JO have arthritis?

[footey]

He has been hinting this in his recent interviews concerning his swollen knee. That would be bad, and unlikely to get better. I hope his problems are short term, but am beginning to wonder. Makes you appreciate even more (i) the signing of Shaq and (ii) the emergence of Semih.  Hurry up, Perk!!

[housecall]

yep...old man disease

[PosImpos]

Yeah, I keep waiting to hear the JO is basically officially washed up physically.  It seems inevitable that we're going to learn that at some point this year.

We gambled a bit signing JO, and at least right now it looks like we lost that gamble.

[Chief]

yep...old man disease

Good thing it never gets cold in Boston.

[Surferdad]

See "The Return of Sheed" thread:
http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=42529.msg869405;topicseen#new

[More Banners]

Doesn't pretty much every athlete have arthritis in the knees by 30?  I know I did, and I sure as heck have fewer miles than any of these guys (since I pretty much hung it up at 23).

So, sure, he's got arthritis.  He's also a bit of a [insert favorite euphamism referring to female parts] when it comes to playing with discomfort.  Hard to tell with these sort of things whether the larger problem is in his knees or his heart.

I know a guy who takes cortizone shots just to get a good day of skiing in, for pete's sake.  I doubt JO loves the game that much.

[Roy H.]

Yeah, I keep waiting to hear the JO is basically officially washed up physically.  It seems inevitable that we're going to learn that at some point this year.

We gambled a bit signing JO, and at least right now it looks like we lost that gamble.

I don't think it's inevitable that JO will be declared "washed up".  He's always been fragile, but I think it's reasonable to expect him to play in about the 65 to 70 game range, like he has the last two years.  Last year, he played at an above-average level for a starting center, and I think he'll perform at a solid level this season.

I think it's way too early to say that we gambled on J.O. and that we lost.  Give it time.

[footey]

Yeah, I keep waiting to hear the JO is basically officially washed up physically.  It seems inevitable that we're going to learn that at some point this year.

We gambled a bit signing JO, and at least right now it looks like we lost that gamble.

I don't think it's inevitable that JO will be declared "washed up".  He's always been fragile, but I think it's reasonable to expect him to play in about the 65 to 70 game range, like he has the last two years.  Last year, he played at an above-average level for a starting center, and I think he'll perform at a solid level this season.

I think it's way too early to say that we gambled on J.O. and that we lost.  Give it time.

Hope you are right, but I worry, especially since the knee is swelling a lot. That is a sign of not so good news.

[PosImpos]

Yeah, I keep waiting to hear the JO is basically officially washed up physically.  It seems inevitable that we're going to learn that at some point this year.

We gambled a bit signing JO, and at least right now it looks like we lost that gamble.

I don't think it's inevitable that JO will be declared "washed up".  He's always been fragile, but I think it's reasonable to expect him to play in about the 65 to 70 game range, like he has the last two years.  Last year, he played at an above-average level for a starting center, and I think he'll perform at a solid level this season.

I think it's way too early to say that we gambled on J.O. and that we lost.  Give it time.

Yeah, I know you're right, but it's hard not to feel a bit pessimistic. 

Probably because our MLE signing worked out so poorly for us for most of the regular season last year.

[jimmehx]

Doesn't pretty much every athlete have arthritis in the knees by 30?  I know I did, and I sure as heck have fewer miles than any of these guys (since I pretty much hung it up at 23).

So, sure, he's got arthritis.  He's also a bit of a [insert favorite euphamism referring to female parts] when it comes to playing with discomfort.  Hard to tell with these sort of things whether the larger problem is in his knees or his heart.

I know a guy who takes cortizone shots just to get a good day of skiing in, for pete's sake.  I doubt JO loves the game that much.

That's a short term solution. You can only have intra-articular steroids every 6-18 months or you risk issues with bones and infection.

Let's just hope he can get it sorted before playoff time. Could have signed another solid, younger, less experienced but reliable centre with the full MLE.

[pearljammer10]

As long as one of the Oneals are in the lineup night in and night out im not too worried about it. If both are out then we'll have some issues. Just precautionary rests.

[FatjohnReturns]

Check out realgm where Jermaine says"[The knee] was strong, so I'm just kinda getting their opinion, then putting it with our doctors and getting them together for a conclusion on why the knee is blowing up the way it's blowing up."

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/70061/20101112/j_oneal_returns_to_boston_with_knee_injury/

"Blowing up" Sounds bad its probably swelling up big time. I wouldnt be suprised to hear he needs surgery.

[billysan]

It wouldnt be beyond reasonable to find that the knee still gives him some discomfort as it has in the past and now is also filling up with fluid. That would explain the 'blown up' comment and the cause for concern on his part. It also would justify suspicion of arthritis if it is getting stiff and becomes painful to move as it swells.

Didnt we have another player last year that had a knee drained of fluid so he could finish out the year, then have minor surgery in the off season?

Here's hoping it is a similar situation with JO this year and the tests/2nd opinons are simply conformation of the suspected condition.

[Who]

Check out realgm where Jermaine says"[The knee] was strong, so I'm just kinda getting their opinion, then putting it with our doctors and getting them together for a conclusion on why the knee is blowing up the way it's blowing up."

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/70061/20101112/j_oneal_returns_to_boston_with_knee_injury/

"Blowing up" Sounds bad its probably swelling up big time. I wouldnt be suprised to hear he needs surgery.

From the above link

One of those concerns appears to be knee arthritis, a degenerative condition any NBA player is subject to from the wear-and-tear of the sport. But O'Neal also underwent surgery to repair torn meniscus cartilage in his left knee in April 2007 and missed 42 games the following season due to pain and swelling, making him somewhat more susceptible to the condition.

"This is the most swelling I've had since I tore my meniscus three or four years ago," O'Neal admitted Thursday. "I know the length of time it took to get back from [the meniscus] -- it took a while."

He's hoping to get a diagnosis of a more treatable ailment because it's virtually impossible to cure arthritis, short of a complete knee replacement. Also known as osteoarthritis, knee arthritis occurs when cartilage is worn away, leaving the bare bone exposed to the joint. Symptoms can come and go, but include stiffness in the knee and swelling of the joint, which appears to be consistent with what O'Neal is battling.

[barefacedmonk]

Didnt we have another player last year that had a knee drained of fluid so he could finish out the year, then have minor surgery in the off season?

The Captain had his knee drained a couple of times last year...but he didn't need surgery.