Injuries

r8dr_rider

Well-Known Member
What type of injuries have you had and remedies that have helped?

I was a sub playing left field for a co ed team this Monday (my team had a bye) and pulled my calf muscle. Unbelievable!! I did my regular pre game routine as I always do, stretch and jog. a routine grounder got past 3B I casually ran to get the ball and boom felt like someone threw a rock at my calf.

I couldn’t play D after that and only batted (actually hit better being injured) with a runner

Went to acupuncture yesterday but she wants me out a month. I manage my usual league team and don’t wanna miss any games. SMH
 

BTW300

Addicted to Softballfans
I have a torn meniscus now. I still play. Massaging the muscle around the medial part of knee helps. Ice after I play helps calm it down. I'm targeting October for a partial knee replacement......Hope your calf heals fast!!!!!
 

ShortYellowBus

Well-Known Member
If it felt like someone threw a rock at you, I know that feeling. When it happened to me I was rounding third base when my Achilles’ tendon snapped. The tendon snapping is what hit my calf, and my ankle swelled up a lot. An acupuncture specialist isn’t defined by science as medical professional and you probably need to see a real doctor, specifically a podiatrist.
 

ShortYellowBus

Well-Known Member
The injury recovery timelines vary based on the type of injury. Soft muscular injuries take the longest to recover and the best solution is to quit softball for a season. If you try to come back in a couple weeks, the problem only gets worse.

Knees, sprained ankles, and elbow inflammation is half a season recovery time, based on severity.

If it’s just a batted softball to the shin, I’m just going to keep playing.
 

ilyk2win

Addicted to Softballfans
I pulled my calf, which led to a full rupture of my achilles a year or 2 later. With the calf, I was in a walking boot for 2 months to immobilize. I did not seek acupuncture.
 

loxx0050

Member
It varies depending on the severity of the injury and also the older I get the longer it seems to take to heal.

This past summer season I pulled my hamstring waiting to see if I needed to tag up and run from 2nd to 3rd (turned out I had to book it to 3rd as the ball was dropped). It took about 5 weeks before I was able to moderately run. Still played weekly but had pinch runners for that time. After about 7 weeks I was finally able to sprint and make quick moves on defense. Even now I'm about 9 or so weeks out from the injury and not 100% and I'd say I'm probably 98% or so as I can feel it still if I'm bending over to tie my shoe or something. But at least walking, running and jumping it's pain free...just that odd position where if my knees are slightly bent and I bend over my upper body to reach something low I feel it.

Last year's summer session I pulled a calf muscle (or had a calf heart attack most likely) the week before the season started. That took about 5 weeks or so to fully recover from that but it didn't help I was still playing. It felt better after 1 initially week but ended up tweakeling it again playing outfield going for a line drive. Ended up just played catcher or DH. Had a runner after base hits....lots of singles during that stretch no matter how well I hit the ball.

Also have had a shoulder injury from a dad reflexes moment that got worse during the softball season trying to throw hard to the cutoff man. Had to go to physical therapy for that one since it was painful to the point I'd feel it putting on or taking off jackets.

10 years ago I'd be ready to go the next week....starting to feel my age more as every year passes. For reference I'm 40.
 

hitless45

Addicted to Softballfans
^^^ 40 is the new 30.. you ain't seen nothing yet at 40, 50 + is when i started feeling the effects of OLD lol
 

Projectcam

Member
I have torn both calf’s and am dealing with a Jones fracture in my foot right now. I am 36 and have been playing ball nonstop since the age of 5. This injury is making me consider retiring from playing because of the strain it’s put on my business.
 

r8dr_rider

Well-Known Member
Damn we’re all a bunch of broken old men. I’m 40 in two weeks. Calf is felling better and no swelling or bruising yet. I’ve had success with acupuncture when I pulled my hammy a few years back. And that thing bruised badly. I’ll give it a week if I’m not getting better off to the dr. Problem with them is they usually say rest and give me a bottle of Advil.
 

jbo911

Super Moderator
Staff member
I think my initial calf issue may have been a partial achilles tear that the lazy Ortho didn't diagnose correctly. In any event, if you're over the age of 35, nothing to take lightly.
Just to clarify, were you in the boot just for the calf pull or the Achilles tear? I tried testing it for a week and a half like every other muscle pull but it tightened up on a very light jog almost immediately. Won't have a chance to go to a doc for another well or two if it doesn't get better.

Socks because the best case scenarios would have me very gimpy when worlds roll around. Being over 46 I've got a bad feeling I'm done for the year.
 

ilyk2win

Addicted to Softballfans
Just to clarify, were you in the boot just for the calf pull or the Achilles tear? I tried testing it for a week and a half like every other muscle pull but it tightened up on a very light jog almost immediately. Won't have a chance to go to a doc for another well or two if it doesn't get better.

Socks because the best case scenarios would have me very gimpy when worlds roll around. Being over 46 I've got a bad feeling I'm done for the year.

Calf = boot x2 months, some PT and then back to action once stretched back out
Achilles = surgery, boot for 2 months, months/tons of PT, 8 months later was still only about 75%, 12 months later back to as good as I'd get....no issues since other than a gnarly scar 14 years later.

Both felt like someone hit me with a ball on the back of the leg. Calf was sharp pain when I flexed the foot afterwards. Achilles was a very loud pop and no control over the foot......hopped one-legged off the field.

Good luck man, bad timing for sure. Hopefully it's just something minor.
 

jbo911

Super Moderator
Staff member
Calf = boot x2 months, some PT and then back to action once stretched back out
Achilles = surgery, boot for 2 months, months/tons of PT, 8 months later was still only about 75%, 12 months later back to as good as I'd get....no issues since other than a gnarly scar 14 years later.

Both felt like someone hit me with a ball on the back of the leg. Calf was sharp pain when I flexed the foot afterwards. Achilles was a very loud pop and no control over the foot......hopped one-legged off the field.

Good luck man, bad timing for sure. Hopefully it's just something minor.
I'm too fat is the main thing, but can't do anything about that now either lol. Thanks.
 

jkwoody22

League ball huer
Getting old sucks, and not playing last year due to covid restrictions really hampered me, second week of the season pulled my left hamstring stretching at first really bad, bruised, couldn’t walk, in my third week of pt I tore my right mcl, I was favoring the left side so much I put too much stress on the right, another 5/6 weeks of rest from running/ softball and things started to feel better, got out 2 weeks to go to play, feeling great and no issues and late last week I tweaked the knee again while at work, I’m a concrete guy and for the most part have babied my legs all summer, I think I’m just going to wait to play next year and let it heel up or have surgery in the fall and winter, grind it out at work until it slows down, I was doing some pt exercises with bands, swimming, stretching and the ol ice ibuprofen and it was working well, dipping in the heat at work and not being hydrated enough was a downfall, I too am fat and about to be 46, need to realize I’m not as young and flexible as I used to be, before covid I could do the splits at first base no problem, now no way, played 3 to 4 nights a week and the occasional weekend, all I did was work last year and moderate exercise, but playing ball obviously uses different muscles and it’s going to take a lot of work to get back to that
 
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dunkky

Well-Known Member
did u guys do any stretching other than just throwing balls in warm up??? do more stretching then do little sprinting. i seldom see people stretch their muscle...

also, google, accuputure mattress. it will torture your back in the beginning, but once used to it, it will make you feel good. fundamental health is all about good blood flow and how clean your blood is.
 

r8dr_rider

Well-Known Member
Reading all these muscle injuries I think of two things. Hydration and stretching/warm up.
I definitely drink more beer then water before and during games. Us old men muscles need to be extra hydrated and warmed up before any physical activities. Unless you are just a catcher and need a runner after every hit some pre game warm up is needed.
 

stang7222

Addicted to Softballfans
The short: Just this March I cracked 3 ribs and bruised a kidney. Took about 8 weeks to feel 100%

The Long: 2 outs, top of the last, tying run on deck I think. The wind was blowing in from LF at about 30mph. High flyball down the line that the wind was pushing in hard. I wasn't sure if I would be able to get to the ball and wound up calling it really late. I slid to make the catch and avoid a collision. The SS was running full tilt and tried to jump over me but instead I got his knee in the ribs. I made the catch and we won the game. I don't have insurance so I visited a friend that's a retired Doctor.. he told me 3 cracked ribs and a bruised kidney. Not bad enough to need to be admitted to the hospital. Rest and observation should do the trick. Coincidentally my wife was scheduled for neck surgery 2 days later and I was able to bum some pills off of her.
 

eviladams

All hail Megatron.....
Suffer 2 thickness tears in my left hamstring in 2012. I didn’t realize the injury was as bad as it was when it happened. I though I just pulled it really bad. It happened near the end of the season so I shut it down till the next year. Mostly cause that was the only choice. Played the next season like “christ my leg is still ****ed up.” Then played the FOLLOWING season after that with the same thoughts: “that pull really did a number on my hammy.” Then went to the doctors that fall and got a MRI. 2 thickness tears and a whole bunch of scar tissue. Got 2 PRP injection that helped the pain in terms of daily life. Still have a big divot in the hamstring though and it’s constantly tight af. I can sprint but I choose not to run as hard as I’m capable because I’m afraid of what may happen.
 

Projectcam

Member
Reading all these muscle injuries I think of two things. Hydration and stretching/warm up.
I definitely drink more beer then water before and during games. Us old men muscles need to be extra hydrated and warmed up before any physical activities. Unless you are just a catcher and need a runner after every hit some pre game warm up is needed.
Agreed, I had my first injury 2 weeks after I turned 30. I didn’t really consider myself old when that happened but I did suffer the consequence of not ever stretching and staying dehydrated from copious amounts of caffeine haha. Not smart to work all day and then go balls to the wall in a double header later in the day. I feel like me abusing my body just caught up to me.
 

Chembry

Addicted to Softballfans
What type of injuries have you had and remedies that have helped?

I was a sub playing left field for a co ed team this Monday (my team had a bye) and pulled my calf muscle. Unbelievable!! I did my regular pre game routine as I always do, stretch and jog. a routine grounder got past 3B I casually ran to get the ball and boom felt like someone threw a rock at my calf.

I couldn’t play D after that and only batted (actually hit better being injured) with a runner

Went to acupuncture yesterday but she wants me out a month. I manage my usual league team and don’t wanna miss any games. SMH

Are you sure it's a pull and not a tear?

I tore my calf at tournament a few years ago. I went to the doctor a few days later and they performed an ultrasound to make sure I didn't have any blood clots. He also palpated the calf muscle and determined it was a tear. He sent me to a physical therapist who also determined it was a tear, but graded it as a grade 2 tear based on his examination. He took this tool and ran it down my calf for several minutes to straighten out the muscle fibers. One of the worst pains I have ever felt. I went to PT for 6 weeks and wore a compression sleeve. I was back playing in tournaments 6 weeks later. I am convinced the PT program he had me on was the reason I healed so fast and was able to play at full capacity. My PT was thinking it would take on the order of 8-12 weeks to heal.
 

r8dr_rider

Well-Known Member
Are you sure it's a pull and not a tear?

I tore my calf at tournament a few years ago. I went to the doctor a few days later and they performed an ultrasound to make sure I didn't have any blood clots. He also palpated the calf muscle and determined it was a tear. He sent me to a physical therapist who also determined it was a tear, but graded it as a grade 2 tear based on his examination. He took this tool and ran it down my calf for several minutes to straighten out the muscle fibers. One of the worst pains I have ever felt. I went to PT for 6 weeks and wore a compression sleeve. I was back playing in tournaments 6 weeks later. I am convinced the PT program he had me on was the reason I healed so fast and was able to play at full capacity. My PT was thinking it would take on the order of 8-12 weeks to heal.

I’m banking on pull. It was almost two weeks ago now. There was no visual bruising, which I’ve had with a previous hamstring injury. I’m walking pretty normal now. Still don’t have full range of motion. It hurts more when the toes are pointed up, not down. I can actually jump with no pain.
With injuries like this I tend to rely on eastern medicine over western medicine. It’s always helped me in the past.
Did BP this week and felt fine. Gonna play Monday. Maybe catcher or 1B and not overexert my running
 

dunkky

Well-Known Member
@Chembry, if you wake up one day, and somehow your knee join is steep and start getting swelled up. what do you think is the cause of that? Only thing i did the day before was batting practice. I can't figure out the cause. weird and frustrating.. i have not been able to bend my knee for a few days.. It's gotten a lot better today though..
 

ShortYellowBus

Well-Known Member
@Chembry, if you wake up one day, and somehow your knee join is steep and start getting swelled up. what do you think is the cause of that? Only thing i did the day before was batting practice. I can't figure out the cause. weird and frustrating.. i have not been able to bend my knee for a few days.. It's gotten a lot better today though..
I’m assuming you didn’t feel anything move or hear anything pop.

That’s typically osteoarthritis and it will go away on its own. Your joints just swell up due to loss of cartilage in your knees, and it’ll happen from time to time.

Take some over the counter pain pills and limit the strenuous work on the joints. You’ll have to see a doctor if the pain lasts more than a week.
 

dunkky

Well-Known Member
thanks cap, i think that's exactly what it is.. but i still don't know what cause that flare... i didn't play any games, i ddon't remmeber stressing my knee greatly.. just routine bp.. maybe iam finally using my leg more in my swing?
 

rmp0012002

Addicted to Softballfans
In-game injuries, pulled both hamstrings a couple times. Once in the playoffs so I had to play the next day. Toughest injury that affected softball was a herniated disc that went from a small one to a large herniation and ended in a few lost seasons over 10 years. PT got me back on the field the next year most of the time but the final time it was Percocets before the games and surgery after the season. It took about 6 months to where I felt normal again to play. Unfortunately the team folded before the next season.
 

Chembry

Addicted to Softballfans
I’m banking on pull. It was almost two weeks ago now. There was no visual bruising, which I’ve had with a previous hamstring injury. I’m walking pretty normal now. Still don’t have full range of motion. It hurts more when the toes are pointed up, not down. I can actually jump with no pain.
With injuries like this I tend to rely on eastern medicine over western medicine. It’s always helped me in the past.
Did BP this week and felt fine. Gonna play Monday. Maybe catcher or 1B and not overexert my running

I don't remember bruising with my tear...my calf hurt on both ends of the spectrum, when my toes were pointed up and down. As you stated I wouldn't over exert running. I was playing league games before the six weeks, just hitting and taking a runner. It never hurt hitting, just running. By the time I could jog, I was playing league, just hitting and taking a runner.

@Chembry, if you wake up one day, and somehow your knee join is steep and start getting swelled up. what do you think is the cause of that? Only thing i did the day before was batting practice. I can't figure out the cause. weird and frustrating.. i have not been able to bend my knee for a few days.. It's gotten a lot better today though..

I’m assuming you didn’t feel anything move or hear anything pop.

That’s typically osteoarthritis and it will go away on its own. Your joints just swell up due to loss of cartilage in your knees, and it’ll happen from time to time.

Take some over the counter pain pills and limit the strenuous work on the joints. You’ll have to see a doctor if the pain lasts more than a week.

As mentioned above, in situations like that, it's typically osteoarthritis. Good advice from ShortYellowBus.
 

r8dr_rider

Well-Known Member
Played a game last night. Felt ok. I still can’t run. Played catcher and needed a runner after each hit. I could slow jog about 50%
 

Bballkking1

The Veteran
Sacroiliac joint problems have sprung up on me this year at 34. I believe I injured it either with a short fall/slip hiking down a mountain or while busting out/replacing a fence post and concrete ball. After a few crappy chiropractors I found one who identified the injury and is really helping with a certain adjustment. YouTube has some fun videos :) It caused pain at the joint, tightness through my glute down my I.T. band to my knee. Getting off the couch or out of bed was slow and painful. Sitting a lot was not good. Once I was fully warmed up and on a few hundred mgs of Aleve I could play almost normal, but always with a little hitch. I'm optimistic about being 100% after the winter.

About 6 years ago I had a grade 2 tear of my PCL while playing indoor winter ball in a golf dome, fully healed now, no weakness at all. That was a good time !
 
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