Tiger Woods is officially out of the 2014 Masters Tournament after receiving a microdiscectomy for a herniated disc in his lower back that has been bothering him for months. This is the first time in 20 years that the star golfer will not appear on the roster, and he certainly didn’t plan to be out of competition so soon. Unfortunately, his hope for putting off back surgery until after the Masters was dashed when conservative treatments for his pain simply weren’t effective enough to get him back in the game.
What caused Tiger’s herniated disc?
“A lumbar herniated disc is the most common injury for golfers,” said Dr. Chetan Patel, a noted spine surgeon and Medical Director of the Spine Health Institute in Altamonte Springs, Fla. “This is caused by swinging, bending and twisting.”
Swinging a golf club involves rotating the body in a way that puts considerable pressure on the spine and surrounding muscles. This kind of movement can eventually cause pinched nerves, strained muscles and herniated discs, especially after years of playing the game.
What is a microdiscectomy?
A microdiscectomy is a minimally-invasive surgery that provides relief for compressed nerves in the spine.
“It is an outpatient procedure with excellent results,” said Dr. Patel. “Recovery is quick with excellent function after rehabilitation.”
How long before we see Tiger back in the game?
Tiger will begin rehabilitation and soft-tissue treatments within a week to hopefully get him back on the golf course by summer. We hope to see Tiger back for the U.S. Open in June or the Open Championship in July!
If back pain is keeping you off the golf course, or if you are interested in learning how to safely improve your golf swing, contact Dr. Chetan Patel at the Spine Health Institute at
Call407-303-5452.
