NFL Player Who Suffered Nerve Damage Opts for Retirement

Nerve damage can cause significant pain, weakness, and numbness for those who sustain nerve damage injuries. Many people who suffer from these symptoms are unable to work for lengthy periods of time. But one man is being forced to choose an entirely different career because of nerve damage.

Linebacker Announces Retirement from NFL

On April 26, 2010, Jeremy Thompson officially announced his retirement from the National Football League. The linebacker for the Green Bay Packers had only played two seasons of professional football.

Thompson was injured on December 4, 2009 when his helmet crashed into the shoulder pad of a fellow player during a practice session. Subsequent medical tests revealed that the 24-year-old had sustained a spinal concussion.

The Packers decided to release the 6'4", 260-pound player after the 2009 season because the team's medical staff determined that it was too risky for him to continue playing football. Physicians believed that if Thompson sustained another injury, it could result in extensive permanent nerve damage or even paralysis.

Thompson: It Was the Right Decision

In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Thompson indicated that although he is disappointed, he knows the decision to retire was the right one. He said that he didn't want to risk not being able to play with his children or hold his wife.

The graduate of Wake Forest University has a degree in exercise and health science, and has indicated in the past that he is interested in becoming a physical therapist. Thompson says that his nerve damage still prevents him from lifting weights because of weakness in his right arm.

To learn more about nerve damage and the kind of impact it can have on your life, visit our article library. 

Contacting a Chicago Nerve Damage Attorney

If you've sustained a nerve damage injury because of someone else's neglect, it would be in your best interest to contact a Chicago nerve damage attorney to discuss your legal options. Retaining the legal services of a Chicago nerve damage attorney can help you focus on getting better while your attorney deals with the insurance companies on your behalf.

The Chicago nerve damage attorneys at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. will help you monitor your medical expenses and work toward a settlement to cover all of the treatments you need to get your life back on track. Contact us today for a free case evaluation - (312) 263-1080.