AFL champion Wayne Carey is preparing for another operation to alleviate distress caused by a neck injury during his playing days that has left his hands "basically numb".
Carey, who has been dubbed as one of the greatest players in history, hung up his boots at the end of 2004 after 272 top-flight games, after damaging his cervical spine against Geelong.
At the time, doctors informed him of the dangers of paralysis if he continued playing.
The seven-time All-Australian revealed on Sam Newman's podcast, You Cannot Be Serious, that he met with neurosurgeon Dr Matt Gutman following the concerning symptoms.
"My left hand is basically numb, right hand going numb, I'm getting shooting pains, all that sort of stuff," Carey said.
"I've fallen over a couple of times in the last couple of weeks.
"I thought it was just me just maybe getting on in years and maybe tripped, but two days ago I went and saw a neurosurgeon.
"I got MRIs to find out the extent [of the problem]. The last MRI I had on my neck was about 15 years ago, and it was pretty bad.
"I will definitely need an operation."
Carey had a series of shoulder operations in 2022, which he explained the effects to have impacted his "strength and range of movement", which was "gone", whilst parts of his body are "severely arthritic".
A champion of the game, the 54-year-old played 16 seasons across two clubs, spending 13 years at the Kangaroos, claiming two flags, two MVPs, seven All-Australian blazers, four best and fairest and was skipper.
He moved to Adelaide following off-field controversy involving teammate Anthony Stevens, playing 28 games for the Crows before hanging up the boots.
