No way he should play, or make the trip. Playing a game is not worth the risk of leaving 3 children without a father.

quoting SixAintEnough:

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... if the team doctors clear him to play, then I say their 8 years of med school and residency and practice experience trumps his trepidation.

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EXACTLY.  I will say with my Microbiology, Molecular biology, Neuroscience, (minor in Chemistry), 4 years medical school, 5 years of residency, and 1 year of fellowship: I think he will be fine as long as he does not play too many consecutive plays. 

This is all about keeping his exertion level in check!  He plays an average of 1 play every 4 downs, I don't see a problem with it.  Tomlin did mention he had another condition which is exacerbating his sickle cell trait.  Something like diabetes can cause sickle cell trait to be 'worse' than it would be for someone that only has sickle cell trait.  Maybe he has G6P deficiency, or some other issue in conjunction with sickle cell trait... but the bottom line is WHAT PERCENTAGE of his cells will sickle.  Apparently this second condition makes it a littlebit easier for his cells to sickle (vs someon like Holmes).  Doesn't change anything.  The answer to me is: minimal vs no play.  But I am not seeing a problem whatsoever with him playing up to 25% of his normal reps, with emphasis on keeping him out of too many consecutive plays.  Averaging 1 in 4 plays with a couple plays off between him playing sounds like the best way to manage his condition in Denver.

For someone to say not to make the trip makes no sense at all.  He's not going to implode   The air is a little bit thinner there, there is no reason to make it out to be more than it is...

 

I don't care what any team of doc say. Proof is in the pudding... Last time he could have easily died. No way does he play. Go..yes. He can still be useful as a player/coach on the sidelines. Asking him not to exert himself is like asking a dog not to chase a cat. Goes against the fiber of his being.

Cajun-

I certainly would like to see him out there, but much like everyone else.. I'd rather he misses this game than the remaining 8 games after denver, plus (hopefully) post-season. Ryan Clark is one of the best safeties, and hardest hitting in the League, but orton really isn't a deep threat. Also i just read today that Denver's RT is out for the game. So hopefully Woodley will get alot of pressure on Orton, and he won't really have time to air it out.

Whatever happens, we know the Steelers have depth at most every position, and our 2nd team guys are all capable of being starters when called on.

I know that the medical profession's advances in diagnosis and prognosis have been growing exponentially for years now.  I also have an understanding that living with a permanent medical condition makes smart people very wise about taking risks with their own bodies. Clark has been waivering aboiut this decision since the season schedule was released, and Clark is smart. Tomlin is also the kind of guy who quietly collects and weighs information. And then there's UPMC's growing reputation and experience in sports medicine. So, there's a whole crowd of people who know what's up -- doctors, coaches, trainers, the player himself and the people in his life who love him. Chances that the right decision will be made are probably pretty high.

Can't expect him to play in the game, cleared or not. A persons health comes before football. I just hope we don't end up having a playoff game out there.

  I am sure some Denver players don't want to see him play either.

Im going to really miss his physicality but agree that he shouldn't play this game.we need him the rest of the way.

Well...Clark said himself that 'It's hard to injure your spleen when you don't have a spleen.'

lol

well, I would never be trivial about someone's life, but I have no idea what is other condition is that coincided with his sickle cell trait to impare him. 

I would like to see him play, but if there is any chance of getting ill, or suffering a harmful condition, of course I wouldn't want him playing.  But, dahmnit I'm a fan not a doctor, Jim.

Wow... This is my fist post.  The 'post reply' button was never there before, does it just magically appear?  Maybe I am blind and missed it until now.

Anyway, I am happy to be able to respond to this board, I have read it for several years now.

I am no hematologist, but I do happen to be an MD in another field of medicine and have at least been exposed to the concepts at play here.  I would have SERIOUS reservation with allowing RC to play.  We already know he has had an adverse outcome with the thin air.  We know that the spleen and gallbladder that were removed played no part in causing the sickle crisis he suffered last time, but were merely affected by it to the point requiring surgical removal.  We do not know exactly how to quantify the exertion required to precipitate another event with him.  1 play in 4?  2 plays per series?  And if he gets in at all you know he will lobby to stay in, especially in a close game.

If he suffers another sickle crisis, his spleen will not be there to filter out the sickled cells, and I would think he would be at even more risk for pulmonary of bony infarcts.

Also, it is my understanding that having sickle trait only means that one of two genes are defective, but that all red blood cells will have approximately 50-50 good hemaglobin to bad hemaglobin.  It is not that only 50% of the RBC have a chance to sickle, they all do.

Given that he has another unspecified condition that predisposes him to sickle crises, I am shocked that the team MDs are even considering him to be cleared to play.  Forget the medical legal implications.  Think about his family.  I love the Steelers as much as any fan, but to allow him to play, in my opinion, is foolish.