Doctors shed light on Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell's muscle condition

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Fever's season was plagued with injuries all the way up to their final playoff game. 




Guard Kelsey Mitchell was the latest player sidelined earlier this week. Mitchell revealed that a condition called rhabdomyolysis caused temporary numbness in her legs during Tuesday's game in Las Vegas. 




"I guess I played literally till my wheels fell off," Mitchell said, who admitted this was the longest season she's ever played. 




Mitchell was seen wincing and touching her left knee during the third quarter of the Fever's last playoff game against the Las Vegas Aces. Soon after, a huddle of teammates, staff and coaches surrounded the MVP finalist as she laid on the court. 




"I kind of just felt scared because for a while, my legs were so numb and so paralyzed, so to speak, I couldn't feel my feet," Mitchell said. 




Rhabdomyolysis, or rhabdo, causes muscles to break down, usually due to excessive exercise. Injuries and trauma can also bring on a bout of the condition. It can be exacerbated by heat or dehydration.




Dr. Patrick DeHeer, who spent 30 years as the Pacers team podiatrist, said it's usually a one-time thing, but Mitchell should be monitored going forward. 




"The biggest concern with rhabdomyolysis is kidney problems due to those substrates from the breakdown of the skeletal muscle that go into the bloodstream, that they get filtered through your kidneys," DeHeer said.




Mitchell was far from the only player sidelined before the season ended. Several women, including star guard Caitlin Clark, suffered injuries.




Dr. Bryan Saltzman, IU Division Chief of Sports Medicine Surgery, said that so many players being out at one time can put additional stress on those remaining. 




"I'm quite certain [Mitchell] was doing everything optimally that she needed to do, but definitely there's a component there of wondering how much she is asking herself to do when there's so much injury around her and she's playing a professional sport at a postseason level trying to win a championship," Saltzman said.




Mitchell said the condition is a wakeup call to listen to her body going forward, which she attributed the initial symptoms to her period.




"At the time, you know, it was that time of the month as a woman and so I thought it was just cramps for a while," Mitchell said. "Then I felt like my stomach drop to my legs a little bit."




Although the condition can be life-threatening in severe cases, Mitchell said pushing herself so hard was a small price to pay for her team.




"I wouldn't have changed anything for me, if I'm honest," Mitchell said. "I wouldn't have changed anything that I've done, any work that I did prior to because it was worth it."




Both DeHeer and Saltzman say Mitchell should prioritize rest as she recovers and they don't anticipate her having to take any substantial time off.





via: https://fox59.com/sports/doctors-shed-light-on-fever-guard-kelsey-mitchells-muscle-condition/