Exclusive

Steve-O's Salsa Injury: DWTS Curse Strikes Again?

The Jackass star is off to see a fourth doctor today regarding a painful back injury most likely related to his training for Dancing With the Stars

By Marc Malkin Mar 12, 2009 7:48 PMTags

UPDATE: I just heard from Steve-O. This is what he had to say:

"A physical therapist has told me that nerves are being pinched in my back, and it is in spasms because of inflammation related to torn muscles. I'm doing everything I can to let it heal—icing it, taking Advil, drinking water, visiting a chiropractor and continuing to be worked on by the physical therapist. I'm still rehearsing every day, but walking through my salsa routine rather than practicing the physical stunts and tricks that are incorporated into it. It is going to be a risky routine that I hope to pull off."

______________________________________

If there's one contestant on Dancing With the Stars who can fancy-footwork his way through the pain, it's Jackass jokester Steve-O.

However, his pro partner, Lacey Schwimmer, tells me that Steve-O, 34, is off to see a fourth specialist today regarding a painful back injury believed to be related to their recent salsa rehearsals.

"They all say he has pulled a lot of sciatic nerves and that's pretty bad," Schwimmer says. "Everyone who has looked at him has said that it's not good. He's in pain."

Even so, Schwimmer says Steve-O is committed to staying in the show...

"It would really suck if he had to get out of the competition," she says. "But if it doesn't get better it is something the show and Steve-o are considering. His health is more important than a TV show. But Steve-O has also told me, 'There is no way I am going to get out of this.' He doesn't care. He's jumped off buildings. He'll dance through a few minutes of pain, I'm sure."

Steve-O can't pinpoint exactly when things started to go wrong with his back, according to Schwimmer, but the pain escalated during this week's salsa practice.

But for now, the Steve-O show will go on.

"We're not able to do a lot of the tricks and other plans we had hoped for," Schwimmer says. "Hopefully, if his back gets better we can put them back in. It's a very fun routine."

An ABC rep did not immediately comment on Steve-O.

As we all know, the Dancing With the Stars curse hit the eighth season of the hit show before it even began.

Jewel and Nancy O'Dell had to drop out just days before the season premiere on Monday. And just yesterday, computer guru Steve Wozniak was photographed leaving a dance studio with a cast on his left foot.

But he's staying in the game...for now.

An ABC spokesperson confirmed "Woz" has injured his foot but has decided to continue: "He has seen a doctor and is taking precautions and resting his foot whenever he can."