Is it possible for your golf swing to develop sciatica? It most certainly can unless you take steps to avoid back injury pain in golf.
A Case in Point
In September of 2004, I developed sciatica on the golf course.
I felt shooting pain as I was swinging my club when I was out playing golf with my father.
It’s something I’ll never forget.
I should have stopped striking, it was making my sciatica pain worse, but my father was filming my swing and I felt compelled to finish the golf game for some inexplicable reason.
Some swings were manageable, but I had to back off when I was in excruciating pain.
Living With It
Since then, I’ve had to live with it. The only permanent residue in my left foot is stinging and numbness. Other than golf, I’m a lefty, and sciatica has only affected my left side. It’s usual, according to what I’ve heard.
The nerve pain is usually on the right, according to what I’ve heard.
My upper instep stings all day, to the point where I can’t sleep with the blankets over that part of my foot. It irritates me greatly.
Aside from that, I’ve been fortunate. Short occurrences, although the first two months were by far the worst and the genuine pain is the pain during golf.
Sciatic Pain
I flew back to Las Vegas, convinced that the worst of my sciatic pain was over. However, for the following two months, I was unable to move.
I recall being caught on all fours attempting to get into the tub and realized there was no way I was going to get in.
It was excruciatingly painful to move in any direction, even the tiniest.One day, I attempted to drive to work, but there was no way I could get into my car. This was due to sciatic back pain.
Sciatic pain in people is no joke.
Humiliating
The most humiliating incident occurred at a supermarket shop about 10 p.m. I had to sit down seven times on the store floor.
The agony on my left side was so intense that the only way to relieve it was to sit down and stay there until it diminished.
Then, within a minute or two, it would happen again.
I had young shelf fillers offering to help me, but all I could say was that I was suffering from sciatica and managing in any way I could.
I make an effort to swim on a regular basis. It helps my muscle tension. Every day, I go for a stroll and stretch. However, I’m always conscious that this could come up again at any point.
Hereditary
My father has had sciatica for over 40 years. Mine arrived in my mid 40’s. Irritation, inflammation, pinching, or compression of a nerve in the lower back is what causes sciatica pain.
Sciatica pain can be relieved by stretching and strengthening the abdominal, lower back, and thigh muscles, which will get you back on the golf course where you belong.
Golf is a challenging game to perfect on its own, but when you add sciatic back discomfort to the mix, things may quickly spiral out of control.
Damage to the sciatic nerve, which is located in the lower spine, is a common cause of sciatica pain. Sciatic discomfort can have a variety of causes, so you should consult your doctor to find out what’s causing it.
Performing a series of basic exercises and stretches in the comfort of your own home will often relieve the pain associated with this common golf illness.
Exercise For Sciatica Pain
Stretching the hamstrings can help relieve sciatica pain by releasing tension in the lower back.
Here’s a low-impact way to loosen up your hamstrings:
Support your thigh with your hand or a towel while lying on your back.
Straighten your knee slowly.
Your hamstring muscle will start to feel stretched.
Make an effort to get the bottom of your foot facing the ceiling.
Hold for 10 seconds at first, then gradually increase to 20 to 30 seconds.
With time and self-care procedures, most patients with sciatica get better on their own.
