Arthritis & Despair

[woodzie264]

I am a 39 year old male with a left shoulder that has glenohumeral joint arthritis (DJD) that exceeds all but 1 patient of mine over my ten year career as an orthopedic provider. While I have always had range of motion limitations since a second shoulder surgey as a 22 year old, the pain was mild for most daily activities including golf. However, over the past 2-3 months things have rapidly deteriorated wherein I cannot take swings without having moderate to severe discomfort, making 18 holes rather miserable by completion. Non-operative options to include oral anti-inflammatories, steroid injections (GH joint, subacromial space, and suprascapualr nerve blocks) and viscoelastic supplementation series all at one point provided mild to moderate relief over the years, but at this point are ineffective, thereby exhausting non-operative treatments.

Having the benefit of doing what I do, I have many orthopedic surgeon friends/colleagues and have consulted 7-8 of them, with 4 of them being well-respected shoulder specialists. At 39, the typical surgical options for my shoulder are reserved for a less active older population, leaving me only experimental and far less successful options which offer little to no hope based on current literature. By undergoing a  hemiarthroplasty (partial shoulder replacement), I will likely achieve mild/moderate pain relief for a period of time (which is great), but in doing so this will predictably have deleterious effects on my glenoid (socket), making future conversion to a total shoulder replacement more complicated and less predictable in providing pain relief & function for the remainder of my days.

I explain all of this to say, I am at a  loss and expect golf will soon become a thing of the past for me over the next year or so unless I undergo a questionable surgery, with marginal results at best, which may only may things worse off in the long run than if I do nothing. 

Golf is the only thing I do for my personal enjoyment and so I fear depression if I have to give it up. Aside from my best bud, you guys are the only people that I know who will understand this and so I'm taking an opportunity to vent to the only group of folks who can empathize. I expect in time I will choose to have the more experimental procedure done in hopes to maintain the ability to play golf, but for now I'm praying about it and going to get a 9th or 10th opinion at this point. Thanks for providing me a place to vent...thanks for listening. Not looking for a pity party, just putting things down in writing.

 

[Valleygolfer]

Sorry about this dude. Looks pretty bad and I know shoulder surgeries are pretty poor for individuals that active.

There is life after golf though.  when I hurt my wrist last year and could not play, it was very difficult initially watching other golfers golfing when I drove by golf courses. As time went on and not playing and the less I did stuff about golf the sting was less and less. This however does not takeaway from the fact that you are having a major surgery at some point that may decimate almost all your activities but you will find something to replace it I'm sure. I never thought I would at the time but I got used to it.

[RandallT]

Yah sorry to hear, @woodzie264. 

For what it's worth, I haven't played much actual golf the past couple years (mostly due to difficulties with raising kids into adulthood- long story I'll tell u over beers). Just hasn't been in the cards to get to the course much, but I've been able to still enjoy golf- a bit to my surprise.

for me, I just started focusing on small improvements and learning about the swing. Plus contributing here.

I mostly put it out of my head and soldiered on with other pursuits related to golf, looking forward to whenever things settle again where I can play with a mindset more free of worry. I've learned that playing rounds is awful when my mind is elsewhere. But I can enjoy golf when it's a quick range session or a check of postings.

One day things will clear up here and I'm confident one day you'll be in a better place physically/medically. But until then, we just try to enjoy bits of progress or learning or camaraderie where we find it.

Hang in there!

[woodzie264]

17 minutes ago, RandallT said:

One day things will clear up here and I'm confident one day you'll be in a better place physically/medically. But until then, we just try to enjoy bits of progress or learning or camaraderie where we find it.

Hang in there!

Thanks @Valleygolfer and @RandallT, I know I will continue to have golf  in my life through osmosis, it's just hard (as you guys have admitted and can appreciate) to have it largely removed. Having said that, I wont give it up just yet...still investigating options, however remote they are

[cipher]

4 hours ago, woodzie264 said:

Golf is the only thing I do for my personal enjoyment and so I fear depression if I have to give it up. Aside from my best bud, you guys are the only people that I know who will understand this and so I'm taking an opportunity to vent to the only group of folks who can empathize. I expect in time I will choose to have the more experimental procedure done in hopes to maintain the ability to play golf, but for now I'm praying about it and going to get a 9th or 10th opinion at this point. Thanks for providing me a place to vent...thanks for listening. Not looking for a pity party, just putting things down in writing.

This is just all too real.  I'm 36 and have not played golf in nearly two years due to injury.  I have dealt with these things as well.  It helps to have people that you can talk to for sure.  Please reach out to me if you need anything.  I would be happy to share my experiences and how I have gotten through it. 

I had surgery on my left wrist last February and it just has not been where I hoped it would be.  I am still hoping that I will be able to start playing again this coming spring, but the reality is that there is a very good chance I will not be able to.  A number of things though have brought me to the point where I am okay with it at this point if that is the case.  I have found other things to enjoy and have had some great friendships grow out of all of this.  2015 was a pretty rough year from the standpoint of feeling anxious and helpless about things.  I got through it, and 2016 has been amazing even though I have had the setbacks.  Again, let me know if I can help.

[woodzie264]

@cipher, thanks man. I will keep that in mind. I will know more over the next few months - I know I'm not alone and having an arthritic shoulder is not the worst things in the world (I'm not dying of cancer or anything close to that), but its nice to have a sympathetic ear.

[GolfLug]

4 hours ago, woodzie264 said:

I am a 39 year old male with a left shoulder that has glenohumeral joint arthritis (DJD) that exceeds all but 1 patient of mine over my ten year career as an orthopedic provider. While I have always had range of motion limitations since a second shoulder surgey as a 22 year old, the pain was mild for most daily activities including golf. However, over the past 2-3 months things have rapidly deteriorated wherein I cannot take swings without having moderate to severe discomfort, making 18 holes rather miserable by completion. Non-operative options to include oral anti-inflammatories, steroid injections (GH joint, subacromial space, and suprascapualr nerve blocks) and viscoelastic supplementation series all at one point provided mild to moderate relief over the years, but at this point are ineffective, thereby exhausting non-operative treatments.

Having the benefit of doing what I do, I have many orthopedic surgeon friends/colleagues and have consulted 7-8 of them, with 4 of them being well-respected shoulder specialists. At 39, the typical surgical options for my shoulder are reserved for a less active older population, leaving me only experimental and far less successful options which offer little to no hope based on current literature. By undergoing a  hemiarthroplasty (partial shoulder replacement), I will likely achieve mild/moderate pain relief for a period of time (which is great), but in doing so this will predictably have deleterious effects on my glenoid (socket), making future conversion to a total shoulder replacement more complicated and less predictable in providing pain relief & function for the remainder of my days.

I explain all of this to say, I am at a  loss and expect golf will soon become a thing of the past for me over the next year or so unless I undergo a questionable surgery, with marginal results at best, which may only may things worse off in the long run than if I do nothing. 

Golf is the only thing I do for my personal enjoyment and so I fear depression if I have to give it up. Aside from my best bud, you guys are the only people that I know who will understand this and so I'm taking an opportunity to vent to the only group of folks who can empathize. I expect in time I will choose to have the more experimental procedure done in hopes to maintain the ability to play golf, but for now I'm praying about it and going to get a 9th or 10th opinion at this point. Thanks for providing me a place to vent...thanks for listening. Not looking for a pity party, just putting things down in writing.

 

You didn't mention anything about your right shoulder so I am assuming the condition doesn't affect it. And since you are mentioning something as drastic as possibly losing all things golf for the remainder of your days then consider playing with your right hand only. If you manage your expectations the you will be surprised how good you can get with practice. Inject yourself with a large dose of 'survival' mentality and you can still come out ahead. Like REALLY ahead.

 

[woodzie264]

17 minutes ago, GolfLug said:

You didn't mention anything about your right shoulder so I am assuming the condition doesn't affect it. And since you are mentioning something as drastic as possibly losing all things golf for the remainder of your days then consider playing with your right hand only. If you manage your expectations the you will be surprised how good you can get with practice. Inject yourself with a large dose of 'survival' mentality and you can still come out ahead. Like REALLY ahead.

 

@GolfLug, Thanks man! I would have never considered that! That's certainly something I'd be willing to try

[iacas]

I'm being serious about this, and I think @cipher will back me… give disc golf a try. It's easier than golf (you can get pretty good quickly), you'll get to use your "good shoulder," and it has all the fascination and troubles and whatnot that golf has. Plus it's cheaper and faster, and it's more "three dimensional" than golf is.

The people in disc golf aren't quite the same, but it's a super fast growing sport.

I'm considering making a sub-forum here for disc golf. It's "golf" after all, kinda… and both @cipher and I are pretty devoted to it.

He can speak for himself, of course, but I think disc golf has really helped @cipher stay in touch with what he likes about golf, and lessen the loss he surely felt in having to give it up (even temporarily).

[cipher]

18 minutes ago, iacas said:

I'm being serious about this, and I think @cipher will back me… give disc golf a try. It's easier than golf (you can get pretty good quickly), you'll get to use your "good shoulder," and it has all the fascination and troubles and whatnot that golf has. Plus it's cheaper and faster, and it's more "three dimensional" than golf is.

The people in disc golf aren't quite the same, but it's a super fast growing sport.

I'm considering making a sub-forum here for disc golf. It's "golf" after all, kinda… and both @cipher and I are pretty devoted to it.

He can speak for himself, of course, but I think disc golf has really helped @cipher stay in touch with what he likes about golf, and lessen the loss he surely felt in having to give it up (even temporarily).

Right, the things that I found I enjoyed the most about golf was that I liked being outside playing a game that challenged me and gave me a way to be active while working on improving a skill.  I can do the same thing in disc golf with less frustration and more money in my pocket(even if I do have a slight disc buying problem).   I was not really sure I would like disc golf at first but, I quickly began to love it.  

[RandallT]

Hmmmm, now I'm getting intrigued. Like you've both said, it's a physical activity, specific skills you can work on, scoring system to measure progress, and maybe even similar stats tracking fun to mess around with. I used to love ultimate frisbee in college, but haven't much picked up a frisbee too often since, other than at a picnic or two. Hmmm [brain activated to ponder exploring the options for trying it out around here...]

[woodzie264]

@iacas, I won't rule anything out. I've learned to throw right handed (non dominant arm) over the past few years, so I'm halfway there ?

[Hatchman]

@woodzie264 hey buddy you and I should play on the same team.  Please try not to despair because I have similar conditions. I thought you might be an ortho doctor based on an earlier post to someone.   Most don't know about the extent of my orthodics here but perhaps I should relate my orhopiedec experiences since you will understand.  Less than six years ago I took up a lesser physical sport (golf) after my second total joint replacement.  Followed with a third, then a revision of the first, the left knee, then shoulder surgery this May.  Working with my renouned doctors at Hampton Roads Orthopiedic and Sports Medicine.

Arthur is a very good friend of mine.  The walking and playing actually feels pretty good as they move playing 4-5 times per week walking up to 7 miles, I love carts now.  I've never played golf totally pain free however, or sports for that matter.  Probably a freak, with a high pain tolerance.  BTW I do my MRI on the last joint available for total replacement Monday morning.  Guess I'll play through the weekend.  You available ?.

[HitAndGiggle]

Shoulders suck. I'm in PT for mine right now. Too much football as a kid (actually, any football is too much, I've come to realize). I'm in a study on arthritis at this time. Recently, I was informed that I broke my wrist back when I was playing football. I didn't know it at the time, apparently (probably just taped it up and slapped some dirt on it). But, I sure know now. I have pain all over my body in multiple joints. Have been contemplating buying a hot tub as a way to deal with it. I am a pro at ice.

[woodzie264]

@Hatchman, sorry to hear - you sound like Robocop! Thanks for the offer but with a 6 & 8 year old during Christmas time, I won't have free time for a while!

[woodzie264]

I really appreciate all the support today

[Hatchman]

31 minutes ago, woodzie264 said:

@Hatchman, sorry to hear - you sound like Robocop! Thanks for the offer but with a 6 & 8 year old during Christmas time, I won't have free time for a while!

Yes I understand.  Maybe next time then.  Carter calls me an orthopedic nightmare then we discuss addressing the ball slightly differently to clear the new hip(s).  He golfs!  Just keep on ticking.  Don't let that shoulder get you down even though it's limiting.  The shoulder however is worse rehab than the leg joints in case you want to know and can effect sleep function for sure.  

[HitAndGiggle]

I hope you work it out with the shoulder. Those things take time to heal. Certainly keep that in mind and be patient.