Years of Crack Use=DL?

Rangers are worried about Josh Hamilton.

over 2 years ago RD74 32 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

he turned down a contract at the beginning of the year, no?

by Brick. on Jun 10, 2009 12:24 PM EDT reply actions

Seems like groundless speculation. Is there any medical basis for such speculation?

by odradek on Jun 10, 2009 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah it was definitely the heroin.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jun 10, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I was definitely looking for some medical backing in this article.

I am actually surprised the Rangers didn’t look into this more when they acquired him. They seem to be clueless as to whether or not his drug abuse will slow down his recovery.

by AllenSmith on Jun 10, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Hence my question mark. The team’s trainer and Ron Washington are talking about this without any real evidence. I didn’t know if it was common knowledge or not. I was hoping one of the resident LGT medical experts could weigh in.

by RD74 on Jun 10, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

this isn’t founded on much, but one problem I would imagine Hamilton will encounter is I’m going to guess any prescription opiates are off the table for him. There are certainly other pain killers out there, but this would seem to be an issue the Rangers would have to consider in any kind of injury situation.

by APV on Jun 10, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Well there’s really no reason why opiates would absolutely be off limits to him, especially under the close supervision of the Rangers staff and especially if he is experiencing surgical pain. Sure the argument can be made that he is somehow susceptible to addiction, but undertreating pain is no way to approach his problems, and can lead to significant issues down the road as well.

As far as the impacts of cocaine on immune function and healing processes, I honestly have no insight into what it’s long-term impact would be apart from the obvious cardiovascular and neurological effects. My initial thought is that if he’s relatively healthy enough to be playing major league baseball, I wouldn’t be too concerned about his general immune/healing status at this point. This smells of a non-story that a writer thought would be note-worthy by getting some quotes from a trainer who never gets any interest from reporters. But again, I’m not a doctor. I just play one on tv.

by supermarioelia on Jun 10, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions

My initial thought is that if he’s relatively healthy enough to be playing major league baseball, I wouldn’t be too concerned about his general immune/healing status at this point.

My thought, too. That seems to be the common-sense starting point, and there’s nothing but baseless, non-expert speculation to take us off that point. It’s a concocted story with no substance.

I do think Adam will turn out to be right with regard to painkillers, though.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Jun 10, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Well in the end it’s always very variable with how different physicians approach pain management/opiate addiction. Every week we get a different professor giving us a completely different tune. What everyone agrees on though is that giving prescription opiates outside of hospital on an as needed basis is usually bad news with someone with an addiction history. In the immediate post-op period (and even during the anaesthesia induction they’ll likely give fentanyl), non-opioid analgesia for severe pain is hard to come by. If he can stand the pain on tylenol and toradol though, no reason to go to opioids I guess. But abdominal surgery tends to hurt right after the operation, or so the patients tell me.

by supermarioelia on Jun 10, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Those patients are a bunch of wimps. Tell em to suck it up and quit whinging.

by odradek on Jun 10, 2009 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Those patients are a bunch of wimps. Tell em to suck it up and quit whinging.

by odradek on Jun 10, 2009 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Okay! I got it. Sheesh.

Juan Salas: Smartest man in baseball?

by emd2k3 on Jun 11, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Don’t make me repeat it again.

by odradek on Jun 11, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Stop whinging.

Shin-Soo Choo, future U.S. Citizen.

by USSChoo on Jun 11, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Also, idiot reporter thinks: Hamilton injured. Used to be a drug addict. Any connection?

by odradek on Jun 10, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Thank goodness none of our players have used illegal substances for any reason!

No, not you. Your helmet!

by PatBordersHelmet on Jun 10, 2009 5:47 PM EDT reply actions

Im not a doctor

But I go to medical school and have asked various physicians about this type of thing. The only “injury risk” that I know of is increased risk of heart attack and other heart related problems.

On the other hand crack is a weird drug because it is crystallized form of cocaine and long term problems are still unknown.

A question, Sizemore is getting an MRI on monday, any information you guys may know about his health?

by Delgado on Jun 12, 2009 3:39 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t care what you say, Grady Sizemore DOES NOT smoke crack.

by NickFantana on Jun 12, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Auguring the entrails of seagulls, the MRI does not bode well. Expect surgery.

by odradek on Jun 12, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

What does your crystal ball

tell you about Brandon Webb?

by Delgado on Jun 12, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s a long way from bullpen sessions to pitching off the mound in a game.

by odradek on Jun 12, 2009 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s also a long way from Goodyear Park to the Jake. About 2,084 miles. Just ask Fausto.

by RD74 on Jun 12, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ll just wait until Monday, thank you.

Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?

by ClemsonGirl on Jun 13, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Jobu will come, heal Grady.

Shin-Soo Choo, future U.S. Citizen.

by USSChoo on Jun 13, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes. I have been offering him rum and cigars for weeks now. Where did I get the rum? I’ll never tell.

Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?

by ClemsonGirl on Jun 13, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ve been offering him empty rum bottles and cigar butts for weeks. Maybe I should let him do the drinking and smoking …

Juan Salas: Smartest man in baseball?

by emd2k3 on Jun 15, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

But I go to medical school

by supermarioelia on Jun 12, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions

My money, what’s left of it, is on Mario.

FIIIIIIGHT!

Shin-Soo Choo, future U.S. Citizen.

by USSChoo on Jun 13, 2009 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Everything I know about medicine I learned from Oregon Trail.

by FredOx on Jun 13, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

So that explains how you’ve skillfully avoided dysentary all these years.

Shin-Soo Choo, future U.S. Citizen.

by USSChoo on Jun 13, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Wait, that’s not medical school?

I become an expert simply by doing something.

by Brad D on Jun 14, 2009 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I learned a lot about medicine from oregon trail

I had my whole family die from dysentery and cholera. It was from that day foward that I vowed not to be a carpenter or a banker, I would be a scientist and save the world from not only broken axl wheels, but the danger of diahrrea.

Clemson girl your right I should just wait untill monday

by Delgado on Jun 13, 2009 1:25 PM EDT reply actions