A solicitor who complained of a “muscle tear” was stunned when doctors revealed he had had a fracture in his back for 40 years – but discovering the injury saved his life.
David Cook of Rochester, New York, saw a physical therapist after experiencing lower back pain in May, which he attributed to a “gym muscle pull.”
The 66-year-old was referred to a spine specialist after his symptoms failed to improve, when his doctor detected something alarming on his scan.
The father of four was shocked to learn that he had unknowingly broken his back 40 years ago, probably during one of his adventurous ski holidays.
Fortunately, the fracture had healed without medical intervention, however, even more concerning, doctors detected a baseball-sized mass on David’s kidney that required further testing.
MR. COOK IN EVERYTHING PLEASE David successfully underwent surgery to remove the tumor, which was later determined to be cancerous.
DELETE. REPETITION David never suspected that his months of back pain would have resulted in a cancer diagnosis, blaming his symptoms on old age or a pulled muscle while exercising.
David Cook, pictured with his wife Kathleen, consulted a physiotherapist after battling lower back pain in May.
David said: ‘Before I went to the doctor about this, I thought the back pain was just a pulled muscle. I thought it was something that just needed massage therapy.
‘Over a period of about a month and a half, there was no relief. I was stretching and everything but there was no relief.
‘I thought it was age or a muscle pull. After three sessions with a physiotherapist, he told me to see a spine specialist.’
After undergoing an x-ray, David’s doctor found two reasons for concern in his scan.
David said: ‘He looked at the scan and the first thing he said was “when did you break your back?” I told him I never knew I broke my back and he told me I definitely broke my back.
“I played a lot of sports as a child and skied a lot, so it could be due to a series of spectacular ski accidents.
‘He told me that the fracture had healed on its own but that there was another problem that was causing this pain.
‘He said there was something in my kidney and we had to examine it. The doctor said I probably didn’t feel the pain before in my life because I’m quite active.’
Further tests revealed a baseball-sized tumor that was suspected to have been growing in David’s kidney for the past ten years, and was likely CANCEROUS.
TEACHERS BELIEVE UNTREATED BACK BREAK MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO TUMOR GROWTH
EXPLAIN HERE HOW A TRAUMATIC INJURY CAN LEAD TO CANCER, PLEASE
David said: ‘I was prepared to be told I was six months old. My wife and I have a goal of seeing every continent and every national park, and my biggest anguish would be not being able to do it.
‘We still want to do that. It distressed me to think that my wife was alone. She was a great support.
David, pictured with his sons Jared and Dallon, was shocked to learn that he had unknowingly broken his back 40 years ago, probably during one of his adventurous ski holidays.
Fortunately, the fracture had healed without medical intervention, however, even more concerning, doctors detected a baseball-sized mass on David’s kidney that required further testing.
‘When I first experienced back pain, I never expected this to be the cause. It was the furthest thing from my mind.
‘I’m in good shape, I never smoke or drink. I live a very healthy lifestyle and I thought why me? I was doing all the right things.’
The dad underwent an operation where the cancerous tumor was removed and fortunately his kidney was saved.
David was told the pain was caused by both the tumor and a condition known as cardiac amyloidosis.
This is a condition that occurs when plaques of a protein byproduct known as amyloid build up in the heart muscle.
The heart becomes stiff and cannot pump blood, putting the person in the early stages of heart failure.
David said: ‘Back pain helped save my life. I really thought it was just a pulled muscle. In fact, the doctor told me that back pain had saved my life.
‘Without that pain, the tumor would have continued to grow and it would have been a very different conversation. “I feel great, very grateful and lucky.”