Tips for a bad back?

[blackstallion10]

My brother's had a bad back lately, he suspects from too much golf...

Any of you had the same problem and any advice I can pass along to him?

It'd be a bummer to lose a golf partner - he's seriously considering quitting

the game :(

-Bryan

[A good hack]

I actually have a decent amount of help to offer here but could you verify that it is his lower or upper back?  My guess is lower but it will affect my post so I need more specific info.  Will follow-up later tonight...

[meenman]

If it's lower back, those 8 hour wrap around heating pads work wonders.

I drive a lot (sales) and was at the point that I couldnt get out of the car. I wrapped one of those suckers around my waist the next day and played 36 without feeling anything.

[Clambake]

It's really important for your brother to find out medically what is meant by "bad back".    Is it muscles, or nerves?  Lumbar, thoracic, cervical?   Pain when moving?  Not moving?   Triggered by bending?  Twisting?      As one who had to go through two back surgeries last year to address a serious back problem (of all the bizarre things, a parasite crushing my spinal cord from the inside out!) I've learned a lot more about the different elements of back pain and the golf swing than I ever wanted to know.

It's really important that your brother determine what is actually going on so that he can address it properly and not cause further damage.    The back is a very complicated part of the body and is so critical to everything (it's amazing how it can even just hurt to breathe with certain types of injury) that it is important that he actually get qualified medical opinions and not the unknowledgeable advice of a bunch of random people on the internet .    A misdiagnosis could be the difference between playing golf the rest of his life or spending it in a wheelchair.   Seriously.

[blackstallion10]

Thanks for the advice guys, I will definitely pass it along... And it's discs in his back, not sure on the details though...  The wraps sound like a good idea as well..  Would hate to see him have to give up the sport he loves the most.

[ohiolefty]

I have a pretty acute disc issue in my back...and I play 4 or 5 times a week. In fact, staying active HELPS me. If I sit around and do nothing, I'm tighter, have more back spasms associated with the disc issue...etc.

Your buddy needs to go to a recommended orthopedist and (possibly) a back specialist recommended by the orthopedist. Get it looked at, an MRI, the whole bit and really figure out what's going on. There are about a hundred diffferent medical conditions that AREN'T spinal that can manifest themselves as back pain, so your buddy needs to figure out what the hell is going on before he does something irrational like quitting golf.

[cubdog]

I had an implant put in my lower back in January. Prior to that I played in pain but with proper warm up, stretching and heat I was still able to play about 4 times a week. This was with the knowledge of my Dr. who said I couldn't do more damage to it from the golf. Anyone with back problems need to consult with their Dr. Believe me the surgery is only a last resort. BTW I'm back to my pre surgery handicap and have gained about 30 yards off the tee from last year.

cubdog

[blackstallion10]

Thanks guys, yeah my dad actually suffered from a bad back for a while, he thinks from weight lifting he used to do...

But he actually worked his back muscles out *specifically* and that has literally *eliminated* the problem, whereas

before the Drs were recommending surgery!