Delonte West Using Unorthodox Methods of Healing for Wrist Injury, Eyeing Mid-February Return

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Jan 11, 2011

Some people might rely on trained professionals or expensive equipment to help them recover from injuries. You only get one body, so you can't put a price tag on keeping it healthy.

But Delonte West is not "some people."

West spoke to the media at Tuesday's Celtics practice in Waltham, and he explained that he has unorthodox methods of healing the broken wrist that's kept him sidelined since Nov. 24.

"I went to Home Depot right around the corner and got me a bucket," West said. "Then I stopped at the grocery store and got a whole bunch of rice. Filled up the bucket, and I just grab it.

"Just like that," he said, pantomiming reaching into an imaginary bucket of rice. "It works. Try it."

West has been doing things the professional way, too, meeting with physician Brian McKeon and the rest of the Celtics' medical staff to monitor his progress. But, West is taking measures on his own time to help strengthen the wrist — he's a competitor, and he's doing everything he can to accelerate his comeback.

West says that signs of a difficult comeback are everywhere, not just on the basketball court.

"Just little things around the house," he said. "You go to the grocery store and you try to carry your groceries into the house, and you realize you can't pick a bag up. You try to turn a doorknob, and you can't get it to turn all the way. You try to get up off the couch and put pressure on it, and it reminds you real fast. Pain is a hell of a reminder."

West says he's still waiting for medical clearance to dribble a ball with both hands. While he was on the court Tuesday afternoon at practice — getting jumpers up after the rest of his teammates had left — he still was wearing a brace on his right wrist, and he's still very limited in what he can do with the brace on. He wears it everywhere, he says, and his wrist becomes weak and sore whenever he takes it off.

In other words, his right hand is still pretty much useless.

"I barely use it at all," West said. "I'm able to support the basketball, but I'm not allowed to catch it or dribble it just yet. But it's getting there. Every day it gets better. I'm able to get some work in, so that's a positive. I'm expecting to get back soon. That's what I want to do, and that's what's going to happen."

West's original guess was a return around the All-Star break, and while absolutely nothing is certain yet, West is still hoping to be back in action by mid-February, if not before.

"Preferably before," he said. "At least start practicing. I'll continue to get in some conditioning, and once I handle all this part and get to the games, it won't take me too long to get my repetition back."

It's a slow process. While some guys are showing up to a different specialist each day, searching frantically for the high-tech shortcut to recovery, Delonte West is doing it the hard way — one grain at a time.

"I'm not big into stimulating with all these chemicals," he said. "I go naturally. I use rice."

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