"medical" ear stud

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Little Jimmy

This weekend was the 2nd time this summer that a player has told me she was wearing a ear stud because of "medical" reasons. Seems that some doctors are suggesting that the pressure of a particular type of piercing in the center/middle part of the ear can help chronic migraines. In fact one of my fellow umps says his daughter was told the same thing and that she says this has helped her.

I did a google search on the subject and it seems like some do believe it. Not sure if this is a trend that will come to play in our sport. Anyone else hear of this?

YOU certainly had an interesting weekend.

[Mountaincoach]

I am a medical doctor, and I say hogwash. There is absolutely no published medical journal evidence to support those claims, and I've had to remove/dig out those things and treat infections on more than one occasion. Nip that in the bud before it gets started. I'd advise you tell the players to get a legitimate note from their medical doctor or have that nonsense out of their ears before the next set of games.

[Little Jimmy]

Originally Posted by Mountaincoach

I am a medical doctor, and I say hogwash. There is absolutely no published medical journal evidence to support those claims, and I've had to remove/dig out those things and treat infections on more than one occasion. Nip that in the bud before it gets started. I'd advise you tell the players to get a legitimate note from their medical doctor or have that nonsense out of their ears before the next set of games.

So what do you think, if indeed a player had a doctors note for an ear stud, is it a go? One might say that this is far fetched, but the world's a funny place...

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Little Jimmy

So what do you think, if indeed a player had a doctors note for an ear stud, is it a go? One might say that this is far fetched, but the world's a funny place...

As above, "But they can't play while receiving this "treatment." (At least in NFHS; for USA, I'd probably just shrug"

[Mountaincoach]

Originally Posted by Little Jimmy

So what do you think, if indeed a player had a doctors note for an ear stud, is it a go? One might say that this is far fetched, but the world's a funny place...

Originally Posted by CecilOne

As above, "But they can't play while receiving this "treatment." (At least in NFHS; for USA, I'd probably just shrug"

Cecil is right. The rule trumps the doctor's note in this case IMO (and I probably should have said that in my first response). If they get some witchcraft crazy doctor to actually write the note, all you have to say is "Well I hope it helps you, but you cannot wear that during a softball game according to the rules." The next thing out of their mouth will be "But I can't just take it out." And I would advise you say "That's too bad" and walk away.

I'll tell you guys the problem I'm facing right now with my young players--they're watching ESPN and seeing those college girls wearing those pretty simple post-style earrings, and they're coming to me and saying "If those girls can wear their earrings, why can't we?" And I tell them if you make it to college ball and ESPN, they might let you wear them also.

[Manny A]

The exception in the jewelry rule is for a medical ALERT medal of some sort, usually attached as part of a bracelet, pendant on a chain, whatever, and are designed to provide medical first responders and doctors with information about the wearer's condition. Devices that have some sort of hocus pocus healing attribute, like copper bracelets or the thing you're describing, are not covered by the jewelry exception rule.

Sorry, but nice try. Take the thing off.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Manny A

...Sorry, but nice try. Take the thing off.

I agree, but I'd say "you can't play with it on" rather than "take it off".

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by Mountaincoach

I am a medical doctor, and I say hogwash. There is absolutely no published medical journal evidence to support those claims, and I've had to remove/dig out those things and treat infections on more than one occasion. Nip that in the bud before it gets started. I'd advise you tell the players to get a legitimate note from their medical doctor or have that nonsense out of their ears before the next set of games.

I can't speak from the USA side or the medical side of things, but I think from an umpire's side of things at the High School level, this is where the player would need a doctors note indicating the device is for medical purposes. Generally we are told that if there are any equipment pieces that are non-traditional in nature, they need approval of the state association. I think for medical devices like prosthetics a state association letter is needed as well. I would consider this the same way.

I don't doubt that there may be some truth to the fact that pressure points can help with migraines, but I think there needs to be much more study done to determine if it is really effective.

Sadly we now live in a world were legitimate medical treatment, snake oil, and anything else are all being lumped into one big witches kettle and what comes up depends on the medical provided providing the information.