The Spine Fusion Surgery That Fixed Tiger Woods’ Back
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How did Spine Fusion Surgery in Plano TX, fix Tiger Woods back pain? Many people, including Woods’ fans, ask this question. Back pain, notably lower back pain, is a common condition that results from a sudden awkward movement or spinal conditions, such as degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, herniated disc, etc.
Back pain affects more than 90% of people in the United States at some point in their lives. Common symptoms of lower back pain are severe discomfort, weakness, cramping, numbness, and reduced range of motion in the lumbar spine. Low back pain can also result from cancer, arthritis, kidney infections, and spinal infections. Read on!
Tiger Woods Back Pain
Tiger Woods back pain is a long story. In 2010, Woods experienced back pain for the first time. Tiger complained of a tingling sensation in his right side. Doctors thought that a herniated disc caused the pain.
However, Woods did not undergo proper diagnostic procedures and relied on over-the-counter medications to alleviate his pain. Woods experienced severe back pain due to a herniated disc in 2014.
The severe pain caused him to withdraw from different golf tournaments. Woods underwent a procedure called microdiscectomy to relieve pressure on his nerve in the spine. Woods underwent his second microdiscectomy surgery in 2015 and a follow-up surgery in the same year.
Although these procedures were successful and alleviated Tiger Woods back pain, they narrowed the disc between his L5 and S1 vertebrae of his lumbar spine. Woods discussed the problem with his doctor, but the health provider informed him of the risks of undergoing another surgery posteriorly.
Tiger Woods’ Spine Fusion Surgery in Plano TX
Tiger Woods met a board-certified orthopedic surgeon to discuss his symptoms. The orthopedic surgeon recommended Woods undergo ALIF surgery. ALIF is an advanced procedure that requires the surgeon to make a tiny incision in the abdomen instead of the back to spare the thick muscles in the spine.
The purpose is to access the damaged disc in the lumbar spine without any complications. So, Woods underwent an ALIF procedure. Wood’s orthopedic surgeon made a small incision in the front and reached the L5-S1 vertebrae during the procedure. The surgeon removed the damaged disc and used specialized tools to fill the space with bone graft material.
Woods underwent a rehabilitation period of three to six months. Woods performed supervised exercises during the recovery period and underwent physical therapy sessions to speed up the process.
After a few months, Woods began to feel good, allowing him to return to professional golf. Woods won the Masters tournament in 2019, thanks to the ALIF surgery that alleviated Tiger Woods back pain.
MINT Offers Spine Fusion Surgery in Plano TX
Spine Fusion Surgery in Plano TX is a procedure in which the surgeon joins two or more vertebrae into a single, solid bone. The purpose is to prevent the space between the vertebrae, leading to spinal stability and increased flexibility.
Spine Fusion Surgery in Plano TX can treat symptoms of various conditions. Our board-certified and fellowship-trained neurosurgeons perform this procedure to remove mobility between two or more vertebrae.
Although some spinal fusion surgeries like PLIF may decrease flexibility, ALIF surgery does not cause affect it. Anyway, ALIF surgery can treat a wide range of conditions, such as spinal tumors, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and kyphosis. It can also treat:
- Spinal stenosis
- Fractured vertebrae
- Scoliosis
- Spinal weakness
- Spinal instability
- Spondylolisthesis
Unlike other spinal fusion surgeries, ALIF carries less risk of complications, such as blood clots, bleeding, infection, stroke, reaction to anesthesia or medication, inadequate wound healing, etc. Because our board-certified surgeon and the vascular surgeon works collaboratively, we streamline the process and ensure everything goes smoothly.
That’s why MINT has higher success rates when it comes to Spine Fusion Surgery in Plano TX. The smaller incision does not cause damage to the surrounding structures, including muscles, tissues, and nerves, reducing the risk of infections.
Moreover, MINT has an advanced facility with state-of-the-art and cutting-edge tools and equipment. Our neurosurgeons are well-trained in using the advanced tools required for ALIF surgery. Besides, we use quality mesh cages, bone graft materials, rods, screws, and other instruments to ensure a successful surgery.
Contact MINT Today
Like Tiger Woods back pain, you can relieve your lumbar spine pain by undergoing spinal fusion surgery. Our neurosurgeons can give you advanced treatment options if conservative treatments, like physical therapy and medications, fail to alleviate your lumbar spine pain. Contact us today for more information on Spine Fusion Surgery in Plano TX.
