Sidney Crosby To See Concussion Specialist Dr. Ted Carrick (Again)

"Penguins center and captain Sidney Crosby, who said Friday that he is still experiencing some trouble with motion and balance, will be seen this week by Ted Carrick, a concussion specialist in chiropractic neurology."

Last week, Crosby had said he'd only see Carrick "if need be." Unfortunately, that appears to be the case.

4 months ago Stephen Catanese 23 comments 0 recs |

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I don’t follow this as closely as I should, but are there actual medical neurologists on his treatment team too?

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by poploser on Jan 16, 2012 4:30 PM EST reply actions

Boy, I couldn’t have said it better.

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by JustinM on Jan 17, 2012 3:24 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

So can someone please dumb this down

and explain what exactly this means. He still had light symptoms or something along those lines. Then was given the chance to test them out and have a go at a light skating session. Now he is visiting with this Doc. Is this good news or bad news? From what he said before he only wants to visit with this Doc if “need be” but he was skating and on the road to recovery, so is this a step in the positive or negative direction???

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by C Shint on Jan 16, 2012 4:50 PM EST reply actions

the dumbed down version is...

he’s probably done for the season… he ramped up his work outs some and had more symptoms…

He may be able to pass his concussion test, but his head is still screwed up.

There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...

by Stros Bro on Jan 16, 2012 5:30 PM EST up reply actions

he’s probably done for the season

And you proof of that is?

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by Bradley James McEachern on Jan 16, 2012 5:38 PM EST up reply actions

He missed most of 2011 with a concussion, comes back for a couple games and has now missed over a month with concussion like symptoms that he’s having to see a specialist again.

My proof is history.

There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...

by Stros Bro on Jan 16, 2012 11:12 PM EST up reply actions

I love all the fans who all of a sudden think their concussion experts

It makes me chuckle when you really think about it. Crosby is seeing the doctors and making the necessary precautions to be able to be 100 percent again. There have been people who believe that he will return to the season again and until Sid and the team says he’s shut down completely for the rest of the year, we should think otherwise. He will be back

The bottom line is, most fans who talk about concussions and saying he’s done don’t know a darn think about what there talking about. They think there experts but there not. The facts are is Sid has been seeing the real concussion experts about there and trying to comeback for this year and until we hear otherwise from the club he should take that he’s coming back.

Love all the armchair experts, really makes me laugh.

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by Bradley James McEachern on Jan 16, 2012 5:47 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

well having a number of concussions with an associated tbi i can honestly say

that stros may be correct, only time will tell. perhaps considering everything we have seen with concussions, especially recently not flaming him would probably be a decent idea. or perhaps explaining where stros is wrong and you are right.

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by oldtimehockey09 on Jan 16, 2012 6:44 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

"Need be"

This does not necessarily mean the need is negative. Shelly Anderson of the Post Gazette wrote in her chat today that she was “told that this is a checkup more than anything, not a situation where Crosby has reached some impasse in his recovery.” Ramping up his work outs and skating for the first time in over a month are positive steps towards returning. Just because he experienced some symptoms after skating, which were probably expected by his doctors, does not indicate that he is done for the season.

by PensRock1 on Jan 16, 2012 7:00 PM EST up reply actions

he was scheduled to meet with Carrick before the teams road trip, but Crosby felt good enough to skate and travel with the team…this meeting is a routine one that was scheduled in advance and nothing should be made of the whole “he skated, NOW he’s seeing a specialist….uh oh” reaction that understandably comes from this….deep breath ladies and gents, deep breaths

by NoVAPensFan on Jan 17, 2012 6:31 PM EST up reply actions

I wonder how closely the Pens have investigated possible secondary issues. Brian Pothier’s actual concussion symptoms went away after a couple of months, but he had vision problems for months after because he had undiagnosed astigmatism brought about (they say) due to his last concussion. Once he got treated for that, he was on the ice within a month and merely had to get back into game shape.

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by red army line on Jan 16, 2012 5:29 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

yeah this is a strong possibility. any type of vision problems can cause head troubles

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by C Shint on Jan 16, 2012 7:19 PM EST up reply actions

You nailed it. Sid’s concussion symptoms went away but he has middle ear problems (vestibular system) causing him balance problems. This was diagnosed by the most recent Dr. he saw in PGH., who should have been the first he should have seen. The one with he most experience in the area of concussions. (which it’s really what counts in this particular problem). That’s why he is been treated by Dr. Carrik.

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by Outcast on Jan 17, 2012 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

I, obviously, have no inside information, but from what the team has said in the past, I had the impression that he had seen a neurologist in addion to the team physician and concussion psychologist. Hopefully, ENT and others were seen to investigate other potential issues as well, though they haven’t said that I can recall. I can’t see a UPMC-affiliated psychologist and a physician not referring out to investigate other potential causes, however, especially after this length of time. From the description of his work, and where Crosby apparently is in his recovery when he sees him, I think of Carrick as someone working on rehab for Crosby’s brain. And, I’m glad he is going now to see him rather than waiting any longer. If balance and motion are the primary remaining issues, go to the person (or people if he needs more than one) who specialize in motion and balance

by SuMac on Jan 16, 2012 6:26 PM EST reply actions

SuMac and others who are a bit more confused than she is. I do have some information. The Sid situation was mishandled, as far the doctors he saw in Pgh. I’ ll leave it at that. Finally in the last episode of Sid not “feeling well” he wised up or somebody somewhere wised up, and he went to see the Dr. with the most experience (certainly in North America) on athletic concussion’s , also co developer of the IMPACT test with his associates. He concluded that Sid’s symptoms at this time have nothing to do with his concussion, and it was an independent problem. That’s why Sid went back to Dr Carrik (who by the way probably had the diagnosis correct all along, but because he is unconventional, he was “not credible”). So there’s reason for optimism that this motion/balance problem could clear up soon and Sid back to 100%. If they only could have called on the Pgh MD in the first place.

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by Outcast on Jan 17, 2012 11:39 AM EST up reply actions

I know you can’t give out your sources, but it won’t stop me from asking…

I do have some information. The Sid situation was mishandled, as far the doctors he saw in Pgh. I’ ll leave it at that.

I think that much is likely obvious even to laymen. He had the classic dazed and confused, glassy look in the locker room interview after the Winter Classic and yet he played in the next game. So, yeah, mishandled.

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by JustinM on Jan 17, 2012 3:30 PM EST up reply actions

Let’s just say I know the neurologist from PGH I mentioned as “the main man” when it comes to athletic concussions. The point is that, yes he did have a concussion. But for the last 3-4 mos. o even longer. Basically since Sid had no more headaches, the concussion is gone . His balance problem has to do with the vestibular system. (Middle ear), that’s why Dr. Carrik treated him and if you recall said he thought Sid was “over his concussion”. Turns out that in this new opinion, this DR. says exactly the same , i.e. it’s an independent problem, from which Sid should recover with treatment.

The Hockey Dr.

by Outcast on Jan 17, 2012 4:26 PM EST up reply actions

I know you’re in the medical field, which is why I don’t think your answers should be dismissed as rumor-mongering. Thanks for the input. It seems a bit more pronounced that simple vertigo, though, no? Or have I misread what’s going on here?

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by JustinM on Jan 17, 2012 4:39 PM EST up reply actions

For an athlete like like Sid even a minimal imbalance can be a problem (while playing that is). I don’t know how bad it is, but I know that DR. Carrik has treated people with worse symptoms than Sid (ie unable to function in everyday life) with good success. That’s why I think know everyone is optimistic.

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by Outcast on Jan 17, 2012 4:48 PM EST up reply actions

Optimism

One positive is that Sid is now skating, which says he is closer to returning. Also Ray Shero said that Sid did not have a set back after skating… For all we know this trip to the doctor could be another step closer to his return. The article says the doctor has been out of the country, so who knows how long Sid has waited to see him. As long as Sidney returns with 20 games left in the regular season, i can see the penguins securing the 4 or 5 seed and being a force in the playoffs.

by PensRock1 on Jan 16, 2012 6:33 PM EST reply actions

exactly, the appointment was scheduled before sid was allowed to travel and skate with the team, so since he was on the road the appointment had to be delayed….it’s merely another step in the process. On a side note, I kind of wish the media would not nitpick every step in his recovery as if every doctor’s appointment is a sign that he’s had a setback and will retire to a cabin in Nova Scotia to pursue his new dream of ice fishing….good lord, let the kid recover!

by NoVAPensFan on Jan 17, 2012 6:37 PM EST up reply actions