Back surgery prep and recovery.

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By Elson C

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  • 59 Replies
  1. Jonathan Smith

    Jonathan Smith
    Charlotte, NC

    Best wishes on a speedy recover Elson.
  2. Jim S

    Jim S
    East Point, GA

    Elson sorry to hear about your surgery. Please pay attention to the doctors and do what they say. Do all the therapy as best as you can.Dont rush your recovery. My prayers are with you.


















  3. Frank P

    Frank P
    Port St. Lucie, FL

    Military
    Glad to hear that all went well. I'm betting that by the time that the grass is green and the flowers are blooming, you'll be back at it again.
  4. Elson C

    Elson C
    Southgate

    Quick update:
    As of today, the recovery is going exceptionally well, still no guarantees of me playing golf next season.
    The cage and screws have settled in and the most delicate part of the recovery has passed, my restrictions have been modified to allow me more "freedom", I still need to pay a lot attention how to carry my self on a day to day, especially with the lovely winter here in Michigan.
    I get to see my doctor again in a couple of weeks and for the time being, I feel really good, the pain level on a daily basis is probably the lowest I have had since I was a teenager.
    Thank you again for everyone who chimed in and the get well wishes along the way.
  5. Steve E

    Steve E
    Stockton, CA

    Elson..good news keep working with your doctors and you will be teeing it up soon..praying for a speedy recovery for you..
  6. Dave N

    Dave N
    Dade City, FL

    Elson C said:

    Quick update:
    As of today, the recovery is going exceptionally well, still no guarantees of me playing golf next season.
    The cage and screws have settled in and the most delicate part of the recovery has passed, my restrictions have been modified to allow me more "freedom", I still need to pay a lot attention how to carry my self on a day to day, especially with the lovely winter here in Michigan.
    I get to see my doctor again in a couple of weeks and for the time being, I feel really good, the pain level on a daily basis is probably the lowest I have had since I was a teenager.
    Thank you again for everyone who chimed in and the get well wishes along the way.

    This is some great news. Your timing was excellent for the surgery (being in Michigan with the snow and all ) .
  7. LLittle

    LLittle

    Sorry to read that so many have back issues, especially when it comes to L4-5. I fought it for two years right after retirement. My chiro lowered the boom on me one day when I was entering her office for appointment. "No wonder your back hurts, your posture is terrible!" After my *tune-up* I joined the YMCA, got a trainer and starter on core class. Going on 5 years now 3 X per week. I am down to 1-2 times a year for adjustments and usually is a rib that I have knocked out or tendon popped out of shoulder. I started in again with lessons this last summer to work on mechanics and the stuff between my ears and at this point have some hope.

    Crossing my fingers for the rest of you!
  8. Rick D

    Rick D
    Weston, WI

    Good luck to all of you guys out there who have back problems. It's no fun. After years of abusing my back through work and play, I ruptured the L5-S1 10 years ago. Leg went numb from hip to toes. I could hardly walk.

    7-8 epidurals [I lost count], a lot of therapy and I'm in a pretty good place. I still have some numbness, which can get worse if I make the wrong move. With good advice, a good therapist, a lot of yoga and core, I'm still playing some darned good golf.

    The key for me to avoid surgery was the therapy and keeping at it. At 61 I'm in better shape than most guys my age. I've met guys who have had 1-2, or more, surgeries and continue to have a lot of trouble because they don't take care of their bodies.

    Some people who give me grief about playing a lot of golf with a bad disk don't realize that the worst thing for me is sitting at my desk all day. Playing golf in a cart is murder. The only time I ride is during events when everyone else rides and even then I try to walk as much as possible. Golf and a bad back can co-exist.
  9. Elson C

    Elson C
    Southgate

    Rick D said:

    Good luck to all of you guys out there who have back problems. It's no fun. After years of abusing my back through work and play, I ruptured the L5-S1 10 years ago. Leg went numb from hip to toes. I could hardly walk.

    7-8 epidurals [I lost count], a lot of therapy and I'm in a pretty good place. I still have some numbness, which can get worse if I make the wrong move. With good advice, a good therapist, a lot of yoga and core, I'm still playing some darned good golf.

    The key for me to avoid surgery was the therapy and keeping at it. At 61 I'm in better shape than most guys my age. I've met guys who have had 1-2, or more, surgeries and continue to have a lot of trouble because they don't take care of their bodies.

    Some people who give me grief about playing a lot of golf with a bad disk don't realize that the worst thing for me is sitting at my desk all day. Playing golf in a cart is murder. The only time I ride is during events when everyone else rides and even then I try to walk as much as possible. Golf and a bad back can co-exist.

    I plan on starting yoga classes once my restrictions are lifted, a strong base and good posture should help a lot.
    The one thing my wife never understood is why I insisted on walking and moving around even on my worse days and it was because sitting around actually made it worse.
    I know we all have different reasons why to get and why not get surgeries, however at the end of the day I believe everyone wants a better quality of life, that is on my case why I decided to give it a try.
    I feel better every day that passes by, this morning I took the stairs to work, and by the time I got to the top, I realize that I was actually dancing a little to my Spotify playlist.
    I wish my best to everyone and I hope our paths may cross someday on a fairway or green.
  10. Rick D

    Rick D
    Weston, WI

    I'm glad to hear of your progress. I'm fortunate that I haven't needed surgery. There are days when I wonder how long I'll get by before I do something that worsens the condition and I'll have to go that route.

    I remember about a year after it happened that one day I was walking out the door and fell pretty light on my feet. It was a great feeling to realize I'd made a lot of progress, much like you taking the stairs.

    Congrats and keep up the good work.
  11. Darryl M

    Darryl M
    Wichita, KS

    Elson, glad to hear the surgery went well & that you are feeling better and progressing each day. Yes those are sexy vertebrates.... Keep with the PT schedule and what the doctors want from you, & golf will be waiting for you to return with open fairways.....

    Keep Moving Forward,

    DM
  12. richard f

    richard f
    Shildon

    Good luck hope you get sorted out
  13. Elson C

    Elson C
    Southgate

    Just an update for everyone.
    I saw my doctor today, all good news, teh fusion is taking well, I will start the next phase of rehab therapy next week, learning the dos and donts of my new back, how to work with it without adding any stress to it.
    I am going back on April 3rd and if everything is well there is a high percentage chance to get clear to go back to normal activities.
    I am super happy about it.
    Best regards
    Elson Correa
  14. Aloha Bruce

    Aloha Bruce
    Sunnyvale, CA

    That is good news! Keep it up and continue listening to your doctors.
  15. Elson C

    Elson C
    Southgate

    Aloha Bruce said:

    That is good news! Keep it up and continue listening to your doctors.

    Thank you, Bruce.
    I am prepared and willing to sit out of the golf season as long as I need to recover properly, I want to play pain-free for a long time, not just the next round.
  16. Elson C

    Elson C
    Southgate

    Second week of PT, feeling stronger every day.
    I'm also feeling great, no pain so far.
    Post Image
  17. Elson C

    Elson C
    Southgate

    A brief update on the state of my recovery:
    Today is day 130 since I had surgery, and I am clear to start taking practice swings, Monday my PT had me test for strength, flexibility and pain, which involved taking a few golf swings, 25%, 50%, and 75% speed, they felt great, no tugging on pain at all, so with those results today my surgeon clear me to start working with a golf club, keep the speed less than 75% and to work on gaining more flexibility.
    For the next few weeks, I can chip and pitch with moderation, I cannot go out and pound a whole bucket of balls down the range just yet, but I can go back to small daily practice sessions on the backyard.
    I am super happy and excited about this news.
    Thank you, everyone, who wished me well and gave their advice during this journey.
    It is not over yet, but the harder days are way behind me now.
  18. Elson C

    Elson C
    Southgate

    Day 154 update:
    I finished PT this morning, I am cleared by the therapy team, now I have a visit with my doctor in 2 weeks to get the final go-ahead to return to full activities.
  19. Elson C

    Elson C
    Southgate

    It is finally here, I am seeing the doctor this afternoon and hoping to get the all-clear from him.
  20. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    Awesome, Elson. Sounds so familar. Got an all clear from my Dr before PT released me. My neurosurgeon not a big fan of PT.......did PT for three weeks then they had to close office then two weeks of exercises at home....so glad everything worked out.....hitting range this week....
  21. Elson C

    Elson C
    Southgate

    Chuck Z said:

    Awesome, Elson. Sounds so familar. Got an all clear from my Dr before PT released me. My neurosurgeon not a big fan of PT.......did PT for three weeks then they had to close office then two weeks of exercises at home....so glad everything worked out.....hitting range this week....

    I am glad to hear it, Chuck, I hope your range session is very fruitful.
    I will try to get on the range tomorrow sometime, just to get the rest of the joints moving a little bit before playing on Saturday, I know ain't going to be pretty, I am just glad to be there playing.
  22. Elson C

    Elson C
    Southgate

    Officially, I am all cleared.
    I can go back to golfing, and normal day to day activities.
    I already called the course and one of my friends, we will be playing Saturday morning.
  23. Michael S

    Michael S
    Apple Valley, Ca.

    Great to hear enjoy your day back on the course.
  24. Elson C

    Elson C
    Southgate

    It has been a year already?
    It actually has, for the past 12 months since the surgery, I have just gotten physically better and stronger.
    I feel as good and happy as I was 20 years ago.
    Life without pain is the best life.
  25. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military

    Elson C said:

    It has been a year already?
    It actually has, for the past 12 months since the surgery, I have just gotten physically better and stronger.
    I feel as good and happy as I was 20 years ago.
    Life without pain is the best life.

    Awesome. First time out for me yesterday. Still a bit of work to do. Six pars, six bogies and six boo boos. The layoffs are a killer. Hope you are stronger and can make a steady comeback. Not ready here for any tournament anytime soon. Was pretty sore last night after an eighteen hole round. Natural tendency is to swing a little bit too fast. Take care pal, fairways and greens.
  26. Deno

    Deno
    New Jersey

    Military
    Good news Elson
    Somehow I missed this thread. Glad to catch up and wish you a great 2021 season !!

    btw.....the Team Titleist package and note was first class all the way.

    Deno
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