By Dr. Conor Sperzel
As seasonal residents return to Southwest Florida, tee times fill up and the courses come back to life. For many golfers, though, the return to the fairway also brings back an old complaint: back or hip pain. Pain in this region can come from several different structures, and identifying the correct pain generator is the key to choosing the right treatment.
Four Common Sources of Pain
Lumbar facet arthritis
The facet joints are small joints at the back of the spine that guide and limit motion. When they become arthritic, they typically cause an aching low back pain that worsens with twisting, arching backward, or standing for long periods. The golf swing, with its repetitive rotation, can aggravate these joints round after round.
Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain
The SI joints connect the base of the spine to the pelvis. Pain from these joints is often felt in the low back and buttock, frequently on one side. Rotation, shifting weight from one leg to the other, and even getting in and out of a golf cart can provoke symptoms.
Hip osteoarthritis
Many people are surprised to learn that hip arthritis often causes pain in the groin. It may also be felt in the hip, the thigh, or sometimes the buttock. Because a good swing depends on the hips rotating freely, arthritis can limit the turn and shift extra stress onto the spine.
Lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica)
When a nerve in the lower spine becomes irritated, often by a disc herniation or spinal stenosis, pain can travel down the leg. It may come with numbness, tingling, or weakness. Symptoms that extend below the knee are often a clue that a nerve is involved.
Why the Right Diagnosis Matters
Back, hip, and SI joint conditions can produce overlapping symptoms. Buttock pain, for example, may come from the spine, the SI joint, or the hip. Treating the wrong structure can lead to frustration and delay recovery.
A careful evaluation starts with a focused history: where the pain is, what makes it better or worse, and whether it travels into the leg. A physical examination with specific maneuvers helps isolate the hip, SI joint, or spine. Appropriate imaging, such as X-rays or MRI, adds further detail. Occasionally, a diagnostic injection, which numbs a specific joint to see whether the pain improves, helps confirm the true source.
A Stepwise Approach to Treatment
The goal of treatment is to keep patients active. Care generally begins with the simplest effective measures and progresses only as needed:
• Activity modification, such as adjusting swing mechanics, shortening practice sessions, or playing fewer holes
• Physical therapy and exercise to build core strength and improve hip mobility and flexibility
• Medications, when appropriate, to manage pain and inflammation
• Image-guided injections that deliver medication precisely to the joint or nerve causing the pain
• Other minimally invasive treatments for pain that persists despite these measures
The Take-Home Message
Back or hip pain does not necessarily mean giving up golf. Determining where the pain is actually coming from is the first step toward treating it appropriately and safely returning to the course and the activities you enjoy. To learn more or schedule a consultation, contact Vanguard Spine & Pain in Naples.
Dr. Conor Sperzel is a Harvard-fellowship-trained Interventional Pain Management physician and founder of Vanguard Spine and Pain in Naples, FL. His background in Physiatry (Rehabilitation Medicine) shapes his approach to interventional pain care. Rather than focusing on pain alone, he emphasizes restoring function and helping patients return to the activities that matter most to them. He treats a wide range of conditions including sciatica, neck and back pain, arthritis-related pain, and other musculoskeletal and nerve disorders using precise, minimally invasive techniques performed in an outpatient setting. His practice emphasizes individualized care, detailed functional evaluation, and timely access to treatment.
239-331-7732
www.vanguardpainfl.com
720 Goodlette-Frank, Rd Suite 204
Naples FL, 34102