Former AFL star Wayne Carey continues to battle a severe neck injury from 2004 that forced his retirement, with recent falls and loss of sensation in his hands prompting urgent medical intervention.
Ongoing Symptoms and Recent Falls
Carey reports complete numbness in his left hand, emerging numbness in his right hand, and shooting pains throughout his neck. “My left hand is basically numb, right hand going numb, I’m getting shooting pains, all that sort of stuff,” he stated on his You Cannot Be Serious podcast.
In the past few weeks, he has suffered multiple falls, initially attributing them to age. However, a recent consultation with neurosurgeon Dr. Matt Guttman, including new MRIs, revealed the condition has worsened since his last scan 15 years ago.
Impending Surgery
“I will definitely need an operation,” Carey confirmed, expressing optimism that the procedure will restore feeling to his hands. The 54-year-old hopes this addresses the spinal damage sustained during a June 12, 2004, match against Geelong while playing for the Adelaide Crows.
Doctors warned at the time that continuing to play risked permanent paralysis, cutting his career short by nine games. “I was always half-expecting the neurosurgeon to say what he said, but in saying that, it’s always a surprise,” Carey reflected then. “It’s cut my career nine games short which is disappointing.”
Broader Health Challenges
The neck injury compounds a history of wear from 272 AFL games across 15 seasons with North Melbourne and Adelaide. Carey underwent shoulder surgeries in 2022, including replacements and reconstructions on both shoulders due to severe arthritis and lost strength.
Renowned orthopaedic surgeon Greg Hoy described his left shoulder as “about as bad as it can get,” with numerous body parts now severely arthritic.
2022 Casino Incident Linked to Pain Management
Carey’s health issues drew attention in September 2022 when security removed him from a Perth casino after a bag of white powder fell from his pocket. His lawyer, Josh Bornstein, clarified that Carey uses prescribed anti-inflammatories and painkillers for football-related injuries, including a shoulder needing replacement and neck discs requiring three replacements.
Crown issued a two-year ban from its Perth premises following the incident.
