I know sixersfan won't agree with me
Sep. 2nd, 2006 11:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jebbypalBut I agree with Agassi's dad here.
I understand Agassi's motivations. I love watching him play even if you can tell his age and sciatica make it so he's not the player he was five years ago or even last year. Still, I think enough is enough. He's reached the point to where he's setting a very bad example for young people everywhere. Playing through the pain, or taking massive amounts of drugs, is never the right thing to do. Doing so leads only to a worse injury.
Sciatica isn't a minor condition. At this point, I would almost guarantee that Agassi has gotten to the point that he's caused himself actual nerve damage beyond the actual pinching of the nerve itself. That means that even if he gets the sciatica surgically repaired, he'll likely endure numbness, tingling, or burning in that leg for the rest of his life regardless of physical activity. And the cortisone shots? Not a good thing ever. While they are preferred to surgery by the medical community until the pain gets to be too much for the individual patients, cortisone shots carry risks of infections at the site of injections (cortisone is a steroid and as such lowers one's immunity in a localized area) as well degeneration of the bone in the area of the injection. I assume that the "other type" of injection that Agassi recieved yesterday was most likely an epidural. These aren't "minor" pain relieving steps like downing an ibuprofen. These are generally stop gap measures to put off corrective surgery.
I do understand Agassi's motivations and respect the hell out of him. I wish the best for him. But enough is enough. He has a family. He has a life outside of the sport. He doesn't need the money. He definitely shouldn't be damaging his body beyond repair. And it's irresponsible to do so and to set the example that there are times it's okay to do so.
I understand Agassi's motivations. I love watching him play even if you can tell his age and sciatica make it so he's not the player he was five years ago or even last year. Still, I think enough is enough. He's reached the point to where he's setting a very bad example for young people everywhere. Playing through the pain, or taking massive amounts of drugs, is never the right thing to do. Doing so leads only to a worse injury.
Sciatica isn't a minor condition. At this point, I would almost guarantee that Agassi has gotten to the point that he's caused himself actual nerve damage beyond the actual pinching of the nerve itself. That means that even if he gets the sciatica surgically repaired, he'll likely endure numbness, tingling, or burning in that leg for the rest of his life regardless of physical activity. And the cortisone shots? Not a good thing ever. While they are preferred to surgery by the medical community until the pain gets to be too much for the individual patients, cortisone shots carry risks of infections at the site of injections (cortisone is a steroid and as such lowers one's immunity in a localized area) as well degeneration of the bone in the area of the injection. I assume that the "other type" of injection that Agassi recieved yesterday was most likely an epidural. These aren't "minor" pain relieving steps like downing an ibuprofen. These are generally stop gap measures to put off corrective surgery.
I do understand Agassi's motivations and respect the hell out of him. I wish the best for him. But enough is enough. He has a family. He has a life outside of the sport. He doesn't need the money. He definitely shouldn't be damaging his body beyond repair. And it's irresponsible to do so and to set the example that there are times it's okay to do so.
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(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-02 04:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-02 04:39 pm (UTC)