Coughlan's pain worth it
June 4th 2008 01:08
Injury-prone Richmond midfielder Mark Coughlan is over in Germany trying to resurrect his AFL Career, which has been left in tatters after a spate of injuries since 2004.
Two knee reconstructions and serious hanstring injuries has led the 26-yaer-old to the other side of the world to have 17 needle injections every 48 hours to recover from his left hamstring in time to play this season.
Seeing world-renowned soft-tissue medico Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfarth in Munich, Coughlan was injected 102 times with Actovegin, which improves the circulation of oxygen in the blood and is made using an extract of calf's blood, and Traumeel, which offers anti-inflammatory relief of soft-tissue trauma.
The 83-game player has always had faith in the club doctors, that they knew what they were doing.
"I've always backed our medical staff and they came up with the idea to send me over there," Coughlan told the Herald Sun.
"I think they were sort of thinking that from my point of view, I may want to go and try something different so it's certainly been, for me, quite positive.
"Even just getting over there and getting some alternative treatment and reading into this bloke and seeing how much success he's had with athletes and seeing some athletes come through the door that have been to him before and had a lot of success gives you a bit of self belief."
At one point, Coughlan also thought about hanging up the boots, as injury after injury debilitated his confidence about being a professional footballer. But through steely determination, he could be playing in the VFL by the end of the month.
"I guess it makes you want to come back more. I've had long-term injuries that have ruled me out before the season has even begun," he said.
"You've got too much time to think so you do think about those things, but it has never really been an option of mine.
"The body generally feels good. I haven't really had a chance to give it a good run yet, but at this stage it's been a success.
"I won't know until I get a full week of training in and play again and get a bit of confidence back in the body, but at this stage I do feel quite good."
Whatever Dr Muller-Wohlfarth did do to Coughlan, he can only hope that it will bring a speedy recovery and a fast-tracking in resurrecting an injury-plagued career.
Two knee reconstructions and serious hanstring injuries has led the 26-yaer-old to the other side of the world to have 17 needle injections every 48 hours to recover from his left hamstring in time to play this season.
Seeing world-renowned soft-tissue medico Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfarth in Munich, Coughlan was injected 102 times with Actovegin, which improves the circulation of oxygen in the blood and is made using an extract of calf's blood, and Traumeel, which offers anti-inflammatory relief of soft-tissue trauma.
The 83-game player has always had faith in the club doctors, that they knew what they were doing.
"I've always backed our medical staff and they came up with the idea to send me over there," Coughlan told the Herald Sun.
"I think they were sort of thinking that from my point of view, I may want to go and try something different so it's certainly been, for me, quite positive.
"Even just getting over there and getting some alternative treatment and reading into this bloke and seeing how much success he's had with athletes and seeing some athletes come through the door that have been to him before and had a lot of success gives you a bit of self belief."
At one point, Coughlan also thought about hanging up the boots, as injury after injury debilitated his confidence about being a professional footballer. But through steely determination, he could be playing in the VFL by the end of the month.
"I guess it makes you want to come back more. I've had long-term injuries that have ruled me out before the season has even begun," he said.
"You've got too much time to think so you do think about those things, but it has never really been an option of mine.
"The body generally feels good. I haven't really had a chance to give it a good run yet, but at this stage it's been a success.
"I won't know until I get a full week of training in and play again and get a bit of confidence back in the body, but at this stage I do feel quite good."
Whatever Dr Muller-Wohlfarth did do to Coughlan, he can only hope that it will bring a speedy recovery and a fast-tracking in resurrecting an injury-plagued career.
| 48 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by TonyK
AFL Central