Vito - herniated discs in neck

[Dark Energy]

Has had issue since 2023. Second herniated disc in 2025 led to delayed final X.  Yikes.  Just had surgery.  
 

This crap isn’t worth it.  Neck / spine crap is hard core.  I’m no doctor but from my cheap seats … as much as I love watching the guy wrestle ….  Seems like it is time to prioritize long term health.  No more active wrestling. 
 

This stuff is scary.  Have a life.  Enjoy family.  Grow old.  Don’t be crippled.

[Hammerlock3]

Cornell needs some good surprises, its been awhile.

[mspart]

20 hours ago, Dark Energy said:

Has had issue since 2023. Second herniated disc in 2025 led to delayed final X.  Yikes.  Just had surgery.  
 

This crap isn’t worth it.  Neck / spine crap is hard core.  I’m no doctor but from my cheap seats … as much as I love watching the guy wrestle ….  Seems like it is time to prioritize long term health.  No more active wrestling. 
 

This stuff is scary.  Have a life.  Enjoy family.  Grow old.  Don’t be crippled.

Agreed!

mspart

[CHROMEBIRD]

I hope the injury/surgery isn't as serious as I'm thinking it is, and if so, that Vito will prioritize his long-term health. It's tough enough for many of us to walk away from the sport when you've still got that itch, and I can only imagine how much more difficult it must be for someone with Arujau's talent to stay off the mat.

[Lleynor]

Cervical Arthroplasty hopefully. Hopefully not a fusion at his age. 

[bnwtwg]

34 minutes ago, Lleynor said:

Cervical Arthroplasty hopefully. Hopefully not a fusion at his age. 

Cervical arthroplasty is disc replacement, not fusion.

[nhs67]

I am hoping he focuses on health and goes 65 KG.

[Mr. PeanutButter]

Wishing him the best in life and, if he decides to continue, in the sport. Selfishly hope to see him (near) his best and at 65kg soon but agree that the most important thing is to prioritize long term health. I absolutely hate it when injuries hamper or end careers

[mspart]

1 hour ago, Mr. PeanutButter said:

I absolutely hate it when injuries hamper or end careers

I couldn't agree  more.   But, it does happen and a decision must be made on the future.   The amount of pain endured by someone with that injury is intense.   Not something you want to go around with for the rest of your life even with a possible Olympic gold on the line.   That's my calculation.   I can't imagine anyone else would do it differently.   But others don't act or react they way I would to various things so it is an individual decision.   My thought is if it has already happened, it will more easily happen again.   No need to even go there in my opinion.   I wish the best for Vito whatever path he chooses. 

mspart 

[Shibboleth]

I looked into this last night.

Best case (after surgery, single-level or double-level, no complications):

• Return to contact training: 6–9 months.

• Return to competition: 9–12 months (sometimes earlier with artificial disc replacement instead of fusion).

• Some elite athletes (e.g., MMA fighters, NFL linemen) have returned within 9 months.

Median case:

• Return to competition: 12–18 months.

• Performance level: Often good, but some athletes report lingering stiffness or reduced range of motion, especially if fusion was done at multiple levels.

Worst case:

• No safe return to wrestling.

  • Reasons: persistent nerve pain, loss of grip strength, risk of spinal cord injury with impact.

  • This happens in a notable percentage when multiple discs are involved or symptoms remain after surgery.

[jchapman]

I have a cervical spinal fusion.  I can't imagine he is getting a fusion if he plans on returning to competition.  I assume he is getting a disc replacement.  Once you fuse the spine, you obviously lose mobility in that joint, but that has an impact on the other joints, especially immediately above and below the fusion site.  Those joints take on extra stress that the fused joint cannot.  Therefore those adjacent joints become more susceptible to injury. 

[Jim L]

Didn't Peyton Manning have a spinal fusion in his neck before joining the Broncos?

I remember at the time I thought he was crazy to continue playing FB.

Edited 2 hours ago by Jim L

[bnwtwg]

4 minutes ago, Jim L said:

Didn't Peyton Manning have a spinal fusion inhis neck before joining the Broncos?

I remember at the time I thought  he was crazy to continue playing FB.

That was an elective surgery meant to provide extra strength and stability to Manning's neck since it had so much trouble maintaining the weight of his fivehead.

[Dark Energy]

Vito Instagram shows him up and happy post surgery.  Seems to have handled it very well.  Very curious about the severity.  Maybe not as bad / major as I thought.  Then again, neck hernias just do not sound good.