I have the same arthritis as Phil Mickelson, which can run the gamut from mild to completely disabling. Since my diagnosis in 2000 I've been somewhat stable. Lately, though, I've been having severe leg and foot pain, with the foot pain being so bad that I can't wear golf shoes for more than a few holes. Yesterday on the range I lasted about five minutes with my FootJoy Contours on. I guess that I'm swinging more under control while wearing New Balance, but I'm not happy about having to do this. I went to the range instead of the course yesterday because I didn't think that I could walk up inclines to the elevated tees and greens. The pain that I'm having is so debilitating that when I finish at the range or the course I can walk only with a severe limp on both feet. I go home, take a whirlpool bath, and then usually sleep for hours on end. Since I go to the range or the course in the morning (when it's only 90 degrees+ instead of 100+) I'm losing a big part of my rare days off to pain and sleep. I'm afraid that only 16 months after taking up the game again, after a ten year layoff, that I'm going to have to give it up again. Other than the pain medication and NSAIDs that I take multiple times a day I'm at a loss as to what to do.
I see other people posting here about their various aches and pains, so I was wondering if anyone else has experience with golfing with arthritis or with foot pain in particular. I'd like to get some new golf shoes and I love the look of the new shoes with integrated spikes like Ecco and True Linkswear but I need a wide/ extra wide shoe, which I haven't found yet at my local big golf box guys (and can't really spend the money for right now anyway). I don't want to quit, either practicing or playing, but after yesterday I'm getting near to the end of my rope.
Any advice or recommendations will be appreciated.
