Peyton Manning - Safe to Play Football?

Should Peyton Manning Really be playing football after his multiple neck surgeries?  Is it safe for him to play football, or could he be setting himself up for disaster?  You see, Peyton Manning had a neck fusion to fix a bulging disc in his Cervical Spine.  In these situations, the surgeons remove the disc and replace that disc with bone - either from a cadaver, or from the own patients’ hip.  I know this very well, because I had the same operation done - twice.  I actually broke vertebrae in my neck, and the second time I had the fusion done, they took bone from my hip and placed it between c6 and c7.  I did mine when I was 16 doing gymnastics.  Like Peyton, I went back to the sport I love and continued to compete in college.  Before I went back to Gymnastics, my neurosurgeon told me this - and I’m sure Peyton Manning’s Doctors told him this as well.  The vertebrae that are fused together are stronger than ever, they won’t budge.  But, the vertebrae and discs above and below the fused vertebrae will move more to make up for the lack of movement at the level of the fusion.  This will put those discs in more danger of bulging, rupturing, and pushing on nerves which control movement in your body.  
Peyton Manning was experiencing some weakness in his right throwing arm, and this surgery will not fix that right away.  Nerves don’t just grow back right away.  But, the surgery should help keep it from getting worse.  This will make it difficult for Peyton to get back to the player he was a few years ago, and there is no guarantee that a big hit won’t jack up another disc in his spine above or below the fusion - which could lead to paralysis... or worse.  Football is dangerous!  Especially in the NFL!  And there was no guarantee I wouldn’t get hurt again either.  But, I still made the decision to go back to gymnastics.  Believe me, I’ll be watching Peyton’s season very closely this season and I wish him the very best in a successful, healthy, career.  

Comments

[Kevin]

I appreciate your perspective. I'm seriously convinced there's no economic justification for the personal damage football is doing now, up and down the age range, but your perspective on Peyton Manning's injury is helpful. Within his world, his decision does indeed make sense. Thank you.

Gymnastics is so much more helpful, useful, and awesome. I sure wish those attributes somehow translated into money for those who invest their lives.