Back Issues and Golf

[4hourrule]

Have you had/do you have Back issues and how did you deal with it and Golf? Did you play on with current Swing, temporary Swing change until better, or did you modify your Swing permanently to reduce chance of reinjury?
There has been more Injuries of Backs commented upon in the Golf Tour compared to years ago when you only heard Freddie Couples.

 

[JW Smoove]

I quit for a couple years. Lost a lot of weight started exercising again. Back trouble, for me, mostly vanished.

Before those changes, was getting spinal shots bi-laterally every 3-4 months. Fun times.

 

[4hourrule]

I quit for a couple years. Lost a lot of weight started exercising again. Back trouble, for me, mostly vanished.

Before those changes, was getting spinal shots bi-laterally every 3-4 months. Fun times.

Ouch...

 

[tahoebum]

I have some structural issues in lower back, including mild scoliosis and was fighting back pain from golf a decade ago. I permanently changed my swing with a much larger hip turn on the backswing about seven years ago to take some pressure off of my back and it worked. I now rarely have any back issues even if I hit 300 balls on a long range session or play 18+ holes 4 days in a row.

 

[Joshnoble01]

I do. Fortunately (or unfortunately) it’s not disc or structural issues. My muscles around my my spine get knotted up and cause a pinch on nerve to at is extremely painful. But a massage and infrared at chiropractor every couple weeks usually keeps it pretty ok. But I have to stay on top of it. If I am not paying attention to it weekly I can easily get to a 4-6 of lots of pain and no golf or physical activity involving the back.

 

[4hourrule]

I have some structural issues in lower back, including mild scoliosis and was fighting back pain from golf a decade ago. I permanently changed my swing with a much larger hip turn on the backswing about seven years ago to take some pressure off of my back and it worked. I now rarely have any back issues even if I hit 300 balls on a long range session or play 18+ holes 4 days in a row.

I just wish I could Go to the Range before I tried to finish 18. Good for U

 

[OldandStiff]

I feel like it's pretty hard to not have a back issue at some point. I had some long before golf really added to them.

Change the swing to minimize, same with life, therapies, injections, etc etc. Honestly mine feels better than it has in a long time. Last year was really hard on this front and when the phrase 'crushed gravel' got thrown out by a doctor my retort led us to what's seemed like a decent solution in the near term. I wish they were willing to pump some cement into the ones in my neck too.

 

[4hourrule]

Last time I had Herniated Disc was in 86. This time I doubled up. 2 Herniated, one torn. Have aways worked out so no weight troubles, just pain when I bent over. Slowly getting better after 1.5 yrs and the Inversion Table I bought seems to be helping. Just was curious what others are dealing with.

 

[Chunkylover77]

I have yet to find the magic formula that allows me to practice how I like to practice. My back has just gotten worse and worse over the years. There are points that I just have to shut it down every year because the back just cannot handle it. I hate getting old but I guess the alternative is worse

 

[4hourrule]

I have yet to find the magic formula that allows me to practice how I like to practice. My back has just gotten worse and worse over the years. There are points that I just have to shut it down every year because the back just cannot handle it. I hate getting old but I guess the alternative is worse

Lucky for me my Back does not get worse, other than sore/pain if I over do it... like spending 2 hours Power Washing my Driveway

 

[PatsFan]

I do and I have good days and bad. Bad days there is no way I could play golf, Luckily those days are few and far between.
Getting into better shape and strengthing the core did help.

 

[War Eagle]

I had to take a while off in 2021 when dealing with back issues, however, now I have learned to just manage it.

Stretching and warming up is a must these days, I cant go out cold. Even a range session require a good warm up.

I deal with sciatica issues daily, and have morning and evening stretches that help a ton. A big yoga ball is super helpful for stretching.

 

[4hourrule]

I had to take a while off in 2021 when dealing with back issues, however, now I have learned to just manage it.

Stretching and warming up is a must these days, I cant go out cold. Even a range session require a good warm up.

I deal with sciatica issues daily, and have morning and evening stretches that help a ton. A big yoga ball is super helpful for stretching.

Lucky for me I only deal with Sciatica on long Road trips, pain travels down my RH leg the longer I Drive. So glad I don't have that pain otherwise. I have always used an over inflated Yoga Ball for my Sit Ups, great device to loosen joints and Muscles.

 

[charley48]

I had a serious back injury back in the 80's. After about 6 months I recovered enough to start playing sports again. But its never been the same. Over the years I could manage it enough to not let it affect my lifestyle. Which was a lot of fast pitch softball and basketball.

Now that I am much older its getting very hard to manage it. A simple walk with the dog is painful after about half a mile. I used a pain specialist for injections last year. No help. Now I'm seeing a back surgeon. I won't do surgery but he's better equipped for back problems than the pain specialist. MRI and Xrays showed a whole lot of arthritis. And bulging discs. Not much anyone can do with arthritis. I use the cream every day.

I had injections last month. No help. Scheduled for another round next week. The plan is not so much for the relief, but to go through the necessary steps so he can burn the nerves after the injections. He has to do that to satisfy the insurance for the approvals. I've talked to several people who had it done and they all said it really helped them. Crossing my fingers.

 

[Mark_UK]

Back issues on and off for a while, but recently I’ve had some mild pain in the small of my back that i haven’t been able to shift. A couple of Tylenol at the start of the round and ignore it is my way to deal with it. It sucks getting old!!!

 

[braveheart]

Recently, feeling pain in the right side of my lower bask during and after playing golf. I had been doing yoga and Pilates prior to this season, so I’m a little surprised at this .
Also tinkering with open and closed stances to see what lessens or causes it to happen. I work in PT but at 67 with limited flexibility, I should expect some issues.

 

[4hourrule]

I had a serious back injury back in the 80's. After about 6 months I recovered enough to start playing sports again. But its never been the same. Over the years I could manage it enough to not let it affect my lifestyle. Which was a lot of fast pitch softball and basketball.

Now that I am much older its getting very hard to manage it. A simple walk with the dog is painful after about half a mile. I used a pain specialist for injections last year. No help. Now I'm seeing a back surgeon. I won't do surgery but he's better equipped for back problems than the pain specialist. MRI and Xrays showed a whole lot of arthritis. And bulging discs. Not much anyone can do with arthritis. I use the cream every day.

I had injections last month. No help. Scheduled for another round next week. The plan is not so much for the relief, but to go through the necessary steps so he can burn the nerves after the injections. He has to do that to satisfy the insurance for the approvals. I've talked to several people who had it done and they all said it really helped them. Crossing my fingers.

Hope it works for U

 

[4hourrule]

Back issues on and off for a while, but recently I’ve had some mild pain in the small of my back that i haven’t been able to shift. A couple of Tylenol at the start of the round and ignore it is my way to deal with it. It sucks getting old!!!

Not always age but I get it. I blame my Wife.

 

[4hourrule]

Recently, feeling pain in the right side of my lower bask during and after playing golf. I had been doing yoga and Pilates prior to this season, so I’m a little surprised at this .
Also tinkering with open and closed stances to see what lessens or causes it to happen. I work in PT but at 67 with limited flexibility, I should expect some issues.

...and this is what I've also read. Try diff things. If pain increases and stays go to something else.

 

[1860VS]

Bone on bone facet joints. Can't do much more for core strength, I am in pretty good shape other than being a bit of fat ass....... hard to keep it off at 64.
Inversion tables are good.
TENS units can be a great help.
Steroids helped a lot (prednizone worked great for me ) until it started messing with my blood sugar.
Norco combined with Celebrex is a gift from above. My old azz was swinging at 103-104 yesterday after I woke up with an severely aching back due to the front after front weather we have been having. Celebrex first thing, then a little 5/325Norco 4 hours apart in the morning and it kept the edge off the pain.

 

[SlazDun82P&P]

Ok its not debilitating i suffer sciatica . I only play pitch and putt but sometimes i only play a few holes or just chip etc, but it gets me out in fresh air and its golf

 

[Parrot]

I’ve got 2 fused in my lumbar spine. Before I had it, I was pretty much done with golf. I’d changed this or that in my swing but it was just kicking can down the street. Shots and RFAs had stopped being effective. Playing wasn’t worth it.

I’ve started a core strengthening and flexibility program my PT put together for me to help with the pain I have now.

 

[charley48]

Bone on bone facet joints. Can't do much more for core strength, I am in pretty good shape other than being a bit of fat ass....... hard to keep it off at 64.

I've always been on the heavier side. When I was a senior in high school I was 6' 225 pounds. I'll be 68 in a couple weeks and I'm around 235-240 pounds. Never been below 200 in my adult life. I imagine that could contribute to back problems over the years.

 

[4hourrule]

Bone on bone facet joints. Can't do much more for core strength, I am in pretty good shape other than being a bit of fat ass....... hard to keep it off at 64.
Inversion tables are good.
TENS units can be a great help.
Steroids helped a lot (prednizone worked great for me ) until it started messing with my blood sugar.
Norco combined with Celebrex is a gift from above. My old azz was swinging at 103-104 yesterday after I woke up with an severely aching back due to the front after front weather we have been having. Celebrex first thing, then a little 5/325Norco 4 hours apart in the morning and it kept the edge off the pain.

I've heard of those on TV, not sure what they do. I only know Advil. My Sister has had multi Surgeries and each one caused more pain, I'd ask her what the Weather will be and She was always right.

 

[timg]

I’m not exactly young anymore and for the first time I’m dealing with a little bit of low back pain on my left side. I went to my physical therapist last week and it turns out my glutes and hamstrings are not working properly on my left side and that’s putting a lot more pressure on my lower back. So I’m hoping with a little PT I’ll be back in good shape here soon.

I have started doing this low back routine here beyond what my physical therapist gave me and it seems to be working really well. Fingers crossed it continues to work well.