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Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
Former LSU linebacker Damone Clark is undergoing spinal fusion surgery today due to a herniated disk, according to NFL reporter Tom Pelissero.

The injury was discovered when he had an MRI at the NFL Combine.

Filed Under: LSU Football
25 Comments
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gotiger50 months
Spinal Fusion for herniated disc upon MRI at combine? Clearly he felt good enough to show up to the combine, so you have to wonder how it is possibly significant enough to require a fusion. Only possibility is that the herniation was very close to cord compression or mild symptoms related to that that Damone was not going to disclose and the docs felt it was in his best interest before significant life long damage. Just crazy no matter the details. Sorry for the young man
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Mindenfan50 months
Praying that Damone Clark has a successful surgery and will have a great career in the NFL.
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BlackPot50 months
Fuuuuuuuck that. For a herniated disk? Was there any rehab measures taken? I mean a $800 reverse hyper machine would have helped elongate that spine again. I'd try everything under the book before that shite.
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LSU_Legz50 months
They don't usually go to a fusion as a first option...I bet there was a lot of discussion here, and frankly no real alternatives for his case.
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ForeverEllisHugh50 months
I thought they almost always did microdiscectomy as first surgical option.
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PeleofAnalytics50 months
Usually you go the route of injections, then discectomy. I went through both and you normally don't go to the next option until you have exhausted others.
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BigDawg042050 months
Terrible decision for someone that young to get a spinal fusion. His back will never be the same.
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PeleofAnalytics50 months
I would guess even a surgeon would probably want a glimpse at the MRI before making that judgment but I don't want to assume you were not in the room so I will give you the benefit of the doubt.
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theBru50 months
Did he play hurt all year? Hurry and get well!
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TigerLord202050 months
Great Tiger! I hope it works out for him. Hard working young man
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CanebreakCajun50 months
Damn it man. This sucks.
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kjacksonp50 months
Why would you do spinal fusion for herniated disc? In someone as young as he is?
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Kvothe50 months
If bad enough and untreated, it will only lead to straining adjacent levels, thus creating more and more issues. It sucks, but the right decision for someone that has their entire life ahead of them.
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LSUTIGER1650 months
Correct—way too young for this surgery. Herniated disc? Micro-disectomy should be done here.
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saderade50 months
He probably had instability so you can’t do a decompression without fusing the area
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brewhan davey50 months
Terrible news. He’ll probably need another one within 10 years. Fusions should be a last resort.
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Mike7891050 months
I have had the surgery, trust me if there were another option they woukd have taken it. His vertebrae have collapsed on top of each other and it's extremely painful and doing nerve damage that coukd be permanent without the surgery.
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LSUrme50 months
OH no...
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TBoy@LSU50 months
Was he experiencing symptoms related to that?
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Robber DeNiro50 months
Ouch you hate to hear this
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saderade50 months
If he truly is having a spinal fusion, I think it’s likely he may never play again.
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Ragin Tiger150 months
Joe Montana had a spinal fusion back in the day and still played QB in the NFL.
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75503Tiger50 months
There you go, kids, use proper form when lifting or lose millions when you get drafted. This is so unfortunate for a good dude with a lot of heart
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conman50 months
Sad news. I feel bad for the kid and his family. His dream to play in the NFL might not happen now. I'm drawing a blank but this reminds me of the LSU DB that also played baseball that got into an auto accident and never played after that. His next stop will probably be in the coaching ranks.
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sparkyj1550 months
Chad Jones
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