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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2009 > May > 21 > Entry
Votto diagnosis: inner ear infection
And the Joey Votto diagnosis is: INNER EAR INFECTION.
After two weeks of testing for everything imaginable it came down to the simplest of the simple. Inner ear infection.
First, Votto had an upper respiratory infection that caused him to miss four games and it is believed that when the team flew to Phoenix from Cincinnati that brought on the inner ear infection and caused his dizziness and loss of focus. Then when he flew to San Diego from Phoenix it happened again.
Votto has not had any of the symptoms since he returned from San Diego to Cincinnati and took indoor batting practice today. Manager Dusty Baker said he’ll do all the pre-game activities with the team Friday and see where he is.
“I’m glad they found out what it was, that’s No. 1,” said Baker. “Thankful and grateful. There was a lot of stuff floating around out there from a lot of neighborhood doctors. He told me last night he was feeling good, but we’ll give him a couple of days to let him get his feet under him.”
Trainer Mark Mann met with the media to reveal Votto’s problem. Mann said Votto told them he had an inner infection two or three times in his left ear as a kid and the current infection was in his left ear.
“After doing a battery of tests over the last four days, (internist) Dr. Steve Cleves has come to the diagnosis of an inner ear infections that causes the dizziness,” said Mann. “All the tests were normal and the only thing that came back irregular was the audiology test, indicating the inner ear infection that was secondary to the upper respiratory infection he had 10 days ago.
“Dr. Cleves said that’s a common occurrence,” said Mann. “It’s a day-to-day thing and he has felt much better over the last four days, no more symptoms. He is on medication to reduce infection and inflammation. He went through a light workout yesterday before the game, no symptoms. Same thing this morning, hit in the cage, and we’ll go from there.”
Votto is on an anti-inflammatory to reduce the infection in the ear and has also been on antibiotics for the upper respiratory infection.
Why wasn’t it detected sooner?
“When you talk about the inner ear there is a lot of testing in greater depth that has to be done by an audiologist to look at his balance and inner ear fluids,” said Mann. “It’s a completely different battery of test than what you typically do.”
Mann said flying brought on the symptoms after the upper respiratory infection. And Dr. Cleves told Mann that recovery time is different with everybody, “But over the course of not flying during this homestand and getting on proper medication it should be something that resolves itself in the next few days.”
Mann said they’ll have him running, doing physical work in the weight room and ease him back into baseball activity, with full pre-game activity Friday, “And we’ll go from there. It’s a day-by-day process.”
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By Dixie Marshall
May 29, 2009 8:50 PM | Link to this
Help me help Votto. I have had position vertigo for years and believe he has this, not inner ear infection which would not continue to haunt him now. It is a matter of learning to manage it or use the Epley procedure. Check this with Dr. George Hicks, med director of Midwest Ear Institue in Indianapolis…or check with Dr. Helen Cohen, assoc.director of Center for Balance Disorders at BCM in Houston. Let’s get Joey back on his feet. Also, he should NEVER sleep or lie down flat, but use a wedge and contour pillow to elevate his head.
By Dixie Marshall
May 29, 2009 8:50 PM | Link to this
Help me help Votto. I have had position vertigo for years and believe he has this, not inner ear infection which would not continue to haunt him now. It is a matter of learning to manage it or use the Epley procedure. Check this with Dr. George Hicks, med director of Midwest Ear Institue in Indianapolis…or check with Dr. Helen Cohen, assoc.director of Center for Balance Disorders at BCM in Houston. Let’s get Joey back on his feet. Also, he should NEVER sleep or lie down flat, but use a wedge and contour pillow to elevate his head.
By AP-FLORIDA
May 22, 2009 6:20 AM | Link to this
Great news about Votto, but can we work on what the whole team is suffering from? Bakeritis!!!
By AP-FLORIDA
May 22, 2009 6:19 AM | Link to this
Great news about Votto, but can work on what the whole team is suffering from? Bakeritis!!!
By RedsFan
May 22, 2009 2:22 AM | Link to this
Thanks for the update Hal. So happy for Votto that it’s not anything more serious.
By Doltsky
May 22, 2009 2:20 AM | Link to this
Dusty Baker is a dolt.
By Mindy
May 21, 2009 5:32 PM | Link to this
I think most normal people had that figured out already in that it was an inner ear infection. It shouldn’t take a doctor that long to figure that out.
By ross
May 21, 2009 4:38 PM | Link to this
the reds organization does not have a clue about anything..castellini has lied for years..jocketty was fired in St Louis because he didnt have a clue any longer..medical staff figured out ear infection after two weeks..a bunch of AAA talent..Votto, Phillips, and 3 starters Cueto, Harang, Volquez are pretty much the talent on this team..Hairston, Bruce, Tavaras, EE, Hernandez, Cordero, Rhodes are ML caliber…the rest of the roster you can have
By bigred
May 21, 2009 3:46 PM | Link to this
Glad that it’s nothing overly serious, but it makes me chuckle how many people posted on here about “I had the same symptoms” and knew exactly what was wrong with the man. idiots. Let’s hope he’s back in the lineup soon and the Reds start winning (again)
By Jack
May 21, 2009 3:25 PM | Link to this
Very good news. Now get back on the field because it appears the team needs you really bad. Hal, would stubborn be a good word to use with Baker or is it loyalty to an extreme that we keep seeing players take the field who are batting under .200.
By NickM
May 21, 2009 1:30 PM | Link to this
So glad this didnt turn out to be another Nick Esasky. He got a case of vertigo and never played again. Thank God they figured it out.
By Steve M.
May 21, 2009 12:41 PM | Link to this
Great reporting, Hal.
By dhagoreds
May 21, 2009 12:11 PM | Link to this
Thank God it was nothing serious. Get healthy then come back and tear it up Joey.