New Mexico guard remains hospitalized

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) New Mexico senior point guard Senque Carey will remain hospitalized longer than expected following surgery for a spinal cord injury that had left his legs paralyzed for two weeks.

``He's in good condition but he's not recovering as quickly as they initially hoped,'' said Ruthann Richter, Stanford University Medical Center's director of media relations.

Carey, who grew up in East Palo Alto and attended St. Francis prep school, was not able to go back to New Mexico on Tuesday as doctors had initially predicted.

Surgeons removed a bulging disc in Carey's upper spine and fused the spine in that area, said Dr. Lawrence Shuer, a professor of neurosurgery at the hospital.

The two-hour operation was designed to prevent further injury to that area and give Carey's spinal cord as much room as possible for recovery.

Carey will be in a neck brace for two months, then will undergo physical therapy for a year or more.

Carey, 24, was hurt Nov. 25 in the Lobos' second game of the season, against Northwestern State. His legs were paralyzed for two weeks, but he was able to wiggle the toes on his right foot the night of Dec. 7. The next morning he wiggled all his toes and within hours was able to stand and walk.

Carey said last week the herniated discs were putting too much pressure on his spine.

He had been undergoing daily physical therapy and had started jogging, but had frequent painful spasms in his upper back and no feeling in some parts of his legs.

The 6-foot-4 Carey has said he wants to play again, but realizes he faces long odds. He's on track to graduate in May and has mentioned pursuing a career in broadcasting or coaching if he can't play basketball again.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)