Most women only dream of dancing alongside Patrick Swayze and being lifted and spun in the air in the last act of a summer camp show. For Jennifer Grey, that was a reality. In 2010, “Dancing with the Stars” producers invited Grey to participate in the dancing competition and her 1980s role in Dirty Dancing paid off. Grey went on to win the show’s 11th season.
Grey didn’t win the show with ease, however. During the competition, Grey sustained numerous neck complications. The night before her last dance, Grey was hospitalized for a ruptured disc in her lower back.
The onset of back pain can be the result of various stressors, strains, or overuse. Dancing requires excessive use of muscles in the body and can certainly cause problems. At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, our physicians have experience in treating patients with performance related conditions.
During her time on “Dancing with the Stars”, the 50-year-old actress experienced excessive neck pain. Her neck surgeon, Dr. Robert Bray of the D.I.S.C Sports and Spine Center in Marina Del Rey, California, explained that the actress sustained four neck surgeries in 2010, including inserting a plate in her neck. In 1987, Grey was in a car accident that left her with chronic pain from a neck injury. Since the accident, Grey has received treatment for chronic pain.
The ruptured disc that Grey experienced during her training left her in terrible pain. A ruptured disc occurs when the discs between the vertebrae ruptures and the liquid between the discs leak out. The disc may break into pieces and can be extremely painful. A ruptured of herniated disc can occur at any portion of the spine. Grey’s injury occurred in her lower back.
When doctors took a look at the actress’s injury, they presumed that physical activity would cause more damage to the spine and could possible cause a spinal cord injury.
Dr. Scott Boden, of the Emory Orthopaedics and Spine Center in Atlanta, Georgia, explains, “As we age, the outer lining of the disc can develop cracks and become susceptible to contents of the disc leaking.” Though Grey had previous neck complications, the ruptured disc was the result of an accident. Her age could have played a factor into the injury.
Treatments for a herniated disc include rest, ice/heat compress, medications, physical therapy, and/or injection therapy. Physical activity after this kind of injury can cause more severe pain and possibly a more severe condition.
If you or someone you know has sustained a back injury and needs help, contact a Southwest Spine and Pain Center member, today!
If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With four locations and same day appointments, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.
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