1.   He underwent season-ending surgery in July to alleviate painful nerve compression in his spinal cord.

2.   It results in small vertebral openings, which can cause nerve compression in the spine, he said.

3.   Luckily, unless the rupture causes severe nerve compression, the pain eventually subsides.

4.   Doctors hope to relieve pressure from nerve compression in the cervical area of the spine, the school said.