Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press
Dustin Johnson’s fall down the stairs at his rental home illustrates how a back injury can happen at any age.
Unable to fully swing a club on Thursday, The World’s No. 1-ranked golfer walked off the first tee and pulled out of the Masters prior to the first round, according to ESPN.com. He said if he had three days to recover, he’d be fine.
It’s the second Masters Johnson has missed because of a back injury.
Johnson missed the 2012 Masters after he strained his back trying to pull a jet ski out of the water.
At the BioSpine Institute, we see patients of all ages with similar injuries.
Muscle strain or ligament/tendon sprain is a common cause pain with these types of injuries. Getting plenty of rest, taking an over-the-counter medication and applying an ice pack is often enough to alleviate the pain and return to normal activities.
Sometimes, the back injury is much more serious.
Lower back injuries can cause ruptured disc (herniated disc) or a misalignment of the vertebrae (spondylolisthesis), which can cause chronic pain.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc may cause leg pain and possible numbness, which become worse after long periods of standing or sitting.
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis may cause pain in the lower back after standing or walking.
If you injure your back, seek treatment from your primary care physician immediately to determine the magnitude of the injury. If the pain persists, schedule an appointment to see one our doctors to assess the damage the injury may have caused.
Our doctors are nationally renowned spine surgeons who have performed more than 14,000 procedures. Our minimally invasive spine surgery is performed through a ¾-inch incision. All of our patients go home on the same day as their surgery with less scarring and less pain.
Back Pain Facts
- 75 to 85 percent of all people will experience some form of back pain during their lifetme.
- Back pain is the second most frequently reported reason for visiting a doctor, the fifth most frequent cause of hospitalization, and the third most frequent reason for surgery.
- The highest rate of back pain occurs in the 45- to 65-year-old age group
- Although the incidence of overall back pain is similar in men and women, men are more likely to experience lower back pain, while women are more prone to upper back pain.
- After the common cold, lower back pain is the next leading reason for missed workdays for people under 45.
- Approximately 50% of all patients who suffer from an episode of lower back pain will have another occurrence within one year.
