2003.05.05

It has already been a manic Monday for the Omega. The deafening thunderstorms had me awake at 11:30 PM, 2:00 AM, 3:00, 5:15 AM. The alarm clock went off at 5:45 AM. I was showered, dressed and in the car with my 4-year -old-son by 6:30 AM. I dropped off the still sleeping "spider-boy" with Grandma and Grandpa at 7:20 AM. I was at the doctors office by 7:45 AM.

First, let me say Sports Medicine Grant in Columbus Ohio is the shyte. The doctors are phenomenal. Dr. Tesner was a physician for the 1992 Olympic Team. He is the official team doctor of the (NHL) Columbus Blue Jackets. He works with and treats numerous NFL athletes. He is the official team physician of the Ohio University Bobcats. He and the other physicians at Sport Medicine Grant are among the very best sports medicine physicians in the country.

I earned my bachelors degree from Ohio University. I had my share of injuries while in college. Dr. Tesner always did a great job of piecing me back together. He doesn't pamper athletes. He doesn't mess around. In college, he drained my knees and ankles on several occasions. He would look at my knee, grab a 6" needle, shove it under the kneecap, withdrawal the fluid and move on. There was never a coddling, "Now this is going to sting a little."

He was always to the point. He would say, "Do not tense up or flex your knee. If you do, the needle will break off inside."

He examined the x-ray when I broke my hand. He looked at the miniscule bones floating and cracked. He looked me and said, "You still seem to have good strength in the hand. Unless the pain becomes unbearable, you won't need surgery."

I tore my left hamstring, I had a deep purple bruise running from my calf to my butt. He looked at it. He poked and prodded. He said, "It will scar back together."

Fast forward to this morning...

My appointment was scheduled for 8:15 AM. At 8:18 AM, the radiologist took x-rays of my right leg. At 8:25 AM, I was in a "room". At 8:30 AM, Dr. Tesner walked in the room. He tested the strength in my leg. He confirmed the tear. He pulled out a 2" needle and asked me, "Which cheek do you want it in?"

I chose. He proceeded to stick the needle in my arse and give me a shot of cortisone. He asked if I wanted any painkillers. That was a nice gesture. I declined. I was out the door on my way to get a McGriddle by 8:45 AM. That is how ALL doctors should operate.

Dr. Tesner wrote a prescription for physical therapy. They will facilitate my rehabilitation. The early estimate is 6 to 8 weeks before I am back to form. End result, the Omega should be 100% by the time football season starts in July.

I am happy. I am happy that surgery is not needed. I am happy that I will be healthy by the time football season begins. I am anxious to start rehab. To quote Al B. Damm, "It's all grits and gravy, dawl."

Yardbird still livin large!