By TY PILSON -- Calgary Sun

The last seven months have been a real pain in the neck for WWE superstar Edge.

The 29-year-old Toronto native, whose real name is Adam Copeland, suffered a broken neck during a match sometime in January.

"It wasn't like I landed once and heard a crack and said, 'Oh my God, I broke it,' " explained Edge.

"I actually wrestled with it for about two months before I realized the extent of how serious it was. I just kept pushing it off and assuming it was a pinched nerve or a pulled muscle or something."

It soon became clear it was a lot more serious.

"I would get massages and stuff and nothing helped. I couldn't sleep at night and I just kept pushing it off still until finally I lost all the strength in my left arm and it started to atrophy. So, at this point, I realized something was very wrong and went to the doctor. He told me if you keep going like this, you'll end up in a wheelchair unless you get surgery."

It was the same type of surgery undergone by a handful of WWE stars over the last few years, including Edmonton native Chris Benoit, Rhyno, Lita, Scotty Too Hotty and Kurt Angle.

"Way too many of us," commented Edge.

After undergoing surgery, Edge was relieved of the constant pain but faced a whole new set of problems.

"Now I have to sleep sitting up on my couch, now I have to wear this hard collar. I'd go to the gym and all I could lift was a three-pound dumbbell. I mean, my hand was bigger than the actual weight," he said.

Edge is slated to make a guest appearance at tonight's WWE show at the Saddledome.

The veteran admits the Stampede City is one of his favourite towns to visit.

"Wrestling is just looked at differently here. It always has been. You really see the difference when you ... meet the people."

Credit Slamwrestling!