Kiké Hernández finally made his return to the Los Angeles Dodgers when he was activated on Monday, and he got back into their lineup on Tuesday.
Hernández had been on the injured list since early July due to left elbow inflammation that affected his hitting. Prior to landing on the IL, the utilityman attempted to play through the injury and kept the issue hidden from the team until he was no longer able to tolerate it.
The Dodgers first believed Hernández would be back shortly after the All-Star break, but his elbow discomfort continued to linger. At one point, the Dodgers weren’t even sure if Hernández would return this season, despite an MRI showing nothing more significant.
But after undergoing multiple nonsurgical procedures, Hernández got to a point where he could resume hitting before heading out on a rehab assignment and now getting back to the Dodgers.
“It feels good to be back,” Hernández said this week. “It got to a point where I didn’t know if this was going to happen. I mean, we were pretty close from it not happening, but just happy to be back.
“That was a very frustrating month because there was not much I could do for my injury. There were some procedures that I went through that didn’t do anything. I went through four shots in a month, and the first three didn’t do anything.
“Luckily, the fourth one was the answer, and after the last shot I was pain-free four days afterwards. I almost cried in the morning because it was the first morning I woke up pain-free.
“Couple days after that, started swinging. Two weeks ago, to be exact, on a Monday. It’s been a quick ramp-up but I’m just glad to be back with the boys.”
What procedures did Kiké have on left elbow?
In total, Hernández received multiple treatments, including a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection, which is primarily used to promote tissue healing and relieve pain.
“The one that worked was the cortisone,” Hernández said. “There were four of them: cortisone, PRP, hydrodissection with stem cells and cortisone. The only one that worked was the third cortisone.”
Hydrodissection involves using fluid to separate nerves from the surrounding tissue, and it’s commonly used to free entrapped nerves or release scar tissue.
Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory used to reduce pain and inflammation in joints, tendons and muscles. It is commonly used in sports medicine.
However, cortisone injections are usually limited due to the risk of potential side effects with repeated use.
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