Bell - No Structural Damage

[SteelBuckeye]

Per Lolleyor:

Dale Lolley @dlolleyor

No structural damage in Bell's knee. Hyperextension only. #Steelers are 19-10 when Bell starts last two seasons. 0-3 without him

https://twitter.com/dlolleyor/status/549434709953216513

Good news if true.

 

[Steeltime]

 

[Ghost of Frenchy Fuqua]

Good news. But if he's at all hobbled, sit him.

Playing at home, and with a defense that's been amped up the past few weeks, they can still win.

 

[Djfan]

Use him only as long as needed next week. Rest him for the Donkos.

 

[Phinnster]

Thank Christ for that news, wonder if he'll be able to go next week.

 

[Steel Not A Player]

Agreed. We got the Rats. Sit Bell until the showdown with NE or DEN.

 

[Wingman]

Harris had a surprising long run. If they have time to prepare an alternate plan they might be able to rest him even if he is dressed just to let him get better if they are able to get the lead and keep it with out him.

 

[TazManianDevil]

Yup I'd sit him against the Rats and have Josh Harris carry the load.

 

[In Ben We Trust]

I'm not trying to piss on the news but you know an MRI is coming tomorrow for sure. When those results are in and it's just a hyperextension I will celebrate. The thought of a torn ACL that basically wrecks this season and most of next would be nightmare as a fan of this team.

 

[tdub88]

Thank you sweet baby Jesus.

 

[Punxsutawney]

Even if it's only hyperextended, I doubt Bell would be able to play for a few weeks.

Plus, in terms of the bigger picture (his career with the team), it would be foolish to rush him back, as the stretching of the tissue can leave it temporarily more vulnerable to tearing.

That's what happened to Robert Griffin a couple years ago when he was rushed back for the wildcard round.

 

[Steeltime]

I'm not trying to piss on the news but you know an MRI is coming tomorrow for sure. When those results are in and it's just a hyperextension I will celebrate. The thought of a torn ACL that basically wrecks this season and most of next would be nightmare as a fan of this team.

I hear you Ben, but having suffered a torn ACL and multiple knees surgeries due to football and skiiing injuries, I will tell you that the diagnosis of a torn ACL is done by physical examination. The orthopedist will compare the laxity in the injured knee with the uninjured knee. If the knees have the same stability, no ACL tear.

The ortho explained that the MRI is a confirmatory study, to help locate the area of the injury, but the actual diagnosis is done by the examining orthopedist, and generally not by the radiologist.

 

[Stryker]

Agreed. We got the Rats. Sit Bell until the showdown with NE or DEN.

If we win next week, we can only play Denver the following week.

 

[SteelerSask2]

I'll let them make the medical decision on this one. But if he can go, he plays. There is no resting someone for the next round of the playoffs. Really people. This team lost to the Bucs, Saints and Jets. How quickly we live in the ether. None of these guys can block. Even if he isn't a factor as a runner, he is the best blocker by far. If he isn't at great risk, put a brace on him and play. I have absolutely no idea what the purpose of drafting Archer was. You could totally see on the pick that Ben was sure he was about to get destroyed from the blind side.

 

[In Ben We Trust]

Thanks Steeltime. So you think the news being reported is probably an accurate diagnosis?

 

[SteelersHarley0120]

Yep when it comes to injuries and conditions the radiologists do the x-rays and scans but ultimately the physician is the one that makes the final diagnosis.

 

[SteelersHarley0120]

Hoping Bell gets recovered by Saturday night.

 

[TazManianDevil]

Right now no one knows for sure till the MRI tomorrow.

Just hope for the best.

 

[slashsteel]

Thanks Steeltime. So you think the news being reported is probably an accurate diagnosis?

diagnoses have been wrong before

MRI can show visual evidence of a tear or no tear.

But they have solid Dr's, the Steelers.

hopefully they are right in this instance

 

[steelcan58]

I hear you Ben, but having suffered a torn ACL and multiple knees surgeries due to football and skiiing injuries, I will tell you that the diagnosis of a torn ACL is done by physical examination. The orthopedist will compare the laxity in the injured knee with the uninjured knee. If the knees have the same stability, no ACL tear.

The ortho explained that the MRI is a confirmatory study, to help locate the area of the injury, but the actual diagnosis is done by the examining orthopedist, and generally not by the radiologist.

I had an ACL also. Doctor and physio both told me it is 50/50 with the physical examination because of what they called" muscle guarding" . You muscles tense up to protect the injury and they can't get a read if the ligament is damaged. The reason they flex the knee on the field is to do the examination before the muscle guarding occurs.

 

[Chicoman]

There was just a report coming into WDVE @ 12:50am that Bell was spotted leaving the team facility with ice on his knee but not walking with a limp. It'll be interesting to see how he heals up between now and Gameday. At least he has youth on his side....at 22 years old things heal a whole lot quicker than being in your 30's. They need to ice him down, give him some electrical stimulation to that knee and keep him off of it until at least Thursday...and hopefully he can go but a Hyperextended knee can take 2-4 weeks to heal.

I don't think they need him to beat the Rats and it might actually help a kid like Josh Harris if he gets the start that the Rats won't load up 8 in the box to try and stop him.

 

[Steelers1356]

Sounds like he had the MRI already if they're saying no structural damage.

 

[In Ben We Trust]

Anything is certainly possible but if Bell is out the Steelers chances of making a deep run are pretty much over. At this point all I want to hear is that it is not a very long term injury (torn ACL)

 

[steelcan58]

Sounds like he had the MRI already if they're saying no structural damage.

Can they get the results that quick. And do they have an MRI machine at the stadium.

 

[Steelerfan]

MRI results are almost immediate. I had one and it took five minutes for the office to give me a CD with the images.