Spine surgery tends to be the last resort for people that are suffering from back or neck pain, but this doesn’t mean this type of operation is uncommon. In fact, world-renowned golfer Tiger Woods recently underwent back surgery for a pinched nerve in his spinal column.
USA Today reported that Woods was unable to participate in the Masters tournament due to an intensive rehabilitation program and soft-tissue treatment. A microdiscectomy was performed on the golfer to alleviate the pressure and pain from the damaged disc.
“Telling Tiger Woods to back off the training is like telling someone they can’t have their morning coffee,” TV analyst Notah Begay, friend and former roommate of Woods, told Golf Channel. “It’s part of his daily routine, he loves to train, he loves to work, he loves to practice. Getting rid of the pain, getting the back strong, which I am 100% confident that he’s going to be able to do, is of the utmost importance right now.”
If you are an athlete with a back/neck injury – or sustained serious back/neck pain through other means – you may need to speak with a spinal surgeon about the benefits of cervical disc replacement surgery. If other forms of treatment, like chiropractic care or physical therapy, have not helped relieve your chronic pain, it may be time to consider an operation.
Artificial cervical disc replacement involves replacing a damaged disc, which may have caused pain, numbness, or weakness in the neck. This surgery can improve mobility and relieve pain.
Patients who undergo this procedure are often released the next day and may need to wear a cervical collar for up to a week, according to the Know Your Back publication. Within two or three days, any pain associated with the surgery or disorder should be gone.
Whether you are Tiger Woods or a typical patient, you should consider speaking with a spinal surgeon about consistent neck pain or other spine problems.