Pro Golfer Manages Chronic Neck Pain with Medication and Exercise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro Golfer and TCPC patient Gaylen Allen lines up his shot.

Remember the lyrics to one of Ella Fitzgerald’s classics, “It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that swing.” Not having that swing was not an option for PGA Professional Gaylen Allen, age 57 and 2001 PGA Teacher of the Year, Minnesota section. Since a car accident five years ago, Allen has been plagued by neck pain which threatened to end his golfing career.

Allen and his wife were struck from behind while sitting in their car at a red light in 2006. “The driver had fallen asleep at the wheel and she ran into us at 60 mph,” said Allen. The acute pain situation developed into chronic pain. Through a trial and error process, Allen - and his pain management team at Twin Cities Pain Clinic in Edina - found a way to manage his pain so he could continue working. He has been on the pro circuit locally for 25 years and teaches fulltime at Bunker Indoor Golf Center in Minnetonka.

“When we saw Gaylen at Twin Cities Pain Clinic, he had disc herniation in the C7, T1 area. It has progressed to multi-level degeneration,” said Amy Krenzer, N.P. Allen received epidural injections, physical therapy sessions as well as massage therapy. He now takes daily pain medications which bring his pain down to a manageable level.

“I truly could not function as a golf pro without the medication,” said Allen. “I don’t feel any drowsiness which had been my major concern. I am also consistently doing my physical therapy exercises and stretches on a daily basis.” He visits the clinic every two months to have his dosage of pain medications monitored, and he maintains his lifestyle. “I don’t drink or smoke and have never taken drugs. But I am concerned that I might develop a tolerance to the pain medication at some point,” said Allen.

JOIN US! Tuesday, May 24 at 5 p.m.

Free Health Talk

TCPC Physical Therapist Maureen Henderson speaks on taking an integrated approach to finding your source of pain.

 

This is for anyone who suffers from headaches or pain in their back, neck, jaw, shoulders, hips, knees and feet. It will be a 30 minute talk followed by a Q & A period and a tour of the new clinic.

 

Everyone welcome!

Tuesday, May 24th at 5:00 p.m.

 

Twin Cities Pain Clinic

7235 Ohms Lane

Edina, MN  55439

Do you know a loved one who suffers from pain?

Call TCPC at 952-841-2345