CMT in the news Friday 2/28/03

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http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/basketball/nba/philadelphia_76ers/5280

841.htm

Philadelphia 76ers

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Posted on Fri, Feb. 28, 2003

MacCulloch's medical cloud grows darker

By McGeachy Fox

Todd MacCulloch talks to reporters at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic

Medicine, where the Sixers practice, currently without MacCulloch.

The thought creeps in, every now and then. What if this is it? What if his

basketball career is over?

But these days, Todd MacCulloch does not dwell on what he does not know. His

future is in question, but today, MacCulloch remains a player for the 76ers,

albeit one on the injured list with a rare neurological disease that affects

his feet and hands.

On Monday, a doctor at Boston's Massachusetts General hospital agreed with

the opinion of a local specialist that MacCulloch has Charcot-Marie-Tooth

disease. CMT is a genetic disorder that causes damage to the peripheral

nerves, weakening and, in some cases, wasting those nerves.

Yesterday after the Sixers prepared for tonight's game against Utah,

MacCulloch received another in-home intravenous treatment for chronic

inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, another neurological

disease for which he was earlier diagnosed. Although doctors are unsure

whether he has CIDP, MacCulloch said his foot and hand problems have not

worsened in recent weeks.

But in his current state, MacCulloch said, he cannot effectively contribute

to the Sixers on the basketball court.

" I don't think I could play very well like this right now, " MacCulloch said

yesterday in his first interview since Sunday. " So I think there needs to be

improvements, and I'll know. If these [feet] feel normal, then I would know

that things are going in the right direction, but as for right now, I don't

like it. "

Neither do the Sixers, and MacCulloch's condition is not their only

injury-related issue. Sixers general manager King said yesterday that

he will talk to Monty today about possibly sitting out the rest of

the season. …

MacCulloch said he has not given up hope of returning this season, although

that appears to be a long shot. His doctors are aware of his profession and

athletic goals, and do not know whether playing would make his condition

worse.

As it is, MacCulloch's feet continue to burn, tingle, feel numb, and feel

weird. He said he often trips walking up stairs, and has problems getting out

of his car.

" I don't want this to get any worse, " MacCulloch said, " and we really have no

way of knowing if I continue to do this, is it going to make it that much

worse for the long run. That's another thing I have to think about. "

He does want to play again. For now, retirement is not an issue.

" I think it would've been unavoidable for me to think about [retiring], "

MacCulloch said. " But, it's not where I spend most of my time. I try to think

of ways, I'm trying to think of treatments and be positive about getting

back. Obviously I know that things don't always work out. [Retirement] is

definitely a possibility, but one that I'm trying not to spend much time

thinking about. I'm trying to think about how I can get back with the team. "

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Kat

Seattle WA USA

http://www.icewindow.com