Surgery on back was only option for Spezza
Will push hard to return to Senators’ lineup
OTTAWA — Although it may cost have cost him the season, Jason Spezza says it was the only option.
The Ottawa centre spoke to the media for the first time Friday morning since undergoing back surgery for a herniated disc a week ago, and admitted he had no other choice.
“It was really bad,” he said. “It got to the point where there was no way I was going to be able to play, so it makes it frustrating.
“But there wasn’t really an option once we got down to it.”
The 29-year-old Senator says that once the pain started he struggled to find any kind of relief, and things finally culminated in a game against the Penguins on Jan. 27.
“I started to feel it a little bit towards the end of training camp and the start of the season and then it got out of control probably after the second game of the season,” Spezza said.
“It got worse and worse and halfway through the Pittsburgh game I lost strength in my leg and got real bad numbness and halfway through the game I pretty much knew I’d have to see someone.”
For Spezza, who says he felt almost instant relief following the surgery, back issues are nothing new. He had surgery following the 2006 season, but continued to miss games the following year due to recurring back pain, and has always had to be very cognizant of the issue and undergo ongoing treatment to deal with flare-ups.
“I do play hockey for a living and it’s not easy on the body, but the goal is to strengthen it and have it fixed and not be an issue moving forward. If there’s a doctor out there who can give me that guarantee, or I can give you that guarantee I’d love to have it.”
Spezza didn’t want to commit to a return date, but it’s obvious he hopes to return before the end of the season.
“You always aim to push your rehab and you can be a little more aggressive with things, but (Gerry Townend, the head athletic therapist) already talked to me about … doing things right and not getting too carried away,” Spezza said.