A lawyer who complained of a ‘pulled muscle’ was left stunned when doctors revealed he had had a broken back for 40 years, but the discovery of the injury saved his life.
David Cook, of Rochester, New York, sought the help of a physical therapist after experiencing lower back pain in May, which he attributed to a “gym muscle strain.”
The 66-year-old was referred to a spine specialist after his symptoms failed to improve – when his doctor saw something alarming on his scan.
The father-of-four was shocked to learn he had unknowingly broken his back 40 years ago, most likely on one of his adventure ski holidays.
Fortunately, the fracture healed without medical intervention, but even more worryingly, doctors discovered a baseball-sized mass on David’s kidney that required further testing.
Mr. PLEASE COOK David underwent successful surgery to remove the tumor, which was later diagnosed as cancer.
TO DELETE. REPETITION David never suspected that his months of back pain would have resulted in a cancer diagnosis. He blamed his symptoms on old age or a pulled muscle while exercising.
David Cook, pictured with his wife Kathleen, sought the help of a physiotherapist after experiencing lower back pain in May
David said: ‘Before I went to the doctor about it I thought the back pain was just a pulled muscle. I thought it was something that only needed massage therapy.
‘For a period of about a month and a half there was no relief. I stretched and what not, but there was no relief.
‘I thought it was old age or a pulled muscle. After three sessions with a physiotherapist he told me to see a spine specialist.’
After having an X-ray, David’s doctor saw two reasons for concern in his scan.
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David said: ‘He looked at the scan and the first thing he said was: “When did you break your back?” I said I never knew I had broken my back and he told me I had definitely broken my back.
‘I played a lot of sports and skied a lot as a child, so there could have been some spectacular skiing accidents.
‘He told me that the fracture had healed on its own, but that there was another problem causing this pain.
‘He said there was something wrong with my kidney and we need to look at that. 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 believed to have been growing in David’s kidneys over the past decade and was likely CANCER.
DOCS believe that the untreated back pain may have contributed to the growth of the tumor
EXPLAIN HERE HOW TRAUMATIC INJURY CAN LEAD TO CANCER
David said: ‘I was prepared to be told I had six months. My wife and I have a goal to see every continent and all the national parks, and my biggest fear would be if I wouldn’t be able to do that.
‘We still want to do that. I was tormented by the thought of my wife being alone. She was very helpful.
David, pictured with his sons Jared and Dallon, was shocked to learn he had unknowingly broken his back 40 years ago, probably on one of his adventure ski holidays.
Fortunately, the fracture healed without medical intervention, but even more worryingly, doctors discovered a ‘baseball-sized’ mass on David’s kidney that required further testing.
‘When I first started experiencing 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, so I thought: why me? I did the right things.’
The father underwent surgery to remove the cancerous tumor and luckily his kidney was saved.
David was told that 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 amyloids build up in the heart muscle.
The heart becomes stiff and cannot pump blood, causing a person to enter the early stages of heart failure.
David said: ‘The back pain saved my life. I honestly thought it was just a pulled muscle. The doctor actually told me that the back pain had saved my life.
‘Without that pain, the tumor would have continued to grow and it would have been a completely different conversation. I feel great and very grateful and happy.’