Injury Report: Tyler Bertuzzi has back surgery

[Gniwder]

Not all back injuries are the same. I assume he's got a herniated disc and is probably getting a discectomy.

Herniated Disc Surgery: What to Expect (healthline.com)

Once you blow a disc, it'll wear faster. So even if he comes back 100%, he won't have a long career.

My blown disc no longer causes sciatica, but probably because the disc is dried out now. I need to get it checked out sooner than later.

 

[Gniwder]

Sounds like the surgery went well.

Red Wings Wrap-Up: Bertuzzi looks to rebound from frustrating season (nhl.com)

 

[jkutswings]

Sounds like the surgery went well.

Red Wings Wrap-Up: Bertuzzi looks to rebound from frustrating season (nhl.com)

I'm glad that there were no complications with the surgery. But the overall reaction from both Bertuzzi and Yzerman in the article seems almost naive, as if the surgery magically erased any problems forever, and it's just a matter of time to fully recover.

I hope the guy has a long healthy life ahead of him. But I'll be curious to hear answers to medical questions at training camp.

 

[Ed Ned and Leddy]

I know back issues can be tricky, so I'll certainly keep my expectations in check. That said, I really hope we get to see Tyler Bertuzzi play postseason hockey in the winged wheel one day. I really think he'll thrive there.

I know there are injury and trade complications, but I'm still holding out hope.

 

[Gniwder]

I'm glad that there were no complications with the surgery. But the overall reaction from both Bertuzzi and Yzerman in the article seems almost naive, as if the surgery magically erased any problems forever, and it's just a matter of time to fully recover.

I hope the guy has a long healthy life ahead of him. But I'll be curious to hear answers to medical questions at training camp.

My take on this is that he had a bulging disc and they removed the part that was hitting his spinal cord (microdiscectomy). That means his disc is still compromised, but it can take years before that becomes a problem.

I had sciatica, sometimes in both legs. I didn't get surgery but that problem went away after my disc dried up (about 8 years after injury). Now I don't have sciatica but any repetitive movement with my back and I have back pain for 2 - 3 days since my disc is dried up.

Bert's still young, so I think he'll be OK for a few years, but this will probably shorten his career. I'm hoping it's not like Helm where it totally took away his physical game. Lots of kids here don't even remember that Helm was a hard hitter, way more physical than little Bert has been. (Big Bert was a different story altogether.)

Edit: Hem before back injury

 

[Steve Yzerlland]

Not all back injuries are the same. I assume he's got a herniated disc and is probably getting a discectomy.

Herniated Disc Surgery: What to Expect (healthline.com)

Once you blow a disc, it'll wear faster. So even if he comes back 100%, he won't have a long career.

My blown disc no longer causes sciatica, but probably because the disc is dried out now. I need to get it checked out sooner than later.

What causes these types of injuries?

 

[Bench]

What causes these types of injuries?

Man having the audacity to walk upright.

 

[FabricDetails]

I'm hoping it's not like Helm where it totally took away his physical game.

When was this injury again? The back injury in 2012-2013?

 

[Steve Yzerlland]

Man having the audacity to walk upright.

 

[MBH]

My take on this is that he had a bulging disc and they removed the part that was hitting his spinal cord (microdiscectomy). That means his disc is still compromised, but it can take years before that becomes a problem.

I had sciatica, sometimes in both legs. I didn't get surgery but that problem went away after my disc dried up (about 8 years after injury). Now I don't have sciatica but any repetitive movement with my back and I have back pain for 2 - 3 days since my disc is dried up.

Bert's still young, so I think he'll be OK for a few years, but this will probably shorten his career. I'm hoping it's not like Helm where it totally took away his physical game. Lots of kids here don't even remember that Helm was a hard hitter, way more physical than little Bert has been. (Big Bert was a different story altogether.)

Edit: Hem before back injury

Part of the reason for Helm drop in physical play was that he started on wing and moved to center.
There was an article at one point about Helm's shift to C where Babcock and Helm talked about him needing to give some hits to maintain positioning.

In the 08-09 playoffs Helm was credited with 118 hits in 23 games..
If that was a regular season total, that would rank 5th in his career..

What I'll never understand is why they ever moved Helm away from C.
He'd turned into a solid faceoff man, had speed to burn.

It isn't like his production even increased that much playing alongside Datsyuk.
I think, in large part, it was because Babcock drank the Glendening KoolAid and wanted to use him in that role.

 

[Gniwder]

When was this injury again? The back injury in 2012-2013?

He missed time twice due to back and at least once (maybe twice) due to a shoulder. I don't think he had surgery though. Just look at his stats and you'll see he missed a bunch of games or Google it, I'm still at work.

All I remember is that I was a big Helm fan before the back injury, and he's never looked the same since. It's a shame. Still think he's a great kid (I'm old, lol), but don't want him as a player.

 

[Gniwder]

What causes these types of injuries?

In my case it was a ski accident, but lots of deliberate collisions in hockey. Typically impact injuries, car accident, ladder fall, etc but I've known people who threw their back out lifting heavy objects, etc.

Discs can dry out with age even without injuries, it's part of growing old. Just happens earlier if you blow a disc. Growing old sucks, but the alternative is worse I guess.

 

[Steve Yzerlland]

In my case it was a ski accident, but lots of deliberate collisions in hockey. Typically impact injuries, car accident, ladder fall, etc but I've known people who threw their back out lifting heavy objects, etc.

Discs can dry out with age even without injuries, it's part of growing old. Just happens earlier if you blow a disc. Growing old sucks, but the alternative is worse I guess.

Damn based on this we need to re-sign then trade him before he goes on LTIR...

 

[Gniwder]

Damn based on this we need to re-sign then trade him before he goes on LTIR...

I don't think he'll go on LTIR this contract, more like when he's in his mid 30's. Like I said before, it took 8 years between my accident and the disc drying up. But everyone is different and severity of the injury obviously matters.

 

[Shaman464]

I don't think he'll go on LTIR this contract, more like when he's in his mid 30's. Like I said before, it took 8 years between my accident and the disc drying up. But everyone is different and severity of the injury obviously matters.

Back injuries are bad by definition. Surgery though is always a last option. The fact he had a back surgery at his age is a bad sign for his long term health, especially given his game which isn't one devoid of physicality.

 

[Winger98]

In my case it was a ski accident, but lots of deliberate collisions in hockey. Typically impact injuries, car accident, ladder fall, etc but I've known people who threw their back out lifting heavy objects, etc.

Discs can dry out with age even without injuries, it's part of growing old. Just happens earlier if you blow a disc. Growing old sucks, but the alternative is worse I guess.

Benjamin Buttons?