How Tiger Woods’ Golf Career Was Affected By Back Pain
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Tiger Woods Golf Career, an American professional golfer who has won 82 titles on the PGA Tour, including 14 majors, has been affected significantly by chronic back pain. The back pain problem frequently interrupted Woods’ program, and he had to withdraw from some of the major tournaments.
In this post, we’ll focus on ways back pain affected Woods’ golfing career.
Tiger Woods Golf Career
Tiger Woods began his golfing career in 1996. He got a significant career breakthrough for greatness in 2000 when he got the most lucrative endorsement with Nike. Since then, Tiger Woods has had a successful golfing career.
However, Woods has experienced a massive setback due to a back pain problem. He has spent a significant time during his career seeking treatment for his injuries.
Despite back pain challenges, he has played successfully to become a 14-time major champion. His career started to change in 2014 due to back pain. He was a consistently successful golfer until 2014 when his career began taking a different turn. Henceforth, Tiger Woods’s back pain has significantly impacted his golf career and his general life.
Roger Woods Back Surgeries Overview
In 2014, Tiger Woods experienced back and leg pain that became debilitating. He underwent his first spinal surgery and resumed his sports activities shortly after. He underwent a back operation to relieve pain in his back. It was reported that the surgery was a success and that he expected to make a full recovery.
However, his physically active lifestyle after the successful surgery was short-lived. His back pain persisted for many years, and he withdrew from most crucial tournaments.
Notably, between 2014 and 2017, he received frequent injections to dull the pain, but they were not effective. In 2015 he underwent two surgeries, but the pain continued.
Although Woods’ back pain prevented him from playing golf, he underwent successful back surgery in 2017, which changed his story. Before the surgery, Woods had experienced back spasms which forced him to withdraw from the Omega Dubai Desert sports event.
It was after the recovery from the fourth surgery that Woods was able to participate in the Masters tournament.
Recent developments in Tiger Woods’ back problems and Golf Career
In 2019, Woods opened a new chapter on his golfing career. After staying for years without getting involved in professional golfing, in 2019, Tiger Woods participated in the Masters, and his win was a mark of his comeback.
This was after the famous successful Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion surgery(ALIFS) in 2017. Dr. Richard Guyer, an orthopedics doctor at the Center for Disc Replacement at Texas Back Institute, performed the successful surgery on Woods. During the back surgery, the damaged disc was removed, and the vertebrae were raised to the normal level.
After the ALIFS, the fourth surgery performed on Woods, he could begin having an everyday life free of pain. Before the surgery, he had stayed out of active golfing for a long time. He had been experiencing severe back pain whose pain would shoot through his leg. The pain made it difficult for him to play and lead an everyday life. He had given up on ever playing again. His fans had lost hope of him ever coming back.
He has been actively participating in professional golf since then and has won several more titles. Notably, early this year, he underwent a successful minor fifth back surgery.
Tiger Woods Recovery From Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery
The Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery was successful. However, for complete recovery, Woods had to take a break from an active lifestyle. The break quickened his healing. He was to recover between 4 to 6 months fully.
However, within weeks post the surgery, in May 2017, Woods was arrested for breaking traffic rules. While the arrest was driving under the influence of alcohol, it was established that Woods was not under the influence of alcohol. Instead, it was the effect of the drugs prescribed to him that he slept at the wheel.
Despite the unfortunate turn of events, Woods healed fast and without complications by observing the doctor’s instructions during the recovery period. After the recovery, he was fit to get back to his career, and his successful recovery was marked with several wins.
Final Words
Following the successful surgery, full recovery, and Woods’ win at the Masters tournament in 2019, it’s evident that modern back surgery is an answer to most back pain problems that have been difficult to treat using other treatments such as medicine. Tiger Woods Golf Career was restored through the lumbar interbody fusion surgery, and you can consider it for chronic back pain.
