Golfing with a bad knee

[Snazzy93]

Hi all! 

Ill start by saying that i hope this is in the right place, and I know that its been talked about and answered numerous times. So i will appoligize in advance. 

Last year I had a lateral meniscus and acl repair of my left knee. The minuscus was torn for a couple years and would occasionally displace itself. Id just always get it back in place. (I always thought I had a loose knee joint until it totally have out and I had the surgery. Then I learned a knee can't really just be loose.) Anyway, the surgeon told me that my left knee is pretty shot. He repaired what he could but it wasn't pretty. Just bad genetics I guess because I never had an injury bad enough to cause all this greife, and I'm only 25. 

I took to golf because I thought it was one of the only sports  I could get heavily into with a knee on borrowed time. Ive played for about 3 years now off and on, but this year I've taken it much more seriously. Turns out I couldn't be more wrong. I should have researched first. My first couple games this year didn't bother me, but the last few have really made the knee in my lead leg hurt. (Thats the knee I had surgery on.) To the point of walking being fairly painful.

 

My question is, what can I try to change? Or am I better off just not golfing? I hate that option because as ive taken it more seriously, ive fallen in love with the gane. I'm sure lots of people have this problem. I asked my surgeon, and he basically told me he doesn't know anything about golf, but if I injure my knee again ill need a replacement by 35. 

[Patch]

I might suggest you go to a local golf pro, or two. Let the swing guru know your physical issues. Perhaps they can show you a swing, that might alleviate aggravating your knee. Something along an "arms only" type swing. 

I know golfer who has zero use of his legs, but also has a very strong upper torso. He hits his driver 240 on a regular basis. 

Perhaps search the web for physically handicapped golfers' swings?

Good luck with your golf journey.

[Piz]

I'm 61 and have been playing on a surgically "repaired" left knee for 40+ years.  Here are a couple things you can do to make life easier.  1)  Don't wear spikes.  2)  Narrow your stance.  3)  Embrace the centered pivot.  All three of these things reduce stress on the knee.  It isn't a magic formula, and you will still have days when it is difficult to walk, but those days will be fewer and (hopefully) farther between.  If you do just one of the three...lose the spikes.  Speaking for myself; it was cleats that got the whole thing rolling in the first place.  

[boogielicious]

16 hours ago, Snazzy93 said:

Hi all! 

Ill start by saying that i hope this is in the right place, and I know that its been talked about and answered numerous times. So i will appoligize in advance. 

Last year I had a lateral meniscus and acl repair of my left knee. The minuscus was torn for a couple years and would occasionally displace itself. Id just always get it back in place. (I always thought I had a loose knee joint until it totally have out and I had the surgery. Then I learned a knee can't really just be loose.) Anyway, the surgeon told me that my left knee is pretty shot. He repaired what he could but it wasn't pretty. Just bad genetics I guess because I never had an injury bad enough to cause all this greife, and I'm only 25. 

I took to golf because I thought it was one of the only sports  I could get heavily into with a knee on borrowed time. Ive played for about 3 years now off and on, but this year I've taken it much more seriously. Turns out I couldn't be more wrong. I should have researched first. My first couple games this year didn't bother me, but the last few have really made the knee in my lead leg hurt. (Thats the knee I had surgery on.) To the point of walking being fairly painful.

 

My question is, what can I try to change? Or am I better off just not golfing? I hate that option because as ive taken it more seriously, ive fallen in love with the gane. I'm sure lots of people have this problem. I asked my surgeon, and he basically told me he doesn't know anything about golf, but if I injure my knee again ill need a replacement by 35. 

I played with a torn meniscus in my left knee last year and it was hard. I got it resected last November. I previously had the repair but that didn’t last. It is better now, but will never be totally normal.

What did help was the Unloader One brace. It is different from other braces in that it only works as your knee straightens. It tightens then unloads the weight on the meniscus. Without it, I could not play. Ask your Dr. about it. Link below.

https://www.ossur.com/unloader-braces/braces

For the golf swing, it worked well because my left knee would straighten at impact. 

[Robbie son of Lucky]

I tore up my knees playing tennis and had 5 surgeries from 1982-2008. They weren’t helping at all anymore. I was a cripple. My wife is a Yuan Shi Dian practioner and fixed them in 3-4 months about 9 years ago when I was 56. I still have zero knee problems, although they get a little stiff if I’m sitting too long. 

Its also called Origin Point Therapy. It’s basically acupressure massage (but different) and heat. A Taiwanese doctor started this so it’s hard to find English info, but I understand there’s a Facebook presence. It’s all free knowledge and training—you just need a decent-sized Chinatown with volunteers. 

Edited July 15, 2018 by Robbie son of Lucky

[MarvChamp]

@Snazzy93 , Lots of good advice here, especially by @Piz, but really by all. My right knee is bone on bone arthritic. Much better after a series of 5 injections by the ortho surgeon. Nevertheless, I wear a top line DonJoy brace when I golf. Good luck in solving your frustrating problem, -Marv

[chilepepper]

Ive had arthroscopy once to clean up a meniscus tear and surgery to repair a compression fracture of the tibia plateau . Doc recommends replacement next. What has worked for ME is exercise. Light squats, leg curls and extensions. Ymmv, I’m not a doctor

[Robbie son of Lucky]

1 hour ago, MarvChamp said:

@Snazzy93 , Lots of good advice here, especially by @Piz, but really by all. My right knee is bone on bone arthritic. Much better after a series of 5 injections by the ortho surgeon. Nevertheless, I wear a top line DonJoy brace when I golf. Good luck in solving your frustrating problem, -Marv

My knees were the same— torn meniscus's, arthritis and little-to-no cartilage. Drs wanted to do replacements, but glue 10 years ago wouldn’t have lasted and I was told I’d need it again when I was 80— if I waited, I might die first, or better adhesives. 

YSD works for this stuff, but I don’t buy the wider range of their claims. Get your significant others to learn it—takes 30 minutes, then 30 minutes/day. 

[Snazzy93]

Thanks for all the replies! 

I iced and elevated it lastnight because it started swelling, and painful to fully straighten. (Although ill take painful to straighten over completely unable to straighten like before my surgery.) Thismorning is about the same. I'm hoping I just overdid it and didnt re-injure anything. 

As far as cletes go, I don't use them. I had a pair of soft cletes, but after the surgery I was told just to use a good pair of sneakers. 

I'm sure my drive swing is far from perfect. (Along with all my other swings.) As I said, ive only been golfing seriously for about a year. Id love to have someone watch me, but I dont know anybody personally who is knowlagable enough right now. So ive been watching lots of videos lol.

I will definitely consider a good brace, along with all the other advice so far! Now I just have to wait for my knee to calm down... Then ill hit the course and see what I can do.

[easyjay39402]

17 hours ago, Patch said:

I might suggest you go to a local golf pro, or two. Let the swing guru know your physical issues. Perhaps they can show you a swing, that might alleviate aggravating your knee. Something along an "arms only" type swing. 

I know golfer who has zero use of his legs, but also has a very strong upper torso. He hits his driver 240 on a regular basis. 

Perhaps search the web for physically handicapped golfers' swings?

Good luck with your golf journey.

My story - I was an avid marathoner in my youth and paid the price with worn out knees in middle age. An orthopedist (team doc for the Falcons) told me the right knee would have to be replaced. My rheumatologist told me yes, but it could wait, that I would know when it was time. Well, here I am at 74 with the knee still intact, hurts some, but I have had too many friends over the years be disappointed or even die (2 died from infection) with the surgery. So what about golf? About 20 years ago I switched to the pre-Hogan era classic swing, ditched the x-factor  and carried a single-digit well into my 60s. (Unfortunately other medical issues and age have destroyed my game of late) A book like “Understanding the Golf Swing” by Manual de la Torre can get you started, or the old Bobby Jobes instructional videos. As Patch says, it’s key to find an instructor who understands the arms-centric swing. Most pros, especially young ones, only know the body-centric swing. Narrower stance to reduce pressure on the knees, allow your hips to release on the backswing, etc

Good luck ... it absolutely is possible!

 

[RussUK]

I've had issues with the medial ligaments in both my knees since i was about 15. Because they are weak i dont have full stabillity of the patella. I have pain most of the time (dull aching, i'm used to it now) and if i sit for too long in one position my knee pops out of joint, so i have to pop it back in which isn't nice.

Doctors say its a hereditary problem i've had since birth but became noticable as i got more active (used to play tennis, squash, volleyball). I can usually play without a support but I always have a couple in my bag in case they start to bother me mid round.

My usual post practice/round "ritual" is gentle stretching to warm down (which im sure many people forget to do) and then massage or ice and a rest if they are sore (right is worse than left).

If your knee is hurting to the point where it affects your daily life the you should take a break from golf and speak to your GP. they will be able to advise treatment if needed. Also maybe speak to your local pro as they may be able to tweak your swing to take the pressure off your knees.

Good luck, keep your chin up.