Dr.Chao performed surgery on Mathews

Mathews gets OK to increase physical activity

It's been more than two weeks since Chargers head team doctor David Chao performed surgery on Ryan Mathews' right shoulder.

Mathews went in Monday for a checkup.

He got good news.

The running back, already doing leg workouts, was cleared to begin upper-body exercises on his left side. He has consistently expressed confidence he'll be ready for the Sept. 10 season opener, and based what he took from his appointment, nothing derailed that optimism.

"He was using a lot of big words," Mathews said. "But he said everything is going good. He said just be patient with it. ...

"It's right where I thought it would be. In two weeks, a bone is not going to be completely healed. But knowing my body, I think it's going right where it's supposed to be and it's going faster than normal."

Mathews, 24, says he's doing about everything he can imagine to accelerate the healing process.

He takes calcium pills.

He eats right.

Over his upper right chest, he sports a bone growth stimulator, a white patch that looks less like he's healing a broken clavicle and more like he's quitting cigarettes.

Mathews said he wasn't told anything about the pace of his recovery as it relates to being back for Week 1. His goal stares straight into the headwind of the team's expectation, which is that he'll miss at least a game or two.

"But I feel I'll be ready," Mathews said. "I've been doing everything right. Eating right. Doing what I can. I think I'll be straight."

They let that guy wield a scalpel?

'Doctor' Chao:
"Wake up Mr. Mathews...I'm done and your anesthesia is wearing off. Good news:
I'm sure my surgery eliminated the Plantar Fascia you were complaining about.
Take two Lortabs and call me in the morning. Is that an ambulance? Ciao!"

Ohhh no. Please don't re-injure yourself RM, get a second opinion.

He did wonders for Larry English......... "This type of injury takes two operations to fix".

Once his experiments on Merriman were finished

Thank the stars that Ingram only has a thigh bruise. I'm sure that news ruined Chao's day.

Isn't it v strange that seemingly the dogs in the streets wonder how this guy Chao has his job with the Chargers and yet he is the one who operated on our franchise RB?. Crazy no?. Did he do Philip's ACL anyone know?.

It wasn't rocket surgery Dr. Cut Sue performed, it was a simple little ole clavicle bone!

I didn't know Dr Chao was a gynecologist?

Mathews shoulder confirmed to explode upon first impact.

So you are saying if Dr. Chao was to build a car... It would be a Pinto?

I would never give him that much credit.

Any op by Dr. Chao should warrant a change in a players contract for more $ if he is rendered unable to play if said surgery by said Dr. causes season ending injury.

I'm guessing that at some point, high level players considering signing with the
Chargers will have it written into their contacts that:

"In the event that surgery is necessary, it will not be done by Mr. Chao,
but will instead be performed by a professional."