Sidelined for 3 months

[bigred90gt]

After more than 5 years of pain and misery, I'm finally got my back fixed today.

 

5 years, and a couple of months ago, I was in the gym lifting weights and felt something give in my lower back. Not realizing the extent of my injury, I continued working out. The next day, with just a little soreness, again I pressed on. This was the big mistake. When I woke up the next morning, I was in more pain than I have ever experienced. It took me about 20 minutes of pain and tears just to put my shoes on.

 

Without having insurance at the time, I couldn't really afford to do anything about it. I went to a chiropractor 3 days a week for 5 or so weeks, then started to cut back, and after 3 months started to feel a little better. I had managed to get a. MRI done, and had herniated my L4-L5 lumbar disk.

 

Over the next several years, the pain ranged from nagging to debilitating, but I was for the most part functional. Fast forward to April this year. I was out running, had just finished a 2 mile warm up an was doing some 100yard sprints. On my 2nd one, I found some uneven ground and stepped in it, and immediately recognized that feeling. I had done it again. After another MRI, I now have 3 herniated disks, and insurance. After consulting with my neurosurgeon, and my family doctor, I leave in 5 minutes for a laminectomy and microdiskectomy at the L4-L5 level. Hoping for complete relief. It has been so long, I have forgotten what it is like to live a life without constant pain. I'm looking forward to that. My surgery was at 7:30 this morning. I was back home at around 1:00pm. Doc said he pulled a piece of disk material about 1/2 the size of his thumb out and off of the nerve.

[Love2Slice]

Yikes, dude you made a mistake not getting that fixed the first time..

Glad you're OK..
Make sure you heal fully before you do ANYTHING.
If you make the wrong move you're messed up.

[bigred90gt]

I wouldn't say I made a mistake. I did not have insurance, and if you have never had surgery, it can be quite cost prohibitive for a self pay case (upwards of around $15k-$20k). I don't know about you, but I just don't have that kind of scratch laying around.

And I have every intention of following the docs orders to the T. I have no desire to re-injure this, and will do everything no can to keep that from happening. That is why 3 months with no golf. I've had several people tell me "you'll be back sooner, once you start feeling better". These are people who have never dealt with severe back pain.

[Shipwreck]

Sorry to hear that buddy. Maybe you'll get lucky and come back even stronger and a better golfer than when you left Here's wishing you a speedy and safe recovery.

[suwdawg]

I know what you were going thru I could barley walk for months had a severe herniation 5 years or os ago on l5-s1. Had the same surgery, the surgery went well and I really didnt have much pain after and followed the directions to a t. With mine lots of walking involved in the rehab along with PT after a few weeks. I still get sore once in while but I have degenerative disc on the other side so that contributes and I take it easy when I have that. I strech almost daily and lift light weights now (I would suggest that for you as well). I was also a runner and do the run walk thing now occassionally with more of the other forms of cardio.

Regarding golf I was released to try it after about 4 months but waited 6 to make sure I didnt want to be back in anytime soon, so please dont rush that and go docs orders and when you feel you are ready.

Finally good luck I'm sure you'll do well.

[bigred90gt]

I am also following the docs orders, with the exception of walking. I am not a person who can just sit at my house all day and do nothing, and standing in one place doesn't feel all that great. They wanted me to work my way up to walking 2 miles a day. Since about 2 days after the surgery, I've been walking about 5 miles a day. Sometimes a little less, sometimes a bit more. I have gone to the course with my uncle a few times and walked along with him and his usual group just to get out. My home course is almost a 6 mile walk. The more I walk, the better it feels.

There is still some lingering pain, but it is at a tolerable level, unlike before the surgery. I'd love nothing more than to do some stretching right now, as I think some light stretching would go a log way to helping ro reduce the pain. Unfortunately, I called my doc and was told not to until after the follow up, which is not until the 19th.

Being that the nerve was compromised for so long, I imagine it will take a while for the irritation to go away and to feel as close to 100% as I can expect. Till then, I'll just keep plugging along and walking.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Not back problems, but i am now 2.5 weeks post op from my first of two total hip replacements. Like yourself this has been an ongoing saga that caused many problems for me not just my ability to play golf. I wish you a speedy and healthy recovery. Hopefully we will both be enjoying a pain free life soon enough.

[scotchblade]

I went through it, the challenge of tying my shoes, living with pain, ultimately surgery, which did the trick. Happened when I was 33, over 20 years ago. The silver lining was I learned early that good health is not something to take for granted. You only get one body, so take care of it. Keep it moving and eat plants and animals. Too many people take better care of their cars than themselves.