unable to use her hands for gymnastics b/c of it. She went to a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor and had (I believe) two prolotherapy treatments. About a week after the last treatment, she was back in the gym tumbling and vaulting with no problem. And she has not had any problems since. I've read up on it and find it quite interesting. Seems that it can be successful with more chronic nagging injuries that keep flaring up and won't quite go away with rest alone. They say that since the injections stimulate the body to rapidly heal the area, that inflammation can get worse for a little bit before it gets better, and NSAIDS/ice are not recommended as they may hinder the treatment, but it could be an option for someone like your dd whose cast is removable and who is going to be resting for a few weeks anyway. I hear it can be expensive and not covered by most insurance, which is why I guess I haven't heard more about it before now. Just wanted to pass on that info in case it might be something you are interested in (and of course if your ortho would be willing to allow it.)

 

[calli]

It sounds like she is motivated to keep working through and she can definitely work on her no handed skills and leaps and dance during this time. She can also stay well conditioned by staying in gym and remain part of the team. I would keep her in the gym while she is healing especially because she wants to be, and continue to monitor how she recovers.

 

[LGnyc]

Hoping that it heals quickly and that she can compete at states! You gotta love that gymnast determination! I can't really speak to this myself, as we have not tried it, but do you have any specialists in your area that do prolotherapy injections? I know of a gymnast who struggled from gymnast wrist for months, and even though tests were showing she was healed, she was still having pain and unable to use her hands for gymnastics b/c of it. She went to a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor and had (I believe) two prolotherapy treatments. About a week after the last treatment, she was back in the gym tumbling and vaulting with no problem. And she has not had any problems since. I've read up on it and find it quite interesting. Seems that it can be successful with more chronic nagging injuries that keep flaring up and won't quite go away with rest alone. They say that since the injections stimulate the body to rapidly heal the area, that inflammation can get worse for a little bit before it gets better, and NSAIDS/ice are not recommended as they may hinder the treatment, but it could be an option for someone like your dd whose cast is removable and who is going to be resting for a few weeks anyway. I hear it can be expensive and not covered by most insurance, which is why I guess I haven't heard more about it before now. Just wanted to pass on that info in case it might be something you are interested in (and of course if your ortho would be willing to allow it.)

I have never heard of anything like this. Research on it certainly seems interesting but I have NO idea if her fairly traditional hand specialist. But I just asked DD this hypothetical - if she could get an injection and be healed in two weeks vs no injection and having to wait eight weeks, she said NO NEEDLE. Her anxiety is so severe, she faints (and has even had seizures) from needles. It's so not pretty.

 

[cadybearsmommy]

I have never heard of anything like this. Research on it certainly seems interesting but I have NO idea if her fairly traditional hand specialist. But I just asked DD this hypothetical - if she could get an injection and be healed in two weeks vs no injection and having to wait eight weeks, she said NO NEEDLE. Her anxiety is so severe, she faints (and has even had seizures) from needles. It's so not pretty.

I can definitely understand that! I used to be the same way but having two kids and weekly allergy shots for almost two years have pretty much desensitized me. Still hate IV's though!

 

[LGnyc]

I can definitely understand that! I used to be the same way but having two kids and weekly allergy shots for almost two years have pretty much desensitized me. Still hate IV's though!

That's what triggered her. She had a bad concussion and when they went to put in the IV while in the ER, they couldn't find her vein and were monkeying around. She got hysterical (rightly so) but has never recovered. That was two years ago and she absolutely freaks out at shots, blood draws, and particularly IVs.

 

[Aussie_coach]

Thank you for the suggestion, Aussie_coach and Raenndrops. I watched. She's a beautiful gymnast and dancer. Even in the warm ups you could see the precise grace of her movements. I assume she's going Elite? Unfortunately, my L7 just doesn't have the skills go to hands free in any way. Because our gym is so rigidly two tier, TOPS/HOPES and regular JO, the girls who are not TOPs just aren't pushed to the next level of skills very aggressively. She has a good FHS FP/FLO but not so much on the FT FT. And bc the three skill BLO pass is required, she can do a one handed RO into a BLO, but doesn't have a third, like a connected BT. Open to suggestions if you have them, but otherwise, I'm just hitting this specialist appt today and hoping against hope this is a short/easy fix. Not likely given this has been so chronic, but a mom can hope.

Could she do front tuck step out - 1 handed round off - back layout
Front aerial - 1 handed round off - back layout
1 handed round off - 1 handed back handspring - back layout

 

[LGnyc]

Could she do front tuck step out - 1 handed round off - back layout
Front aerial - 1 handed round off - back layout
1 handed round off - 1 handed back handspring - back layout

Realistically, I have no idea. She's never been taught/done a front tuck step out. She's close on a front aerial but not sure it would be strong enough to start a tumbling pass. And I know she's tried the 1 handed back handspring and that was a hot mess (esp since it's her dominant hand that is injured).

Anything allowed with a side aerial? Hers is quite good.

 

[3rd_time_around]

There is a well known YouTube gymnast called Whitney Bjerken, she is a level 9 and is sporting an injury at the moment and has posted videos of her floor and beam routines, with no arms. Why not have a look.

She's actually Level 10.

 

[3rd_time_around]

Could she do front tuck step out - 1 handed round off - back layout
Front aerial - 1 handed round off - back layout
1 handed round off - 1 handed back handspring - back layout

If she's level 7, then no. She isn't allowed to do C acro on beam. And some of these skills are higher than a C. " Level 7 Restrictions a. Only “A” and “B” elements, selected “C” elements on Bars and ONE “C” dance element on Beam and Floor are allowed at Level 7"

She could do one-armed back walkover-back walkover for her series, but I'm not sure if there is a no-handed or 1-handed flight skill that is only a B that would fulfill the special requirements. (A one-handed back handspring is a C).