Controversial Australian Rules football great Wayne Carey has disclosed that the neck injury which ended his playing career remains so severe that he has suffered multiple falls recently and cannot feel anything in one of his hands.
Ongoing Health Struggles
The former North Melbourne star was forced to retire in 2004 when doctors warned him that continuing to play risked permanent paralysis after he suffered a neck injury. Now 54, Carey revealed on his You Cannot Be Serious podcast with Sam Newman: 'My left hand is basically numb, right hand going numb, I'm getting shooting pains, all that sort of stuff.' He added: 'I've fallen over a couple of times in the last couple of weeks. I thought it was just me just maybe getting on in years and maybe tripped, but two days ago I went and saw a neurosurgeon.'
Carey explained that he underwent MRIs to assess the extent of the problem, noting that his last MRI on his neck was about 15 years ago and it was 'pretty bad.' After consulting neurosurgeon Dr Matt Guttman, who reviewed his old scans, Carey stated: 'I will definitely need an operation.' He expressed hope that the procedure would help restore sensation to his hands.
Career-Ending Injury
Known as 'The King' for his stellar on-field performances, Carey suffered the cervical spine injury during a match against Geelong on June 12, 2004. He retired two weeks later after learning he risked paralysis if he continued playing for the Adelaide Crows. At the time, he said: 'I was always half-expecting the neurosurgeon to say what he said, but in saying that, it's always a surprise. It's cut my career nine games short which is disappointing because, you know, I wanted to finish off and play some good games in the second half for the Adelaide footy club and hopefully have a few more wins.'
Additional Health Issues
The neck injury was not the only long-lasting damage from a career spanning 15 seasons. In 2022, Carey revealed he underwent surgery to 'replace and repair my left shoulder' after two reconstructions on that joint and another on his right shoulder. He said the injury meant his 'strength and range of movement was gone' and that 'numerous other parts of my body are severely arthritic.' Renowned orthopaedic surgeon Greg Hoy told Carey his shoulder was 'about as bad as it can get.'
Carey's health battles resurfaced in September 2022 when he was ejected from a Perth casino after a bag of white powder fell from his pocket. He received a two-year ban from Crown premises. His lawyer at the time, Josh Bornstein, explained that Carey used the powder to manage pain from his football injuries, stating: 'Mr Carey is prescribed anti-inflammatories and painkilling medicine to help manage the significant pain caused by debilitating football injuries – including a shoulder that needs replacing and a neck injury that requires three discs to be replaced.'
