Conditions + Treatments
Shoulder Injury/Condition
My name is Andrew Edmondson and I am a 16-year-old sophomore at Oak Grove High School. I play for both the football and baseball teams, and love both programs dearly.
At a JV baseball game against Hueytown on March 18, 2018, I was up to bat. I hit a ball deep into left field and as I rounded first base I noticed that it was going to be close at second base, so I decided to slide head first into second. As I slid, I rolled all of my body weight on my shoulder and it dislocated. As I sat on second base, I decided to pop it back in.
Afterwards, our trainer, Ms. Menghini, told me that I needed to have someone at Andrews Sports Medicine look at it. I went to see Dr. Jody Ortega and he was great. He was very cautious with it, wanting to make sure I wouldn’t have to go through labral repair surgery, as it could threaten my ability to play. I went through extensive physical therapy.
The therapy helped, but unfortunately, but it was decided that I would still need the surgery. On May 17, 2018, I went in for my surgery with Dr. Jeffrey Dugas. He explained to me everything that was going to happen, and it calmed my nerves. I woke up a few hours later in a lot of pain from both my shoulder and migraines from the anesthesia.
The following day I stared physical therapy, which ended up being one of the most painful days I experienced post-op. I continued therapy for two weeks before I went in to see Dr. Dugas for a follow-up appointment.
After looking at my shoulder, Dr. Dugas told me it’d be very unlikely that I’d be able to play football that year. To not be able to play the sport that I love, that I grew up playing was an awful feeling. Not only did I not get to do what I love, I felt as if I were letting my team down. So, I decided to get to work and beat my odds.
After three months of painfully hard work in physical therapy, I went back to see Dr. Dugas. He checked out my shoulder, moved it around and decided I was ready. He cleared me to play and I was so excited! I needed to continue physical therapy, but I could do it at school with Ms. Menghini.
That September, I strapped up, and played against the Curry Yellow Jackets. I was ecstatic to play, but was also very nervous. I played that game and every game for the rest of season.
I owe my comeback to Dr. Ortega and Dr. Dugas for treating my shoulder, as well as Josh Dabbs and Tyler Alford, the physical therapists that helped me get my shoulder back into shape.
Finally, I’d like to thank Ms. Menghini, for continuing to help me to this day. Sports have played an enormous role in my life, and I can’t imagine my life without them. I consider myself very lucky to have healed so well and be able to continue doing the things that I love.
