03-01 - NBA - Larry Bird - the legacy should've continued.

This entry will focus on Hall-of-Famer, Larry Bird, who could've achieved so much more with his career, but was abruptly cut short due to nagging and painful injuries.

Larry Joe Bird is credited with being one of the best shooters in the history of the NBA. He was named ROOKIE of the YEAR, beating out another all-time great, Earvin Magic Johnson. That same year he also achieved another feat by making it on the NBA Eastern Conference All-Star team. This proved to be the 1st of many All-Star achievements, as he would make the team for his entire 12-year NBA professional career. During his career, Larry Bird notched 3 NBA championship titles all with the Boston Celtics. Unfortunately, due to a herniated disc, he would be seen taking more time on the bench and eventually being forced into retirement.

Herniated Disc: (WebMD Article)

What is a herniated disc?

The bones (vertebrae) that form the spine in your back are cushioned by small, spongy discs. When these discs are healthy, they act as shock absorbers for the spine and keep the spine flexible. But when a disc is damaged, it may bulge or break open. This is called a herniated disc. It may also be called a slipped or ruptured disc.

Causes & Symptoms

Most types of herniated discs are caused by:

• Wear and tear on your spinal region. (As you age, the discs in your spinal cord tend to dry out and are not as flexible any longer)


• Certain injuries to the spine may cause ruptures of the disc, causing the gel like material to leak and not provide a cushioned support.

Table that displays more in depth information on medical procedure and recovery time:

Year:	Procedure:	Recovery Time:
Present Day Procedure	MICRODISCECTOMIES = the removal of just the injured part of the spinal disc, are becoming less invasive and better at alleviating the pain of pinched nerves. Doctors are also testing ceramic and metal-allow prostetic discs to replace and even enhance the cushioning that is lost through age and overuse.	Recovery time has been greatly reduced. From a few months to a year for more serious injuries.
Vintage Medical Procedure	Full or partial removal of the disc or vertebral bone	Six months to Career-Ending