Baseball is a sport that demands a lot from the body, especially for pitchers.  One uncommon issue that can crop up is a condition called ossification of the ligamentum flavum.  This is when a ligament in the spine turns into bone.  It usually affects older folks, especially men from East Asia, and often leads to problems with the spinal cord.  But what about young athletes?  That is a different story.

A 19-year-old college baseball pitcher found this out the hard way.  He was a right-handed pitcher who started feeling sharp pain in his upper back during a specific phase of his pitch.  This phase involves extending, rotating, and slightly bending to the left.  The pain was bad enough to rate between a 6 and 8 out of 10.  He tried physical therapy and changing his pitching style for a year, but the pain stuck around.  It even started to mess with his performance, a problem sometimes called the "yips".

Doctors found that the ligament between the eighth and ninth vertebrae in his thoracic spine had turned into bone.  This was causing the pain.  After a year of no improvement with other treatments, he decided to have surgery.  The ossified ligament was removed, and his pain went away fast.  He was even able to get back to playing baseball at a competitive level.  This case is notable because it is the youngest known case of thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum treated with surgery.

It is important for doctors to think about this condition when young athletes come in with one-sided upper back pain.  It is also important to consider surgery when the pain is really bad and affects how well the athlete can play.  This case shows that even young athletes can have this condition.  It is a reminder that pain should not be ignored, especially when it affects performance.  It is also a reminder that surgery can be a good option when other treatments do not work.  It is always important to consider all options and to make sure that the athlete is comfortable with the decision.  It is also important to make sure that the athlete is fully informed about the risks and benefits of surgery.  It is also important to make sure that the athlete is fully recovered before returning to play.  It is also important to make sure that the athlete is fully supported by their team and coaches.  It is also important to make sure that the athlete is fully aware of the potential long-term effects of the condition.

A Young Athlete's Unusual Pain Battle

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