How Chiropractic Care Helped Brandon Reclaim Golf, Work, and His Life

By: Janett King

degenerative disc disease almost ended golf and career for Brandon

Brandon was only 22 when his world changed overnight. He woke up unable to put weight on his right leg, and an MRI revealed both a torn labrum in his hip and degenerative disc disease in his spine. His orthopedic surgeon admitted the scans looked like they belonged to a man in his sixties, not someone just starting his adult life. Faced with the possibility of surgery, Brandon felt overwhelmed and afraid of losing both his career at a desk and his passion for golf. Instead, he found chiropractic care at The Joint Chiropractic – Desert Ridge, where his first adjustment with Dr. Howey helped him walk without a cane. With consistent, personalized care, Brandon regained strength, returned to work, and rediscovered his joy on the course. Today at 37, he’s thriving, proof that the right care can restore more than mobility and that it can restore hope.

A Lifelong Love Of Golf

For Brandon, golf has always been more than just a sport. It’s a rhythm, a discipline, and a personal challenge that keeps him striving to be better. Every swing is a chance to improve. Every round reminds him that progress doesn’t come from perfection but from patience and persistence.

Golf has been both a passion and a release. It gave him confidence and joy on the course, and it gave him balance off the course. But one morning, everything changed. He woke up unable to put weight on his right leg. Hobbling to the doctor on a cane, in a matter of hours, golf and his ability to keep working felt out of reach.

The Day Everything Changed

Brandon went to see an orthopedic specialist, hoping for a clear explanation and maybe even a quick solution. At first, the X-rays didn’t reveal much. To get a better look, the doctor ordered an MRI. That scan changed the conversation completely. When the orthopedic surgeon walked into the room, Brandon noticed the expression on his face. The doctor paused, then explained what he saw. Brandon not only had a torn labrum in his right hip, but he also showed clear signs of degenerative disc disease in his spine. The words landed heavy, but what came next was even harder to hear.

The surgeon admitted that after reviewing the MRI, he expected to be talking to a man in his fifties or sixties, not someone in his twenties. The damage in Brandon’s spine was more advanced than anyone expected for his age. Then the doctor began to outline surgical options.

Brandon remembers sitting there, stunned. He wasn’t emotionally ready to commit to surgery, and the thought of it at such a young age felt overwhelming. He thought about his future, his work, and his passion for golf, and all of it seemed uncertain. In that moment, he knew he had to look for another path that would give him a chance to fight for the life he wanted without going straight to surgery.

Understanding The Diagnoses

A torn hip labrum occurs when the ring of cartilage around the hip socket becomes damaged. This cartilage stabilizes the joint, allowing the hip to move smoothly. When it tears, even simple activities like walking or sitting can trigger discomfort and instability. For athletes like golfers, a torn labrum can feel like the end of their game.

Degenerative disc disease occurs when the discs that cushion the vertebrae in the spine begin to deteriorate. Discs act like shock absorbers, but when they lose strength and flexibility, the result is stiffness, discomfort, and reduced mobility. For Brandon, this diagnosis at just twenty-two years old was shocking. He wasn’t just worried about today. He was concerned about what the rest of his life might hold.

Together, these diagnoses explained why he suddenly needed a cane and why his independence seemed to vanish overnight.

Discovering Chiropractic Care

Determined to find another option, Brandon turned to chiropractic. His search led him to The Joint Chiropractic - Desert Ridge, where he met Dr. Benjamin Howey, DC. His very first adjustment became a life-changing moment.

Brandon remembers how his hip and lower back finally released. In that instant, he went from leaning on a cane to walking with a steady gait. It wasn’t the end of his recovery, but it was the beginning of hope.

Building A Trusted Relationship

What followed was more than a series of adjustments. Brandon built a trusted relationship with Dr. Howey, one rooted in listening, understanding, and tailoring care to his unique needs. His treatment addressed both his hip and his spine. It focused on restoring mobility, rebuilding strength, and supporting his long-term health.

That personalized care helped Brandon stay consistent. Each visit built on the last. Over time, the progress added up, and his confidence grew.

Chiropractic Care For Golf

For golfers, a healthy body that can move comfortably is everything. The game requires rotation, balance, and flexibility. A torn labrum or degenerative disc disease makes those movements incredibly difficult.

Chiropractic care may help to support golfers by:

Improving spinal alignment to reduce strain during swings
Restoring motion in the hips and joints for smoother movement
Supporting flexibility and balance
Helping manage the repetitive stress golf places on the body

For Brandon, chiropractic wasn’t just about getting through the day. It was about getting back to the course, swinging confidently, and rediscovering the joy of his game.

Chiropractic Care For Desk Jobs

Brandon’s work required long stretches of sitting. Prolonged sitting is associated with increased stress on the lumbar spine and hip joints, often resulting in stiffness and reduced mobility.

Chiropractic adjustments may help counter the effects of sitting by:

Supporting posture and alignment
Improving mobility in the spine and hips
Reducing tension from static positions
Providing strategies for routine maintenance

Brandon began to see care not as a temporary fix but as a long-term support system. Chiropractic helped him manage both the demands of his job and the demands of his favorite sport.

The Role Of Convenience

One of the reasons Brandon was able to stay committed to care was the convenience of The Joint Chiropractic. With the largest network of chiropractic clinics in the country, there was always a location close by. Clinics are open evenings and weekends, making it easy to fit visits into his schedule.

Walk-in availability meant he didn’t need to plan weeks in advance. Whether he needed routine maintenance or same-day care during a flare-up, support was always within reach. That convenience became consistency, and consistency led to results.

Life at Thirty Seven

Today, Brandon is thirty-seven, and his life looks dramatically different from it did when he was twenty-two and facing a cane. He’s working, thriving, and golfing again. He’s living fully, not defined by his diagnosis but empowered by his recovery.

Most of all, Brandon is grateful. Grateful for the care he found. Grateful for the relationship he built with Dr. Howey. And, grateful that The Joint Chiropractic – Desert Ridge was there when he needed it most.

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