Jim McMahon says NFL lawsuit delay a blessing and a curse

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STAMFORD -- Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon feels the recent ruling by a judge to halt the lawsuit by former NFL players suffering from post concussion symptoms is both a blessing and a curse.

A blessing in that ultimately there will be more money for players that need help, but a curse because it further delays the help reaching the people that need it the most and need it now.

"It's good because it means more money for the guys that can't afford the treatments I have been getting," McMahon said. "It also means that guys that need help right now have to wait another year or two and they may not have that time."

McMahon was at Chelsea Piers in Stamford as part of a panel discussion on the new Image Guided Atlas Treatment for people suffering post concussion symptoms.

McMahon says the treatments he received from Dr. Scott Rosa literally saved his life.

McMahon suffered three diagnosed concussions while in the NFL but says, looking back, he surely had more that went undetected during his 15-year career.

Jim McMahon, former Chicago Bears quarterback, speaks to an audience at Chelsea Piers Stamford, CT about being a patient of Dr. Scott Rosa, a cranio-cervical specialist, and Dr. Rosa's procedure on treating cranio-cervical issues. Thursday, January, 16th, 2014. less Jim McMahon, former Chicago Bears quarterback, speaks to an audience at Chelsea Piers Stamford, CT about being a patient of Dr. Scott Rosa, a cranio-cervical specialist, and Dr. Rosa's procedure on treating ... more Photo: Mark Conrad Photo: Mark Conrad Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Jim McMahon says NFL lawsuit delay a blessing and a curse 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

McMahon was diagnosed with dementia several years ago and said his physical pain is diminishing while his short term memory loss has improved since receiving the treatments.

"I feel great now," McMahon said. "I have friends that have killed themselves and I can see why they did. There were times I was in so much pain I wanted to kill myself. If I had a gun I may have killed myself. My head is much more clear no but the biggest difference is physically I feel much better."

McMahon now wants to educate the public on the treatments he has received and has tried to get the NFL to listen to no avail.

Dr. Raymond Damadian developed the first MRI years ago and recently developed an upright MRI which he says allows doctors to look at a patient when they are experiencing pain rather than lying down.

The doctors said they had to help McMahon out of the car when he first arrived for treatments because he was holding his neck and could not move.

The upright MRI revealed McMahon had spinal fluid cooling in his brain and a rotation of the vertebrae in his neck which was leading to his condition.

After the diagnosis, McMahon went to Dr. Rosa, a chiropractor, who was able to adjust McMahon's neck, leading to immediate relief.

"It felt like a toilet flushed in my head. I felt better immediately," McMahon said. "The only time I felt better before that was when I was lying down, so, I stayed in bed most days."

The treatment is not permanent and McMahon must go back for adjustments when is symptoms come back, about once every 10 months.

Damadian said that doctors are looking at people's brains, but the problem often resides in the neck as the result of whiplash or sports related trauma.

He believes that the combination of the FONAR upright MRI and Dr. Rosa's treatments could save many patients from the debilitating effects of concussions.

McMahon is a believer and wants the NFL to take notice, calling on the league to scan players at the draft to get a baseline reading. Additionally, McMahon wants the NFL to adopt testing policies for current players so they do not have to wait 20 years to get help.

scott.ericson@scni.com; @EricsonSports