Neck problems

Bigjay45 · May 18, 2023

So I have an issue going on with my neck 4 herniated discs c6 c7 being the worst with severe
Cervical radiculopathy. It's been going on for a little over a month haven't been able to feel my thumb pointer or middle finger have no tricep left on my left arm. I've been waiting to get into pain doctor to see about getting a ESI to help. Went yesterday and docotor said I need to see an orthopedic surgeon. Which they called me before I got home and said they want to see me Tomorrow.

The pain doctor has also called back they have got me an appointment for Friday morning. This very fast I my ortho doctor has like 6 week wait to get in and they are moving me in a day and pain doctor was supposed to be 3-4 week wait. So there urgency has me a little worried. The good thing is I am very familiar with my ortho doctor I had a double spinal fusion in 2011 and developed a relationship with him for 4 years. The thing with my back was it was a 2 year process before surgery and this is happening in basically a month.

The thing that is crazy and no can explain to is why can I still swing a golf club and not feel like it's making it worse. If my tricep was functioning I would definitely be able to full swing I haven't swung full in a month just to be safe. But I chip and put every day and it seems to be the only thing that relieves the pain. I actually just pulled up the course now to hit the chipping green. So that's why I'm posting this in here just maybe someone in here has been through this. Thanks for your time. Obviously I'm not trying to ask for medical advice more so experiences from fellow golfers

So my question is has anyone been through this before and what was experience like? Did the shots help did you do surgery what type how was the recovery time did it effect your golf game

bekgolf · May 18, 2023

Is the pain doctor a physiatrist? They mostly want you to do injections or nerve ablation, both are temporary fixes. The orthopedic is the guy who can fix you but it requires surgery.

In my lifetime I spent a few years under the care of a Physiatrist for neck pain (arthritis is the general term). Injections, nerve blocks, and nerve ablation x2. If I could of had it fixed one time with surgery that's what I'd do, all the other fixes are temporary, the nerves grow back and I'm the same as I was prior to having all of these procedures done because they are temporary.