Quote:
Originally Posted by kingtut313
i have read former players saying they were told they had a 'dead arm' and are going to the DL
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There actually is a medical condition like this that I first read about with JR Richard and most recently saw as concern with Phil Hughes. An artery gets constricted or blocked in feeding the arm, and the arm "feels" dead, although there is no pain and there isn't a necessary physical injury that causes it. Technically in Richard's case a blockage had occurred in the distal subclavian and axillary arteries of his right arm. Jim Abbott, who lost a ton of speed overnight may have had the same issue.
The Astros insisted that Richard's was being "lazy" and a "malinger" so he was allowed to pitch and within a week he had ruined his magnificent arm permanently. A possible Hall of Famer ruined overnight through ignorant attitudes. Doctors examined Richard and soon identified the condition, since the team had refused to accept that JR was accurately describing a problem.
For Hughes, the Yankees sent Hughes for testing after he had lost speed off his FB and said his arm felt dead.
The key is whether the doctors tell the player that the symptoms he has appear to be a "dead" arm and worthy of DL time to have advanced testing identify the facts or whether they tell the player to lie about what his arm. IMO, a player who doctors think shouldn't play because the doctors think he may have a medical condition that could cause stroke or serious injury should go on the DL until the matter is cleared up. The doctor should not clear the player to play.