Team doctor steps down

[csmopar]

The colts long time Doctor has stepped down after 33 years

 

 

http://www.wthr.com/article/colts-team-doctor-steps-down-after-33-seasons

 

 

[MB-ColtsFan]

Good luck on your retirement from the Colts, Dr Rettig.  Thanks for all you did for the organization.

 

Now...does this have any impact on first opinions on injuries and how they are handled?  ColtsBlueFL, any opinions?

My guess would be no??

[Bravo]

Good luck on retirement..

 

Wish the whole training staff would step down. Can't blame the training staff for injuries but at some point you have to look at something when the Colts are consistently near the top of most injured players year in and year out.

 

Weather it is training staff, schedule, practices, or the water. Something has to change.

[csmopar]

9 minutes ago, MB-ColtsFan said:

Good luck on your retirement from the Colts, Dr Rettig.  Thanks for all you did for the organization.

 

Now...does this have any impact on first opinions on injuries and how they are handled?  ColtsBlueFL, any opinions?

My guess would be no??

 

8 minutes ago, bravo4460 said:

Good luck on retirement..

 

Wish the whole training staff would step down. Can't blame the training staff for injuries but at some point you have to look at something when the Colts are consistently near the top of most injured players year in and year out.

 

Weather it is training staff, schedule, practices, or the water. Something has to change.

I was wondering the same exact things

[IinD]

Mass hysteria is always fun.

 

Let's just go with 'because he butchered Andrew'.

[csmopar]

19 minutes ago, IinD said:

Mass hysteria is always fun.

 

Let's just go with 'because he butchered Andrew'.

If he butchered up Luck, I bet someone would put a price on his head 

[azcolt]

This could be just the inspiration the team needs to make us proud tomorrow! 

[IndyScribe]

Good luck on retirement.

[life long]

1 hour ago, csmopar said:

If he butchered up Luck, I bet someone would put a price on his head 

He didnt do the operation as I understand.

[Blueblood23]

1 minute ago, life long said:

He didnt do the operation as I understand.

Maybe he should have.

[OLD FAN MAN]

2 hours ago, bravo4460 said:

Good luck on retirement..

 

Wish the whole training staff would step down. Can't blame the training staff for injuries but at some point you have to look at something when the Colts are consistently near the top of most injured players year in and year out.

 

Weather it is training staff, schedule, practices, or the water. Something has to change.

i concur

[OLD FAN MAN]

18 minutes ago, life long said:

He didnt do the operation as I understand.

why

[OLD FAN MAN]

17 minutes ago, Blueblood23 said:

Maybe he should have.

i concur

[OLD FAN MAN]

1 hour ago, azcolt said:

This could be just the inspiration the team needs to make us proud tomorrow! 

i concur

[OLD FAN MAN]

1 hour ago, csmopar said:

If he butchered up Luck, I bet someone would put a price on his head 

i concur

[OLD FAN MAN]

2 hours ago, csmopar said:

 

I was wondering the same exact things

i concur

[ReMeDy]

3 minutes ago, OLD FAN MAN said:

i concur

I'm glad we're on the same page, then.

[Solon]

2 hours ago, csmopar said:

If he butchered up Luck, I bet someone would put a price on his head 

 

[NewColtsFan]

The reason he didn't do the operation is....

 

Odds are he's not a surgeon.   And even if he is,  odds are he's not a specialist on shoulders.

 

The surgeon who did do the operation is likely a SPECIALIST.

 

These days most everyone sees a specialist for one thing or another.

 

A quarterback who is having his throwing shoulder operated wants to see the best "shoulder surgeon" there is.

 

 

 

[Superman]

1 hour ago, Blueblood23 said:

Maybe he should have.

 

Good heavens...

[jvan1973]

Seems an odd time to retire.   But is a non factor.   He doesn't  actually do procedures on the players

[Superman]

10 minutes ago, NewColtsFan said:

The reason he didn't do the operation is....

 

Odds are he's not a surgeon.   And even if he is,  odds are he's not a specialist on shoulders.

 

The surgeon who did do the operation is likely a SPECIALIST.

 

These days most everyone sees a specialist for one thing or another.

 

A quarterback who is having his throwing shoulder operated wants to see the best "shoulder surgeon" there is.

 

That's what I was thinking, but the article says he's an orthopedic surgeon, and he's performed surgeries on over 50 Colts. 

 

I don't think we know who did Luck's operation, but I don't think it was Dr. Rettig. Just my general impression, not based on anything concrete.

[NewColtsFan]

17 minutes ago, Superman said:

 

That's what I was thinking, but the article says he's an orthopedic surgeon, and he's performed surgeries on over 50 Colts. 

 

I don't think we know who did Luck's operation, but I don't think it was Dr. Rettig. Just my general impression, not based on anything concrete.

 

OK,  thanks.....     please note my next sentence after the one where I guessed that he's not a surgeon.     Odds are he's not a shoulder specialist.  

 

It's completely common these days for players to seek out a specialist for their particular ailment.     I'd be surprised if Andrew DIDN'T find himself a specialist.

 

As to the doctor,  the timing of the announcement is.....   well....   a bit odd.

 

Who retires on the Saturday before week 2 of a season?       But it could be because he has personal issues,  or family issues.      It could be the Colts are not happy with him but for reasons that have nothing to do with Andrew Luck.

 

I just saw the pitch fork and lit torches crowd gathering in this thread,   you know,  like the guy you gave a "Good Heavens" to....      Yuk,   I hate that.....

 

 

[NewColtsFan]

 

Here's a question for all....

 

Where is this information,   about the Doctor stepping down,  posted?      Where is it made public?

 

EDIT:    OK,   I have now seen the story.     It's in the first post by the OP.     Sorry I missed it.

 

Here's the interesting part to me....      so, I'll cut and paste it....     says this decision was made BEFORE the season started.     Yet it's being announced now.      Hmmmm.

 

Dr. Rettig was the first physician to join the Colts when they moved to Indianapolis in 1984. Before this season, he stepped down as the Colts head team physician. Dr. Tom Klootwyk has replaced Dr. Rettig.

 

The team has named him as an Emritus Associate Team Doctor.    So, that doesn't sound like there's a terrible parting of the ways.     Speculation on my part,   but when the parting is no ammicable,  a team doesn't usually go out of their way to say and do nice things for the out-bound person.

 

 

 

[ColtsBlueFL]

4 hours ago, MB-ColtsFan said:

Good luck on your retirement from the Colts, Dr Rettig.  Thanks for all you did for the organization.

 

Now...does this have any impact on first opinions on injuries and how they are handled?  ColtsBlueFL, any opinions?

My guess would be no??

 

I would agree with your guess.  Dr. Thomas Klootwyk has been associate team physician for 18 years, working with Dr. Rettig, will be the new head physician.  Doesn't mean they are clones, but very likely have a deep understanding and respect for one another.  Their job is to care for the patient, not cater to the club. Dr. Klootwyk will see Colts injuries at the stadium now. In addition, Dr. Rettig isn't disappearing, I remember seeing this back in July-

 

He will still    " .. be a consultant to the Colts and to continue to pursue my private orthopedic practice at Methodist Sports Medicine Center."

 

Jim Irsay calls the position - Emeritus Associate Team Physician.

 

One other thing, players can always consult any physician of their choosing for 2nd opinions, and any physician for treatment (Such as go to Dr. James Andrews, who happens to be  Senior consultant for the Washington Redskins, as well as team Physician for Alabama crimson Tide, University of Auburn, and the Tampa Bay Rays).  but I'm sure those doctors will be in close contact with the Colts and their medical team at every step.

 

1 hour ago, NewColtsFan said:

The reason he didn't do the operation is....

 

Odds are he's not a surgeon.   And even if he is,  odds are he's not a specialist on shoulders.

 

The surgeon who did do the operation is likely a SPECIALIST.

 

These days most everyone sees a specialist for one thing or another.

 

A quarterback who is having his throwing shoulder operated wants to see the best "shoulder surgeon" there is.

 

 

 

 

He most certainly is an orthopedic surgeon, and more than fully qualified to perform any type of sports injury surgery.  here is a classification of an orthopedic surgeon-

 

"Orthopedic surgeons diagnose and treat ailments affecting muscles, bones and joints, treating sports injuries, degenerative diseases, tumors, infections, and birth defects. They regularly perform joint repair and replacement operations. "

 

There are many highly qualified "shoulder surgeons" out there. Dr. Andrews is just one well known Orthopedic surgeon.  He has mentored more than 314 orthopedic/sports medicine Fellows and more than 84 primary care sports medicine Fellows who have trained under him through his Sports Medicine Fellowship Programs.  He is not alone. some of the best are employed by baseball teams. a small list of top tier orthopedic surgeons-

 

https://www.si.com/fantasy/2012/07/09/fantasy-baseball-injuries

 

Players will go to the doctors with R & R... results and recommendations. Fortunately, there are so many.  Most of them employed by sports team because of their knowledge and ability.

[LockeDown]

IS he retiring because of injuries?  I blame it on LOS turf.

[crazycolt1]

Maybe he just decided he wanted to go fishing?  Looking after 53+10 players has to be a busy job.

[Dark Superman]

Interesting..

[Dark Superman]

He probably wanted to clear Luck and Irsay handed him his walking papers.

[NewColtsFan]

3 hours ago, ColtsBlueFL said:

 

I would agree with your guess.  Dr. Thomas Klootwyk has been associate team physician for 18 years, working with Dr. Rettig, will be the new head physician.  Doesn't mean they are clones, but very likely have a deep understanding and respect for one another.  Their job is to care for the patient, not cater to the club. Dr. Klootwyk will see Colts injuries at the stadium now. In addition, Dr. Rettig isn't disappearing, I remember seeing this back in July-

 

He will still    " .. be a consultant to the Colts and to continue to pursue my private orthopedic practice at Methodist Sports Medicine Center."

 

Jim Irsay calls the position - Emeritus Associate Team Physician.

 

One other thing, players can always consult any physician of their choosing for 2nd opinions, and any physician for treatment (Such as go to Dr. James Andrews, who happens to be  Senior consultant for the Washington Redskins, as well as team Physician for Alabama crimson Tide, University of Auburn, and the Tampa Bay Rays).  but I'm sure those doctors will be in close contact with the Colts and their medical team at every step.

 

 

He most certainly is an orthopedic surgeon, and more than fully qualified to perform any type of sports injury surgery.  here is a classification of an orthopedic surgeon-

 

"Orthopedic surgeons diagnose and treat ailments affecting muscles, bones and joints, treating sports injuries, degenerative diseases, tumors, infections, and birth defects. They regularly perform joint repair and replacement operations. "

 

There are many highly qualified "shoulder surgeons" out there. Dr. Andrews is just one well known Orthopedic surgeon.  He has mentored more than 314 orthopedic/sports medicine Fellows and more than 84 primary care sports medicine Fellows who have trained under him through his Sports Medicine Fellowship Programs.  He is not alone. some of the best are employed by baseball teams. a small list of top tier orthopedic surgeons-

 

https://www.si.com/fantasy/2012/07/09/fantasy-baseball-injuries

 

Players will go to the doctors with R & R... results and recommendations. Fortunately, there are so many.  Most of them employed by sports team because of their knowledge and ability.

 

Give me a break......    being QUALIFIED to do a shoulder surgery doesn't mean that's who you want.

 

Tell me,   if he's qualified as you put it,  then WHY didn't Luck have him do the operation?

 

I'll wait for this answer......     though it may take a while...

 

[zibby43]

6 hours ago, NewColtsFan said:

The reason he didn't do the operation is....

 

Odds are he's not a surgeon.   And even if he is,  odds are he's not a specialist on shoulders.

 

The surgeon who did do the operation is likely a SPECIALIST.

 

These days most everyone sees a specialist for one thing or another.

 

A quarterback who is having his throwing shoulder operated wants to see the best "shoulder surgeon" there is.

 

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Superman said:

 

That's what I was thinking, but the article says he's an orthopedic surgeon, and he's performed surgeries on over 50 Colts. 

 

I don't think we know who did Luck's operation, but I don't think it was Dr. Rettig. Just my general impression, not based on anything concrete.

 

Dr. Rettig is a surgeon.  I have watched him perform dozens of surgeries.

 

He has operated on several friends and family members.  He is a hand and wrist specialist, but has operated on pretty much everything you can think of (knees, etc.).

 

I had the privilege of shadowing Dr. Rettig several years ago and he is the epitome of a professional.  Not only is he a talented surgeon, he's a fantastic human being.  Patients can tell he actually cares.

 

If I could share all the stories regarding the good work he is done over the years, I'm sure many of the members here would be asking for a statue of Dr. Art somewhere outside LOS.

 

To NewColtsFan's point, no, Dr. Rettig is not a shoulder specialist.  Methodist Sports Medicine's shoulder specialist is Dr. Peter Sallay (another surgeon that I have had the privilege of shadowing). 

 

Hope that info. was useful.  Would be happy to answer any questions I'm allowed to. 

[NewColtsFan]

15 minutes ago, zibby43 said:

 

 

Dr. Rettig is a surgeon.  I have watched him perform dozens of surgeries.

 

He has operated on several friends and family members.  He is a hand and wrist specialist, but has operated on pretty much everything you can think of (knees, etc.).

 

I had the privilege of shadowing Dr. Rettig several years ago and he is the epitome of a professional.  Not only is he a talented surgeon, he's a fantastic human being.  Patients can tell he actually cares.

 

If I could share all the stories regarding the good work he is done over the years, I'm sure many of the members here would be asking for a statue of Dr. Art somewhere outside LOS.

 

To NewColtsFan's point, no, Dr. Rettig is not a shoulder specialist.  Methodist Sports Medicine's shoulder specialist is Dr. Peter Sallay (another surgeon that I have had the privilege of shadowing). 

 

Hope that info. was useful.  Would be happy to answer any questions I'm allowed to. 

 

I want to be clear about something,  I was not trying to say anything negative about Dr. Rettig.

 

Look at the whole thread.     It started wtih the announcement and some fans assuming that he was fired for something.    And some guessed it was over Luck.     And when some said he didn't do the Luck surgery, one person said he might have been fired because he didn't do the surgery.

 

I was trying to defend the doctor.     My first guess was that he might not have been a surgeon.    And then I added that even if he was a surgeon,  he's likely not a should specialist, and that a QB is going to want to have a surgeon whose specialty is shoulders to operate on him.

 

I wasn't trying to knock the doctor,  but to instead explain why he likely didn't do the Luck surgery and why he might've left at such an odd time as now.

 

Hope that clarifies my intent.....     I appreciate your information....

 

 

[zibby43]

Just now, NewColtsFan said:

 

I want to be clear about something,  I was not trying to say anything negative about Dr. Rettig.

 

Look at the whole thread.     It started wtih the announcement and some fans assuming that he was fired for something.    And some guessed it was over Luck.     And when some said he didn't do the Luck surgery, one person said he might have been fired because he didn't do the surgery.

 

I was trying to defend the doctor.     My first guess was that he might not have been a surgeon.    And then I added that even if he was a surgeon,  he's likely not a should specialist, and that a QB is going to want to have a surgeon whose specialty is shoulders to operate on him.

 

I wasn't trying to knock the doctor,  but to instead explain why he likely didn't do the Luck surgery and why he might've left at such an odd time as now.

 

Hope that clarifies my intent.....     I appreciate your information....

 

 

 

Oh I didn't think you were trying to say anything negative - at all.  So no worries there!  And you were actually spot on about Dr. Rettig not being a shoulder specialist.

 

I was just trying to fill in the information gaps since I saw some good/reasonable questions pop up.

 

Let's get a win today.

[shakedownstreet]

5 hours ago, Blue Shoe Savior 12 said:

Interesting..

 

wow

[Devildog]

10 hours ago, OLD FAN MAN said:

i concur

 

I concur 

[a06cc]

13 hours ago, bravo4460 said:

Good luck on retirement..

 

Wish the whole training staff would step down. Can't blame the training staff for injuries but at some point you have to look at something when the Colts are consistently near the top of most injured players year in and year out.

 

Weather it is training staff, schedule, practices, or the water. Something has to change.

Whether* people do it to me lol

[Nadine]

10 hours ago, ColtsBlueFL said:

Dr. Thomas Klootwyk has been associate team physician for 18 years, working with Dr. Rettig, will be the new head physician. 

Dr, Klootwyk fixed my knee and I'm a pretty massive fan of his in every way.

After 2 months of navigating the healthcare system and being told they wouldn't do surgery on my knee, I went to Dr. K and he didn't hesitate to fix it.  I have no doubt that he's top in his field.

[ColtsBlueFL]

7 hours ago, NewColtsFan said:

 

Give me a break......    being QUALIFIED to do a shoulder surgery doesn't mean that's who you want.

 

Tell me,   if he's qualified as you put it,  then WHY didn't Luck have him do the operation?

 

I'll wait for this answer......     though it may take a while...

 

 

Whoah, you have some nerve riding in and blasting me for posting factual information  You said, and I repeat-

"Odds are he's not a surgeon. "

 

I called you out on that, just that.  Then if you look  further, I never said or implied Rettig did the surgery, or that he even specialized in that area. But he is qualified to exam it, triage it, and then actually do it if he and the patient wishes. I never said he did, or that he should have (somebody else actually did though...)

 

This is where I mention one ( of many excellent ) highly qualified physicians, who also happens to be quite well known.  (Dr. James Andrews) Then list a link to other top Sports orthopods. The Cincinnati Reds Dr. Tim Kremchek is highly lauded, as is those who were mentored at the Kerlan-Jobe  Orthopedic Clinic in L.A. (Frank Jobe, Tommy John procedure innovator), as are so many everywhere.  Many Baseball teams have great ones, as I also mentioned.

 

Look, I know specializing within a specialty. I know of cardiologist groups where some in the partnership seem more at home at the office (non-invasive) seeing and treating patients, and their partners prefer to be out of the office and in the lab (invasive procedures) at the hospital(s). But they all do some of both.  and are fully qualified as such. So yes, some like and specialize in different areas of their own specialty. I get that. I also said players will get 2nd opinions and possibly even treatment from physicians of their own choosing.  This makes your demand to answer your question moot.  Of all the qualified automobile mechanics out there, why do people choose a certain one? Same can be said for a myriad of items. 

 

So, to answer your question, ask Andrew (and maybe Oliver) Luck.  They know the answer.  I you want me to make an educated guess, I would say they already have ties to Orthopedists (possibly ties developed even as far back as when Oliver played) , and after seeking out opinions from many orthopods, the majority consensus was to have the surgery and they went with one from a group they already know (R&R, recommended and results!) and have a trusted relationship with.

 

The only time it took, was time to read your tripe, and type out this response. So I kindly ask you to get back on your high horse and ride off to another pasture ...

[ponyboy]

11 hours ago, NewColtsFan said:

The reason he didn't do the operation is....

 

Odds are he's not a surgeon.   And even if he is,  odds are he's not a specialist on shoulders.

 

The surgeon who did do the operation is likely a SPECIALIST.

 

These days most everyone sees a specialist for one thing or another.

 

A quarterback who is having his throwing shoulder operated wants to see the best "shoulder surgeon" there is.

 

 

 

 

Probably could have saved some back and forth in this thread if you had started with the last sentence and left it at that  

 

 

[ÅÐØNϧ 1]

The Rams loss made him sick to his stomach he's done trying to chop wood .