A DESPERATE jockey has warned he has ‘upped the painkillers’ amid an exruciating wait for surgery.
Dual Melbourne Cup winner Corey Brown’s career hangs in the balance over a court hearing on whether he can have a spine operation.
Brown, 44, also blasted chiefs ‘wouldn’t treat an animal like this’ with regards to the wrangling over his procedure.
The Australian jockey says he needs spinal fusion surgery in order to ride again.
However, Workcover, a health and safety regulator who also provide insurance, say the op will not help Brown and have not agreed to letting him go under the knife.
Brown has been out of action since a horror fall at the Queensland Derby in June 2019 when he broke his back.
A hearing over his surgery was pushed back from February to the middle of May.
Brown has been left to deal with the pain and vented his rage at what has gone on to racing.com.
The legendary jockey said: “They wouldn’t treat an animal like this. It’s wrong on every level.
“I am still an active case. It’s not like I am asking for an operation years later.
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Brown is a legend of Australian racing but issued a chilling warning over his use of painkillers as he awaits a potentially career-saving spine op
“Spine specialists have told me that I need it and I can’t go without it.
“I’m in so much pain I’ve upped the ante with the painkillers – but I can’t keep going down that path.
“I need to have this operation.
“Hopefully we can get to a mediator and things can move a bit quicker.
“But I got my hopes up before and they [Workcover] pushed it back again, so I’m still in the same boat waiting and hoping.”
Brown has recorded 49 Group 1 successes in his stellar career and ridden nearly 2,200 winners.
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