Left Wrist Injury - Help Needed

[mrose]

I haven't been able to play since November last year and as a golfer that has been playing 18 years probably 3-4 times per week you can imagine my frustration. Add to that discovering this forum and things are kinda out of control.

Basically, I have pain in the heel pad of my left wrist pretty much where it rests on the top of the grip. Now when I try and hit shots I feel pain all over the back of my left hand. When I try and play I can hit 5 shots at most before it gets extreme. It's hard to describe the feeling, it's like a mix of bone pain and a sprain type sensation. I've had an x-ray and an MRI and that has shown a small 3mm cyst on the bone. I've now had a CAT scan and find out the results on Monday. The problem started when I was working in a city golf shop where I was hitting balls inside. I think it's partly from hitting balls off bare carpet (hard floor underneath) and also hitting irons off those thick rubber tees you find on launch monitor setups.

If anyone has any similar experiences or thoughts I'd be extremely grateful. Some of the info on this site has been really enjoyable to read and watch but fixing this problem somehow would really be something. Thanks in advance. Matt

 

[dashfan87]

I have not had this problem, but I know how you feel bro... When I was 16 some friends and I were on the range, doing our best "Happy Gilmore" swings, and I pulled a muscle pretty bad in my back. From then till I was 19 I had problems with it, never knowing when it would creep up and pull again... I went to chiropractors, and other doctors to figure it out, and all they could tell me was "strengthen the muscle" so I had to take it easy for a while, and go through some therapy, as it wasn't just bothering my golf game, but my day to day life. I seriously wondered weather I would be able to play golf without some kind of pain again. Fast forward to today, I'm 21, and I don't really deal with the pain anymore, I was able to strengthen the muscle, and it doesn't bother me at all while golfing.
Its so frustrating though, I know, to not be able to play the game you love, because of an injury, and not know if you ever will play it the same again... but hang in there, I'm sure you will be able to figure this out, and get back to pain free golf.

 

[mrose]

Thanks DashFan. You're not just a slick pair of slacks with matching belt and shoes. I do agree though, I think tour players should steer well clear of brown belts.

 

[welshdentist]

Takes time to get there, but I avoided a major surgery to remove a disc in my neck using online exercise programme from Tim George in San Diego utilising the Egoscue method.

www.egoscue.com

Most injuries just highlight a weakness/imbalance.

I feel every golfer and non golfer should take care of posture etc

I can't recommend them highly enough, i did the online programme

 

[FloydPT38]

I haven't been able to play since November last year and as a golfer that has been playing 18 years probably 3-4 times per week you can imagine my frustration. Add to that discovering this forum and things are kinda out of control.

Basically, I have pain in the heel pad of my left wrist pretty much where it rests on the top of the grip. Now when I try and hit shots I feel pain all over the back of my left hand. When I try and play I can hit 5 shots at most before it gets extreme. It's hard to describe the feeling, it's like a mix of bone pain and a sprain type sensation. I've had an x-ray and an MRI and that has shown a small 3mm cyst on the bone. I've now had a CAT scan and find out the results on Monday. The problem started when I was working in a city golf shop where I was hitting balls inside. I think it's partly from hitting balls off bare carpet (hard floor underneath) and also hitting irons off those thick rubber tees you find on launch monitor setups.

If anyone has any similar experiences or thoughts I'd be extremely grateful. Some of the info on this site has been really enjoyable to read and watch but fixing this problem somehow would really be something. Thanks in advance. Matt

First - let us know what the CT scan says
When you go to a Therapist or Chiropractor - make sure they feel comfortable getting someone back to playing golf- Some do and some don't

But there are almost always things that can be done to get you back playing again.

CG

 

[mrose]

Thanks for your help guys. I decided to ask Dr. Google if he knew anything and was reliably informed that Jeong Jang on the LPGA Tour has a similar problem only her cysts are in the right wrist as opposed to left. Also, she is able to lead a tournament with hers, I certainly couldn't with mine (assuming we have similar abilities all else being equal, which we do ). Further research led me to a possible fracture of the hook of the hamate bone which would explain a lot. It is located right where the heel pad of the left hand touches the butt end of the grip. It is a little hook (as the name suggests!) and can snap off when under severe stress. This seems to be exactly where the bulk of the vibrations at impact would be felt. A secure left grip also involves pressure of the last three fingers securing the club against this heel pad. Interestingly enough, correct technique is recommended to avoid this type of injury. A flat left wrist perhaps!!!

 

[dashfan87]

Thanks DashFan. You're not just a slick pair of slacks with matching belt and shoes. I do agree though, I think tour players should steer well clear of brown belts.

hahaha... I take it you saw my swing video... That just happened to be the clothes I was wearing after church, but i do look good
hang in there man, I think sometimes it just takes time to heal... and thats all that will help. look at Tiger, they are saying it will be a year before hes "full strength" again... seriously, it took me about 2 1/2 to 3 years to get back to normal, and even now, I can tweak it. not nearly as bad as before, but its uncomfortable for a couple of days.

 

[mrose]

The CAT scan I had didn't reveal anything more than we had already found out. That being that I have a small cyst on a bone on my wrist. The doctor said he can't operate on it in case he misses it (delicate area) but will try and find out if we can get at it with an injection. I suspect I may have tendon damage as well.

I was playing around with a club last night and found that if I grip it a bit stronger (turned clockwise) with my left wrist it is not quite as taut and stretched at the top. I went outside in the pouring rain with the temperature close to 0 after midnight and confirmed that the wrist doesn't hurt as much in the change of direction like this. It won't be til I can hit some shots that I'll find if this changes anything at impact where there was also some pain.

I apologise for using the forum for this self-serving purpose but I thought having access to this large pool of golfers I may find a solution or at least an avenue towards that possibility. At this stage I doubt whether I can play at full capacity anytime soon so you can understand my desperation. Anyway, sorry for taking up space but thanks for allowing it.

 

[dashfan87]

The CAT scan I had didn't reveal anything more than we had already found out. That being that I have a small cyst on a bone on my wrist. The doctor said he can't operate on it in case he misses it (delicate area) but will try and find out if we can get at it with an injection. I suspect I may have tendon damage as well.

I was playing around with a club last night and found that if I grip it a bit stronger (turned clockwise) with my left wrist it is not quite as taut and stretched at the top. I went outside in the pouring rain with the temperature close to 0 after midnight and confirmed that the wrist doesn't hurt as much in the change of direction like this. It won't be til I can hit some shots that I'll find if this changes anything at impact where there was also some pain.

I apologise for using the forum for this self-serving purpose but I thought having access to this large pool of golfers I may find a solution or at least an avenue towards that possibility. At this stage I doubt whether I can play at full capacity anytime soon so you can understand my desperation. Anyway, sorry for taking up space but thanks for allowing it.

We are happy to help man, its all good, thats what the forums for. help.

 

[mb6606]

http://www.mypressureproducts.com/pain_reference_chart.htm

Get a hard rubber ball - super ball or lacrosse ball. Follow the trigger point charts. Also check the outside and inside of your forearms for tightness and trigger points. When the pain leaves the trigger points the pain in the afflicted area will leave. Works like magic - just have to do it several times a day for several weeks or even months if the the trigger point is deep.

 

[Brian Manzella]

Grip Change.

If you need to grip it away from the heel pad, and a bit stronger, let me know and I'll provide (show) a way to do it.

 

[holeout]

Thanks for your help guys. I decided to ask Dr. Google if he knew anything and was reliably informed that Jeong Jang on the LPGA Tour has a similar problem only her cysts are in the right wrist as opposed to left. Also, she is able to lead a tournament with hers, I certainly couldn't with mine (assuming we have similar abilities all else being equal, which we do ). Further research led me to a possible fracture of the hook of the hamate bone which would explain a lot. It is located right where the heel pad of the left hand touches the butt end of the grip. It is a little hook (as the name suggests!) and can snap off when under severe stress. This seems to be exactly where the bulk of the vibrations at impact would be felt. A secure left grip also involves pressure of the last three fingers securing the club against this heel pad. Interestingly enough, correct technique is recommended to avoid this type of injury. A flat left wrist perhaps!!!

I broke my hook of hamate bone in my left hand about 2 1/2 years ago. Still seems like not that long ago to me. It was a stress fracture, we think, and after the surgery to remove the broken off hook, I was back playing and won my club championship about 2 or 3 months later. Once it gets taken care of and you rehab your hand and get it strong again, it's like it never happened. Having a good doctor helped too.

Have they x-rayed for the hamate bone yet? It's hard to get a good shot of it; my doctor eventually had to get me an MRI to see if it was broken or not. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[mrose]

thanks guys much appreciated. i suggested the hook of hamate bone to my doctor last week but he dismissed it by saying it would have shown up on the scans we've done. everything i've read about it says the hook is so small you only see it from a certain angle and need a scan whereby you really target or look for the bone from that certain angle. he's the doctor though and there were 100 people in line outside. i wouldn't be surprised if that's what it is because the feeling is a sharp bone pain with maybe some tendon damage thrown in for good measure. i'll try and find a specialist now.

thanks brian. i've been working on it a lot and it's not so much getting the heel pad off the club as much as gripping it so that area doesn't stretch at the top of the backswing as the weight of the club gives the wrists that extra pull. i found that my left hand grip had the club running a bit too much along the creases of my fingers (perpendicular to the fingers themselves) rather than diagonally across and down them. in other words, at address there was too much of an angle between my lower forearm and hand. at the top of the backswing this angle straightens out leading to great pain in the wrist. i figured that if i could get rid of this angle at address i could get rid of that extra straining of the wrist at the top. to do this i needed the left hand to have the fingers going down the shaft as much as i could and minimise the extent that they go around. they still wrap around obviously but the tip of the little finger and other fingers comes out the other side of the grip further down the grip than before. i went to a nearby park where i could hit balls into the bush and it worked great. isn't that always the way though when you just hit ten balls. i'll have to see if it lasts a round. it's raining and freezing cold here so will wait til it clears up.

this probably won't have made much sense. it might be better explained in a video!