Test captain Tim Paine has gone into eye-watering detail on how surgery to fix a bulging disc left him with a hole in his throat, but a rapid timeline to returning to the field of play.
“I had the bulging disc pressing on my spine, I was having some pain down the left side of my body,” he told SEN radio.
Paine said surgeons “cut a big hole in my throat” before replacing the C6 and C7 discs in his neck.
“They moved my voice box to the side and go in that way. It’s less invasive, safer,” he said.
“They put the new disc in, stitched them up and away we go. I feel like my range is already better and I just have to not make sure the cut heals and give the disc time to take to my spine over the next month or so, then get moving.”
Paine cited former NRL grat Mat Rogers and recently-retired Melbourne Demons legend Nathan Jones as two other high-profile athletes who had come back quickly from similar procedures.
“The precedent has been set, guys have got back from it reasonably quickly. We’ve been talking to all those players, their physios, their surgeons to track their rehab plans and get me back as quick as we can,” Paine said.
“As soon as this six-week block is over I’ll be good to go. I’m pretty confident outside of that six weeks I’ll be ready to go within a week. That gives me plenty of time (for the Ashes). I won’t be as fit or as strong as I’d like to be. If I am moving freely, I’ll give a good fist of it.”
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Despite risking his place in the side due to the arduous fitness battle he faces, Paine said having surgery was the best choice he could make.
“It was that touch-and-go stage, where I don’t get it done and take the risk I’ll be right for the Ashes or get it done now and make sure I am,” he said.
“I’m pretty happy with the decision. After the surgeon had a look in there, he said it was a good decision to get it done.
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“The most important thing in the first two week is the healing itself. I need it to take with the bone that is there.
“It’s a slow process, I’ll be walking over the next couple of weeks, doing a lot of little neck physio movements. It’s a see how we go from there.
“I know I will be dealing with physios for the next six weeks before I start my cricket rehab.
“I want to keep playing for Tasmania after my international career. To have it fixed and out of the way was the correct decision long term.”