Doctor: Disc protrusion not unusual

Real Madrid’s chief doctor Carlos Diez has claimed that Gareth Bale’s ‘disc protrusion’ is not unusual.

The Wales international was diagnosed with the problem after Los Blancos released a statement denying a story written by Marca that insisted the winger had a ‘slipped disc’.

“Gareth Bale has not suffered a slipped disk and therefore there’s no need to speculate about any operation,” he told Cadena SER.

“You have to put chronic disk protrusions in context of the sporting world.

“It’s the same with anatomical abnormalities. The majority of players suffer from them and it makes sense, because we are talking about players competing at the highest level, who suffer more wear and tear than a normal person who doesn’t engage in physical exercise. But that does not mean he has a disabling condition.

“When Bale had his medical no clinical condition was discovered, just a radiological finding. There’s no threat that he will need surgery, although, of course, to avoid any problem, he is undergoing a preventative recovery programme because we are obliged to make sure the player is protected and make sure this discovery doesn’t become anything bigger."

The chief medical officer then explained that in some cases a chronic disc protrusion ‘can cause paresthesia and even functional impotence’.

"That was the case with Higuaín, who had to be operated on. But Bale played last season in the Premier League without any problems, he’s trained very well with us and we don’t need to give these findings any more importance.”

“It’s difficult to make predictions in medicine. Our job is to prevent this from becoming more serious.

“Our view was that the player was ready and therefore there was nothing to report to the President.

“He didn’t have a usual pre-season and here the game is played at a different pace. We have to be cautious. He’s only carrying a muscle tear and he anticipated that in a warm-up [against Getafe].

"When it came back, in the match with Atletico Madrid, we took measures. We are working on getting him back to play some minutes as a substitute against Malaga, play a bit more against Juventus so he is completely ready for the Clasico against Barcelona.”

Tags Bale Carlos Diez
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