Doctors: Brian Westbrook "to make full recovery"

by JasonB on Nov 19, 2009 9:48 AM EST in Philadelphia Eagles News

This week Brian Westbrook traveled to Pittsburgh to see two specialists who evaluated his latest concussion. One of the specialists was the very neurosurgeon who developed the NFL's protocols for head injuries. The news Wesbrook received was very encouraging. Doctors released this statement.

"The UPMC doctors report that Mr. Westbrook's symptoms have improved significantly over the last three days. He was retested today with a battery of neuro-cognitive tests, including ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), a computerized tool that is used by all NFL teams for evaluating injury recovery. He also underwent comprehensive physical and neurological exam, results of which were favorable,"

"We are very encouraged by Brian's progress, we believe that he has an excellent prognosis and we expect a full recovery. We developed a comprehensive physical rehab plan for Brian, and we will repeat the detailed testing in the next two to three weeks."

The statement also said that Westbrook's latest concussion was much more mild than the first one he experienced against Washington. He was knocked unconscious and suffered some memory loss on that play, however the symptoms of most his recent concussion were just a "headache and some dizzyness."

Obviously Westbrook won't play for the next "two or three weeks" but after that time he'll have tests and I suppose if he passes them he could be cleared to play again.

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I don't think its a good idea

to get him out there playing… at least not this year. Give him the rest of the year off.

In life, as in a football game, the principle to follow is: Hit the line hard.
-Theodore Roosevelt

by Eaglesgrl5 on Nov 19, 2009 10:45 AM EST reply actions

I’m glad to hear his second concussion was mild. In 2-3 weeks if his headaches and dizziness are gone completely, I’d be okay with him playing. The drawback is those are self-reported symptoms, and if Westbrook wants to play badly, he can lie about them (to an extent).

by Cormican on Nov 19, 2009 10:53 AM EST reply actions

he’s just being smart. i’m sure he wants to play and to win.

by Bleediots on Nov 19, 2009 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

that’s a positive that he’s going to make a full recovery, but let’s hope the team does the smart thing for him personally and de-activates him for the rest of the year. plus, his ankle was bothering him a week or so ago. maybe time off will do him some good.

by ajr142 on Nov 19, 2009 11:29 AM EST reply actions

Let him Play

The second one was a lot milder. Give him 4 weeks off and bring him back. I trust these doctors.

by bdawk4ever on Nov 19, 2009 11:44 AM EST reply actions

you only trust them because you want them to be right

The doctor should look out for what’s best for their patient long-term. If you trust that these doctor’s are looking out for Brian’s long-term health, then that’s your opinion. After all of the recent studies that the NFL itself commissioned (and subsequently tried to discredit), I find it hard to believe that these doctors are doing what is best for their patient.

by eagleyosh on Nov 19, 2009 12:04 PM EST up reply actions

Who says they aren't

These are world class neurosurgeons who have examined this guy. I find it hard to believe that these guys aren’t doing what’s best for their patient.

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by JasonB on Nov 19, 2009 5:06 PM EST up reply actions

To that I would add this...

…esteemed neurosurgeons and neuropathologists were the ones who originally sounded the alarm about CTE and repetitive head trauma before. The NFL tried to systematically discredit and silence their work. I am sure these guys are world class. Hell, the guy from Pitt is one of the best Neurosurgeons in the country. However, the NFL has a LOUSY track record with this and if they let B-west back on the field too soon, that’s certainly not acting in their patient’s best interest.

"Right now Winston Justice is the guy...until that person gets back out there"

by EvilBanner on Nov 19, 2009 5:38 PM EST up reply actions

Is it?

Clearly not all concussions are created equal. If these two neurosurgeons clear him to play, I really can’t see any problem with him playing.

Possibly I’m giving these guys too much credit, but I have to imagine they are taking everything into consideration. This has nothing to do with the NFL. If the NFL tried to defy those doctors, I’d be appalled by that. But for now, it seems like the decision is theirs’.

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by JasonB on Nov 19, 2009 7:19 PM EST up reply actions

I think they are doing their job

They evaluated him and came to the conclusion that he can get back on the field and “make a full recovery”. Maybe he will make a full recovery. I’m thinking about what he’s doing to his chances of long-term complications later in life by getting back out onto the field. I’m not a neurosurgeon, but based on the recent research, it is painfully obvious that repeated hits/concussions will lead to different forms of dementia (CTE, for example). I’m sure a few weeks from now Westbrook will fine. However, if we pay attention to the studies in the field, odds are his brain will be severely damaged later on. Just look at the story you posted yesterday.

by eagleyosh on Nov 19, 2009 6:25 PM EST up reply actions

Again, maybe I’m giving them too much credit… but I would be shocked if these doctors weren’t taking his long term health into account here.

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by JasonB on Nov 19, 2009 7:20 PM EST up reply actions

Seriously?

why risk it?

"It ain't over till its over"---

by FreeBradshaw on Nov 19, 2009 11:53 AM EST reply actions

He needs to kill the Giants...

One last time…

World Series- check
NBA Title- check
Stanley Cup- check
Superbowl- In progress...

by Route36 on Nov 19, 2009 12:48 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I hope he recovers

respect the hell out of that guy and he deserves to have his brain intact for the rest of his career as well as his post-playing days.

by brisulph on Nov 19, 2009 12:12 PM EST reply actions

It doesn't look like either the Eagles or Westbrook want to have him deactivated for even the remainder of the season

I suppose this is in Westbrook’s competitive nature, and it’s in the best interest of the Eagles…but I’m not sold on it being in Westbrook’s best long-term interests.

We’ll see how this unfolds.

by cwel87 on Nov 19, 2009 2:01 PM EST reply actions

doctors know better

regardless of what we want to believe or what we want for westy. i’ll take sex advice from leon phelps, not screech powers, because he specializes more in that field. if i wanted advice for a chess game, then i’d ask screech rather than leon. you see how this works? if docs say he’s good by week 16, then he’s good. let’s qualify for the playoffs and then unleash him upon the rest of the contenders.

by Bleediots on Nov 19, 2009 2:23 PM EST reply actions

The only problem is, the doctors released him saying he was fully healthy to play. The Eagles held him an extra week to make sure and he still went out there and had another concussion. Whether his dizziness and headaches have gone away is one thing, but he will be more susceptible to getting another concussion which is not good for his long term interests. The question he has to answer to himself despite what the doctors say is… “is it worth it?”

In life, as in a football game, the principle to follow is: Hit the line hard.
-Theodore Roosevelt

by Eaglesgrl5 on Nov 19, 2009 2:39 PM EST up reply actions

thank god.....

that westbrook is alrite, put him on IR its not good to risk someone’s life over football……. if he gets a 3rd concussion that is BAD he’ll likely have very bad brain damage, do not let him play this year, even if we need him that much

eff you we winning anyway

by eagleswin on Nov 19, 2009 6:48 PM EST reply actions

+infinity

if he plays well all year, and even if we win a Super Bowl with him, nay, because of him, and then in 20 years I see a story about Westbrook that he’s starting to have seizures, I’m going to curse those doctors.

I’ll forego a Super Bowl. I don’t want to see my man mentally damaged in any way. I want to see him live a long, fruitful life, able to coherently spend his money, muttering about his sore ankle, but able to remember why is ankle is sore.

by Bisch on Nov 19, 2009 11:41 PM EST up reply actions

I hate to think strategy in all of this

but “if” we make the playoffs might likely be the time Westbrook is coming back. We might have a healthy Westbrook for a playoff run? hasn’t that been something we’ve all dreamed about for years?

I truly hope he will take things slow and smartly, but I’m strangely excited about the timing.

by Smallbugger on Nov 19, 2009 9:25 PM EST reply actions

The Doctors work for the NFL

Maroon and Lovell work for the NFL. What the story fails to mention is these two also own ImPact. Everyone should take a look at this story from ESPN a couple of years ago http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2967678 – NFL’s concussions expert also sells equipment to league.

Westbrook should get an independent opinion from someone not connected with the NFL and get a test not owned by people in conflict.

by Joe Bloggs on Nov 20, 2009 10:26 PM EST reply actions