It does not sound that way at all. Ballard has had a very tough time of it. He had to cease all activity at the end of February.
Keith Ballard’s concussion occurred on two light bodychecks, when the Vancouver Canucks defenceman played 24 shifts and 16:08 against the Colorado Avalanche on the road Feb. 4. Three nights later - as Ballard began to realize something was definitely wrong- he played another 23 shifts, for 16:12 on the ice.
Ballard was then ensnared in the hall-of-mirrors of a nasty concussion. Headaches, dizziness, sleeping 16 hours a day. A light workout would make him sick. By the end of February, after setbacks, Ballard was forced to go still.
“It took a while, completely shutting down, to get symptom free, and then I slowly built up from there,” said Ballard after a morning skate on Monday.
I agree he had a concussion. There are two factors to consider with Ballard though. If we were able to have him playing now, would he be? I can't answer that, none of us can. But we cannot completely rule out the idea that Gillis may have kept him out a bit longer than necessary at each stage of recovery in order to prolong the process.
The other point is it doesn't sound like we took the precautious route with Ballard. Sometimes you can't because you simply don't know, this appears to be one of those times. Ballard was sustaining contact after being concussed, if history serves as any sort of record this type of action only complicates this delicate situation. Again, it's difficult for us to know for sure, but it's something to consider.
I find some relief knowing that with Daniel we are taking a very precautious path. This doesn't guarantee he'll be back by round 1, but we're giving him the best possible opportunity to do so.
Which has absolutely nothing to do with how an individual reacts to a concussion and the rate of recovery from PCS.
This is false. The coup and counter-coup are influenced by the point of contact which is a strong determinate of severity which then translates into recovery rate from PCS.
As much as the injury recovery does vary, a lot of it is determined by how much damage was done initially (which can also vary person to person)
This is false. The coup and counter-coup are influenced by the point of contact which is a strong determinate of severity which then translates into recovery rate from PCS.
As much as the injury recovery does vary, a lot of it is determined by how much damage was done initially (which can also vary person to person)
Dr. Karen Johnston and other concussion specialists would disagree with you.
I agree he had a concussion. There are two factors to consider with Ballard though. If we were able to have him playing now, would he be? I can't answer that, none of us can. But we cannot completely rule out the idea that Gillis may have kept him out a bit longer than necessary at each stage of recovery in order to prolong the process.
The other point is it doesn't sound like we took the precautious route with Ballard. Sometimes you can't because you simply don't know, this appears to be one of those times. Ballard was sustaining contact after being concussed, if history serves as any sort of record this type of action only complicates this delicate situation. Again, it's difficult for us to know for sure, but it's something to consider.
I find some relief knowing that with Daniel we are taking a very precautious path. This doesn't guarantee he'll be back by round 1, but we're giving him the best possible opportunity to do so.
Yes we can rule it out because Ballard had serious issues as recently as the end of February when he had to go into complete shutdown mode and was sleeping 16 to 18 hours per day. As he says he is some time away from being in game condition.
Per the article from Elliot Pap of the Vancouver Sun yesterday:
“I had a lot of different stuff,” Ballard said. “I had dizziness and a lot of headaches during the day. I was sleeping 16-18 hours a day and, when I tried to do some light workouts, I ended up getting real sick and I'd be in bed for four days. By around the end of February, we almost had no choice but to just shut me down and not do anything. At that point, I couldn't get through a day without a lot of symptoms.”
...
“Day 1 was today so I've got a ways to go,” he said. “I missed a month and a bit. It's good to get back on the ice with the team but, as far as anything else goes, I'm not looking too far forward.
“I've been skating for a little bit over a week, at first just on my own and then with a couple of guys who stayed back on the road trip," he continued. "Before that, I had a few bike rides and a few workouts. Now I need to get in some good practices with the team and get some contact. That's the one thing I haven't had at all.”
Ballard's taking part in his first full practice since the injury today:
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details #Canucks on the ice for practice, no Daniel Sedin, Aaron Rome or Kevin Bieksa. Keith Ballard taking part in first full practice.
Good news. Wonder if Daniel goes on the LTIR to make room for him to get some games in before the playoffs?
I don't think we're allowed to put Daniel on LTIR at this point in the season.
Oh, didn't realize that. I guess Ballard has to what until the post-season then...? We're right up against the daily limit of the cap as it is, are we not?
Ballard's taking part in his first full practice since the injury today:
Good news. Wonder if Daniel goes on the LTIR to make room for him to get some games in before the playoffs?
Thought he could not as the injury occurred with less that 10 games left in the season.
Gillis did say they can make the room though....wonder if this means Kassian or Tanev get sent down
Not what I have read and heard at symposiums from experts.
BTW - I am not your friend. I choose my friends carefully.
I hope you realize you've characterized concussions as a unified measurable injury (such as a complete ACL tear) with the added property of having extremely variable recovery times. This is "counter factual" as you'd probably put it.
A head trauma causes many varying degrees of injury (all depended on point of contact, force ect.) which we assume also, in partial causes extremely variable recovery times.
Last edited by Mr. Canucklehead: 03-27-2012 at 05:49 PM.
Reason: Removed borderline content.
I honestly don't think Sedins had a concussion, I think it's the Canucks playing it safe and wanted it to look worse than it was hoping for a stronger punishment on Keith.
I honestly don't think Sedins had a concussion, I think it's the Canucks playing it safe and wanted it to look worse than it was hoping for a stronger punishment on Keith.
I'm 100% sure he has a concussion. Keith being out 5 games at this stage does nothing for the Canucks.
I honestly don't think Sedins had a concussion, I think it's the Canucks playing it safe and wanted it to look worse than it was hoping for a stronger punishment on Keith.
I disagree. As a first time offender, there's almost zero chance Keith gets more than 5 games. Daniel definitely has a concussion, and because of the mystery around concussions I'm not sure if "playing it safe" is the right term, rather just following protocol. You can bet Daniel will be in as soon as he is ready.
I honestly don't think Sedins had a concussion, I think it's the Canucks playing it safe and wanted it to look worse than it was hoping for a stronger punishment on Keith.
I hope your last post was a set up for this joke. If you're serious though, wow.
