Casey Stoner has revealed that he underwent spinal surgery three months ago, saying the operation has finally relieved back pain that dated back to a crash in 2003.
The two-time MotoGP world champion said on Instagram that he had a L5-S1 spinal fusion and L4-5 disc replacement. According to Stoner, the injury began when he went head first into some hay bales in 2003 and compressed his spine on impact.
A problem that lasted more than 20 years
Stoner said he managed the injury as best he could for more than 20 years, but the pain worsened over time. He added that the final couple of years, and especially the last six months, became unbearable, leaving surgery as the only real option.
The update is notable because the spinal issue was described as a lesser-known health problem compared with the chronic fatigue that has often prevented Stoner from riding at all. Stoner retired from MotoGP at the end of the 2012 season, but this latest revelation shows that the effects of his 2003 crash continued to follow him long after his racing career ended.
What Stoner said about recovery
Stoner said recovery has had its ups and downs, but he also made clear that his back has not felt this good in years. He said he was surprised to realize that even when he thought his back felt good before, he was still living with constant pain.
“It’s only now that I’ve experienced what having no back pain actually feels like,” Stoner said, adding that he was grateful to his surgeon and the medical team that treated him. In his words, the procedure gave him his quality of life back.
For a rider whose career was already defined by elite talent and repeated health setbacks, the update provides a rare positive note. It also underlines just how long a single injury from 2003 continued to affect him, even after retirement from the World Championship stage.
