Rob Gronkowski has had as many as 10 major injuries in his football career, with some of them requiring surgeries and extensive rehab to heal. And even though three years have elapsed since retiring, Gronk still feels the lingering effects of those injuries.
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In 2012, Gronkowski broke his left forearm, which made him miss six games that season. It needed multiple surgical interventions because of the complications that arose from it. In 2013 and 2016, he suffered a herniated disc, prompting him to undergo surgeries to fix the issue. The immediate consequence of those was that he missed out on many important games for the New England Patriots.
The long-term consequences of the injuries are hitting Gronk now. “Like now, I feel some creaks. I gotta warm up my knees and my shoulder sucks,” he revealed on an episode of Dudes on Dudes with Julian Edelman. But Gronkowski may have found a solution.
Gronk shared his idea with Edelman, and now the two are planning a trip together to explore it further. And the destination? It’s nowhere near where they call home.
“One thing I think that could help fix all of that, Julian, is if we took a trip to Israel,” Gronkowski told his co-host.
“And we went into the Dead Sea, and we sat in the Dead Sea for six hours for three days straight. I’m telling you right now, I guarantee all of that pain will be gone. That Dead Sea heals; let’s do it,” he added.
The salts in the Dead Sea are known to have therapeutic benefits. It is believed to improve skin health, reduce joint pain, and relax the muscles. It also helps detox the body, which can leave one feeling cleansed and refreshed.
Gronk, however, has always vouched for ocean water’s power to heal and rejuvenate.
“I just go in the ocean, and it takes away a lot of my pain,” he said. “It took away my back pain last week, and I was only in the ocean for 10 minutes. It literally took away like 40% of the inflammation.”
Then again, Gronkowski has not just been banking on a dip in the ocean, or a yet-to-be planned trip to the Dead Sea to heal his body from the after-effects of decades of hits. He has taken inspiration from his former QB Tom Brady, and follows a 75% plant-based diet.
Gronk had previously detailed how connecting with nature has helped him rejuvenate. Additionally, he’s cut down on his drinking and partying.
While Edelman might not be on board with all these other changes Gronk has made to his lifestyle, he is all game to take a trip to Israel.
“Let’s do it!” Edelman responded. “We’ll go to Israel, sit in the Dead Sea for three days, and I’m going to put a little note in the wall that says, ‘Take care of all these injuries’.”
Edelman is referring to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, where people write prayers and slip them into ancient cracks. It sounded like he was carrying a tremendous amount of pain that needed celestial intervention to heal.
All in all, it sounds like a fun trip the two have planned. With Edelman’s knowledge of Judaism and Gronkowski’s expertise in natural healing, they will be unstoppable in their mission. Just like they were for so long with the New England Patriots in the NFL.
The real kicker, though? Of course, there’s only one beverage that could tie the experience together and make it memorable.
“Couple [of] Coors Lights,” Edelman mentioned. “Just floating. Just floating and chilling.”
The two deserve a good float to help ease some of the lingering pains from their playing days. Gronkowski seemed to be excited with the idea, while Edelman sounded unfamiliar with the concept.
Then again, you never know. A floating experience on the Dead Sea could end up helping Edelman with the chronic knee injury that ultimately forced him to retire.
