Carwin's back injury worse than expected, but surgery successful. To return to training in 8-12 weeks.

Former UFC interim heavyweight champion Shane Carwin (12-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is recovering from a Tuesday surgery on his back that his manager, Jason Genet, has deemed "successful."

Genet posted updates on his Twitter account today regarding his client's condition.

"Carwin is out of surgery and in the recovery room," Genet stated. "No complications during surgery."

According to Genet, Carwin underwent a foraminotomy. The procedure is used to relieve pressure on compressed and pinched nerves. Although considered minimally invasive, the surgery requires incisions in the back of the neck and in the affected vertebrae.

According to Genet, specialist Dr. Chad Prusmack used the procedure to target Carwin's C5, C6 and C7 vertebrae and was surprised by what he found during the repair.

"Surgery went well," Genet stated. "It took just under four hours to complete. The nerve damage was worse than the MRI showed, but they cleaned it up."

Genet said Carwin was under a "powerful" anesthesia during the surgery due to his size, but that the former interim champ was able to communicate that he was feeling no numbness. Today, Genet said Carwin was feeling a bit of pain, but that it was nothing unexpected and the heavyweight was expected to make a full recovery.

"Shane feels really good from where the pain was previously, though the surgery pain is still pretty intense," Genet told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "He will be under no contact rules for about eight-to-12 weeks. The nerve damage was repaired, and it looks like he will be making full recovery."

Carwin has also taken to Twitter to assure fans he is fine following the procedure.

"I am alive," Carwin stated. "Thanks for all your support."

A timetable for Carwin's return to the cage has not yet been established, but Genet is optimistic that the heavyweight will find himself in peak form.

"Shane has been fighting for three years with this injury, and the scar tissue had finally built up to a point where it was cutting the nerve off," Gnet said. "The surgeon was surprised that Shane was training, let alone competing professionally, with such an injury.

"We will likely see the best Shane Carwin yet."

Carwin had been expected to face Roy Nelson at UFC 125 on Jan. 1, but the lingering back issues forced him to withdraw from the contest and seek out medical attention.

Carwin hasn't fought since UFC 116, when he suffered a second-round submission loss to then-heavyweight champ Lesnar. Carwin nearly ended the fight in the first round with a vicious barrage of punches, but Lesnar survived and then capitalized on a quickly fading Carwin to secure a fight-ending arm-triangle choke. Prior to the loss, the former interim champ had posted 12 consecutive wins, all of which came via first-round stoppage.

Maybe the back injury was holding back his cardio training. If he had been fighting through it and it is as bad as they say, and it is truly repaired, I wonder how scary he will be now.

The return of the real Hulk Smash monster is at hand.

Guest

At his age if he hasn't got good cardio he never will and if he were to concentrate on that then he'd lose power.

freakzilla316ftw wrote:: At his age if he hasn't got good cardio he never will and if he were to concentrate on that then he'd lose power.

Why?

Guest

Because of his size. He would have to do a hell of a lot of cardio to lift his levels and that depletes your muscle size.

I dont think he needs cardio like GSP he just needs it to be better than it was against Brock.

He has power to expend.

Wolfgangsta wrote:: He has power to expend.

U aint lying.

Guest

Lol. Probably true.

Guest

He doesn't even need more cardio. He just needs to be smarter.

No, he needs more cardio.

This could endup benefiting him, he'll lose a little muscle mass, return to training hopefully working on cardio, he'll still have the power because it isn't like he's gonna to shrink ridiculously and will always be incredibly strong, plus half joking,. he has a bizarre apelike skeletal structure.

Ya he does. Any ancient viking incest rants that apply to cock chestsnar apply to him as well.

What does that have to do with Vikings? but he does have a freakish oversized skull.

I'm just speaking to all of Rogan's viking comments during fights and the vblog he posted.

Pics after surgery
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/11/5/1795673/snapshot-of-the-day-shane-carwin-post-spinal-surgery

man thats a huge gash!

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