Swinging the Golf Club after Back Surgery
When Harold Paulson retired from a career in the fertilizer and farm chemicals business, he looked forward to pursuing two favorite activities: golf and tennis.
Harold and his wife Myrna live in a thriving retirement community where neighborhood facilities make fitness a convenient part of everyday life.
While convenience was not an issue for Harold, comfort was. Beginning in 2006, back pain interfered with Harold’s golf and tennis games. By the end of 2007, the pain had progressed to numbness in his lower legs and feet. Sports became unbearable.
“By November of 2007, the pain and numbness made it difficult,” Harold says. “I had to quit playing tennis; in fact, my symptoms were so severe I could not even golf.”
“Dr. Michael Webb diagnosed my problem and said he could fix it,” Harold recalls. “I had every confidence in him.” Finally, Harold had a diagnosis: an abnormal connection between an artery and vein at the spinal cord that was causing decreased blood flow.
On December 19, 2007, Harold had surgery at St. David’s Medical Center. The surgery eliminated the abnormal connection and restored normal blood flow to the spine. Harold went home five days after surgery and began a six-week rehab regime.
Seven weeks after surgery, Harold was back on the golf course and now is able to play golf three to four times a week restoring his retirement to everything he had hoped it would be.
