Trailing Hand Wrist Injury

[Wade Patton]

I hit the mat too hard a couple of weeks ago. But since my swing was giving me such better results, I kept hitting just to see the ball fly true and consistently. I let it rest a few days until I couldn't feel the "hurt" and starting hitting again. Chip shots okay.  Big stick, no way. Pain at impact.

I'm so excited to be hitting well again, it's crazy difficult to not hit balls!  Yesterday I only hit whiffles and Almost Golf balls.  NP there.  Then I hit a half 7-iron (real ball) and knew that this weekend is out, despite our tee time. Thankfully it's threatening rain and I don't think the other guys will mind much.

Pretty sure I've damaged the triangular fibrocartilage complex(TFCC), as the pain is only at the point where this structure is located. I figure someone somewhere around here has injured the same spot and wonder how long it takes to get full healing.  I wrap it to remind me not to use it, but it really only gives any trouble with a golf swing.  I can still use a hammer intermittently(at work), but I try not too-or to switch hands for that. Of course my weak golf hand is my strong everything else hand.

I'm 56 and healthy (no Rx drugs at all in my life). It's just brutal on my golf mind to not be practicing. I thought of going and playing anyway, just skipping all the driver shots and doing approaches and par 3's only--but then I probably should not. Anyone here bash the ground/mat one time too hard and get into this situation?

I know I'll recover, I've bounced back from a number of accident/incidents in life, but this one is now and different.  Actually I picked up a pain in one of my elbows at impact from the incident in 2007 (flipped car), but it's completely gone now.  I felt it for the first few swings months ago (and years before that), but it's all gone now. This stinkin' internet keeps me revved up to GO PLAY!  Can't. I gotta wait.  I suppose I should be happy that recovery is very likely and not something that's out of the question. And I am. I'm also frustrated.

I no longer hit off that mat. I'll buy a better mat.

PS: I just realized it's a month until I'll be on holiday and want to play down there, so that's my GOAL now, be well enough to play a par-three nine-holer near our vacation facilities. It's a fishing trip, so if it doesn't work out, that's ok. 
 

Edited September 3, 2022 by Wade Patton

[Wade Patton]

I thought about playing left-handed, but that's just putting my injury on the front-line as the lead hand. Doesn't hurt though. Trouble is learning to swing that way. Feels weird, but I can make good contact that way.  I've thought better of it though. Putt or chip or lightweight balls only. The only thing I hit today was left-handed, so it doesn't count of course-and was only chips.

 

[dennyjones]

Rest, Ice and ibuprofen.  Hitting on a poor mat can lead to injury.  Don't rush back into a golf swing.     

[iacas]

Yeah, rest it up, and consider looking to a specialist if the pain persists or re-occurs. @woodzie264 can tell you more.

[Wade Patton]

Thanks but there's no need for pain-relief. There's only pain upon impact, and only upon impact with a real ball at 1/2-swing or faster.

So now I have the bright idea to play the local par 3 training course (6 holes) with Almost Golf balls off the tee, then switch for chip/putting.  The holes are quite short. I'll wait.

I took my net down. There's no pain at all now and I'm going to give it a longer healing time BEFORE I hit anything again. Then I'm going to hit the light balls for a while. My enthusiasm for getting my game back is quite strong, hard to dissuade.

It was coming together so nicely, and I'd just made a big swing improvement for dramatically better consistency in distance and accuracy improvement like I've never had before. THIS is what makes it so tough to hold off.

I need a putting mat, and a better hitting mat. I'm waiting.                 

[billchao]

Yea I would suggest resting. The last thing you want to do is to aggravate a minor injury into something more serious.

[Wade Patton]

I had hoped that someone else here had experienced such an injury(but am glad no one has) and could tell me how long it took for them to get back to full swing.  That's what I was hoping for.

[Wade Patton]

Found my old swing trainer thingy. It's heavy and flexible--and works to help ingrain my new swing thoughts (and movements) without making impact at all (it's all in the backswing).  Unless I begin to feel any discomfort in my wrist, I'm going to keep on swinging that thing.

I did chip an AG ball around some yesterday, but I lost it (have lost 3 already). Those things are so easy to lose in my high weeds because the yellow is such a pale shade. Wish they made them in orange or a brighter yellow.

Edited September 5, 2022 by Wade Patton
added two words for clarity

[Wade Patton]

It's still a problem. We played the 6-hole par 3 course last Friday, but I felt it. So I'm still nursing an injury that only causes pain when I use a full swing on a real ball.  Almost Golf balls have been great for keeping me focused but not causing more damage.

I suppose this is a rare injury since no one else has comments on it.

 

[Wade Patton]

I've resumed play on the short par-3 course down in bigcity. Wrist is still senstive to full-on big swings with long clubs. Seems I can get away with sub 150-yard shots if I use too much club and dial it back. 

The waiting is the hardest part. Learning more warm-up routines and working on them. Triangular fibrocartilage complex(TFCC) takes a minute to heal I reckon.
 

Or it may hurt forever.  If so, I'll learn to manage it. But someday I expect it'll quit being a problem and I'll get to pull out the big sticks again.

[StuM]

33 minutes ago, Wade Patton said:

But someday I expect it'll quit being a problem and I'll get to pull out the big sticks again.

Hoping that happens soon

I had a forearm hurt a few years back that I attributed to mats.  It took a long time to get better but that was my fault as I did not stop playing.  It got better over Michigan’s winter break from golf.

I think you are taking a smarter approach than I did.

[Wade Patton]

Thanks. I did have a forearm muscle injury myself once but it was from work, not play--and it took forever to heal. But that's probably because I had to keep using it, some days I'd have to work left-handed to avoid it.

I just popped a few 1/2-seven irons off into the woods (my woods) and did feel it once but not too bad. 

Also did some chipping and trick shots over at Mom's. She chips around some too. Last shot-I hit the cast iron dinner bell mounted about 6' up on a post from about 40' with a seven.

Not related but I haven't told it anywhere yet. Over there dinking around two weeks back, I chipped into a wheelbarrow at about 15 feet with her 7-iron. What makes that a trick shot is that she's left-handed and I'm not-and I did it first try. They're also shortened clubs. I'm actually thinking on gaming one left-handed club for shots where I could use one. Feels really weird but if I keep my thoughts basic, I can make good contact southpawed.

See how being laid-off with injury and lack of practice makes me crazy?! 😂
Thanks again for the sentiment.

Edited September 18, 2022 by Wade Patton
clarity and spelling

[Wade Patton]

Three weeks off did the trick, or very much of it.  I only putted on carpet on vacation and missed the week before and the week of but got out there today.  I'm not feeling the impact pain as before. I did feel a tiny bit of discomfort today but only noticed it once, and it was after hitting three consecutive tee shots (it's a practice course and no one was behind me).  I'm hitting the ball a lot better, and am going to try some middle irons soon.  I'll hold off yet on the big sticks until I know it can handle 4 and 5-iron shots.  Longest club used today was a seven on the par 3 course.

 

Edited October 15, 2022 by Wade Patton
reworded a sentence so I didn't have to look up a word.

[Wade Patton]

Finally got out to a course and swung the big sticks.  No problem at all. I'm back. Hit a couple of great drives and a sweet 4w, and good full-swing mid-irons on the par 3's. One was tight, and made a birdie.

Moral of the story:  If I ever again injure the TFCC of either wrist, I'll have to take off about a month BEFORE I hit again.  I probably dragged this one out by my renewed enthusiasm for golf which drives me to practice every chance I get.

I'm putting the net back up and getting a better mat.  Balls must be hit!

[Wade Patton]

Well I got stuck hitting on old worn mats to warm up before playing yesterday.  Sucked.  I hit some good shots but also bashed the mat enough times to bring back the wrist pain. Hit some good shots on the course early, but fell apart quickly and got my back irritated and my wrist to throbbing before it was over. It ached all night.

I'll have to play other courses and simply warm up at that particular course with chipping and sand shots.  No more mats at all for me for a while. This is going to put a big limit on the course options now. 

I was okay on Top Golf mats for a few hundred shots--but also that was before I'd banged up this wrist. 
 

 

[Double Mocha Man]

1 hour ago, Wade Patton said:

Well I got stuck hitting on old worn mats to warm up before playing yesterday.  Sucked.  I hit some good shots but also bashed the mat enough times to bring back the wrist pain. Hit some good shots on the course early, but fell apart quickly and got my back irritated and my wrist to throbbing before it was over. It ached all night.

I'll have to play other courses and simply warm up at that particular course with chipping and sand shots.  No more mats at all for me for a while. This is going to put a big limit on the course options now. 

I was okay on Top Golf mats for a few hundred shots--but also that was before I'd banged up this wrist. 
 

 

For you and your bad wrist, warm up on mats with driver only.  Start very slowly and then work up to a full swing.  It could prove to be both a warm-up and a learning moment.

[Double Mocha Man]

• Location: 400 miles from both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic

Mr. Patton, it sounds like you might reside in Chattanooga.

[Wade Patton]

1 hour ago, Double Mocha Man said:

For you and your bad wrist, warm up on mats with driver only.  Start very slowly and then work up to a full swing.  It could prove to be both a warm-up and a learning moment.

Yes, but it's a "no drivers allowed" driving range--they don't like digging balls out of the bushes on the other end of the too-short "driving" area.  I can hit them short, and doubt anyone would call me out on it. Thanks for your input and I might try this next time I play there.

1 hour ago, Double Mocha Man said:

• Location: 400 miles from both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic

Mr. Patton, it sounds like you might reside in Chattanooga.

Just a few counties back to west and a little north. Good guess though, and my 400's are only approximations. I'm two counties away from Nashville.