{"id":474441,"date":"2021-04-09T17:28:43","date_gmt":"2021-04-09T21:28:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/?p=474441"},"modified":"2021-04-09T17:28:43","modified_gmt":"2021-04-09T21:28:43","slug":"portland-state-softball-player-back-in-the-game-after-undergoing-rare-surgery-at-st-josephs-hospital-in-phoenix-to-treat-an-injury-on-the-rise-among-mlb-pitchers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/portland-state-softball-player-back-in-the-game-after-undergoing-rare-surgery-at-st-josephs-hospital-in-phoenix-to-treat-an-injury-on-the-rise-among-mlb-pitchers\/","title":{"rendered":"Portland State softball player back in the game after undergoing rare surgery at St. Joseph\u2019s Hospital in Phoenix to treat an injury on the rise among MLB pitchers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nRare case puzzled doctors who said patient\u2019s playing career was likely over
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PHOENIX, April 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A Portland State University softball player has returned to the diamond after a successful and rare operation at Phoenix\u2019s Norton Thoracic Institute restored her throwing arm and defied doctors who said her playing career likely was over.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Ari Abalos, a Portland State infielder from Phoenix, started to feel pain in her right (throwing) shoulder during the spring of 2018. She experienced numbness, swelling and discoloration. One day at practice, her arm locked up and she was rushed to the emergency room, but brain scans and MRIs showed nothing.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt was like my brain wasn\u2019t working with my arm,\u201d says Abalos, 22.<\/p>\n

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After Abalos visited a succession of doctors and received a variety of diagnoses, she researched doctors online and found Samad Hashimi, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Norton Thoracic Institute at Dignity Health St. Joseph\u2019s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. Dr. Hashimi diagnosed Abalos with a relatively rare condition called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. On Sept. 19, 2018 he removed her first rib to relieve pressure from surrounding nerves.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThoracic Outlet Syndrome requires a multidisciplinary approach for treatment, and diagnosis requires astute neurologists, physical therapists and a surgeon,\u201d Dr. Hashimi says. \u201cThe treatment can be complex but with the proper team, majority of patients can return to the full functional ability they had prior to surgery.\u00a0 At Norton Thoracic Institute our multidisciplinary approach is individualized to each patient\u2019s needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is caused by the compression or \u201cpinching\u201d of nerves and blood vessels in the space in the lower part of the neck, above the clavicle, across the first rib and through the upper part of the arm. The compression of these nerves can be caused by a variety of reasons, including physical trauma and repetitive motion injuries related to job or athletic activities.<\/p>\n

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The condition is becoming more common among MLB pitchers, with more than a dozen being publicly diagnosed in recent years \u2013 including Tampa Bay\u2019s Chris Archer, who has returned to the mound after having surgery in June 2020.<\/p>\n

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Abalos says she felt immediate relief after surgery and, following a lengthy rehabilitation, returned to the PSU Vikings midway through the 2019 season. While her game appearances were promising, her junior season was cut short in March due to COVID-19. She has returned to action with the Vikings in 2021.<\/p>\n

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\u201cA lot of doctors told me that I wouldn\u2019t be able to play again or that it would be a 50-50 chance,\u201d Abalos says. \u201cNow that I am able to play, I appreciate it so much more. I know it\u2019s not going to be there forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m pleased to see that Ari has made a full recovery and is back on the field. Positive patient outcomes like Ari\u2019s are incredibly rewarding,\u201d Dr. Hashimi says.<\/p>\n

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One of Abalos\u2019 career highlights came in February last year, when she played against national powerhouse University of Arizona in a tournament in Phoenix, her hometown. The Arcadia High School product threw out four Wildcat batters from third base.<\/p>\n

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\u201cMy arm is definitely not what it used to be, but it\u2019s a lot better than it was before the operation,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s good enough to get four girls out against UArizona.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Abalos\u2019 long and painful medical journey also impacted her life off the field. She is majoring in Health Sciences, and she says her experience has led her to plan a career in medicine.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThis is one of the main reasons why I want to go into the medical field,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019ve seen 20-plus doctors, so I\u2019ll really be able to empathize with patients because of my experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

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