LJ Shelton - The truth, my friend, must be told.

[Skkorpion]

Since LJ told Jurecki about his bulging discs and Jurecki reported it on the radio, I feel I can now discuss the problem freely.

LJ has been battling the entire camp and preseason with back spasms caused by two bulging discs in his lower back. He didn't know what was causing the pain and practiced anyway, desperately trying to make the team.

Finally, he couldn't even get down into a three point stance and told the medical staff about the problem. The Cards doctors diagnosed the bulging discs.

LJ was given rest, treatment, and specific exercises. About a week later, he was back at work, hoping to win a starting job at guard.

Didn't work out.

LJ Shelton is a damned fine human being and an ASFN regular. His health and career are now at risk and I have violated his confidence by telling you this but I know he'll forgive me. He's that kind of person.

He kept his mouth shut and battled, wanting no excuses. It's been difficult reading some posts ripping him for poor play.

So now you know.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

LJ is definitely a great guy (he did some business with us when he first got here in Az ).

Thanks for filling everyone in on what he's been going through.

 

[TXCardinalsFan]

IR him, have him go into surgery and since we will need him next year. No brainer here, bulging discs? Come one, no rest will fix this. Let the man recover and come back next year. Cutting him would be unclassy.

 

[ajcardfan]

IR him, have him go into surgery and since we will need him next year. No brainer here, bulging discs? Come one, no rest will fix this. Let the man recover and come back next year. Cutting him would be unclassy.

Herniated discs have to be repaired surgically. But, it is possible for bulging discs to undergo fibrosis and get much better. It takes time, and I think he'll need to sit out the season either way. If he has surgery, his career could very well be over. His weight and his profession make both options fairly dicey. The last thing he should do is take epidurals and play through it.

 

[Renz]

That sucks. We need a healthy LJ on the O-Line. I hope he won't require surgery.

 

[Red Dawn]

Back injuries suck. I also hope they put LJ on IR, and that he regains his health and continues his career with the Cards . Cutting him would not be very classy at all.

 

[jstadvl]

I've stood by

him all along. even rooted for him, in front of Green up in camp at the scrimmage, told him to keep schooling Berry.
C'mon L.J. do the right thing for yourself. You've been a team guy throughout your Cards career. Get healthy, get back and kick butt!

 

[Jttsaz]

Man I was really hoping LJ would be in the starting lineup this year...But I think that he needs to get healthy again so we have him for years to come...Have a speedy recovery LJ...

 

[arthurracoon]

Dang.

LJ: good luck with your back, and hope you get better soon.

 

[Redheart]

...
LJ has been battling the entire camp and preseason with back spasms caused by two bulging discs in his lower back. He didn't know what was causing the pain and practiced anyway, desperately trying to make the team....

Can I ask for a little more truth...when did his back become injured? Was it last year, or during the off-season. Was that why he came in over-weight?

God-speed on his recovery and return to the nest.

 

[Mr.Dibbs]

LJ- get better, you're young. You can make a comeback, but do what you have to in order to heal properly.

 

[spanky1]

skkorp,

I don't think any of the ASFN'ers were ripping LJ for his performance. Indeed, we were all questioning Green and trying to figure out what his problem with LJ was.

I guess we'll be putting another starter on PUP/IR. If either Jackson and or Starks end up on PUP, we could end up with 7 starters out for either the 1st six weeks or the entire year. No other team can claim this misfortune.

 

[NavyVet]

LJ...the fact that you are in great pain and still trying to give it your best speaks volumes about your character and no amount of coaching can teach what you possess. I'm glad Skkorp spilled the beans because the way you've been dealt with has been less than honorable in my opinion and it really defines the gap that still exists between management and players.

Get well soldier. There are many here who are pulling for you.

 

[DevonCardsFan]

That sucks Cards need LJ this season, no wonder all this LJ crap has been going on with him being placed on 2nd team. Back problems suck, I have a feeling he will pull through it, Cards need him.

 

[100%CardsFan]

LJ practicing through the pain where he can not even get into stance just shows how tough he is. I wish him the best and hope he does come back.

Damn Skorp I really never bashed LJ but I just feel for him after you wrote that. People bashing him while he is probably trying the hardest out of anyone to make the team.

 

[john h]

LJ- get better, you're young. You can make a comeback, but do what you have to in order to heal properly.

LJ: Joe Montana came back to be All Pro from back surgery. In October the FDA will approve the use of an artifical disc which allows for free movement just like a normal disc. There is not waiting for bone to grow and recovery is very fast. They have done several hundred of these at the Texas Back Institute. They have been using these in Europe for at least 5 years with great success. Normally inserted through an incision in front avoiding cutting through the big back muscles. I have talked to one the prime surgeons doing the studies and have had all the test so may go that route myself in November or December. Low back pain really really sucks. I flew helicopters for to many years.

 

[JeffGollin]

I'm not saying I have the answer to how teams should handle injuries. But it sure seems as though something continues to be wrong in River City.

We keep getting early reports of minor injuries, only to find later on that they're career threatening. Is it that the Cards are communicating badly? Is it that the medical attention the players are getting isn't as good as it should be?

I'd love to know (a) which teams are known for giving their players the best medical attention, (b) which teams are known for giving their players less than the best and (c) where the Cardinals fit into this spectrum.

I don't mean to throw rocks, but just want to get to the bottom of what to me seems to be - year in and year out - a bigger problem for us than other teams seem to face.

Maybe it's just a faulty perception on my part. (We all like to wisecrack about the ineptness of certain doctors who treat Big Red players, and without something concrete to base this on, it really isn't fair). But dang! If there is a genuine problem, it needs to be fixed for once and for all.

 

[Ryanwb]

I love LJ Shelton, he is a damn fine person and one of my favorite players on the Cardinals. He was always very nice to me and my wife at trainning camp. I will be rooting for his return to the playing field.


Good Luck LJ!!!!!

 

[who_me?]

First and foremost,...LJ Nothing but best wishes and a very rapid recovery! You showed HEART, STRENGTH and alot of CHARACTER!!!! I am proud that you are a Cardinal. Now, get well and if need be see ya next year. Your health is FIRST!!

Whether your a player, coach, cheerleader or a Fan, it doesn't matter, if your a Cardinal, your part of a unique and special family. So, take care!

My question now would be, since Skkorp knew about this awhile ago so did Coach Green. Did coach do all this second string stuff as a smoke screen to keep LJs secret? and was it at LJs request?

 

[bigredjane]

Wayne Kuhl the Cards Internist-

I'm not saying I have the answer to how teams should handle injuries. But it sure seems as though something continues to be wrong in River City.

We keep getting early reports of minor injuries, only to find later on that they're career threatening. Is it that the Cards are communicating badly? Is it that the medical attention the players are getting isn't as good as it should be?

I'd love to know (a) which teams are known for giving their players the best medical attention, (b) which teams are known for giving their players less than the best and (c) where the Cardinals fit into this spectrum.

I don't mean to throw rocks, but just want to get to the bottom of what to me seems to be - year in and year out - a bigger problem for us than other teams seem to face.

Maybe it's just a faulty perception on my part. (We all like to wisecrack about the ineptness of certain doctors who treat Big Red players, and without something concrete to base this on, it really isn't fair). But dang! If there is a genuine problem, it needs to be fixed for once and for all.

Is one great Doctor, used to be in the same office of my internist (all Mayo Clinic Doctors), besides being a fine diagnostician he's a great guy who loves the sport and the Cards.

 

[40yearfan]

Good luck LJ. Get well and come roaring back.

 

[jw7]

Get well soon LJ. Thanks for the info Skkorp.

 

[Ryanwb]

Is his injury a herniated disk, much like the Ram's Kyle Turley is experiencing??

 

[CardinalChris]

I think most people on this board wanted LJ on that line, ANYWHERE on that line and playing. Hearing this just make a little more sense why he was unable to break back into the lineup and make us all like him a little more as both a player and person.

As for the injuries it seems more to me like minor injuries that just have been worse than expected. Quan's knee was slight, but when they got in there it was bad. LJ has some spasms that just got worse. King hurt his wrist and continued to play and injured it worse. I don't feel like it is misdiagnosis, but a lot of guy playing hard perhaps before they are ready to.

Or some REALLY bad luck.....

 

[Alan]

LJ is a great guy. He's the only NFL player I know of who has been in contact with the fans during a holdout - explaining what was really going on.

Hope you heal soon. Drop me a line when you a have a chance.

-Alan