Calcification of Thigh Muscle

[Magnum]

My 16 year old son suffered a deep thigh contusion from a direct blow to his unprotected thigh from the knee of one of his teammate during a pre-game practice this past football season on September 11th. He returned back 5 weeks later and was hit hard in the same spot, than again a week later in the last game of the season on October 23rd.

He started wrestling three weeks later on November 17th…His thigh slowly started to aggravate him and there was a hard lump in the area of his original injury. I took him to a well respected orthopedic sports doctor and he confirmed after viewing the X-Ray that Myositis Ossificans were present within his thigh muscle and that his wrestling season was over.

He did say that he would be ready for track season in March but he needed to discontinue any activity including stair and hill climbing so his body would reabsorb the calcification. His advice was to have zero activity.

I decided to get a 2nd opinion by another sports orthopedic doctor. He claimed that it would be alright to return to wrestling and that he would not do any further damage to his thigh. He did say that it was up to my son on how much discomfort he could handle, but once again the doctor stressed that no further damage would happen if he decide to return back to wrestling. It’s been just over four weeks since he has done any activity.

I found it totally confusing that two doctors would have completely opposite advice. For now we are on the side of caution and following the advice of the original doctor and doing zero activity.

Does anyone have any experience with this type of injury and how long it takes to heal and when do you know when it is actually safe to return to sport without doing more damage?

What are the risk involved if he decided to return to wrestling in time for the state tournament the 2nd week of February?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice on this.

[Heidi]

I believe that pain is a great indicator. If something hurts then your body is telling you not to do it! Discomfort is different and is often ok, but actual pain should not be worked through.

I think your son should do as much as he can pain free. This may only be stretching the muscles of the leg, or using a resistance band etc. Start very gently and gradually increase what he does, one step at a time.

I don't think that the tournament in 3 weeks is a good idea. Even if he can take part pain free, having had a couple of months with no activity his fitness will have dropped which will make him further susceptible to more injuries, not just the thigh.

I hope you find this useful, good luck!

[Magnum]

Thank you. This has been a frustrating injury and yours and others input helps us to deal and understand this injury and how to recover fully. Thanks again!

[jim_garo]

Heidi,

My original username was Magnum but forgot password and had to sign up using new username jim_garo

What is the worst case scenario if my son returns to wrestling? He has rested his leg for a complete 6 weeks with zero activity. He is feeling good and would like to return to wrestling. This would require only three weeks of action, and then the leg can rest for several months if he chooses to sit out track season. The lump feels softer then before the 6 week rest period. Could he cause more damage if he returns? We really need some sound advice on this. Thanks in advance.

[drroddy]

I hope your son is feeling more confident about returning to sport. Initially rest was a good option and avoiding anyfurther trauma to the area. I know it was a little bit of bad luck having been struck on the same spot as before. Remember if ever your son gets a bruise or "cork" and there is hematoma (bleeding and swellin) never use ice, never use massage and neve use stretching or anything except ice 20 minutes every hour for 72 hours. The reason for this is that those things excluding ice are all precipitating factors to developing myositis ossificans (calcification in the muscle.
To get through one or two weeks before therpy begins is recommended.
Therapy should involve gentle mobilisation, graston technique (using specific tools to break down adhesions which can form normal reactive petichae over the contact are-no concern). Therapeutic ultrasound is also very good at breaking down scar tissue and aiding in normal bodily decomposition or absorbrnce of calcium deposits in tissues.
If you need any further advice please contact me

admin@chiropractic-clinic.com.au
www.chiropractic-clinic.com.au
Best regards,
Dr Roddy Knight
Chiropractor

[jim_garo]

Dr Roddy,


Thanks for your response to my post on the Virtual Sports Injury Form. If you review my first post you will get a time line on this injury. It has been over four month since the original injury.

The biggest question we have now on the Myosistis Ossificans injury is if we return to wrestling for the remaining 3 weeks of the season what are the risks of doing more damage to this injury. My son has been very cautious for six weeks now with zero activity. The hardness in his thigh has gotten softer during this 6 week resting period.

He is a State Quality Wrestler and would like to return back to make a run at the State Tournament but my concern is the risk involved with damaging his thigh more by doing so? We would really appreciate some sound advice on the risk of further damage to the injury if he returns to sport at this time.

When he did wrestle (11 matches) with this injury before being advised by the first Ortho Doctor to stop back in December the injury didn’t bother him in actual competition. It was the long 2 ½ hour practices that created discomfort and pain which finally brought us to seek medical attention.

Once again it would be for the remaining part of the season which is only three weeks, then he would be able to rest his leg if need be. Thanks again for your input.

[ronanlyons]

Hi Magnum
I also have this injury i have played gaelic football to a very high level when i got injured. I was told i would never play again as it would only get worse. I went back playing at a lower levcel after 2 years because I felt good after a long rest i felt good in training and tought i was healed. As soon as i started to play in championships i agrivated the injury again. I did not get hit in the injury but becuse i have to kick the foot ball it put too much pressure on the tigh ant it felt like the tigh poped and the pain was unbareable. I went back to the doctor and he told me there was nothing he could do and i was to give up playing all trogeather. But i met a doctor from the USA who was training in ireland he had seen my injury before ansd he said it was serious and nothing could be done but there were different levels of the injury. he told me i could stop playing altogeather and always wonder what if or go back playing and see how far i could go as i could not do any more damage . i took his advice and i have continued to play for a further 10 years. i found if i warm up properly and stretch well i was able to last 90min in a match but you have to put on some heat cream or spray before you warm up as if the muscel is cold before you stretch or run it will cause pain. i also did a longer warm up then the rest of the team just to be sure . i hope this helps as it is very fustrating when you are passionate about a sport
regards
Ronan Ireland