Neck pain in a football player

A case history is given of an 18-year-old defensive back (football player) who developed recurrent neck pain on one side after contact during games. He was allowed to continue playing, with no medical intervention. On one occasion, his trainer 'treated' him with the application of force, resulting in increased pain. It is likely, given the young man's position in football and his symptoms, that he had received injury to the cervical spine (the upper portion of the spine), leading to damage of the cervical nerve. Subsequent examination using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging, a technique that allows viewing of the body's soft tissues) confirmed this, showing partial protrusion of two cervical vertebral disks, which are made of fibrous cartilage that separates the vertebral bones. Treatment consisted of stopping football, but this could have been done earlier had medical care been available. Basketball was still allowed, and the patient will return to gymnastics and football. Athletes with such injuries should be made to realize they risk serious injury if they continue to play collision sports. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)