During the game on September 23 against HC Davos, Raphael Diaz fell on the ice after a duel with an opponent and then went after him, subsequently receiving two blows to the chin. Not only did that cause a dislocation of the jaw, but it also damaged the balance organ that is located in the inner ear near the end of the jaw.
The symptoms initially pointed towards a mild concussion as Diaz tells "Blick": “The next day, I thought I'd be able to play again in a week or two.” However, that was not the case as he has still been dealing with balance problems ever since: “I kept losing my balance. Fast turns on the ice made me dizzy, and I had trouble staying focused.”
The defender, who turns 40 today, explains that it is not possible to establish a precise timeline for his comeback: “It just takes time and patience. Anyone who has ever been affected by this knows what I'm talking about”. In the meantime, he has resumed practicing, but mostly skating exercises and avoiding any contact.
Given his age, Diaz admits that he has been asking himself questions about his future and the possibility of retirement, but he also manifests his desire to continue with his passion and return to the ice as soon as possible.
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