Frederick back sooner than we think?

[Stash]

I think he's the type of player who'd be willing to play through the pain, but I don't know if he can play through the muscle weakness and fatigue.

From what I understand, exerting himself will not make the syndrome worse (but I'm not a doctor so I could be wrong about that). Even when he recovers, though, he could still experience weakness, numbness or fatigue. The most serious weakness is usually experienced within two to four weeks after symptoms begin.

So much depends on how serious his complications are ... and at least for now, they don't look like the more serious ones.

Yeah, I'm not claiming to have any great insight either. But I'm bothered when people start assuming "IR" , 8 weeks", or "season ending" without any knowledge either.

The fact is that they guy was playing football two weeks ago and has since started treatment. If there's no risk of things getting worse, I see no reason why they couldn't quickly get better. At least back to where he was just a few weeks ago.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

He will be back soon. Already feeling better.

That's it exactly.

It will depend I would guess on his overall energy level, if he feels like he does when healthy... then why not?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

This would be all kinds of awesome sauce.

But as someone alluded to above, I'd rather they be very cautious with him than the other way around, rushing him back because he wants to play. In fairness, I don't know what downsides there are to rushing back. In other words, this isn't like a hamstring where you come back early and reinjure it again because it never healed, right?

I wouldn't think he'd go out there unless he was feeling like he was pre-stinger.

 

[cowboy_ron]

If I hadn't already seen this disease progress in my aunt I would probably be more optimistic.

 

[erod]

Nerves are very slow to heal. See Jaylon Smith.

It all depends on the extent of damage that needs to heal, and the disease stopping from doing more. The transfusions were for the latter.

 

[Future]

The report I watched interviewed a specialist who said that the best case scenario would be four weeks. And they did say that catching it early was a big factor in the recovery time.

This. The idea that Frederick was going to be out long-term was always pretty pessimistic - though the fact that there's no timetable makes it understandable why people would think that.

 

[TheFinisher]

Early diagnosis and treatment make a world of difference. Mark Schlereth has been doing rounds talking about his experience with GBS, but he had symptoms for 3-4 months before they started him on treatment. Obviously the progression of the disease only gets worse with delayed diagnosis, thus recovery takes longer.

We have no idea what stage of disease Frederick was at when they figured out it was GBS, but if they got him on Ig therapy near the start of disease onset he could be back very soon. Just depends on the level of neuropathy sustained before treatment... could have been very minimal for all we know. And if he's working out, you'd have to think that was the case.

 

[Future]

The issue with the treatment for Guillain-Barre syndrome is that one of the main treatments is total rest. Even a workout could have negative effects on his recovery. Frederick is too important to the long-term success of the team, and Looney is having his best ever pre-season. If I was the Cowboys, I wouldn't risk Frederick's long-term health. I would keep him out at least the first 8 games of the season, and reassess in 2 months. It's great that Frederick wants to come back so soon, but sometimes competitive athletes can be their own worst enemies. Just look what happened with Romo in 2015.

I tend to agree with this, but I'd probably go the PUP route. That gets you through 6 weeks and, if he's not healed by then, he's probably in a lot more trouble than we might think.

 

[G2]

I hope he gets healthy. Good man, great player.

Now it makes sense that he was getting beat at times in training camp, lol.

 

[MCMetal69]

I could deal with him being gone half the season if it means Beardy will be back as good as ever for the rest of his career..................

 

[CCBoy]

Early diagnosis and treatment make a world of difference. Mark Schlereth has been doing rounds talking about his experience with GBS, but he had symptoms for 3-4 months before they started him on treatment. Obviously the progression of the disease only gets worse with delayed diagnosis, thus recovery takes longer.

We have no idea what stage of disease Frederick was at when they figured out it was GBS, but if they got him on Ig therapy near the start of disease onset he could be back very soon. Just depends on the level of neuropathy sustained before treatment... could have been very minimal for all we know. And if he's working out, you'd have to think that was the case.

I can't wait for his return and this whole unit again starts to evolve. That will have unmeasured merit accumulating for the Cowboys. Pride returning to the uglies again...this fan can't wait.

 

[Screw The Hall]

If he’s already working out, he’s unlikely to go on IR. His quick progress is very encouraging.

I won’t pretend I know what any of this means, but I like where your head’s at.

 

[lukin2006]

I tried telling people not too panic...I had GBS, my recovery was quick. Trust me I never received close to care Frederick is receiving.

 

[Doc50]

Good thing Fred was persistent.

It was his docs who were persistent.

GBS has much more widespread and varied symptoms than local neurapraxia (stinger).
He would not have fit the diagnostic profile of local injury, and therefore was referred for further evaluation, thus finding the actual etiology.

 

[guag]

Waiting for the updated report: it really was just a stinger.

Could you imagine if it was just a misdiagnosis this whole time? I guess it wouldn't be the first time. Wasn't another athlete recently diagnosed with this disease only to find out he didn't actually have it?

 

[JoeyBoy718]

If we can get through the first half of the season with a decent record, we can be scary with a healthy Frederick and Irving back.

 

[northerncowboynation]

How many games does he have to sit out if they place him on IR?

8 weeks

 

[guag]

I just don’t wanna rush him back. I know there’s no guarantees, but maybe we SHOULD put him on IR, pick up a vet after cuts, and roll with Looney. If we can’t win 5 games out of the first 8 without him, we don’t belong in the playoffs anyway, IMO.

Is this the type of illness where you can risk further injury by doing strenuous activity such as playing football? Or is it just a matter of playing through pain?

Not suggesting that we rush him back by any means if there's a chance that it could worsen his condition. But if this is a situation where he could play once the symptoms are managed, who knows...

 

[northerncowboynation]

Just keep taking your treatments big man and come back when you can

 

[Bigrandrn]

If he’s already working out, he’s unlikely to go on IR. His quick progress is very encouraging.

If he’s already working out, that is EXTREMELY fast for GBS recovery....I have a hard time believing he actually has it if he’s had no real disability, most people end up hospitalized....my patients were young and in good health, still spent a few weeks in my ICU before being transfered to rehabs....

Either way, thank god, we can’t afford any missing links in our line!