Cavaliers' James diagnosed with pleurisy; listed day-to-day

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Cavaliers' James diagnosed with pleurisy; listed day-to-day
Cavaliers' James diagnosed with pleurisy; listed day-to-day

October 14, 2005
CLEVELAND (TICKER) -- LeBron James has been diagnosed with pleurisy after undergoing a comprehensive battery of tests at the Cleveland Clinic, the Cleveland Cavaliers announced on Friday.

Pleurisy is an inflammation of the thin layers of tissue covering the lungs and chest cavity. It is usually caused by a viral infection.

The 20-year-old superstar swingman is being treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication. A quick, full recovery is expected, and James is listed as day-to-day. He will not play in Friday night's preseason game against Philadelphia.

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James experienced such discomfort in his chest that he was hospitalized Wednesday night. Team doctors initially diagnosed it as a strained left pectoral muscle.

James scored 16 points in a preseason game against Washington on Monday. However, he was bothered with discomfort in his chest the next morning and sat out Tuesday's preseason game against Boston at Pittsburgh.

The Cavaliers will be without two other players for Friday's game - forward Ira Newble (right foot strain) and swingman Sasha Pavlovic (left hip pointer).

The 6-8 James missed just two games last season with a sprained left ankle and led the NBA in minutes (3,388). He averaged 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists.

The No. 1 overall pick out of high school in 2003, James won NBA Rookie of the Year honors, averaging 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists.

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Cavaliers: James treated for pleurisy

by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com
Friday, October 14, 2005

News
Cavaliers All-Star forward LeBron James was released from the hospital Friday following a two-night stay because of a virus that caused severe pain in his chest, according to the Associated Press. James was hospitalized Wednesday for what the team initially called a strained pectoral muscle. But Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry said Friday that James came down with pleurisy, an inflammation of the thin layers of tissue covering the lungs and chest cavity.

Views
When we first heard the word "pleurisy," we thought it had something to do with the failure to use plural words, which didn't explain why his chest hurt. Come to find out, it was your run-of-the-mill virus that, when treated with antibiotics, should clear in a matter of days. It didn't say when James will return to practice, but we'd assume he'll return to the court by Monday.

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Wow, what an injury prone softie.

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James released from hospital; treated for virus
James released from hospital; treated for virus

By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
October 14, 2005

AP - Oct 13, 1:51 pm EDT
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CLEVELAND (AP) -- Cavaliers All-Star forward LeBron James was released from the hospital Friday following a two-night stay because of a virus that caused severe pain in his chest.

James was hospitalized Wednesday for what the team initially called a strained pectoral muscle. But Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry said Friday that James came down with pleurisy, an inflammation of the thin layers of tissue covering the lungs and chest cavity.

The 20-year-old is being treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication, and the team said it expects James to make a ``quick, full recovery.'' James will miss the team's preseason home opener Friday night against Philadelphia, and it remains unclear when the third-year pro will return.

``We're all happy that is was nothing more than that,'' Ferry said following Friday's shootaround. ``He's feeling better already. It's a minor thing.''

After the pain in his chest worsened following practice on Wednesday, James was admitted to the Cleveland Clinic for what the team initially diagnosed as a strained chest muscle. James underwent a series of tests Thursday that all came back normal, but he was kept overnight because he had a fever.

James played in Cleveland's exhibition opener on Monday in Washington, but woke up in pain on Tuesday and was kept out of the Cavaliers' game against Boston in Pittsburgh that night. On Wednesday, James complained of pain in his chest and around his rib cage, and the Cavaliers urged him to go to the hospital to get checked out.

``We wanted to make sure, check every box and make sure he was healthy,'' Ferry said. ``It was getting worse instead of better.''

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The Cavaliers have a road game in Milwaukee on Saturday, but it's doubtful James will make the trip.

``He could possibly play tomorrow, if he wants, but we'll probably end up holding him out,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ``It's the preseason, the first few games really aren't important. I don't care if we win or lose preseason games. My main focus is to get guys rest.''

Cavaliers guard Damon Jones, who visited James while he was in hospital, said Cleveland players were comforted by the news that James' medical condition wasn't major.

``Definitely, we're relieved,'' Jones said. ``When we first started hearing about his discomfort we were all kind of worried. But the doctors did a great job of finding the problem and getting on top of it.''

James has had a few minor injuries during his first two NBA seasons.

He has missed a total of five games because of ankle sprains, but he didn't miss any time after breaking a cheek bone last year when he was clobbered with an elbow by Dikembe Mutombo, and wore a protective mask for six weeks.