He paid his Pryce

[SoCalBronco]

He paid his Pryce
Broncos defender expects a revival after back surgery

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News
July 30, 2005

The low point for Trevor Pryce came last December.

He already had undergone back surgery two months earlier, enduring several stages of rehabilitation leading up to that procedure while carrying the nagging - and ultimately correct - feeling he was headed under the knife anyway.


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He had done a second round of rehabilitation trying to return by the end of the season but was feeling discouraged by the results. Yet somehow, Pryce also managed to convince himself that perhaps he might be able to gut out a few games for the Denver Broncos, despite the numbness he still was experiencing in his right leg.

It was at that moment that humiliation hit.

Against the Indianapolis Colts in the regular-season finale, the four-time Pro Bowl selection played and ended up merely hanging on for dear life.

[SoCalBronco]

"They snapped the ball, and I was like, 'What am I doing out here?' " he recalled. "And I was playing over a rookie who can't play."

Seven months later, Pryce can chuckle at the memory, because he's feeling rejuvenated, not even close to his old self.

Better.

Maybe it's because more time has passed since a procedure called a microlumbar discectomy to relieve pressure on his sciatic nerve. It could be that the frequent full-body acupuncture treatments he has received this off-season, loosening up his entire body and allowing him to sleep better, have helped. Or perhaps it's because he has dropped to about 280 pounds, his lightest weight as a pro.

Whatever the reasons, Pryce is firmly convinced that any problems are behind him and he is primed for a return to his pre-surgery form.

"Just like I knew then I needed surgery, I know now there's nothing wrong with my back anymore," he said.

In fact, he's more concerned now with his latest position switch, to the weak-side, or open, defensive end.

"I think right now I'm actually in better shape than I've ever been," Pryce said. "I actually think I run faster now than I did at 23 or 25. I wasn't that fast when I was younger. I was too . . . big. It's different. I feel like I'm in my prime, actually."

Pryce has gone through the various drills, weightlifting and sled work to build endurance and stamina through the Broncos' off-season program but has yet to experience the three-week stretch of two-a-day practices, nor has he been tested under game conditions.

But Brett Fischer, who runs a Phoenix rehabilitation clinic and has had numerous pro athletes as clients, including baseball's Randy Johnson, football's Daryl Gardener and several PGA Tour veterans, said that Pryce's positive post-surgery vibe bodes well, particularly given Pryce's level of pro experience.

"Nine years in, I take their word for it most times," Fischer said. "These guys know their bodies, and I'm encouraged he said that. . . . He hasn't hit anybody, but you can tell how your back feels just getting up."

[SoCalBronco]

Charles Haley, Joe Johnson and Tony Casillas are a few NFL defensive linemen in recent years who have returned strong from the surgical procedure Pryce underwent Sept. 22. Steve McNair won an MVP award, Troy Aikman a Super Bowl and Desmond Howard a Super Bowl MVP after their recoveries at other positions.

Former Broncos guard Mark Schlereth had disk surgery in 1997 and made the Pro Bowl the subsequent year. But his wasn't a complete success story. Schlereth still experiences back problems, struggling some nights to reach the bathroom from his bed.

He predicted that Pryce won't always feel as free and easy as he claims he does.

"Any time you operate on somebody's back, you're going to have some issues," Schlereth said. "Now, can you deal with those issues? Certainly. Can you play at a high level? Certainly. But there are going to be some times when his back will really bother him and it'll probably affect his play a little bit. If he went through the whole season and never had it flare up or bother him, that'd be great, but from my experience, when they operate on your back, it's forever altered.

"I anticipate Trevor coming back and playing really well. I

really believe that. But you can't open up your back and operate and not have some repercussions."

There already might have been one big one.

When Pryce's salary-cap figure became too bloated this off-season, the team put him on the trading block. His uncertain health might have contributed to the lack of a deal.

The Broncos' asking price and a desire to rework Pryce's contract in the event of a trade also were factors.

At one point, Pryce was convinced his Broncos career was over, saying at the time that getting placed on the market "is not something you come back from." It wasn't long after that Pryce was back anyway, having lowered his cap hit from $9.166 million to $6.26 million this year.

During a meeting, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen voiced a sincere desire to have Pryce retire as a member of the organization. Those words helped sway Pryce to work out a compromise agreement.

"Other teams that didn't trade for me are going to be very sorry they didn't," Pryce said.

Denver defensive coordinator Larry Coyer is more than happy to hear such talk.

"He cuts it loose for us," Coyer said. "We're going to have a figure out there that nobody's going to be able to block."

Pryce is spending his time during early two-a-days simply trying to get reacclimated to the speed and flow of the game. He's not only making the position switch, he's doing so after essentially missing a year. He admits to feeling rusty.

"My body's retraining itself to play the game," he said. "Physically, I feel fine. I can run and stop and cut and go fast. But I have to teach myself how to pass rush again. The movement's there. The comfort's not there yet."

Pryce will require time to feel comfortable moving from the power-end spot, where he played over the tight end consistently, to operating in space and having to focus on not only the tackle, but action in the backfield as plays develop.

[SoCalBronco]

He had to make a similar transition before, shifting from a tackle spot manned for five seasons in 2002 to power end. But Pryce won't be hunkered down full time at weak-side end in his latest switch. He likely will play inside some on passing downs this season and might even drop into coverage as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 alignment to take advantage of his length in passing lanes.

All that versatility figures to come with the caveat "if his back holds up" until he proves otherwise during the course of a long season.

"Nobody's going to be surprised, whatever happens," Pryce said. "If I'm player of the year, I don't think anyone would be surprised. I've been to the Pro Bowl. I've been to the Super Bowl. I've done those things before. So it's not like I'm coming out of nowhere.

"My personal goal is to get past the first round of the playoffs. Everything else I've done. And if I am healthy, it's not a question of 'will I.' If I'm healthy that's what I am. I don't think if you get hurt, you lose all the skills you spent all your life developing. It's a point of getting into that groove and finding that thing inside of you that you had before."

rasizerl@RockyMountainNews.com

[Clockwork Orange]

For all the talk about the offseason acquisitions, there's never been a doubt that a healthy Pryce is the key to everything.

I really like the fact that all that went on in the offseason has left him with a chip on his shoulder. Healthy, motivated and in the best shape of his life.

Get ready.

[yavoon]

Originally Posted by Clockwork Orange

For all the talk about the offseason acquisitions, there's never been a doubt that a healthy Pryce is the key to everything.

I really like the fact that all that went on in the offseason has left him with a chip on his shoulder. Healthy, motivated and in the best shape of his life.

Get ready.

this could so be a post from last year.

[Clockwork Orange]

Originally Posted by yavoon

this could so be a post from last year.

Pryce wasn't coming off of an entire season lost to a back injury last year. He wasn't on the trade block last year. He didn't come into camp at 280 last year.

[yavoon]

Originally Posted by Clockwork Orange

Pryce wasn't coming off of an entire season lost to a back injury last year. He wasn't on the trade block last year. He didn't come into camp at 280 last year.

For all the talk about the offseason acquisitions, there's never been a doubt that a healthy Pryce is the key to everything.

I really like the fact that all that went on in the offseason has left him with a chip on his shoulder. Healthy, motivated and in the best shape of his life.

Get ready.

[Clockwork Orange]

Originally Posted by yavoon

For all the talk about the offseason acquisitions, there's never been a doubt that a healthy Pryce is the key to everything.

I really like the fact that all that went on in the offseason has left him with a chip on his shoulder. Healthy, motivated and in the best shape of his life.

Get ready.

ths cld so b a pst frm lst yr

[yavoon]

Originally Posted by Clockwork Orange

ths cld so b a pst frm lst yr

I guess u gotta fight w/ the artillery u got. man though, thats some third world artillery.

[Rock Chalk]

Originally Posted by yavoon

I guess u gotta fight w/ the artillery u got. man though, thats some third world artillery.

Just using the enemy's weapons against him.

[baja]

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...965587,00.html

Save water shower with a friend

Save band width click on link

[yavoon]

Originally Posted by AlecRaenos

Just using the enemy's weapons against him.

sorry I dont use childish mockery. thats a weapon only suitable for the elite of this forum.

[Broncoman13]

Somebody call the wahbulance, Yavvy's at it again!

[yavoon]

Originally Posted by Bronco Man 13

Somebody call the wahbulance, Yavvy's at it again!

I'm just pointing it out man. I think its healthy for the resident retards of this place to realize that what they consider really good slams is actually weak and inane crap used mainly by 5th graders.

chin up ppl!

[TheReverend]

They shouldve called this article "How Trevor Got His Groove Back"

[Hulamau]

The thing with Trevors back compared with Mark Sclereth is that Trevors was the minimally invasive arthroscopic microdiscectomy which is much less disprutive and has a better recovery outcome most often than the older more invasive techinique Schlereth had.

Its always case by case, but if Trevors numbness and leg pain are gone as he says, and his back fully rehabbed and strong, there is no reason he shouldnt be good to go.


Here is a description of his operation.

Microdiscectomy (microdecompression) spine surgery

In a microdiscectomy or a microdecompression spine surgery, a small portion of the bone over the nerve root and/or disc material from under the nerve root is removed to relieve neural impingement and provide more room for the nerve to heal. A microdiscectomy spine surgery is typically performed for lumbar herniated disc.

Microdiscectomy helps leg pain
A microdiscectomy surgery is actually more effective for treating leg pain (radiculopathy) than for lower back pain. The impingement on the nerve root (compression) can cause substantial leg pain, and while it may take weeks or months for the nerve root to fully heal and any numbness or weakness get better, patients normally feel relief from leg pain almost immediately after a microdiscectomy surgery.

Microdiscectomy spine surgery procedure
A microdiscectomy spine surgery is performed through a small (1 inch to 1 1/2 inch) incision in the midline of the low back.

First, the back muscles (erector spinae) are lifted off the bony arch (lamina) of the spine. Since these back muscles run vertically, they can be moved out of the way rather than cut (see Figure 1).

The surgeon is then able to enter the spine by removing a membrane over the nerve roots (ligamentum flavum), and uses either operating glasses (loupes) or an operating microscope to visualize the nerve root.

Often, a small portion of the inside facet joint is removed both to facilitate access to the nerve root and to relieve pressure over the nerve.

The nerve root is then gently moved to the side and the disc material is removed from under the nerve root.

Importantly, since almost all of the joints, ligaments and muscles are left intact, a microdiscectomy spine surgery does not change the mechanical structure of the patient's lower spine (lumbar spine).

So I don't think Marks experience necessarily relates to Trevors.

[Mediator12]

Originally Posted by Hulamau

The thing with Trevors back compared with Mark Sclereth is that Trevors was the minimally invasive arthroscopic microdiscectomy which is much less disprutive and has a better recovery outcome most often than the older more invasive techinique Schlereth had.

Its always case by case, but if Trevors numbness and leg pain are gone as he says, and his back fully rehabbed and strong, there is no reason he shouldnt be good to go.


Here is a description of his operation.

Microdiscectomy (microdecompression) spine surgery

In a microdiscectomy or a microdecompression spine surgery, a small portion of the bone over the nerve root and/or disc material from under the nerve root is removed to relieve neural impingement and provide more room for the nerve to heal. A microdiscectomy spine surgery is typically performed for lumbar herniated disc.

Microdiscectomy helps leg pain
A microdiscectomy surgery is actually more effective for treating leg pain (radiculopathy) than for lower back pain. The impingement on the nerve root (compression) can cause substantial leg pain, and while it may take weeks or months for the nerve root to fully heal and any numbness or weakness get better, patients normally feel relief from leg pain almost immediately after a microdiscectomy surgery.

Microdiscectomy spine surgery procedure
A microdiscectomy spine surgery is performed through a small (1 inch to 1 1/2 inch) incision in the midline of the low back.

First, the back muscles (erector spinae) are lifted off the bony arch (lamina) of the spine. Since these back muscles run vertically, they can be moved out of the way rather than cut (see Figure 1).

The surgeon is then able to enter the spine by removing a membrane over the nerve roots (ligamentum flavum), and uses either operating glasses (loupes) or an operating microscope to visualize the nerve root.

Often, a small portion of the inside facet joint is removed both to facilitate access to the nerve root and to relieve pressure over the nerve.

The nerve root is then gently moved to the side and the disc material is removed from under the nerve root.

Importantly, since almost all of the joints, ligaments and muscles are left intact, a microdiscectomy spine surgery does not change the mechanical structure of the patient's lower spine (lumbar spine).

So I don't think Marks experience necessarily relates to Trevors.

Exactly! That is like Bo Jackson complaining about a hip injury that bothers him and it will effect Priest Holmes the same way he did even though it was not the same injury and the surgical techniques are 15 years better. I seriously think these guys think they get paid by the number of Words they spout versus having a decent opinion.

[Taco John]

Why wear a clown nose and rubber shoes, and then complain when people make fun of you for being a clown?

[-Slap-]

Gotta love yavoon. Gets a chip on his shoulder because one of the best contributors on the board makes a post that he deems too optimistic. Never mind that its the first week of training camp and the comment was accurate. We're all supposed to trudge around here with our heads down, so psuedo-intellectual cretins like yavoon won't have their senses of objectivity offended.

Posers, in all their forms, great entertainment for us all.

[TheReverend]

Originally Posted by Taco John

Why wear a clown nose and rubber shoes, and then complain when people make fun of you for being a clown?

I dont look like Justin Timberlake...

[DB-Freak]

Originally Posted by yavoon

this could so be a post from last year.

Totally unncessary comments.

[SoCalBronco]

Originally Posted by DB-Freak

Totly unncsry comnts.

I fixed it for you, Freak.

[Taco John]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

I dont look like Justin Timberlake...

Cry me a river... yeah, yeah...

[broncosteven]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

Schlereth still experiences back problems, struggling some nights to reach the bathroom from his bed.

Since when does Stink need to use the bathroom, pretend bed is the huddle & let it go baby...