Adjustments for swingers with lumbar disc issues?

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What's the consensus here? How do you adjust a golfer's swing if his current motion causes him/her issues with existing disc problems in the lumbar area?
 
Take 2 weeks off and then quit.

I don't know man, what's the doc say????? Could be making a big problem into a huge problem.
 
If the disc problems also involve a numbness feeling in a leg, I would recommend you would consult with a doctor about epidural cortisone shot. This is my case. I had lumbar disc issues with sciatica about 10 years and considered an operation on it. But to my happiness, I happened to consult with a local doctor with a pain clinic (I met him on a golf course). He told epidural cortisone shots would work for disc problems especially with sciatica, which exactly did for me. Actually my pain was gone as soon as the needle entered my body at an operation room. It took about two minutes for the operation (not really an operation). I have been pain free since then about 5 years but I think I lost left leg strength about 5 % but it did not hinder my golf swing at all.
 
Go see Dr. John Sarno @ NYU. Or read his books and purchase lecture series. You may need to be crawling on the floor in pain though to buy into it though (that is what it took for me - i could barely move and pain killers did nothing). Not a twinge of pain in years.
 
I agree with the above. Check out what Dr Sarno and McGill have to say in their books. I spoke with Dr McGill about this issue in the golf swing and he told me you have to determine what causes pain in your back, i.e. is there any particular move or a position that causes pain. If you can determine that a move or position causes pain, is that replicated in the golf swing? And then can you work around or modify your swing so that you don't keep injuring the tissues.
 
Should have added to the original post:

I'm seeing a spine specialist tomorrow. My wife is a physical therapist specializing in neck/back. I thought I would consult with the instructors here to see what they would modify in a golfer with lower back issues.
 

lia41985

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You're going to have to "manage" spine bend and extension--you're probably going to be limiting both. You're going to probably be working more towards the "Hogan model".
 
Sarno would tell you your wife's line of work is a hindrance to recovery. I do not watch or be careful ab anything with my back nor have I looked for a workaround... I just got myself pain free and now I do whatever I want. Just moved hundreds of pounds of bluestone across my yard, no problem. PM me if you hit the wall looking for a solution. Good luck - back pain ain't no fun.
 
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Titanium in the bag and in the back is how I roll. :)

Spine.jpg
 
Go see Dr. John Sarno @ NYU. Or read his books and purchase lecture series. You may need to be crawling on the floor in pain though to buy into it though (that is what it took for me - i could barely move and pain killers did nothing). Not a twinge of pain in years.

I cannot overstate the importance of the above recommendation. Not only for back pain but so many other ailments that seem to have no known origin or cause. It is ignored by most doctors but that does not discount it's effectiveness. Have to try it to prove it to yourself as JDMAC suggests.
 
Sarno would tell you your wife's line of work is a hindrance to recovery. I do not watch or be careful ab anything with my back nor have I looked for a workaround... I just got myself pain free and now I do whatever I want. Just moved hundreds of pounds of bluestone across my yard, no problem. PM me if you hit the wall looking for a solution. Good luck - back pain ain't no fun.

So what's this guy do? Tell you it's all in your head? Hypnotize you and tell you that your back doesn't really hurt?

I had a disc flare up in my back. The pain has already subsided significantly. I can't imagine that a little yardwork caused me some kind of intense subconscious grief that manifested itself in the form of shooting pain in my lower back.
 
Not to thread jack too much, but any insight on disc regeneration? My L5-S1 is herniated (no sciatica) and it's affecting my quality of life and ability to play golf. I need to take a cart or else my back will hurt. Epidurals don't work for my disc or SI joint. I want a cure through disc regeneration.
 
I forget what the number of adults with herniated discs is, but it's ridiculously high..like 80% maybe. Probably much higher in golfers. The thing that helps me more than anything is hanging from a pullup bar as long and as often as I can..maybe a few leg lifts too.
We are primates after all. And don't do the forward bend stretch..arch instead..consult with a doctor first, of course...so he can chop you up and get you on the drug train..wow, I'm a little bitter against butchers, I mean doctors who know that the failed back surgery rate is over 75%..but do it all day anyway.
 
Not to thread jack too much, but any insight on disc regeneration? My L5-S1 is herniated (no sciatica) and it's affecting my quality of life and ability to play golf. I need to take a cart or else my back will hurt. Epidurals don't work for my disc or SI joint. I want a cure through disc regeneration.

Sitting is one of the worst things someone can do with a lumbar disc problem. Increases load within the spine compared to standing. Although you may need a cart to golf at present, I would highly suggest that you walk as much as you can during your round.
 
So what's this guy do? Tell you it's all in your head? Hypnotize you and tell you that your back doesn't really hurt?

I had a disc flare up in my back. The pain has already subsided significantly. I can't imagine that a little yardwork caused me some kind of intense subconscious grief that manifested itself in the form of shooting pain in my lower back.

Just trying to help here dude. Seems like you asked someone who doesn't know what Sarno is about and they told you the above - that is exactly what my Pain Management Doc told me (@NYU about when i asked him about Sarno who is also NYU). If you are good to go with your pain, then no need to look into it. If it comes back and his prognosis fits your pain, then perhaps he can be helpful.

He believes the physical state that causes spasm in many people is oxygen deprivation, not structural issues ("slipped disc", "ruptured disc", scoliosis, whatever). He also states that if you X-ray anyone over 20 years old, the vast majority of the time ~8/10 you will find something that a doctor would deem a structural issue, but that there is no correlation between those with pain and those without pain that an Xray shows to have the same "disc problem".

His contention is that the root of the very real, excruciating physical pain that certain people are experiencing is emotional. That the stress/suppressed emotion manifests itself in the physical state of oxygen deprivation (which is observed when you are in spasm) which causes the pain. So, not in your head, the pain is real, but the root cause is emotional. There is no psychotherapy or anything along those lines. You do not need to know what emotion or stress is causing it, but simply to be made aware of the fact that you do not have a structural issue and to think through and of course believe that the pain you are experiencing is a result of unconscious (or conscious perhaps) stress/emotions. He also explains why Steroid Injections/Epidurals usually work at least temporarily to alleviate this type of pain as the injection creates a state of increased blood flow which takes care of the oxygen deprivation. Don't treat the cause though, so many times you "relapse"...

I had three epidurals. After the first one i was mostly (still living in pain, but managing) pain free for a year. The second one i got after the pain returned; it lasted for ab 6 months. Six months from the second one i was in the most pain i have ever been in - pain i found difficult and still find difficult to imagine; I was totally incapacitated and i think i have a pretty high threshold for pain. Anyway, i had an epidural, it did nothing and then i found my way to Sarno.

Like i said, completely pain free for years. I do not manage my back pain, i have none. I sure wish someone had told me about Dr. Sarno sooner because living with any amount of chronic pain certainly changes you and affects your quality of life. Sure you can see why many people do not share their experience or knowledge of Sarno - me, happy to do it if it helps someone else become pain free. Good luck.

PS - do not waste your money on Chiropractors or Accupuncture... pissed a lot out the window that way.
 
PS - do not waste your money on Chiropractors or Accupuncture... pissed a lot out the window that way.


I would say, do not waste your money on a BAD Chiropractor or Acupuncturist. There are very good ones out there who treat and manage this type of condition very successfully.
 

JesseV

New
I forget what the number of adults with herniated discs is, but it's ridiculously high..like 80% maybe. Probably much higher in golfers. The thing that helps me more than anything is hanging from a pullup bar as long and as often as I can..maybe a few leg lifts too.
We are primates after all. And don't do the forward bend stretch..arch instead..consult with a doctor first, of course...so he can chop you up and get you on the drug train..wow, I'm a little bitter against butchers, I mean doctors who know that the failed back surgery rate is over 75%..but do it all day anyway.

Have had 3 surgeries on L5-S1. 1st in 1995, then again in 1997, last in 2007. First two were hack jobs, so I agree with the butchers comment.

To be honest my back does hurt all the time but it is nothing I can't manage. I do a lot of stretching and exercises to strengthen my lower back muscles. This is critical if you want to play golf.

See two or three doctors, get their opinions and decide on a course of action.

There are some non-surgical ways to try and alleviate your pain, such as disc decompression. Wish this would have been around before my first surgery.

Good luck - With proper treatment and care you will be able to play again. Expect some lack of flexibility with hip/shoulder turn, get a doc's okay before playing and just have fun!
 
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