Today, I want to talk about something I’ve been dealing with lately: playing golf after spinal fusion surgery. I went through it, and let me tell you, it’s a journey.
First off, I started feeling this constant back pain. It was so bad that I finally decided to see a doctor. After some tests, they told me I needed spinal fusion surgery. It was a bit of a shock, but I knew I had to do it.
So, I went through with the surgery. The first few weeks were tough. I was in a lot of pain, and moving around was a real challenge. I followed the doctor’s instructions and started with some light exercises. This is where the real work started, I think.
- Week 1-4: I did some really basic stuff, like walking around the house and some gentle stretches. No lifting anything heavier than a milk jug!
- Week 5-8: I upped my game a little. Longer walks, and I even started using an exercise bike on low resistance.
- Week 9-12: This is when I started feeling a bit more like myself. I added some light weights to my routine and increased the intensity on the bike.
By the end of the third month, I could feel a big difference. I was a lot less stiff, and the pain was way down. This got me thinking about golf again. I talked to my doctor, and he said to give it a shot, but to take it really slow.
I started by just chipping and putting. It felt weird at first because I couldn’t twist like I used to. But I kept at it, listening to my body and not pushing too hard. Gradually, I started taking some half swings, then three-quarter swings. It was a slow process, but I was determined. And you know what? Around the ten-month mark, I finally played a full round. It wasn’t my best game, but just being out there felt amazing. I was able to have my golf game, but I could not twist. I could not do some other moves, either.
Here’s the thing: spinal fusion does change how you play. I can’t bend or twist the fused part of my spine anymore. It’s a bit of an adjustment, but it’s totally doable. You just have to be patient and work with what you’ve got. If you do what the doctor says, it will be OK. I am an example.
My takeaways?
- Listen to your body and don’t rush things.
- Celebrate the small victories.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice.
If you’re going through something similar, just know that there’s light at the end of the tunnel. It takes time, but you can get back to doing what you love. Keep at it, and you’ll be surprised at what you can achieve!
