marine1
Honorary Master
Very sad I wish him well and his family in this time.
Dont know if this has been posted
I wonder if years of abuse of drugs and steroids may have had an impact
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Few-options-for-Joost-doctor-20110512
Johannesburg - Former Springbok captain Joost van der Westhuizen faces an uncertain future after being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.
Van der Westhuizen, a 1995 World Cup winner and captain of the 1999 World Cup team, was stunned as he was diagnosed with a motor neural muscle disease by doctors in Pretoria, with his personal physician saying "there are few options available to treat him."
The seriousness of the disease must not be underestimated, and while initial information compared it to the disease that left Springbok flanker André Venter in a wheelchair, this is much more threatening.
Van der Westhuizen's physician, Dr Henry Kelbrick, said that Van der Westhuizen arrived complaining of "a loss of power" in his arm muscles.
"He was complaining that he had no power, a weakening of the muscles in his arm," Kelbrick said.
"We we ran a number of tests, including scans on the brain, neck and other areas, as there was a chance it could have been from an old rugby injury. We immediately found the cause and I referred Joost to a top neurologist, Dr Pieter Kritzinger, where the diagnosis was confirmed."
Kelbrick didn't want to elaborate on the exact disease that was diagnosed, as he had been asked by Van der Westhuizen and his family not to go into that detail, but did say it was serious.
He added that while it may have been mistaken for a similar disease as Venter's, it was actually "a lot more serious".
"It is nowhere near the same as Andre's, as that affected him from the waist down. This disease affects the entire body."
The disease slowly degenerates the muscles in the body, up to a point where the patient can develop respiratory problems, and this can be life-threatening.
But Kelbrick was quick to point out that Van der Westhuizen was "still fine".
"He is functioning at 100 percent at the moment and is in good spirits," Dr Kelbrick said.
Van der Westhuizen did go for a second opinion at a Johannesburg Neurologist, who confirmed the initial diagnosis and is currently resting in a Northern Suburbs hospital.
He has started treatment, although as Kelbrick points out, "there are very little options available for treatment of this type of diagnosis."
Kelbrick added that the disease struck at random, and not because it was either genetic or because of lifestyle choices.
"It can happen to anybody," he added.
Meanwhile, supporters of Joost van der Westhuizen have reacted with shock to the news on Twitter and Facebook.
Dozens of people wished Van der Westhuizen - described by one fan as "an absolute legend" - well and spoke about his inspired performance on the field.
Users on the News24 Facebook page who referred to his recent notorious exploits off the pitch - one even suggested karma is playing a role - were rebuked.
"Wow, who cares if he was a cheater, no-one deserves the disease or the comments that you are dishing out - he was one talented human being who played a great game of rugby," one user said.
Dont know if this has been posted
I wonder if years of abuse of drugs and steroids may have had an impact
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Few-options-for-Joost-doctor-20110512
Johannesburg - Former Springbok captain Joost van der Westhuizen faces an uncertain future after being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.
Van der Westhuizen, a 1995 World Cup winner and captain of the 1999 World Cup team, was stunned as he was diagnosed with a motor neural muscle disease by doctors in Pretoria, with his personal physician saying "there are few options available to treat him."
The seriousness of the disease must not be underestimated, and while initial information compared it to the disease that left Springbok flanker André Venter in a wheelchair, this is much more threatening.
Van der Westhuizen's physician, Dr Henry Kelbrick, said that Van der Westhuizen arrived complaining of "a loss of power" in his arm muscles.
"He was complaining that he had no power, a weakening of the muscles in his arm," Kelbrick said.
"We we ran a number of tests, including scans on the brain, neck and other areas, as there was a chance it could have been from an old rugby injury. We immediately found the cause and I referred Joost to a top neurologist, Dr Pieter Kritzinger, where the diagnosis was confirmed."
Kelbrick didn't want to elaborate on the exact disease that was diagnosed, as he had been asked by Van der Westhuizen and his family not to go into that detail, but did say it was serious.
He added that while it may have been mistaken for a similar disease as Venter's, it was actually "a lot more serious".
"It is nowhere near the same as Andre's, as that affected him from the waist down. This disease affects the entire body."
The disease slowly degenerates the muscles in the body, up to a point where the patient can develop respiratory problems, and this can be life-threatening.
But Kelbrick was quick to point out that Van der Westhuizen was "still fine".
"He is functioning at 100 percent at the moment and is in good spirits," Dr Kelbrick said.
Van der Westhuizen did go for a second opinion at a Johannesburg Neurologist, who confirmed the initial diagnosis and is currently resting in a Northern Suburbs hospital.
He has started treatment, although as Kelbrick points out, "there are very little options available for treatment of this type of diagnosis."
Kelbrick added that the disease struck at random, and not because it was either genetic or because of lifestyle choices.
"It can happen to anybody," he added.
Meanwhile, supporters of Joost van der Westhuizen have reacted with shock to the news on Twitter and Facebook.
Dozens of people wished Van der Westhuizen - described by one fan as "an absolute legend" - well and spoke about his inspired performance on the field.
Users on the News24 Facebook page who referred to his recent notorious exploits off the pitch - one even suggested karma is playing a role - were rebuked.
"Wow, who cares if he was a cheater, no-one deserves the disease or the comments that you are dishing out - he was one talented human being who played a great game of rugby," one user said.
