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Back surgeries and golf


cooke119
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I've had three back surgeries and I still play golf (with the doctor's permission). It has slowed my swing speed down and it makes it difficult to get 'through the ball' on my downswing, i.e., make a full turn. Any one else playing with a serious injury, how's it going?

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I've had three back surgeries and I still play golf (with the doctor's permission). It has slowed my swing speed down and it makes it difficult to get 'through the ball' on my downswing, i.e., make a full turn. Any one else playing with a serious injury, how's it going?


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I am playing with some serious repair jobs to some joints, and bones. However, none of the repairs include any part of my back, or neck. For that I am most thankful. I swing slower than I use to, and I also make sure my swing is done in a very fluid motion. No herky-jerky moves, that would put extra stress/pressure on any one area that has been repaired. A one piece take away up, the same on the way down, after a smooth transition at the top.

I swing with my feet flared out a little. I am cautious not to put much strain on my left knee, but I don't baby it either. I am not inclined to take divots with my irons when using my full swing, I hit the ball a little on the thin side, and my divot is no more than some grass cutting. I do this to protect my left wrist, elbow, and shoulder from any jarring if I were to take a gouge out of the fairway. I suspect folks with back issues would be wise to do the same. Up side is I don't have to walk back, and forth replacing divots. Shorter chips, and pitches, are not a problem because I am using an abbreviated swing.

Unless the course is wet, and/or slippery, I never wear golf shoes. I just wear a good pair of comfortable, walking shoes. With out spikes, my shoes allow my feet to give a little during my swings. Again, this is to prevent re-injury, and more importantly, longevity for my golf game.

Do I play with out pain? Not always, and when something does manifest itself, the pain is not that big of a deal. Even on the days, when I am not golfing I still stay very active. Keeping my range of motion is important. Hiking, and bike riding helps to keep me in shape. I also do some volunteer work that requires lots of walking, and other pertinent exercise.

I suppose if I have a swing thought, it's the position of my club face at impact. It's really all I care about. If I have it square to my  target, the ball will usually fly near where I need it to go. Just not as far I use to hit. Over all I have lost two clubs due to my injuries. I  pay a lot of attention to how I place my hands on (grip) the club.

I just made up my mind that I was going play golf again from day one. A personal goal was to get back to single digits with in a year. I have about 3 months to lose one more stroke. So far I am on schedule......sort of :-D

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A whole bunch of Tour Edge golf stuff...... :beer:

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I've had two back surgeries. One included a titanium implant. I still play although not as often as I'd like. Before my operations I played 5 times a week now I'm down to about 2. I will likely have to have another implant put in but my doctors tell me if I can deal with the pain to go ahead and play. I need to do more core exercises to strengthen things but at 62 I've become a bit lazy when it comes to working out.

cubdog

Ross (aka cubdog)

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I've had two back surgeries. One included a titanium implant. I still play although not as often as I'd like. Before my operations I played 5 times a week now I'm down to about 2. I will likely have to have another implant put in but my doctors tell me if I can deal with the pain to go ahead and play. I need to do more core exercises to strengthen things but at 62 I've become a bit lazy when it comes to working out.

cubdog


Back pain really sucks, limits so many things in your life. I play with pain especially after about the 14th hole but I find Aleve helps lessen it. How did those titanium discs work out for you? I'm told if I have one more problem they have to do a fusion, I'm wondering if a new disc would help, perhaps be better than a fusion.

I'm 63 so I can relate to being a little lazy when it comes to exercising. But I'm afraid to do any exercises for fear of hurting the back again. But I guess I should find a good strength trainer at a gym and start working out again, maybe after I retire in year or so.

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^^^ I can't complain too much about the implant since I'm still playing. I've had a bad back since I hurt it when I was about 12 years old. I honestly can't remember what it feels like to not have pain in my back. It's just a part of my life.

The implant does what it was designed to do although I dread the thought of going through another one of those surgeries. The operation was pretty severe as was the pain. My second operation, one year after the first was just to clean up some debris in another location. Recovery time was pretty quick for that one. Actually I recovered pretty fast both times probably because I'm used to the pain anyway.

I'm not sure what the difference is between a disc replacement and a fusion since they address many of the same issues. Hopefully you can avoid surgery but the doctors are pretty good and if it will ease your level of pain don't be afraid to have them operate.

cubdog

Ross (aka cubdog)

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I'm pretty much pain free for the most part, just when I play 18 and as I said after the 14th hole. The pain isn't in the back but rather the muscle in the back, probably need to strengthen them more. I believe it is the turning through the shot that gets me. Luckily I have no pain down the legs or anything. I don't need surgery just training on the back muscles.

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I've had three back surgeries, too. The last two came three years ago.

Before my latest surgeries, I played a 400-yard par-4 hole on my course with a driver and a 4 or 5-iron. Now I've moved up a set of tees, because I've had to ease off with my swing, and I play the hole at 360 yards with the same clubs.

You just gotta learn to live with it.

I play without pain because I spent over a year building a golf swing that puts as little stress on my back that a golf swing can. I don't hit the ball a long way, but I hit it very straight.

Also, I play once a week and practice once a week. That gives my back a good rest.

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I too have lost distance on my drives but  I make up for it on my second shot, I've gone to hybrids and I've worked hard on my wood, 5w and 3w. Helps me to get to the green in two (at least close), then I went to a class on chipping which really helped. I'm no longer a 15 handicap but I'm working my way back down, slow process. I still think I favor my back which is also a work in process, I'm getting better at it. It is like learning to play golf all over again.

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Actually I was hitting my driver further last year than any time since before my surgeries. I can't explain it and the added distance was not consistent. However, the days that I was loose and flexible I could still move it out pretty  good. I realize that I would be better off rebuilding my swing but I'm impatient and rebuilding a swing takes time, effort and repetitive swings. I only have so many swings left so I tend not to practice much anymore. That's a shame because I always enjoyed practicing.

cubdog

Ross (aka cubdog)

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