DMN Blog: Joe DeCamillis won't be with Cowboys staff at combine

[gimmesix]

I feel like I'm watching an episode of The Doctors (not that I watch that, mind you).

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Again, there are multiple types of "fusions". You can simply have instrumentation which can either be anterior or posterior or you can have more fusion in the form of bone grafting with various levels of corpectomy and discectomy. It is in some ways more art than science when you get into very complicated hybrid approaches with very badly damaged spines.

myelin sheathing is at the level of axons and very likely not to be injured is this implies quite an extensive nervous system injury. You are digging very deep by the time you get to this level. You would likely see a significant component of paralysis which is not obvious when you see him on the sideline.

It is hard to speculate on these things - they really do tend to show up quite while on early MRI if there is significant cord involvement.

Nerve and mechanical pain are different but it is not always as simple as saying one is worse than the other. I treat many patients with nerve pain who actually are managed quite well with medications. OTOH, I also have the converse of patients with very bad mechanical pain whose pain is not well controlled with medications.

Regardless of whether or not its a graft or a implant, you are going to damage the sheathing around the nerves. Whether or not there are grafts of bone or titanium cages with bone marrow there is going to be major swelling in the area.

In DeCammillis' case you can see it quite prominently as it makes him look like the hunchback of Notre Dame.

The bottomline here is that him having severe pain at this point is to be expected nor is it uncommon during this time period as the healing takes place for the pain to actually increase. I have no idea what his issue is as I am not privy to his case but I am just trying to point out to people that this is not necessarily a setback.

Back surgery is no fun.

 

[BIGDen]

The position his neck has healed in is just horrific. The forces required to maintain his neck in that position will be put tremendous stress through any joints and put lots of stress on all the extensor muscles in the back of the neck and upper torso.

I'm not sure if it he had a multi-level fusion to put him in that position or not but I do feel really sorry for the guy.

That's exactly what goes through my head whenever they show him. That head and neck position is about as bad as it gets. He has got to have significant pain in his neck, mid and upper back. If he's fused and (mostly) healed in that position, that posture/position probably can't be changed much. I'm sure he could work on the strength of those posterior muscles and improve his posture a bit (slightly decreasing some of those stresses), but it looks to me like he will require some sort of procedure (perhaps nerve ablation) to manage the pain that he must be experiencing.

I've gone through a neck injury that doesn't compare to his and it was no joke. Even if he has a freakishly high pain tolerance, he has got to be suffering quite a bit. I give him a lot of credit for toughing it out as he did this past season.

 

[PhillyCowboysFan]

JJ will pay for whatever he needs done tho, he's liable for the accident so he'll pay up esp.

Actually Jerry cannot get sued. Under Texas labor laws, the Dallas Cowboys, as the employer of Behm is covered by workers' compensation, which "is a total and complete bar to any suit" against the team.

His lawsuits will likely be against the manufacturers and any subcontractors that assembled and maintained the structure. It could even include the City of Irving for faulty inspections. He could also be eligible for workman’s comp benefits if he can no longer work.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Actually Jerry cannot get sued. Under Texas labor laws, the Dallas Cowboys, as the employer of Behm is covered by workers' compensation, which "is a total and complete bar to any suit" against the team.

His lawsuits will likely be against the manufacturers and any subcontractors that assembled and maintained the structure. It could even include the City of Irving for faulty inspections. He could also be eligible for workman’s comp benefits if he can no longer work.

Behm is a contracted laborer not an employee.

 

[JustDezIt]

I'm not a doctor, but I did stay a Holiday Inn Express last night.

I feel like I'm watching an episode of The Doctors (not that I watch that, mind you).

:laugh2:

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I'm not a doctor, but I did stay a Holiday Inn Express last night.

*sigh* it's

"I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV"

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

I hope they can help him. If they can't he might have to retire early.

Nah, dude's too tough to do that.

 

[TheCount]

I hope they can help him. If they can't he might have to retire early.

I hope they can help him early retirement or not, living with constant pain is a terrible thing.

God speed, Coach D.

 

[lockster]

I feel so bad about this for him. I've had back problems big time since the age of 17. It's made life a living H@@@ for me. We sure need him here as a coach too.