Hulk Hogan: “It is a constant, overriding pain”
Over a nearly 30-year career, Hulk Hogan has had a litany of surgeries to fix old injuries. However it was a back surgery that signaled the end of his landmark career.
“Everyone talks about the ‘fake wrestling,’ Hogan stated. “You do get hurt. I started having my knees scoped years ago. Right knee scoped 4 times, left knee scoped four times, finally, I had both knees replaced, had both hips replaced. Went in for one back surgery and it turned into nine back surgeries. I actually wrestled the Rock with a replaced knee and hip.
“As soon as they cut into my back, it was game over. I was hoping I could have the fusion like Shawn Michaels and keep going. The doctors that wanted me to have the fusion, wanted me to try everything else first. The cut into me six times and took me out of the game because they took so much bone out of me. After the six, they told my wife, Jenifer, I would never walk again. So, it took me three more to get upright.”
Even after the surgeries, Hogan deals with near-constant pain. He has resorted to stem cell treatments to help with the pain but those only provide short-term relief.
“It is a constant, overriding pain,” Hogan exasperated. “It is everywhere. It is just these sharp pains, where arthritis and inflammation is, it hits you pretty hard. You have good days and bad days. It depends on if it is raining, if it is cold, if you have been drinking because that can dehydrate your joints, it is just a series of trying to do the best you can, take the edge off with fish oil, glucosamine but nothing takes the pain away.
“It is the weirdest thing, when you first hit me with the stem cells, I really notice it in my back,” Hogan said. “When I put my left foot down there is a crazy pain that goes from my left foot into my back, up to my ear. Once I got the stem cells, I put my left foot down there was no pain shooting up into my head. That lasted about four days, then I was back to square one. I told the doctor this stuff doesn’t last very long, it is very expensive, they gave me all these peptides, I notice right out of the box.”
When he first started getting stem cell treatments, Hogan had to journey to Mexico. During one of the procedures, Hogan nearly died due to an allergic reaction to DMSO (the primary ingredient in Aspirin). Many would assume that Hogan had to know by using aspirin throughout his career. But Hogan dispelled that notion.
“I never used it,” Hogan exclaimed. “Back then I was eating the pain pills, so I never tried it. They can say it was the leg drop, the steroids, the truth is I had scoliosis. When they did my back, my spine was in a crazy ‘S’ shape. Whenever I did a double bicep shot, I cocked hips. That was because my back wasn’t straight.”
Despite the surgeries and pain, Hogan was adamant that he has no regrets.
“Yes, I wouldn’t change a thing,” Hogan said. “It was a great life, it was fun. I love the business. Anyone that knows me can tell you how much of a fan of this business I am. I’m a fan, I’m a mark. I love wrestling.”
(Pro Wrestling & MMA World)
