Contact Sports

[listboys]

Can you play contact sports after AC1 and decompression surgery

[selmaS]

Big E.... I answered this hopefully on ur other thread...if I rambled or u have more questions ...please ask....but if u r not sure the NS is a specialist, and u don't seem impressed with her...I wonder y u r going forward with the surgery.

What has she said to get u to move forward, but have these doubts?

"selma"

[BigE36]

My 11 year old son was recently dx with an 8mm CM.  In talking with our Nuerosurgeon she stated "No contact sports now, or ever.  I don't let my boys play football, but they can play soccer".   I'm concerned that this is an overall bias against contact sports in general and has no clinical foundation.  Can anyone provide me a clinical reason as to why contact sports would need to be prohibited?  My son has played tackle football for 3 years now - is the middle linebacker on his team - and loves the game.  I don't know that my son's Neurosurgeon is a Chiari expert (although she states she's done 500 surgeries of this type).  
He will have surgery at the end of October.  I want him to be able to do what he loves (he's a big kid - not the soccer type) but also want him to be safe.  So, I'm asking - what is it about CM that would preclude him from playing a contact sports anymore than someone without it?  Aren't there just as many risks for any other young man without this condition?  And, while Decompression surgery is on the horizon, why would he be at any more risk than he was before?
Again, I don't feel like I can ask my Dr. this because of the obviuos slant against ANY contact sport and get an honest assessment....any ideas, thoughts or help is greatly appreciated!!!!!
BigE

[tma0704]

Please tell me how everything went with your son's sx?  Did he go back to football?  How is he doing?

My son has a 13 mm CM just dx and has been in sports all his life. I am not sure what I am going to do if I have to tell him he can never play again.

[johnnyboysmom]

The sports question is very difficult if it is a huge part of your child's life.  I hurt for anyone struggling through it.  

None of us would ever do anything we thought would hurt our child.  As one person said to me, "A gold medal in the olympics isn't worth brain damage".   AMEN!
But- what if, in your child's situation, there is no good medical reason to abstain... except fear.  It is just so very difficult.
That is why we have to study, research, interview Dr.s, contact other surgeons, other parents who've been through it already.  

Most parents tell you "they wouldn't do it" - (SO easy to say when you actually have no idea in the world what you would do!)  I have had a lot of sideways comments from other parents since my son's brain surgery, but I spent months researching, calling around the country, having my son's MRI's studied by different Drs, trying to help my son "get over" wrestling (waste of breath)....  Finally easing back in with Dr. support and FULL coach support.  
Watching him have to come back - from 10 weeks in bed following surgery, huge muscle loss, large weight gain, swelling, pain, etc. - watching him start completely from scratch and fight harder and harder every day- has been inspiring.  It has changed him as a person- and all of us who love him.

PS "Woooooow.  You're letting him try to wrestle again.  You're a MUCH nicer mother than I am!"    
May I translate that for you?  
It actually means, "You are a horrible mother."
Ha ha - gotta laugh and hold your head up and know that at the end of the day each of us does the best we do for our kids.  Oh, and pray, pray, pray!!!

[selmaS]

Shane...I knew there was more to the name than just Hursty...it is Hursty48!!

And yeas she is from Austrailia!!  : )

[Shane99]

There's another person on this site from Australia. I'm think she said something about the Sydney area having a Chiari Specialist.

I can't remember her name though. :(

Selma, do you know who I'm talking about, or is there a way to check by area?




SheriMom,

How's your son doing? Keep us posted.

[sherimom]

My son is 15 - he has been in football for a number of years and had just started wrestling this year. He had to stop all sports, which was very hard for him. He has surgery just hours away.......first thing tomorrow morning. He has a 17 mm herniation.

His dr is a chiari specialist and has stated that after the surgery he should be able to return to sports. The idea of sports makes me nervous, but I am trying to take a "wait and see" approach. Of course, it will depend on Dr's approval. It is Dr. Heffez and he is with the WI Chiari Institute in Milwaukee.

I think each perosn must decide, with their doctors, what is right for them. Just my opinion.....like I said, we'll see. I''ll know a lot more by this time tomorrow......

Sherimom

[listboys]

Thank you for your thoughts--I too think Rugby might be a poor choice for my 16 year old to play.  We have just moved to Sydney, Australia and I am going to have to try to hunt down a Neorologist who is familiar.  Many years ago we were told he can resume all activities--soccer, swimming etc.  This many not be what he had in mind.  Thanks again.

[Shane99]

I agree with selma. Chiari is a neurological malformation involving the lower part of your brain. The cerebellum is coming out of your skull into your upper spine - slamming into someone (or the ground) seems like a very bad idea to me!

[selmaS]

Hi.....I would think it not a good idea...u r not cured of chiari...this is just a way to reduce symptoms.The contact sports could cause ur chiari to grow again......and u could end up with perm damage.Only ur dr can tell u for sure what condition u r in.And please make sure he is a chiari specialist.Too many NS will do th esurgery and make light of the condition putting more chiarians in harms way...IMHO.

Godspeed
"selma"