A Bad Back At Eighteen

Well, here we are again! Another late-night post, or at least I consider this pretty late. I really try to get these out midday, but late is better than never. I had a relatively busy day today, and I’m just getting home from golf ball hunting with my buddy, Ethan. I wanted to write this post about one of what I consider to be the biggest pains in the ass: back pain. I’ve been playing golf for a while now, and one thing hasn’t changed: the amount of back pain. I’ve grown quite a lot since I first started playing, but I never thought that was the issue. I thought, and still think, the main issue with my back is my posture. I look like a dying giraffe when I walk around. I’ve had to go to the orthopedic office a few times to check for scoliosis, but I don’t have it. I’ve been told to sit straighter and walk differently, but I’ve never changed anything. I didn’t think it was super bad until I saw a picture a little while ago. Holy shit, man! I’m the Hunchback of Notre Dame. When golf season comes around, I know at some point in the season I will throw out my back. Whether it is in August or June, it always comes at some point. I don’t stretch, and I don’t do anything to prevent it. I know that is the main cause of it, but I’m lazy. I just want to hit balls and have fun. Today, I woke up with really bad back pain. I started moving around my shoulder and could hear the popping and grinding, the exact same noise that comes around once a season. The sound that makes me go from ten rounds a week to three. The sound of death of my dreams and fun. I think I just jumped into the deep end and went too hard. I knew the best way to fix this problem was to take the day off. Why would I do that? I had plans to go to the range in the morning and play in the afternoon. I wasn’t going to cancel. I wanted to hang out with my dad and play a round with Ethan. No back pain was stopping me from that. After my range session, I realized I was probably making a mistake. I couldn’t swing normally, and I was fucking miserable. I still didn’t cancel my round and went to play. I played fucking awful. The worst round of the year by a mile. I usually let my score affect my mood. Today was just different. I had some of the most fun I’ve had on a golf course and just laughed off the shitty shots. I wish I could always do that. I need to work on that. Anyway, I have the back of a fifty-five-year-old man, and I don’t think that is going to change. Chronic back pain might be my life, but it is worth having a great time with my boys. Sorry for a ten o'clock post. It basically makes this a Thursday light read. So, Happy Wednesday night! Or Thursday!