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Women's Soccer Spotlight: Lauren Nash
May 23, 2013 | Women's Soccer
May 23, 2013
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Lauren Nash, a rising sophomore midfielder for the University of Louisville women's soccer team, is preparing for the unknown as she is scheduled for major surgery in the coming months.
Nash has struggled with back injuries since high school. The Woodbury, Minn., native underwent a series of CT scans prior to her freshman season which revealed the source of her back pain. The result of the scan showed cracks to her L3 and L5 vertebrae. Not only was she suffering from two cracks in her spine, but also tissue degeneration typically seen in individuals entering their 80's. Nash decided to undergo non-invasive treatment in order to play her freshman season.
"Throughout the season, I could feel the pain in my back becoming more and more noticeable," said Nash. "I was constantly in the training room getting treatment, hoping that it would take some of the pain away."
At the end of the season, Nash underwent another series of scans. Unfortunately, the scan revealed another crack forming on her L5, one of her vertebrae already cracked. As a result, Nash was put into a back brace to try and prevent further injury and promote healing.
"That back brace was absolutely dreadful to be in," Nash said. "I hated it."
Nash wore the brace throughout the much of the offseason. Bending over, breathing and other typically daily tasks were uncomfortable and provided some prospective for Nash.
"The day I could stop wearing that brace was one of the best days of my life," explained Nash. "I learned to appreciate the little things, like not feeling like I was being choked while sitting in class and being able to pick something up without it being a huge struggle. The new pain I had been feeling was gone and I was ready to get back into shape and play."
The brace was helping Nash heal slowly, but had decreased her pain tolerance. Once removing the brace, Nash couldn't bear to stand more than 15 minutes at a time.
"Before, I could play an entire game without noticing my back and now I could barely stand for 15 minutes," she said.
As a result of the pain and the increased likelihood of further back damage, Nash's doctors came to the conclusion that back surgery was the most needed option. Due to her pending surgery, Nash is running and training to minimalize the effects.
"Now, I am trying to get in the best shape possible," said Nash. "Running has become a daily activity and I am trying to do it as much as possible before I can't for a couple months."
Nash is scheduled for surgery in the coming months. How her body will recover and if she'll be able to play soccer competitively again are all unknown. If anything, this process has provided Nash with unprecedented perspective and appreciation for what she can do.
"I've grown to appreciate it and love it," she explained. "Throughout this whole process, I have been told that I should never play again, that I can play again, that I need to get surgery to play again, and that surgery may not be the right option. It has been an emotional year, but I am still praying that after surgery I will be able to play. We're taking it one day at a time and I'm hoping for a quick recovery!"
