Amy Purdy doing OK after 'DWTS' injury, hoping to dance next week

By Nardine Saad

April 29, 2014 10:33 AM PT

Paralympic snowboarder Amy Purdy is “doing okay” after suffering a back spasm on Monday’s episode of “Dancing With the Stars.”

The athlete, who had her legs amputated at age 19 after she contracted a type of bacterial meningitis, performed a sensual rumba with partner Derek Hough in front of a panel including guest judge Ricky Martin and earned nines across the board, settling in with a total score of 36.

However, the 34-year-old suffered an injury that sent her to the hospital before she could join the live performance of the episode’s team dances.

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When cohost Erin Andrews checked in with Purdy and Hough backstage, Hough said his partner was “putting on a really brave face.”

“My shoulder’s been bothering me a little bit. It’s been fine though, just kind of sore,” Purdy told Andrews. “Then, right after judging, I kind of turned my head and my back cracked and it just seized up and everything’s really painful right now. It’s hard to breathe.”

Purdy clarified that the injury didn’t happen during her performance, nor did it happen during judging.

“I literally turned wrong, my back cracked and I just went into serious pain so I barely made it up the stairs,” she said.

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In fact, the telecast showed Purdy whispering in Hough’s ear before the pro dancer had to carry her up the stairs to receive their score. She was smiling during her backstage interview, but abruptly went out of frame as soon as the scores were delivered.

Though the injury was devastating, Purdy seemed just as sad to be missing the group numbers scheduled for the latter half of the show.

“I feel so bad because I love my dance,” she said as she was being tended to by medics before heading to the hospital.

Because she couldn’t perform, producers aired the dress-rehearsal video for viewers and the judges. The footage of the Latin freestyle dance earned all of Purdy’s Team Loca an additional 39 points out of 40. Cohost Tom Bergeron noted that this is the second time in the show’s history that they’ve needed to take that measure. (Melissa Rycroft suffered a herniated disc in 2012 that required the airing of a dress rehearsal too.)

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“Can not believe I had to miss the #TeamDance…thank you to all of you for your kind words and support. #DWTS #PurdyHough #TeamLoca,” Purdy tweeted Monday night.

A few hours later she tweeted an update on her condition.

“I’m doing okay, thanks for your support everyone! The DR thinks it’s muscular, still waiting on the official word,” she wrote.

Purdy then thanked her fans for their “support & well wishes” and told them she hoped to be back the following week because that’s the dance she’s “excited” about.

“What a night! I’ll update you tomorrow, time for me to get some rest #PurdyHough”

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Monday’s episode was riddled with injuries. “The Wonder Years” alum Danica McKellar broke a rib in rehearsal last Thursday and still went on to perform her salsa, and pre-performance video showed Olympic figure skater Meryl Davis and partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy getting bumped and bruised in practice.

Earlier this season, “Star Wars” alum Billy Dee Williams withdrew from the competition because of chronic back problems.

“Real Housewives of Atlanta” star NeNe Leakes was eliminated at the end of the episode, which leaves Purdy, McKellar, Davis, her figure-skating partner Charlie White, “Big Time Rush’s” James Maslow and “Full House” alum Candace Cameron Bure as the remaining stars in the competition.

Next week, pairs will dance side-by-side in front of a judging panel featuring guest Abby Lee Miller of “Dance Moms.”

[Update, 2:27 p.m. April 29, 2014: Purdy took to Twitter on Tuesday afternoon to further update her fans on her condition.

“So, Looks like I have a rib out of place and my muscles are in spasm. I am being very proactive in healing up so I can continue this journey,” she wrote, adding, “Please keep the positive healing thoughts and votes coming!!! #purdyhough #dontstopwontstop #DWTS.”

Hough also shared an inspirational photo of his partner on Instagram.

“Proud of this girl . Fingers crossed . Thank you all for the support . Lots of love,” he wrote.]