| When one thinks of professional football, probably | | | | scorecard: seven knees, one shoulder, one hip." |
| the last thing one thinks about is arthritis. In a recent | | | | Kroichick's article points out the devastating effects |
| article appearing in the San Francisco Chronicle, | | | | that occur long term when massive human beings |
| though, arthritis is an all too painful reminder of the | | | | collide with each other repeatedly at ultra high speed. |
| glory days for a group of famous players. | | | | The most common type of arthritis occurring in |
| Ron Kroichick, a staff writer, wrote, "On the most | | | | adults is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a condition |
| famous play in 49ers history, amid the din at raucous | | | | that happens as a result of the wearing away of |
| Candlestick Park, Joe Montana raced to his right and | | | | cartilage, the gristle that covers the ends of long |
| hurriedly scanned the field. He backpedaled to elude | | | | bones and provides the cushioning for joints. |
| three onrushing Dallas players, twice pumped his arm | | | | One of the most common causes of osteoarthritis is |
| to throw and floated an off-balance pass into the | | | | trauma. Trauma alters the chemistry of cartilage, |
| back of the end zone. | | | | causing chronic inflammation and premature damage. |
| Dwight Clark had cut to the middle before abruptly | | | | One of the results of trauma is chronic arthritis in the |
| reversing direction. Clark sprinted toward the corner, | | | | spine- a condition known as spinal stenosis. People |
| leaped high, reached both arms above his head and | | | | with this condition walk hunched over because |
| made The Catch, forever cementing his place in | | | | standing leads to excruciating pain in the low back |
| 49ers lore." | | | | and legs. If present in the neck it can cause severe |
| Kroichick adds, "Twenty-five years later, Montana's | | | | pain shooting into the back of the head, between the |
| left knee is essentially shredded. His neck is so stiff, | | | | shoulder blades, and down the arms. |
| he could not turn his head to look at a reporter | | | | Another effect of trauma in these football players is |
| asking him questions while he signed memorabilia. | | | | damage to peripheral joints such as the shoulders, |
| Montana, 50, turned both shoulders instead. | | | | hips, elbows, hands, knees, and ankles. |
| Clark, also 50, endures sharp pain every time he lifts | | | | The common denominator, regardless of location of |
| his arms above his head -- the exact motion he | | | | the disease, is pain. |
| effortlessly completed on The Catch -- because of a | | | | Medical management of osteoarthritis consists of |
| bent screw in his left shoulder and arthritis in his right | | | | non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), |
| shoulder. The simple act of turning his head also is a | | | | physical therapy, and injections consisting of |
| chore, thanks to all those jarring hits on crossing | | | | corticosteroids or viscosupplements. Unfortunately, |
| patterns over the middle." | | | | with severe OA, patients often need surgery. |
| "I hurt," Clark said, "from getting my head squashed | | | | Osteoarthritis is the leading cause for joint |
| down into my neck." | | | | replacement surgery in the United States. And, the |
| The article goes on to say, "The 49ers turned around | | | | 49ers experience, also demonstrates that spinal |
| their franchise in 1981: Two years removed from a | | | | surgery is often required. While spinal surgery is |
| second-consecutive 2-14 season, they steamed to | | | | effective for many patients, it also fails to help a |
| the Super Bowl championship two weeks after | | | | significant percentage of people. Also, a not so small |
| Clark's epic catch in the NFC title game. | | | | number of patients actually get worse and suffer |
| But glory came with a steep price. | | | | from "failed back surgery syndrome." |
| The Chronicle interviewed 30 players from the 1981 | | | | Ex football players require joint replacement at a |
| team in recent months, ranging in age from 47 to 59. | | | | relatively young age. This means that they will need |
| Twenty of those players cope with significant | | | | what is called a revision arthroplasty- a replacement |
| physical issues today, from arthritis to chronic back | | | | of the replacement during their lives. |
| pain to joint replacements. Two (including Montana) | | | | This article is being written on the eve of the 2007 |
| have had spinal fusion surgery, two have had knee | | | | Super Bowl pitting the Chicago Bears and the |
| replacements and one has had a shoulder | | | | Indianapolis Colts. While glory and fame will drape |
| replacement. | | | | these players for a short time, the price to be paid in |
| Nine players said their doctors told them they | | | | the end is a steep one. |
| eventually will need a joint replacement. The | | | | |