Carpal Tunnel and wrist issues destroyed my game

[Tax Man Golfeth]

I seem to have developed carpal tunnel and radial nerve issues (mostly from recent yardwork and non-golf things... digging in the yard, hacking out a stump with an axe, playing way too much of an iPad car racing game, handling nasty chemicals, etc.). My forearms/hands tingle, burn and are semi-numb on most days - like when your arm or leg "goes to sleep", and then blood rushes back in and it tingles and burns. Holding the steering wheel while driving feels weird.

 

I put in one good day of yardwork a couple months ago, and then the next day had the single worst day of golf in recent memory. ..figured I was just tired. Did more yardwork, etc., and now on most days for the last couple of months, I can't hit the ball to save my life. I don't mean I hit fat or thin, or snap hook or slice, or even topped or some "normal" bad miss. I mean, a shank that goes right would be an improvement. Feels like I'm hitting shanks off the Word not allowed end of the club that go left, down or nowhere at all, or as if I'd turned the club backwards altogether. Broke the ferrule on my driver after skying one off the heel side the other day. The guy next to me offered to buy me a beer, and watching him hit balls, I know I could play circles around him. Godawful. It's 74.3 degrees and sunny outside on a Friday, and I have zero desire to play golf; ...and before, you couldn't keep me off the course.

 

It is demoralizing and depressing because I don't feel it's a swing issue that could be cured with lessons or practice. On the days when my wrists feel good, I can still smoke my irons, hybrid, etc. (driver is still hopeless lol). And even on bad days, my wedge game is sharp up to about a quarter swing (but putting feels weird, oddly enough).

 

Sorry about the pity party. I know wrist issues are not unheard of among golfers. I am curious if it has affected others' swings to this extent, and if it got better.

 

...off to make a DR appt. Maybe a cortisone shot will help?

[parmark]

I had same affliction a few years ago very bad in both hands. Couldn't sleep at night without wearing braces that pushed my wrists back, and I wore them on anything that might affect me, like the vibration of steering wheel when driving or lawn mower. (yes I did get a few odd looks from other folks) I went to a Chiropractor that summer each week who manipulated some things to let me swing the club, and I would just take a few tylenol every nine holes to get thru the rounds that year. In the off-season I had each hand operated on, they did them six weeks apart, and I was fortunate that it worked and I've been good ever since. That summer when I played with this it did teach me a much lighter grip that I still use to this day. Was a bit of an issue but I was able to work thru it. But the operation worked terrific and good as new. Good luck with finding a fix, it is no fun to deal with this.

[Rob631]

You have my sympathy, back issues ruined mine. I get spasms constantly and have tightness that causes me to blow my back out regularly even on pitch shots I dropped close to 50 yards in carry with my driver because if I hold my angle or attack from the inside I blow my back out. My playing partners call me "swipey" now. haha.
I think a cortisone injection will help, but be careful, too many can weaken the tendon and cause it to tear easily. That happened in my knee.

[Ri_Redneck]

Carpal Tunnel Release is the best thing. I had this so bad in my right hand that I could not sleep. It would ache all night and if I held anything for more than a minute, my hand would go completely numb. Had release surgery and was up to full speed in a couple of months. It was not open release, they only made two very small incisions and went in with a tube type apparatus to release the tendon. I was awake and talking to them while they did it. I have to point out the scars because they are so tiny. Dr Hubbard in Providence, RI.

BT

[Tax Man Golfeth]

I'm trying Rest, Ice, cortizone pills and something similar to prescription IB. I'm going to grab some wrist splints for sleeping, and might try for an injection on Monday. HOPEFULLY that will work. I don't have actual pain, only the dull, burning numbness, so maybe my case is milder than others. It happened so suddenly it never occurred to me it could be CT... I always thought that was something secretaries got after 40 years behind a keyboard... although, I do type a lot... dammit WRX...

Did you guys sustain an acute trauma, or did it build up over a long period? After recover from surgery, did you find you had a weaker grip than you did pre-injury? Did it wreck your ability to hit a golf ball in the way I describe?

It's funny - if I apply myself, I still have a powerful grip, but at rest, or picking up a glass.. it just feels weak.

Thanks for the input.