Incompetent medical advice is always a very strong possibility and something that is unfortunately rather prevalent. I, for example, broke my neck in a bicycle race (last October 30th trying to avoid an official who ran into my path). It is the rarest and most fatal (50% mortality rate) of spinal fractures - a fracture to the C1 cervical vertebra (also known as the atlas). I will not get into the medical horror stories that I have faced in dealing with this situation, but my research has led me to a renown expert with whom I have an appointment this coming Wednesday.

As an aside, I have always had little patience for those who find excuses not to exercise. I ride my trainer for 70 minutes every day with a broken neck which gives me even less patience than I had previously for those folks.

I guess I will get the complete story regarding my friend's situation when I visit him this afternoon.