Golf and pain, or No Golf and no pain

DonM

When I'm golfing, I have to live with mild pain and discomfort all the time. Mostly foot and neck. The neck leads to headaches though.

When I stop golfing for a few weeks, these things go away and life in general is more enjoyable. And better sleep due to not being uncomfortable. Over the past few weeks I haven't been able to golf because we are selling our AZ house and packing up. And I feel so much better.

So the math says, don't golf. But damn I cannot find anything to take its place. I don't enjoy fishing, I don't play instruments, I no longer hunt. Things like reading, learning, photography, stock trading aren't close to what golf does. I like shooting but not very often. It's not something I would do on a regular basis.

I like mechanical stuff but I'm not about to buy an old car and work on it. For one thing that would probably hurt my neck more than golf, lol. Not gonna motorcycle any more.

Damn damn damn.....
The only thing that really excites me is to start traveling. My wife is up for it. So that might be the answer.

I have tried all sorts of swing changes.
My last and best hope is to simply swing easy. Accept the loss of 10-15 yards per club. If that lets me feel good, then it's fine. I have gotten to the range a couple of times over the past 2-3 weeks. Swinging easy does seem like something my body can tolerate. So we'll see.

One thing for sure, I am not going to put up with pain 24/7 just to be a golfer.

Interested in your stories about this.

Eguller

DonM My last and best hope is to simply swing easy. Accept the loss of 10-15 yards per club. If that lets me feel good, then it's fine. I have gotten to the range a couple of times over the past 2-3 weeks. Swinging easy does seem like something my body can tolerate. So we'll see.

Seems as though your body is trying to tell you something. I've seen many golfers in our club go through this
and the solutions are: appropriate meds in moderation, more fluid, easier swing, moving up a tee and accepting
that age hits 'everyone', loads of flexibility stretching and finally, not playing as often as you'd like.

By the way, after lots of surgeries over the last 7 years, I've some personal experience with these issues. Good Luck.

fatshot

DonM A few years ago, at the suggestion of another golfing buddy, I started taking a yoga class at the local Y during the winter. It's not strenuous....in fact it's called "Senior Lite Yoga," and the instructor is older by far than anybody else in the class. But it is good for stretching out the kinks, soothing the soreness, and helping the loss of flexibility that come on as we age. I've gotten to the point where I do at least some of the positions every morning before I'm going to play golf. (I hasten to add that I've become a lazy azz this winter b/c of Covid, etc., and I just started doing the routine here at home this week! I can feel it, but I imagine after 1 or 2 sessions, I'll be OK again). Something you might try....Just a thought.....

bigshank

DonM Need a spine fusion L4-L5. I have a cracked vertebrae. I’ve been going to work everyday and averaged a round of of golf most weekends. Ive
subscribed to the swinging easy. I have no choice or get back spasms. I can play and enjoy myself still so I’m putting off surgery as long as possible. If I didn’t have such good diehard golf friends I’d say fuck it. But as long as I can hack it around with these guys,drink , and laugh I’m doing it. As far as sleeping it’s hit and miss for me. I’d be more miserable at home wishing I could play. Hopefully swinging easy keeps the inflammation down for you

pellmell

DonM I have Superfeet insoles in all my shoes including soccer cleats, which might help you with foot pain.

Typhoon

Have you seen a doctor? Losing golf is not the end of the world, sounds like you have other hobbies. You might still be able to hit a small bucket, chip and putt etc... if you can but just not play. Or maybe find a pitch and putt course. We have one here.

But again, you have other hobbies. I’d really see a doctor because it’s just not golf that’s going to be being affected down the road.

DonM

Typhoon I've seen doctors. It is just basic joint degeneration at this point. Not all that bad on X-rays but bad enough that it hurts when I'm in golf season.

LBlack14

They make pills for that.

DonM

Eguller
I'm thinking of just cutting back to once a week with my buddies, and maybe a 9 hole league. I won't be as good as when I play 3 or 4 times a week, that's for sure. But at least I'd be playing.

Mattyv

If you do give up golf, try billiards. A lot of billiards players I know also love golfing. I get similar thrills from both games. Something about putting balls in holes I guess.

Weirfan

Seems Musculoskeletal aches and pains are par for the course as we age. In some cases we still think our bodies can do what it did 25 years ago, maybe it can but it doesn't respond the same way. Our bodies break down over time and if you were like me who constantly played and competed in sports 12 months a year for almost 50 years, you body is getting back at you. Some people worked physical labour, thankfully I was mostly a paper and pencil pusher

Keeping fit, flexible , Don't smoke , eat healthily and try to get good sleep will all help. Muscle mass decreases as we age, tendons and ligaments are less fluid and bones become more brittle. I have known a couple folks to fall down off a chair or step ladder and where they would have normally jumped up , brushed them selves off, they broke into pieces. A good baseball buddy , who worked hard physical labour all his life, snapped his collar bone working a screw driver .

I guess for me the time to quit golf will be when the pain is such that It takes away the fun....either that or when I have no 5 iron in the bag and need more than a couple woods 😉

mulegolf

Weirfan .either that or when I have no 5 iron in the bag and need more than a couple woods

That won't do it. I haven't had a 5 iron for years now. In fact I have hybrids all the way through the 7. I still enjoy playing but I don't play nearly as much as I used to. I used to play 4-5 times a week and at least 27 holes each time. Now it's rarely over 18 holes and only about twice per week.

garyt1957

Golf is tough on the body, no doubt. I'm like you when I don't play I feel better. But my pain isn't that serious and a trip to the chiropractor takes care of it and keeps me in the game. I feel my hip replacement was caused by golf and my left knee hurts some too. I blame that on golf also.
I have to have some sport in my life and since basketball is done with the hip replacement I'm not giving up golf unless things get unbearable. I've discovered pickleball and that seems doable even after THR so that's another sport I'm looking forward to starting back up when the hip is ready. I just have to have some competition in my life.

DonM

garyt1957 I forgot about pickleball. I haven't tried it. But everyone who does seems to get a lot of fun out of it. I keep saying I'm going to give it a try.

Par4QC

I must be an exception to the rule of 'if I golf, I gotta hurt somewhere'. I feel tons better when I can play and these winter months off make the body feel like crap. trying to keep busy doing other things, but with the kind of weather we get, it's hard to find something inside. Should have got some exercise equipment, but it still would not be here if I ordered 2 months ago.

Mattyv

Par4QC

You are not the exception. When I play my back feels better. If I take too long of a break my back tightens up. At least this is what I tell my wife.😁

Par4QC

Mattyv We only play for 'medical reasons'! (I just wrote that one down, to remember) 😅

KCee

Sounds like you have to weigh what golf gives you vs what it takes away. There have been times I couldn't play due to injuries/pain, but so far that's been short term layoffs. Luckily I think I sleep better after walking 18 holes (unless I drink too much after), but if I couldn't sleep I'd be at the doctor's trying to figure out how to fix it. I currently have some issues, but golfing doesn't seem to aggravate them....my wife doesn't believe me, but my bad shoulder actually feels better after golf....could be the after round drinks, but I'm saying it's the golf.

Typhoon

DonM Does cortisone help?

Eguller

DonM

Right. Motion is good. What my PTs have encouraged is a strong core to take the pressure off the other areas.
Seems to work. Like most here, this Winter has been difficult and add some family issues and it is going
to be a difficult Spring Training....lol

garyt1957

DonM I forgot about pickleball. I haven't tried it. But everyone who does seems to get a lot of fun out of it. I keep saying I'm going to give it a try.

It's a lot of fun and can be played at various levels so pretty much anyone in any physical condition can find their level. It's a good social sport too. I've met a lot of nice people at PB.

johnnydoom

Golf definitely puts the whammy on my lower back. Haven't had it diagnosed yet, but I almost certainly have a degenerated disc related issue. Still playing since it is not a debilitating pain yet, but I hurt worse than nornal for 2 days after a round. Haven't played in 6 weeks and the back is better than it has been in quite a while, but I've also been doing stretches specifically to try and relieve the pain. Won't know anything until I play again.

DonM

johnnydoom
One of the questions I think about is whether quitting golf would be healthier for the long run. If you make your disc a lot worse by golfing, with all that would entail, is golf worth it?

DonM

One more point. Doing this packing and selling stuff, I've had to lift/move a couple of things that were heavy for me. Instead of hurting my back, I managed to strain my neck (upper traps). I was already thinking I need to get with a trainer and get my upper body muscles stronger. I stretch them now, but not much to make them stronger. This latest ouch has confirmed to me that I need to do that before I give up on golf.

garyt1957

DonM One of the questions I think about is whether quitting golf would be healthier for the long run. If you make your disc a lot worse by golfing, with all that would entail, is golf worth it?

You need to find out if it's structural or muscular that's causing problems. For me, I've had xrays and my spine is in really good shape I just get muscle soreness and spasms from my (bad) swing. It can sometimes be really painful but massage or chiropractic adjustment or even just rest gets rid of it. Mostly though I just feel a little stiff after a round.
If I thought I was doing permanent injury that could really come back to bite me down the road I'd certainly reconsider if it's worth it.