[Ngwkgczx]

So tomorrow I will be going for my first round since having back surgery, and to be truthful I am nervous about it. Surgery was 5 weeks ago and I haven't been able to swing a club in around 3 months. Not so nervous about playing. More nervous about re-injuring.

So my question is how many of you have went back to golf after a significant injury/surgery?


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[PekHyvac]

What type of surgery?

I had an L4-L5 Microdiscectomy on Jan 6th, 2011. Played my first round of golf after the surgery on May 20th of that same year, about 5 months later. 5 weeks seems pretty quick.

I haven't had any issues at all since I started playing again.

[Ngwkgczx]

L5 laminectomy for a herniated disc. I have been doing/feeling great and already have been released to work.


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[wrefrinny]

Did your doctor give you permission to play already? I would probably just stick to short shots at first and see how it feels. I've had my share of back problems and had a fusion on my neck. My doctor gave me permission to chip/pitch/putt at first. Maybe you will be just fine. I don't blame you for being nervous about it though.

[Ngwkgczx]

He told me 6 weeks, to be honest. I'm def not going out there and try to crush the ball.


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[wrefrinny]

You'll find that you will probably play better because you're not swinging hard. I've shot some of my best scores since coming back. It's weird but I am just really careful not to over swing and I am having more success. Shorter swing, more club. My instructor said to play within yourself and that's what I've been doing. I haven't had that surgery but it's been mentioned to me as an option. My pain block helped for a while. Good luck and be careful!

He told me 6 weeks, to be honest. I'm def not going out there and try to crush the ball.


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[nerrttrw]

Good luck. I'm sure everything will go awesome. Let us know how it goes.

[Loovikeillilen]

Have you had any range sessions before going out for a round? I had neck surgery last year and I eased back into playing by chipping and hitting half shots until I felt no stiffness or pain. Depending on what you had done you might still have some tissue that needs to heal also. More than anything, be prepared to shut it down for the day if you feel anything wrong. Dont over do it and set yourself back.

[thakitt]

My first round after knee surgery was filled with nervousness and limited amount of strength in my right leg.
My first round after my elbow healed was very interesting. But I got through it and didn't do any damage.
Back surgery is a bit different. I'd honestly wait until 6 weeks. Why push it and risk greater energy

[Coededgeme]

Be careful about starting too early. If your doc says wait 6 weeks, then wait 6 weeks.

I had rotator cuff surgery this winter and couldn't wait to get out and play. I followed his guidelines to the tee doing my rehab and did not swing a club until he told me to.

My first couple sessions were probably my best ever. I was taking nice smooth swings rather than trying to kill the ball. Wish I could get back to that.

[allvideO]

I would listen to the doc he does know what he is doing. Also if you decide to go out and play make sure to take it easy just hit the fairways and greens nice and easy!

[artenotreah]

Good luck to you out there. I'm sure you will keep it easy, nothing worst than re-injuring and having to give up the season or longer.

[Switiespils]

During recent Physical Therapy I was told the most dangerous time is when the patient feels great but isn't actually fully healed. You don't feel the pain any longer but your body is actually still in recovery - the (insert body part) is still healing and strengthening. The PT told me she sees people re-injure themselves this way all the time, then they have to start over nearly from scratch in their recovery. I was specifically told not to do certain things regardless of how I physically felt until medically cleared.

I don't know about this plan to play. Others have touched on it but 6 weeks means 6 weeks, not 5; ask the doctor to release you to play golf; start with chipping, pitching and putting; get some range time in before hitting the course. I can imagine how anxious you are but think about it the other way - if you do more damage you could end up missing the whole season.

[alecoplesosse]

Follow your doctor's advise. A complete round!?! Have you even swung a club in the back yard, yet or at the range? Listen to the people here who have had back surgery. Good Luck!

[ovenco]

I'm not a surgeon, but as a chiropractor who sees people with back surgeries/problems all the time, you have to be careful with the whole "I've got no pain" feeling. Usually, pain is the last thing to manifest itself with a joint problem and the first thing to go away when the problem is fixed. Building that stability in the low back by working your lower back muscles and core is going to help A TON. The real issue is going to be how your core musculature in your low back is going to withstand your swings. I would really stretch your low back, hamstrings/quads out before the round begins, even more than maybe you usually do. Definitely don't over-swing and try to kill the ball (which I'm sure you weren't going to do.) Just take it really easy and allow your body to get back in the flow of things.

[Ngwkgczx]

Follow your doctor's advise. A complete round!?! Have you even swung a club in the back yard, yet or at the range? Listen to the people here who have had back surgery. Good Luck!

Yes I have. Im still undecided if I will go yet as work has me swamped today. I do work at a rehab hospital that specializes in all injuries ( not drugs ). So if I go today odds are I will have a PT with me and a nurse of some sort.


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[SnareeWer]

I had a L4/L5 Lami done this past October, my neurosurgeon told me 3 months minimum to make sure it's fully healed. I didn't want more problems so I took his advice seriously but it ended up being 5 months anyway because of winter. He did clear me to chip and putt after 6 weeks post op so I played friends approaches and just played around the green until winter closed courses, then played my first full round in March.

5 weeks seems really early but I know how bad I was itching to get out there and that wasn't summer.

[blohannaserri]

Doctor's can't feel what you feel. Do what you are sure you can, test yourself in steps. Back is too central to too many things to risk. What the doc says is the max, not the min, so go for it, just go deliberately and err on the conservative side. Good luck.

[Ngwkgczx]

Well I went and played 9 holes. Didn't over do it and all went well. Went better than my last outing before surgery that's for sure haha. Problem is now I need to fix my swing because previously I was compensating for my bad back.


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