Back pain sucks

The first time my back "went out" I was sitting in my dorm room studying for  finals. I got up to get a cup of coffee and the pain in my lower back dropped me to my knees. No warning. No activity that should have injured my back. Yet, that moment marked the first day of the rest of my life. More than 25 years later, I am a chronic pain sufferer who has tried everything to dull the pain, while still attempting to maintain some semblance of an active lifestyle. 

Bottom line, I have a compromised lumbar disc between L4/L5. I tried years of core strengthening, yoga, physical therapy and injections. I gave up running, snow boarding and anything remotely risky to my spine. Then I turned to gabapentin, oxycodone and a bottle of red wine each night to numb the pain. I gained 30 pounds and got depressed. I stopped playing golf and stopped seeing my buddies in the 19th hole for a pop. Downward spiral ensued.

Finally,  when I couldn't take it any more, I had back surgery. The debilitating nerve pain caused by pinched nerve roots running to both of my legs was gone the moment I woke up. But, I lost more than 30% of the disc and the nerve damage caused by the herniation left me with permanent numbness in my left leg. 

Honestly, I think I could deal with some numbness for the rest of my life. But I'm one of the lucky ones who gets so much more. Yes, that's sarcasm. Years of chronic pain have taken a toll on my nervous system. My sympathetic system (think fight-or-flight) is dialed up to ten on a good day, twenty on a bad one. So, while my back is never completely comfortable, normal stress also sends pain to my feet, neck and legs almost every day.

So where does golf come into all of this? I'm determined to find a way to keep playing. Sure, my days of getting out several times a week are likely behind me. My six handicap is likely going to become a 16 handicap. But through a lot of physical and mental work, I'm going to keep playing as long as possible. And, as I hit the gym, hit the course, and hit the mental workouts, I'll share what I've learned. 

And, I hope you'll share as well. Back pain sucks. Chronic back pain really sucks. Together, we'll figure it out. And, if someone has any suggestions to cure that nasty push fade (don't call it a slice) that gets away from me when my back gets tired, I'm all ears for that as well. 

-Scott