Sidney Crosby may have vertebrae injuries, according to anonymously sourced report

SB Nation Pittsburgh has all of the relevant links. Important points made:

- Crosby's been jet setting around the country, visiting a potpourri of specialists to find out what's exactly wrong with him.

- He's unhappy with doctors in Pittsburgh, who he believes missed the correct diagnosis, one that an MRI in Utah may have revealed.

- Crosby may have suffered another concussion from a David Kerjci hit on Dec. 5 against the Bruins.

- Despite all of this, Ray Shero's cautiously optimistic Crosby will be healthy in time for playoffs.

4 months ago Stephen Catanese 27 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Out of the frying pan...

and into the fire. so now we don’t know if Crosby had another concussion on Dec. 5th, OR if he hurt his neck. so it’s potentially either or, or maybe both?

F my life.

by mcnulty4prez on Jan 28, 2012 7:34 PM EST reply actions

Worst Part of this Story

The worst part of this story is embedded within the yahoo blog post:

Crosby went to the Utah doctor on the recommendation of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who is Crosby’s friend.

Sidney Crosby diagnosed with injured vertebrae

grain of salt

by PaulMorel on Jan 28, 2012 7:39 PM EST reply actions

This may not endear me to readers...

…but it endears me even more to Tom Brady. I’m a fan. And there’s nothing wrong with elite forging friendships with elite performers.

by Stephen Catanese on Jan 28, 2012 7:48 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, after Brady imparted knowledge on Cam Newton (CAAAAAAAAAAM~) during the Underarmor shoot, I formed a begrudging respect for him.

by SlayerGhaleon on Jan 28, 2012 7:59 PM EST up reply actions

I can hate the Patriots and still have a ton of respect for Brady. Enjoy the show. Who knows when we’ll get to see a player of Brady’s caliber again.

That said, go NY Football Giants.

Put on your dancin' shoes.

by PensFan024 on Jan 29, 2012 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

IMHO, the worst part of this

is that the Krejci hit was hardly anything (for a hockey player). Is that when he injured his vertebrae? How does that bode well for the future?

by Jitterbug on Jan 28, 2012 8:04 PM EST reply actions

Eh, nothing confirmed on whether he actually was. All of this, really, is speculation… but it’s being run with all over the place, so here we are.

Shero’s words are the only ones we can be certain are truthful.

And if any of this really is true, the worst part for me would be the ineptitude of local medical professionals.

by Stephen Catanese on Jan 28, 2012 8:48 PM EST up reply actions

the ineptitude of local medical professionals.

this is definitely an issue
not just with Crosby
but also w/ Staal
some egregious ineptitude

SBN Fantasy Hockey Blog: Fantasy Hockey Scouts
Diomedes7 on Twitter

by Diomedes7 on Jan 28, 2012 9:10 PM EST up reply actions

I have some friends who are really tough on the Pens medical staff, but I usually give them the benefit of the doubt.

Stuff like this makes it hard to give any such benefit though, you know?

by Stephen Catanese on Jan 28, 2012 9:31 PM EST up reply actions

but, wasnt his initial diagnosis

from the pitt medical center docs?

" Lord Stanley, scratch their names on your fabled cup" Mike Lange june 12, 2009

by oldtimehockey09 on Jan 28, 2012 10:10 PM EST up reply actions

Assuming he was healthy and fully recovered when he played in November, his initial diagnosis in December was concussion-like symptoms and not a concussion. His symptoms were mostly balance problems from what I understand. I guess the neck fracture would explain some of that. The confusion seems to be coming from when this happened and when it healed (or will be healed).

I have a hard time putting blame on the Penguins medical staff because the doctors in Florida, Georgia and Utah also missed it.

"It's a great day for hockey" - Badger Bob

by StripesForLife on Jan 29, 2012 1:40 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

it does make it hard—if not impossible
Crosby fractured two vertebrae

translation: he broke his neck.
twice.

SBN Fantasy Hockey Blog: Fantasy Hockey Scouts

by Diomedes7 on Jan 29, 2012 4:20 PM EST up reply actions

I tell you one thing, House wouldn’t have missed that diagnosis….

by NoVAPensFan on Jan 28, 2012 11:43 PM EST up reply actions

A luxury

at this point, Crosby returning would be a luxury.
not expecting it.

the team can win the Cup w/o him
get Staal back
sign Brenden Morrow at the deadline

SBN Fantasy Hockey Blog: Fantasy Hockey Scouts

by Diomedes7 on Jan 28, 2012 9:17 PM EST reply actions

Sign Brenden Morrow?

You mean trade for him?

by Guess Who's Back? on Jan 29, 2012 4:55 PM EST up reply actions

Yep. Trade and then Rent him to be more precise.

SBN Fantasy Hockey Blog: Fantasy Hockey Scouts

by Diomedes7 on Jan 29, 2012 11:00 PM EST up reply actions

AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH

by jedmiller71 on Jan 28, 2012 9:26 PM EST via mobile reply actions

And now we've got Brisson confirming this

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/crosby-may-have-had-fractured-vertebrae-as-well-as-concussions/article2318613/

The neck injury was reported Saturday by Sportsnet.ca as an "abnormality" in his C1 and C2 vertebrae discovered by a doctor the Pittsburgh Penguins star consulted in Utah. Crosby’s agent, Pat Brisson, said in response that the vertebrae may be cracked. Brisson also said the neck injury was discovered by Dr. Robert Bray in Los Angeles, not Utah. Brisson said Crosby is consulting another specialist in hopes of an exact diagnosis in the next 24 to 48 hours.

But, added:

"The good news is he’s safe," Brisson told ESPN.com. "It’s treatable, which is positive."

…

"The diagnosis of Dr. Robert S. Bray, a neurological spine specialist based in Los Angeles, is that [Crosby] had suffered a neck injury in addition to a concussion. Dr. Bray reports that the neck injury is fully healed. Those findings will be evaluated by independent specialists over the next few days. The most important goal all along has been Sidney’s return to full health, and we are encouraged that progress continues to be made," the Penguins said in the statement.

by Stephen Catanese on Jan 28, 2012 9:30 PM EST reply actions

well, at least the mystery is over. I’m assuiming now that they know what it is, what the treatment should be and how they can fully clear him to full and unrestricted duty? That at least is some positive news

by NoVAPensFan on Jan 28, 2012 11:45 PM EST up reply actions

ya when they first stated he was seeing doctors in CA

one of the doctors was a back & spine doctor… Honestly, if it’s a cracked vertebrae and that’s what’s causing the headaches I’m thinking that could possibly be good news? If they can get that fixed and it’s not his brain that is the issue… I dunno, just speculation obviously.

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

by Stros Bro on Jan 29, 2012 1:54 AM EST reply actions

Superb journalism: let’s ask his teammates who have been on the ice at an All-Star event the whole night what they think about the statement.

"Hockey is the only tribe I belong to." -Jack Falla
Twitter Facebook Tumblr

by AlexStitch on Jan 29, 2012 4:05 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

I had this vision of Neal telling Malkin and Letang, “No, your English is fine. You did hear that right.”

"This would have been a goal if it went in."--Paul Steigerwald, 2/10/11

Cocktails with the Penguins

On Twitter like everyone else.

by GreenEyedLilo on Jan 29, 2012 12:18 PM EST up reply actions

You can tell by their reactions they seriously had not heard about it. I’m glad someone during the Neal interview finally yelled “They were on the ice the whole night!”

"Hockey is the only tribe I belong to." -Jack Falla
Twitter Facebook Tumblr

by AlexStitch on Jan 29, 2012 7:03 PM EST up reply actions

One thing's for sure....

Sidney Crosby has racked up a lot of frequent flyer miles this year.

Apart from that, I don’t know, except that every time I think this can’t get any bigger or more surreal, it does.

"This would have been a goal if it went in."--Paul Steigerwald, 2/10/11

Cocktails with the Penguins

On Twitter like everyone else.

by GreenEyedLilo on Jan 29, 2012 12:17 PM EST reply actions

So many players are getting such improved medical care thanks to the mistakes made with Crosby. To think that number of players retiring with permanent brain damage will be reduced because one high profile player made a difference. It is a shame it didn’t come much sooner with Lindros or lafontaine or Kariya or anyone.

We need to concentrate on the solutions and his recovery, not the blame game.

by vodkasoda on Jan 30, 2012 7:54 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

I think this just shows that the Steckel hit was far more violent than everybody thought.
Those 2 vertabras are the ones that keep your skull connected to the rest of you.
The headman hit made it worse,he complained of neck pain after Steckel hit,why was there no MRI on his neck ASAP?

by Scott M on Jan 30, 2012 7:56 AM EST reply actions

short answer is that no one had any reason to suspect anything was wrong with his vertabrae…after the tampa game, everybody just thought “concussion” and that was it

by NoVAPensFan on Jan 31, 2012 1:56 AM EST up reply actions