Could this Professional Athlete have a Spinal Cord Injury?
Giants fans weren’t happy to see their QB Daniel Jones sitting on the sidelines at the end of this season.
For those who don’t follow football, the quarterback of the New York Giants suffered a neck injury earlier in the season. Knowing how serious spine injuries can be, Jones and the team are taking precautions to prevent a more serious injury.
Daniel Jones’ Neck Injury
Jones suffered a neck injury during the Giant’s game against the Philadelphia Eages this year. He’s undergone imaging tests and is meeting with orthopedic specialists and spine surgeons.
CBS Sports reported that the doctors are most likely trying to determine if he’ suffered ligament damage or possibly a bruised spinal cord.
Several sources have reported that the Giants are trying to err on the side of caution and do what’s best for Jones’ health, long term. In a press conference, head coach Joe Judge said,
“when it comes to necks, backs, things of that nature, we’re not going to take any risks with our players”
Until they know more, it’s good to know that they are taking the neck injury seriously, especially considering how dangerous a spinal cord injury can be.
Read more about Spinal Injuries in Sports
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) can be life altering, or even deadly. Depending on the extent of damage, an individual could lose feeling or function in other parts of their body.
Read an inspiring story about young swimmer who suffered a severe spinal cord injury.
A bruised spinal cord is one type of spinal cord injury. Also called a spinal cord contusion (SCC), it describes the crushing of the spinal cord. According to the American Association of neurological surgeons, can cause numbness, tingling, and or electric like sensations in the body’s extremities.
Treatment of a spinal contusion could include medication to help with the pain and physical therapy to strengthen the muscles and improve range of motion. A spinal cord that has been bruised can heal over time. We’ll have to wait and see if Jones’ injury is a SCC and how the doctor’s choose to treat it.
References
- https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/giants-daniel-jones-to-visit-more-spinal-surgeons-expected-to-miss-week-15-could-be-sidelined-rest-of-year/
- https://www.nfl.com/news/giants-qb-daniel-jones-likely-out-multiple-weeks-with-neck-injury
- https://giantswire.usatoday.com/2021/12/09/new-york-giants-daniel-jones-suffered-structural-damage-in-neck/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4146247/
- https://upswinghealth.com/conditions/spinal-cord-contusions/