Noelle Foley, the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley, recently shared the deeply personal story of a years-long health ordeal that began in the most unexpected of places: a theme park. Speaking on Saraya’s “Rulebreakers” podcast, Foley revealed how a single roller coaster ride at Dollywood sparked a debilitating five-and-a-half-year battle with a concussion and led to the diagnosis of a rare, serious neck condition.
The incident occurred on a ride Foley described as having an unusually abrupt design. “This one went up down and immediately went back up,” she explained. “So it’s like your whole body is forcing forward and then immediately backwards. My head hit really hard in my neck.” The effects were immediate, as she recalled feeling exhausted and developing a headache that would persist for years. “I had a headache since that night, until literally five and a half years later,” she stated.
What followed was a frustrating and confusing journey through the medical system in search of answers. Foley estimates she visited “around 50 doctors and physical therapists” to understand the cause of her chronic headaches and sensitivity to light and sound. The answer was finally uncovered through a specialized test called a digital motion X-ray.
The test revealed a condition known as cranial cervical instability. “I tore about 10 ligaments in my neck,” Foley shared with Saraya. “And because of those torn ligaments, it causes my neck to be unstable, like my head isn’t securely on my neck.” The diagnosis finally gave a name to the invisible ailment that had plagued her for years.
Despite the difficult journey, Foley found strength in owning her story, even doing a “sexy photo shoot with the neck brace” to feel empowered. Click below to watch the full interview.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Rulebreakers With Saraya with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
