Damage to the spinal cord or the nerves at the end of the spinal canal is referred to as a spinal injury.
A rapid strike or cut to the spine can cause a 1traumatic spinal cord injury.
Below the damage site, a spinal cord injury frequently results in a lifelong loss of strength, feeling, and function.
A lot of people with spinal cord injuries may lead productive, independent lives with the help of rehabilitation and assistive technology. Symptom-reducing medications and spinal stabilization surgery are used as treatments.
What causes spinal cord damage that is acute?
- Falls.
- Motor vehicle accidents (automobiles, motorcycles, and being struck as a pedestrian)
- A sports injury.
- Diving accidents.
- Trampoline accidents
- Violence (gunshot or stab wounds)
- Infections that cause spinal cord abscesses.
In this article, we will list the top 10 celebrities with spinal injuries:
1. George Walker Bush
From 2001 through 2009, George Walker Bush presided as the 43rd president of the United States. Few people know that the 46th governor of Texas likewise experienced ongoing disc issues.
The former president underwent a low-profile surgery in 2013 to relieve pain. With his ex-girlfriend Laura, the two-term president rested in Florida in January.
The former American President recovered quickly and was present on April 25, 2013, for the dedication of his presidential library in Dallas. Bush’s physicians advised him to stop playing golf until his back had recovered, but he still found time to practice.
2. Usain Bolt
The world’s fastest man also experienced spine issues. The Olympic track star acknowledged that hamstring issues were brought on by a poor back. Bolt has a curved spine from birth. He was unable to compete in the 2010 track season due to curvature and an injury.
In 2010, Ricky Simms, Bolt’s manager, announced via email that the world record holder will undergo therapy to loosen his back. Hans Muller-Wohlfahrt, a renowned physician, oversaw Bolt’s care. However, the Jamaican athlete was treated for hamstring tightness on the Kingston track right after Yohan Blake defeated him.
The 100m and 200m world record holder also frequently attend physiotherapy sessions to maintain spinal flexibility and rectify the imbalance in the spine caused by scoliosis that impairs his running. The fastest person to have ever been timed is also anticipated to attempt cryotherapy, which involves submerging athletes in liquid nitrogen heated to minus 140 degrees Celsius. He also used a London ice chamber to get back into shape.
In an interview, the Olympic winner said he wanted to work on his back issue so he could fully heal. In order to defend his 100m, 200m, and 4100m Relay titles at the Rio Olympics, he will need a break to replenish his energies.
3. Mick Mars
The leading guitarist for the renowned heavy metal group Mötley Crüe was Mick Mars. The musical phenomenon has ankylosing spondylitis. Mick was 17 years old when he received this diagnosis. The sickness caused the spinal cord to stiffen and the vertebrae to fuse together. This spinal disorder created scoliosis, which made his back press down and forward, making him 3 inches shorter.
To get rid of the excruciating pain, the music pro underwent hip replacement surgery in 2004. The damaged hip joint is replaced with an artificial joint, as the name “hip replacement” suggests.
After surgery, the lead guitarist recovered. However, the band that was ascending the success ladder split up last year. Mick Mars is always focusing on improving his health.
4. Renne Russo
Rene Russo is a well-known American model, actress, and producer. She was featured on the cover of prestigious publications like Cosmopolitan and Vogue, thanks to her talent and beauty. In middle school, the stunning Major League actress received a scoliosis diagnosis.
The Tin Cup actress benefited from the early detection. A curved spine didn’t stop young Rene from pursuing her goals. She vigorously combated the disease with her actions. The attractive actress avoided invasive and unpleasant surgery by putting on back braces for a long time.
With the aid of acupuncture and chiropractic treatment, the Thor actor has maintained her physical fitness.
5. Sarah Michelle Gellar
A multifaceted individual, 2Sarah Michelle Gellar-Prinze has tested her abilities in various areas of the film industry, including acting and production. The 1995 Daytime Emmy Award winner revealed that she had severe scoliosis as a child.
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress made the decision not to get any therapy. She made the decision to start using some of the less strenuous treatments for her scoliosis, like treadmill running and the Pilates exercise program.
The Cruel Intentions actress thinks that improper posture and the positioning of large weights on the spine are to blame for scoliosis. She claims that Pilates eases back discomfort by relieving strain on the spine.
6. Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis, a comedian by career, has a long list of ailments and addictions, including a back condition. On March 20, 1965, while visiting Las Vegas, he was injured while simulating a pratfall from a piano at the Sands hotel. The accident that nearly incapacitated the king of humour left him with significant injuries. He was admitted to a Darwin hospital in 1999 with viral meningitis.
The entertainment superstar suffered four back operations and additionally used steroids and narcotics to ease the pain. The Cinderfella star became hooked to Percodan while in rehab. Jerry struggled with his addiction for a long time—13 years. The performer, though, overcame the addiction. The King of Comedy actor now wears a spinal cord stimulator, sometimes known as a “pain pacemaker.”
The device that comedian Jerry Lewis implanted has reduced his level of suffering.
7. Tony Romo
Juan Antonio American football quarterback “Tony” Romo plays for the Dallas Cowboys. In his lower back, he had a herniated disc. A pinched nerve caused by the herniated disc caused excruciating leg agony. Initial reports indicated that Tony’s injury was caused by a rough hit he received in the first half of the game against the Washington Redskins. Some sources claim that Romo has been in pain the whole season. His ailment was misdiagnosed as a hamstring injury because of the leg pain and the herniated disc.
The talented American football quarterback underwent a microdiscectomy, a minimally invasive procedure, because of the injury, in 2013. To relieve pressure on the nerve root, a little portion of the herniated disc is removed during this procedure.
The 2006 Pro Bowl winner had a very good recovery from his surgery. He played in preseason games after the operation and engaged in light off-season exercise.
8. Jackie Chan
3Jackie Chan has dabbled in everything from acting to screenwriting to stunt work to martial arts. The lengthy list ensures that the illustrious actor had a fruitful and lengthy career. However, there are two sides to every coin. He had several serious injuries while practising all of these.
Chan fell on a glass roof after jumping off a railing and landing on an electric light strand while filming Police Story. This fall shattered his 7th and 8th vertebrae and injured his spinal cord. In 1993, while filming City Hunter, he injured his knee and dislocated his right shoulder, as if that weren’t bad enough.
During the 1983 filming of Project A, the Forbidden Kingdom actor suffered cervical spine injuries after falling from a 25-meter clock tower.
Jackie Chan might have become disabled as a result of the incident in the Police Story if he hadn’t been saved in time. The actor kept getting hurt in various shootings even after quickly recovering from surgery.
The actor’s injuries have always been a concern, despite the fact that he consistently pushes the envelope to produce incredible action flicks. Most experts agree that the actor needs to take it easy in order to prevent any more injuries.
9. Harrison Ford
American actor and producer Harrison Ford first gained notoriety for playing Han Solo in Star Wars. The Apocalypse Now actor suffered a herniated disc during the filming of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. He had to take a plane back to Los Angeles to receive the necessary care.
He had a surgical procedure that healed his herniated disc.
The procedure went quite well. While filming Star Wars: Episode VII, the actor from The Conversation experienced another mishap. According to reports, the 72-year-old celebrity had to undergo rehabilitation for six months as a result of the injuries. Many people believe that this ailment is partially the result of the back injuries sustained while filming Indiana Jones.
10. George Clooney
Actor, activist, producer, director, and screenwriter George Timothy Clooney hails from the United States. The Emmy Award winner sustained a serious spine injury in 2005 while filming a stunt sequence for the geopolitical thriller Syriana.
The dura mater, a coating that surrounds the cerebral spinal fluid that protects the nerves of the spinal cord and the brain, was torn by the damage. He experienced terrible, incapacitating headaches as a result of the liquid leakage.
The actor from The Three Kings needed many spinal procedures to treat the discomfort. After the procedure, Clooney experienced excruciating pain. He tried using medications and even booze to deal with the agony. The basic purpose of spinal surgery is to unite two or more vertebrae.
To support the spine fusion, screws and rods are inserted inside the vertebra. Clooney did not have open back surgery, but the operation was nonetheless uncomfortable.
George Clooney revealed in a Hollywood Reporter interview that he spoke with a pain management specialist. He had a successful surgery, but he continues to have headaches, albeit with reduced intensity.
Conclusion:
An injury to the spinal cord causes harm to the cord itself as well as adjacent organs and bones. You might lose mobility or function in various bodily parts depending on the severity of the injury. Surgery, medicine, and physical therapy are all forms of treatment.
Additional resources and citations
- 1traumatic spinal cord injury
- 2Sarah Michelle Gellar-Prinze
- 3Jackie Chan