Editor’s Note: In accordance with HIPAA, all medical professionals received permission from Butch Herzog before sharing any of his medical information for this story.
Senior football captain and outside linebacker Butch Herzog completely ruptured the plantar fascia in his left foot during a football practice in September.
The injury could have ended his season, but thanks to a cutting-edge treatment, Herzog was back in only six weeks, playing in the Chargers’ week nine home victory.
“It was really a simple decision. It allowed me to get back to my team quicker,” Herzog said. “It worked. I’m back. Things are good. I’m glad I can rejoin the team.”
Herzog started feeling pain in his left foot during Hillsdale’s week two game at Lake Erie College, but continued to play through it, ultimately being on the field for 71 plays.
“He has the pain tolerance of a mastodon,” said Athletic Training Program Director Lynne Neukom.
The following week during practice he ruptured his plantar fascia, but returned to finish out his drills after getting his foot wrapped. Overnight his situation worsened and when he woke up, he couldn’t walk.
Herzog visited Neukom’s office that morning. Later, he visited Hillsdale podiatrist Maria Bidny who proposed a cutting-edge amniotic membrane graft treatment that could potentially reduce his recovery time. The decision was simple for Herzog.
Amniotic membrane grafts come from the inner layer of a placenta and are grafted onto damaged areas to promote healing.
Herzog returned to play within three weeks of receiving the injection of the amniotic membrane and has been symptom-free since. Without this treatment, it would not have been abnormal for him to be in a cast for six to eight weeks, followed by extensive physical therapy.
Doctors nationwide have taken notice of and begun to implement amniotic graft membrane’s potential to speed the recovery of soft tissue injuries in the foot and ankle. In a quote for the American Podiatric Medical Association, Dr. Rodney Stuck, professor at Loyola University in Chicago, said “this treatment has significant promise in the apparent restoration and healing of injured tissue.”
Still, even as doctors have begun to take more notice of the treatment, the possibility of using an amniotic membrane graft for acute injuries like Herzog’s is uncommon and is being studied.
“I was just shocked to see him recover this quickly. I’m definitely going to use this more,” Bidny said.
Though acknowledging the treatment he received was important, Neukom explained that Herzog was in the training room three to four times a day, receiving the maximum trainment he could.
“The drugs only do some much,” Neukom said. “It’s his drive that did it, it’s nothing less than that.”
Herzog was very appreciative of all the support he received from Neukom.
“Lynne took care of me,” he said.
Sophomore outside linebacker, Scotty Penola, who filled in for Herzog most of the time while he was injured, said Herzog’s return was a “huge morale boost.”
“When he was a player he led through example and just by himself playing on the field, but then when he got hurt, while normal guys who aren’t captains would kind of fade away and not do anything, he was there all the time whenever I needed advice,” Penola said.
Fellow senior captain and corner, Dan Pittman, said Herzog attended practices, lifts, and even traveled to away games while he was injured. Pittman also said that the team and the coaches were happy to see Herzog back.
“I think everything attributes to his character,” Pittman said.
Penola said that Herzog played “as well as he could have played” in his first game back.
“Watching it, you couldn’t tell he was hurt,” Penola said.
Since his first game back against Saginaw Valley State University, Herzog played in the game against Northwood, and barring unforeseen circumstances, will finish the season at Wayne State University on Saturday.
