Chef Ranveer Brar opens up about recent cervical spine injury: ‘It was a freak gym accident’

He also shared his ordeal in the first two weeks of the injury. “I couldn’t really do anything in the first two weeks. Now, I have started moving around with a cervical collar,” said Brar, who was last seen in the Hansal Mehta-directed The Buckingham Murders, where he shared screen space with Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Know more about the cervical spine injury (Source: Freepik)

What does his recovery diet look like? “Mostly, light vegetarian with paya soup regulator,” Brar said.

He also revealed that physiotherapy would start “after the fracture joins back.”

Given the outpouring of love and warm wishes ever since the news broke out, Brar expressed, “We kept it very quiet for three weeks, just between friends and family, till the news came out. It’s very heartwarming to see the love, concern, and care.”

What is cervical spine fracture?

Cervical spine fracture refers to cervical vertebrae fracture (bones in the neck region). In simple words, a cervical spine fracture or broken neck is seen when one of the seven bones in the neck breaks. “The commonest cause of cervical spine fracture is trauma- related to road traffic accidents, falls, assault,  and sports-related injuries,” said consultant neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad.

According to Dr Kumar, the biggest worry about a cervical spine fracture is compression of the cervical cord (upper part of the spinal cord). “If this occurs, the person can be completely paralysed below the neck. There would be numbness below the neck, loss of bladder and bowel control, and erectile dysfunction,” said Dr Kumar.

If the spinal cord is not compressed, the common symptoms are pain in the neck and arms, said Dr Kumar. “The outcome after cervical spine fracture depends on the severity, whether the cord is compressed or not, and how early the treatment was started,” noted Dr Kumar.

Immediately after a cervical spine fracture, “the neck needs to be immobilised with the use of a hard cervical collar”. “Care should be taken to avoid neck movements while moving the patient from the accident site to the hospital,” said Dr Kumar.

Assessment includes CT and MRI of the cervical spine, followed by a neurosurgeon’s opinion.

In mild cases, recovery occurs in a few weeks, said Dr Kumar. According to Dr Girish L. Bhalerao, super specialty consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Wockhardt Hospital Mira Road, avoid doing any strenuous activities that can aggravate the pain and worsen your condition further.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.