ANY ADVICE PLAYING AFTER LUMBAR STENOSIS SURGERY ?

[Brad6260]

Looks like decompression surgery is right around the corner after being diagnosed with significant Lumbar Spinal Stenosis via an MRI. I know that steroid injections are a pain relief option but after physical therapy and other non surgical approaches I am frankly about as welcome to surgery as one can get because of the ongoing pain not to mention how it's affected my game. It keeps me off the course about 25% of the time and oh did I mention I am only 47 years old! Obviously surgery is always the last option to consider but at this point I want to try and solve the problem and not mask it.

 

So my question to anyone who has gone through a similar procedure is what was your rehab scenario? How long to get back swinging? How were the overall results? etc,etc.

 

 

Thanks very much,

 

Brad

[ngates]

[size="3"]Have had stenosis decompression twice. Retracting the back muscles (paralumbar) to expose the vertebra for surgery resulted in very weak and sore muscles after surgery. I am convinced that recovery is directly related to post-surgery physical therapy. The harder you work at your physical therapy program the quicker you will recover. I have one more week in PT following my second stenosis and fusion surgery. Have been in therapy for 5 weeks. Am a long way from normal. I am going to continue a conditioning program at the same facility. I've noted that, at 76 years of age, constant conditioning is necessary when you're hanging on to the knot at the end of the rope. My goal is to play the best golf this year that is physically possible! Good luck![/size]

[AlohaJim]

I had severe nerve compression at L3 - L4 after years of sports and hard work. It finally gave way on the golf course after a long drive on an uphill par 5. I collapsed and my left leg was paralized. Nerve decompression surgery 3 months later after trying everything from physical therapy to accupuncture. Post-op rehab was long and painful. Things heal slowly after 50. Doctors said the 20 years olds bounce right back but it depends on physical condition, too. I was in physical therapy for over a year and that included water therapy and light swimming. Daily living with only mild pain in about 2 years. About a half bucket of light short irons at the range. Barely 9 holes walking at the local par 3, but only once every two weeks at most.

 

Also had the same thing happen in my neck at C-3 which resulted in paralysis and fusion surgery. Recovery took over two years.

 

It's been 4 years since and I'm finally playing a full 18 but only once a week at most. Driving range twice a week at most, one bucket.

 

IMHO post op spine surgery is a risk reward hole. There's more to lose by hurrying back to golf than taking one's time. It will take longer to heal if it is stressed wrong or torqued by the golf swing. But, everyone heals different and has different procedures. I was told by doc's to give up golf. Sold all my golf stuff and was miserable.

 

Now, I've been taking lessons to shorten up my swing to make it compact and spine friendly. As a result, I hit the ball shorter, straighter, and depend on my short irons and short game to score.

 

I might add that I played in pain for many years before back surgery. But, after surgery and rehab, I play with less pain. Of course YMMV. My left arm and hand are still weak with some nerve pain, and I still have to be careful of my lower back.

 

Post Op rehab is the key to success. For me, it was water therapy, swimming, and walking and stretching daily. And, knowing when to stop. In this instance, "no pain no gain" is counterproductive.

 

hope this helps,

aloha jim

[BB17406]

Lee Trevino has Spinal Stenosis and had surgery some time ago using a new procedure called X-Stop. Check it out. I think surgeon uses something like implants that are buffers to seperate the vertebrae. I have it too and when surgery is called for, will probably go this route.

[Brutus3]

[quote name='Brad6260' date='13 February 2008 - 06:02 AM' timestamp='1202900546' post='913888']
Looks like decompression surgery is right around the corner after being diagnosed with significant Lumbar Spinal Stenosis via an MRI. I know that steroid injections are a pain relief option but after physical therapy and other non surgical approaches I am frankly about as welcome to surgery as one can get because of the ongoing pain not to mention how it's affected my game. It keeps me off the course about 25% of the time and oh did I mention I am only 47 years old! Obviously surgery is always the last option to consider but at this point I want to try and solve the problem and not mask it.

So my question to anyone who has gone through a similar procedure is what was your rehab scenario? How long to get back swinging? How were the overall results? etc,etc.


Thanks very much,

Brad
[/quote]

Brad,
After 2 blown disks, stenosis, the worst pain imaginable for 3 months, and surgery...I've made a full recovery...except the fact that I have the back of a 90yr old man first thing in the morning. My advice is simple for getting back into the game, but only regarding post surgery. My case was so severe that I had no choice and had to get surgery. If you ever have to take that route, here is my advice, post op: Slow down the swing, get to the range as much as possible and increase the speed of your swing gradually. I went to the range knowing that my distances will be decreased for the time being, so I would club up and swing fluidly. No shame in taking a bigger club when you are recovering. I went to the range every other day with ONE CLUB and got a small (sometimes large) bucket and practiced with that club until I got my distance and swing down. Address each ball as if you are on the course...pick a target and try to avoid "range rage" (where you mechanically hit ball after ball just burning through the basket...not learning a thing). A tip for avoiding this is to keep the bucket at least 10 feet from you, so you have to walk over and get each ball (trust me, it will slow you down). Rinse, wash, and repeat for all clubs. I'm now pretty much back to where I was before the pain. Back in the 70's, baby. Best of luck, my friend...and yes...I FEEL(felt) YOUR PAIN.