Tiger Woods Surgery: Does Lumbar Microdecompression Take Long to Heal? Recovery Period, Cost, & Other Complications Explained
The GOAT can never get a break, can he? The golf world recently got flushed with the latest news that Tiger Woods got yet another surgery. Woods underwent his sixth lower back surgery in 10 years with the hope of relaxing the spasms that have been haunting him throughout the 2024 season.
The micro decompression surgery, which is also known as a microdiscectomy, aims to relieve nerve impingement in his lumbar spine. Recovery time is expected to be 8-12 weeks, so until then, the golf world is going to see little of Tiger Woods. The latest post on his X account revealed that Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi of the Hospital of Special Surgery performed the surgery on Woods and deemed it to be successful. The surgery is estimated to be ranging from $15,000 to $50,000.
The golfer has been limited to a few tournaments this year because of his ongoing back issues and has only played in five tournaments, which includes the 4 majors and his own tournament, the Genesis Invitational. Woods went on to express positivity about the surgery’s potential to alleviate his discomfort. “The surgery went smoothly, and I’m hopeful this will help alleviate the back spasms and pain I was experiencing throughout most of the 2024 season,” said Woods. He had previously mentioned back spasms during the Genesis Invitational in February, which attributed them to his fused back.
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) September 13, 2024
This latest surgery follows a series of procedures, including his first microdiscectomy in 2014, two more in 2015, and a spinal fusion in 2017. He also had another microdiscectomy in December 2020 and suffered severe leg and ankle injuries in a car accident in February 2021. “I look forward to tackling this rehab and preparing myself to get back to normal life activities, including golf,” he mentioned. Moreover, Woods also had a Cyst removed in his days of glory.
Tiger Woods’s Cyst removal after turning the world’s No. 1
Tiger Woods’s incredible 2002 season will always be remembered and for good reason. The golfer won 5 tournaments that year, which included two major wins at the Masters and U.S. Open. But few know that just after his triumphs, the 26-year-old golf sensation underwent surgery in late 2002 to remove a benign cyst from his left knee and drain fluid from around a ligament.
Just weeks after going under surgery, he played at the Buick Invitational in early 2003 and that was a great example of his focus and grit and the outcome was just as amazing. Woods won the competition with a score of 16 under par. Despite the health setback, Woods remained the world’s number-one golfer in 2003. He continued to push himself and played in 18 PGA Tour events that year and through it all Woods’ determination inspired fans and fellow golfers and it surely cemented his status as a true legend of the sport.
