CROSSING OVER TO THE DARK SIDE

[Lou_Duran]

No, I have not lost my marbles and become a socialist.

But due to a bout of plantar fascitis affecting my right foot, all of my golf over the past four months has been on a riding cart.  Sunday, for the first time since the mid-1970s I played 54 holes in one day, followed by 36 holes the next.  For the most part, my foot held out as did my body.

While my golf game has been poor to bad, it was that way when I was walking and carrying.  Being able to ride a cart has made it possible to remain in the game despite this injury and a fight with Type II diabitis which I am not winning.

Clearly, cart golf is totally different than walking.  It removes much of the physicality and endurance aspects from the sport.  In effect, it makes the popular image of golf as being unathletic somewhat accurate.  But, if the choices are riding or not playing, I guess I've had to swallow hard and willingly got behind the wheel.  Hopefully, this doesn't make me a sell-out, but if it does, so be it.

BTW, while I still sympathize with Casey Martin, my own experience reinforces the position taken by those who opposed making the cart exemption: that the physical exertion of walking is an integral part of competitive golf.    

[Mark Pearce]

Lou,

Sorry to hear about the plantar fasciitis.  My wife (a keen runner as well as golfer) has pf at the moment - it seems impossible to shift.

What always strikes me on corporate days when I am forced to ride is that the rhythm of the game is completely altered.  I have never played well using a cart (but then I've never used a cart at a course where I particularly wanted to) and I think a lot of that is down to being unable to settle into the natural rhythm that walking dictates on a well routed course.

[Aaron Katz]

Take a caddy and see how that influences the amount of physical exertion golf takes.  My own opinion -- if you aren't carrying your own bag, then taking a cart doesn't lead to any advantage.  If you are carrying your own bag -- even if it is a five pounder -- then a cart does level the playing field for those who are not in prime physical condition.

I took a cart almost every round for the first several months after I came back from ACL reconstruction.  Don't sweat it.  I don't think the game is as enjoyable, but you shouldn't be ashamed.

[RJ_Daley]

I had a mild case of PF, and the orthotics helped.  I only put a soft store bought arch lift in now.  My friend just got the orthotics this year and he was helped greatly.  I hope you find a manageable regimine to deal with the diabetes issue.  You certainly are and have been quite fit and strong.  Besides, who will I get to unwrentch those pesky rusted lug nuts on my Bronco?

[Jay Flemma]

Lou, back in a former life, I did alot of Workers' Comp work as a lawyer (in my prison life as a litigator).

Serious PF is no joke...especially if one really cant play golf because of it...same thing with CPS.

You have not crossed over to the dark side...you deserve our sympathies and hopes for a speedy recovery.

As for me, I have embraced my dark side...

Signed,
Darth Jayder

PS...well now that somebody has tied Star Wars and golf (good job Lou!), click on this link for the best star wars laugh of your life!

http://jayflemma.blogspot.com/2006/09/video-darth-vader-calls-palpatine-to.html

[Jim_Kennedy]

Lou,
Usually 'crossing over to the dark side' means you decided to play Callaway clubs.

With Martin, I think the decision was wrought from the same premise, that the exertion of playing with his physical challenge equalled that of the player who walked, i.e., no advantage to Martin.

[tlavin]

Orthotics, and get your back looked at.

That'll be $250, please.  

That's correct, Doctor, but you have the order reversed: Go see a good chiropractor and get a referral for properly made orthotics.  In just a few months, the pain should go away...

[Bob_Huntley]

Lou,

I read the headline and thought "Good God, my good friend has come out of the closet and become a LESBIAN no less."

Phew, take a cart and enjoy it.

Bob

[Brad Swanson]

Lou,
   I can tell this is an attempt to lay the groundwork for getting more strokes in future matches.  I can see through your Rovian stragegy here.  
   All kidding aside, get the proper medical attention and orthotics.  PF is a bear to get rid of otherwise.  I hope you are back to your walking self in short order.

Cheers,
Brad

[Michael Dugger]

Lou

My oh my do I feel for you my friend.  Foot problems have plagued me since high school and I'm only 33.  Had both knees drained already.  PF comes and goes.  Achilles problems.  My flat feet would get me out of a draft but I would trade 'em for some nice high arches anyday!!!  

Seriously visit yourself a foot doctor.  Orthotics work wonders.  A good podiatrist may be able to set you up with some other goodies like toe spacers or therapeutic devices.  Roll a golf ball under your arch during the evenings.  

Also, be uber picky in your next pair of golf shoes.  I cannot stress enough how important having a low heel and wide toe area is in avoiding all foot related problems.

Try a supplement of glucosamine for a month or two.  It's kinda spendy but helps your cartilage and joints rebuild.  Ice in the evenings but recent studies show only for about 6-8 minutes.  No longer.  

Foot problems are brutal.  I was on crutches just about two months ago.  Sometimes I want to fall down and cry about how badly my lifestyle is screwed when this happens.  

I've taken carts too.  It beats no golf, that's for sure!!!

Good luck

[John Foley]

Lou,

That sucks. I've had PF bouts over the years when I've been running alot. It can be beaten. You've got a lot of good advice, I'll throw mine in.

1 - Good orthotics. Can not stress enough how important this is. Best $300 you will spend.

2 - Get someone or thing (golf ball or check out Road Runner sports catlog / web site ) for a foot massager. Slowly massage the fascia down the long axis for your foot. That will break up the scar tissue and improve circulation.  It will also feel great.

3 - Strech & strengthen your achilles, calves, hammy's & quads. Lot of times this comes up due to muscle imbalances & weakness

As for the Dark Side, it's fine over here. Walking is great, ridding in a cart is fine. Just get out and enjoy the game.

[Michael Dugger]

I feel compelled to come back and ask are you sure it is PF???

In some cases PF is misdiagnosed, or rather your problem is a combination of many things...achilles, bursitis, weak calf muscles, poorly fitting shoes, etc.

Sadly, I have spent a lot of time reading about the human foot and all its' glorious maladies.

[Dave Collard]

I had severe PF a few years ago.  

I don't ever take a cart, but when it was bad, I couldn't
walk at all.  I tried a cart a few times, but it isn't much
fun for me, and I still had to walk too much.

I did get a 3-wheel push cart which also helped later
when I started to recover (I am back to carrying now).

I now have no symptoms at all.  Here is what I did,
perhaps it will help:

    I froze a round bottle of water.  Then I rolled it
    for 10 minutes hard on my arches every morning
    and every night.  Ice is a very effective but
    undervalued treatment, IMHO.

    As others have said, I got fitted for custom orthotics
    and wear them all the time.  One advantage: they
    squeak in my golf shoes and annoy my opponent :-)

    I also stretched my calves a LOT.

    I lost weight - about 30 lbs.  Actually now I have
    lost more than that, but all my symptoms were
    gone long before.

It took about 6 months for me to be able to walk without
pain (luckily it got severe in the fall as winter was approaching
or I would have gone crazy from lack of golf).  About one
full year before I had no symptoms or twinges at all.  It
has been maybe a year and a half since then with no
symptoms.

I still do the ice bottle about once a week and stretch
my calves many times a day (almost every time I go up a flight
of stairs I stop and stretch a bit).  This is just for
preventative purposes.  

It is a lot of work and effort to keep this away, but it is
worth it not to step on razor blades all day.





 

[Lou_Duran]

Gents,

Thanks for the advice and well wishes.

My doctor is pretty sure that PF is the problem and the symptoms seem to match very closely.  He recommended several exercises, orthotics, always wearing comfortable, well-made shoes, and weight loss.  I will also incorporate the suggestions made here, particarly Thor's frozen bottle roll (if it wouldn't be for my diabetes, I would use a long neck and drink the beer afterwards!).

Riding is a big departure for me.  I've never been a walking Nazi, but I did chide many of my friends when they rode.  Perhaps apologies are due.  But now that Bob Huntley has given me his blessings, I no longer need to feel ashamed as I now play my golf seated.

Bob, I am sorry to report that my application to that group some time ago was not accepted.  Apparently, I just didn't measure up.

Jay F, thanks for the few minutes of levity.

Jim K, my fairway metalwoods are Callaway Steelheads.  Though I did not share Mr. Callaway's politics, I admired him a great deal.  Long an advocate of bifurcation, I don't view the technology issue in the same way as some of our purists.

Dr. Vostinak, the check is in the mail.  There is a company with a store here that does nothing but custom orthotics.  I think it is called Just for Feet and they charge $400 plus tax for two pairs of custom fitted shoe inserts (attach to the shoe with industrial strength velcro).  I have purchased the drugstore variety and if these don't work, I may try the custom fitted route.

Again, thanks to all.
 

[Steve Kline]

Lou - I'm sorry to hear that you are suffering from diabetes. My wife was diagnosed with diabetes many years ago. Recently, the two of us have taken a radical step and become vegans (we eat no meat, dairy or other animal products). She has gone from 5 shots of insulin a day to 1. The one shot that she is taking has about 75% less insulin than it previously did. Her blood pressure and cholesteroal have dramatically improved. And her eyes have gotten better (her eyesight has improved so much that she's had to get a new prescription). We also drink three glasses of carrot juice every day. If you are interested, the details of our diet can be found here - www.hacres.com. I hope things get better for you.

[A.G._Crockett]

Lou,
Ouch!  I've had a bout of PF in each foot; about a year in my right foot, and nearly two in my left.  The orthotics should be worn ALL the time; New Balance makes a great one that is available in many stores.  Get two or three pairs.

The ice is also key.  A plastic coke bottle fits your foot great; roll it with your foot before and after you play, in the morning if you're reading the paper, while watching TV, etc.  The great thing about ice is you can't really overdo it, at least in terms of frequency (don't go over 20 min. at a time, max., though).

PF is weird; I wasn't generally bothered terribly WHILE I was walking or jogging, but after a 15 or 20 min. cool down or first thing in the morning, it was AGONY!  There have been times where I stiffened up so much on the 15 min. ride home from the course that I could barely get into the house.

You have my deepest sympathy; take heart, though.  It WILL go away.  Pujols and Tim Duncan have both had bad bouts of it in recent years.

[Jason McNamara]

I will also incorporate the suggestions made here, particarly Thor's frozen bottle roll (if it wouldn't be for my diabetes, I would use a long neck and drink the beer afterwards!).

And if you don't want to freeze your feet, find a couple of the old-style super-thick Coke bottles.  Worked for my dad, in any event.

Jason

[Ron Kern]

Had PF so bad last year that I couldn't walk effectively and without severe pain for 3 months.

Surgery was suposed to help - was not wild about that whatsoever...

Opted for this instead:

http://www.goodfeet.com/

I got the three part deal at the local store - exerciser, maintainer and rest and was literally cured in three months.

Good luck.