[News] Nathan Horton's decision

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Feel bad for the guy, too young to be in that much pain daily and tough for him to retire at age 29.

Horton, who hasn’t played since April, is in near constant pain — sometimes agony — because of a degenerative back injury that has derailed his NHL career.

“I can’t stand up like a normal person; I can’t bend over,” Horton said in his first public comments about his condition. “I can’t run. I can’t play with my kids. To get in and out of the car, I’m like a 75-year-old man … so slow and stiff. I can’t sleep at night. I try to lay down and my back seizes up and I can’t move, so sleeping is out. I’m like a zombie in the daytime.”

But the alternative to dealing with such misery is just as awful. Horton could have surgery to relieve the pain, but the procedure — likely a three- or four-level spinal fusion with a titanium rod — would mean the end of his NHL career at only 29 years old.

“I don’t want to have surgery, because of what that means,” Horton said, his voice breaking behind a smile. “I don’t want to live with this pain, but I don’t want to make that decision. It’s hard for me to say that, at 29 years old, I’m done. I mean, really? Done at 29?”

“I’ve tried everything,” Horton said. “I’ve seen so many doctors. So many people think they can fix me and they’re so optimistic, and then I get optimistic, but then … nothing changes. It’s so frustrating. I’ve heard from so many people with back issues, and it’s a different thing, the pain. It controls everything.”

The Blue Jackets and Horton have opted to wait and hope that — somehow, someway — his back pain fades over time. But nobody in the organization seems optimistic. Horton sighed and shook his head when asked how realistic the wait-and-see approach is.

“At some point soon, we’ve got to make the call,” he said, referring to surgery.

Once or twice a week, Horton stops by Nationwide Arena. But he has no locker stall in the dressing room, no uniform hanging with his name on it, no new sticks being delivered or skates being sharpened.

“I’m a ghost,” he said with a laugh. “But I’m not giving up. I still feel young other than my back. As long as I can hold off the surgery, I feel like there’s a chance. A chance for something. A miracle. Something.”

http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/...ts-horton.html

[dammage79]

There's going to be a point where his family will make his mind up for him. It's okay to be stubborn about this to a point, but his family also deals with his pain day in and day out. and how long will they sit and watch him suffer while he makes up his mind?

So tough and honestly sad to see that his career will likely end really early. But he's got a Cup and could retire with that at least.

[FlamesAddiction]

It really is too bad. He was a heck of budding power forward a few years ago and he should be in his prime right now.

[Trailer Fire]

I couldn't even imagine what he is going through. Were I in his shoes though, I think I'd take the surgery. I don't like being in pain.

[codynw]

What a bummer. He's far too young to be dealing with this.

[AcGold]

I wonder if DDP could help him, depends if it's a trauma based or genetic disease. DDP had a broken back and is now in better shape and more flexible than most people half his age.

[Machiavelli]

That's really sad, and unfortunate.

[darthma]

super duper lame

At least he's getting paid, although if he retires that will change.

[mile]

[Grimbl420]

Wow, I don't even know.

This makes me sad.


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[Huntingwhale]

I feel bad for they guy. He was one of my favorite players since his Panther days and I hope he can somehow get better.

[afc wimbledon]

Having had a bad back for 20 years myself I commiserate with him, unfortunately I have no idea what it's like to be making 5 mill a year for 5 or 6 years so my empathy is incomplete.

[JiriHrdina]

I know it isn't comparable in the least, but I had to stop playing most sports (including the ones I loved) because of a bad knee. After two surgeries, brutal recoveries, and walking with a limp for a few years - and after consulting with doctors - I was left with two choices
- Stop playing sports that required any pivoting (which leaves precious few)
- Continue to play, accept the constant discomfort and limp, and probably cause more surgeries

So I chose to stop playing and it was a brutal decision. When I hear Horton say "It’s hard for me to say that, at 29 years old, I’m done. I mean, really? Done at 29?" it really hits home because I remember having that exact conversation with my doctor which was "really at the age of 32 you are telling me I can no longer play sports without risking serious injury".

It sucks. Obviously tenfold for Horton since this is what he does.

Very sad.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I know it isn't comparable in the least, but I had to stop playing most sports (including the ones I loved) because of a bad knee. After two surgeries, brutal recoveries, and walking with a limp for a few years - and after consulting with doctors - I was left with two choices
- Stop playing sports that required any pivoting (which leaves precious few)
- Continue to play, accept the constant discomfort and limp, and probably cause more surgeries

So I chose to stop playing and it was a brutal decision. When I hear Horton say "It’s hard for me to say that, at 29 years old, I’m done. I mean, really? Done at 29?" it really hits home because I remember having that exact conversation with my doctor which was "really at the age of 32 you are telling me I can no longer play sports without risking serious injury".

It sucks. Obviously tenfold for Horton since this is what he does.

Very sad.

My doctors quote about my grinding swollen knees after soccer, 'what do you expect, stop playing soccer you idiot'

Then seriously told me I'm stuck with the pain if I want to play as once I get the knee caps replaced I can't play anymore, trying to get another 4 or 5 years out of them, although the noise they make after a game would indicate in going to need both pads and roter arms replaced.

That said I cycle a lot, still hurts, but with a road bike and clip pedals my knees are pretty well fixed in place, no lateral motion.

[Dion]

I remember my late father telling me about a coversation he had with the late Brad McCrimmon when he was playing for the Flames. They bumped into each other in a bar and the talk was about the injuries a hockey player recieves over his career and how it ages a player. Fans would focus on the money they made but don't often realise the toll it can have on a persons body and thier life after hockey.

[doctajones428]

29 years old
Nearly 40 million in career earnings
Has another 30+ lined up over the next 6 years
Won a cup
Has two kids
In debilitating, chronic pain
Never has to work again

It's a no brainer to me. Get it fixed and use the 6+ years that would of been spent playing hockey on raising your kids

[TurdFerguson]

Tough spot but he's young enough and has the financial means and family that will enable him to find a new passion.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by doctajones428

29 years old
Nearly 40 million in career earnings
Has another 30+ lined up over the next 6 years
Won a cup
Has two kids
In debilitating, chronic pain
Never has to work again

It's a no brainer to me. Get it fixed and use the 6+ years that would of been spent playing hockey on raising your kids

I 100% agree, but the transition period is incredibly difficult. He's losing his identity as a person. Psychologically that's a difficult thing to deal with.

[FlamesAddiction]

While I'm sure that having money helps at least ease the worry of having to support himself and his family, I don't think it matters when something which is part of who you is ripped away from you against your will.

For ordinary people, such things are rarely occupations (most people just work to live and supplement their lives with past times and hobbies), but imagine that you were told that you could never again do whatever it is that you love doing. That has to hurt no matter how much money you have in the bank.

[T@T]

While he's collecting his 30 million maybe he should go back to school and become a back specialist to help his cause. There are thousands of people living with his pain and 99.9 of them aren't filthy rich.