Tiger Woods Back Rehabilitation
Tiger Woods back rehabilitation was successful after the best neurosurgeon Plano Texas performed the innovative ALIF procedure to relieve his lumbar spine and sciatic pain. In today’s article, we will tell you how Tiger Woods overcome back pain with ALIF surgery and how he underwent the rehabilitation period. Read on!
Tiger Woods Back Pain Surgery
Tiger Woods has a long history of back pain. In 2010, Woods experienced back pain for the first time. Woods said he felt a tingling sensation in his right side, leading to severe pain. Doctors suspected that the champion golfer might have suffered from a herniated disc. However, Woods took medications to relieve the tingling sensation and discomfort.
According to the sources in Plano Texas, Tiger Woods suffered from a herniated disc in 2014, causing him to withdraw from the Honda Classic and other major golf tournaments. Woods underwent his first surgery known as the microdiscectomy surgery, in which the surgeon removed the herniated disc to relieve the pinched nerve.
Woods underwent another microdiscectomy surgery with a follow-up surgery a few months later to relieve his back pain. Although these procedures allowed Woods to relieve spinal pain, they didn’t fix the problem, meaning his back pain returned after some time. Woods could not undergo another surgery because he had already undergone three surgeries through a posterior approach. Continue reading!
Tiger Woods ALIF Surgery
The spine surgeon Plano, Dr. Richard Guyer, advised Woods to undergo ALIF surgery, a minimally invasive technique that requires the surgeon to make the incision in the front. ALIF surgery is an ideal choice for people with active lifestyles. Because Tiger Woods’ spine had narrowed severely, undergoing another surgery through a posterior approach would lead to complications and might cause disability, ending his illustrious gold career.
That’s why Dr. Guyer performed ALIF surgery to approach the L5 and S1 areas in Tiger’s lumbar spine. Dr. Guyer removed the damaged disc and filled the space with a bone graft material. Dr. Guyer secured the bone graft material using rods and screws. In addition, ALIF surgery involves the surgeon making a tiny incision in the front, allowing them to place a much larger cage in the L5 and S1 area, leading to increased chances of fusion.
Tiger Woods’ Back Rehabilitation
ALIF surgery was another major undertaking for Tiger Woods, and rehabilitation was an essential part of the healing process. In general, rehabilitation involves physical therapy sessions and exercises to recover from lumbar spine surgery effectively and quickly.
According to Dr. Scott Kutz, the best neurosurgeon Plano Texas, rehabilitation is essential for spinal alignment, stability, and balance after ALIF surgery. Tiger Woods underwent physical therapy sessions under the guidance of a physical therapist after his surgery.
Physical therapy sessions allowed Tiger Woods to manage pain and regain his spinal strength. Remember, the rehabilitation period after open-back surgery is a complex process with reduced chances of success. However, this is not the case with ALIF surgery.
Moreover, Tiger Woods also applied homemade remedies to speed up the process. These include minimizing pain with heat and ice therapy, spinal exercises, and back pain movements. Tiger Woods’ physical therapist made efforts to relieve his back pain.
Woods’ therapist provided him information and education to improve his overall health and recovery after ALIF surgery. Woods refrained from inflammatory foods and consumed fresh veggies and fruits with greater anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants.
Because Tiger Woods is an athlete, performing spinal exercises wasn’t a problem for him. Tiger made efforts to perform exercises to eliminate fatigue, strengthen his spinal muscles, improve flexibility, and balance his spinal structures.
Regular exercise also allowed Woods to speed up the healing process and prevent future episodes. So, Tiger Woods back rehabilitation with outstanding commitment and dedication allowed him to come back to the golfing world. Woods participated in the Masters’ tournament and won it with style.
Minimally Invasive Surgery at MINT
Dr. Scott Kutz is the founder of MINT and the best neurosurgeon Plano Texas. Dr. Kutz has many years of experience performing a wide range of minimally invasive procedures, including ALIF surgery. MINT has a team of qualified neurosurgeons and vascular surgeons who work collaboratively to perform successful spinal operations.
Moreover, MINT has employed state-of-the-art and cutting-edge tools and equipment to ensure the patient receives the best possible treatment for back pain. Like Tiger Woods, it is crucial to undergo the rehabilitation period to boost the healing process and overcome back pain. Contact MINT today for more details on Tiger Woods back rehabilitation.
