Phil Mickelson: Playing Golf With Psoriatic Arthritis

Online, March 4, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Arthritis is a painful and debilitating condition. Being told that you are suffering from it is terrible news for anyone, but imagine how devastating it must be if you are a world class sportsman.

That was the situation that Phil Mickelson found himself in last summer, when he was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, Phil sought specialist advice, and started a treatment plan, which enabled him to quickly get back to playing competitive golf.

Phil is now on a mission to educate others about the condition. His message is that early diagnosis, plus a tailored treatment plan makes the condition very manageable.

Mickelson tries to spread news about arthritis:

Phil Mickelson played a practice round at Pebble Beach on the Saturday before the U.S. Open and was walking back to his car when he felt pain in his ankle, hip and even his finger. It was uncomfortable, but no great cause for alarm.

"I thought it might just be wear and tear of the joints over the years," he said.

The scare came a week after the U.S. Open during a family holiday in Hawaii when the pain returned.

"I went and laid down on the couch, and it hurt so bad to move," Mickelson said.

"Thereafter, I went to try to play golf and the pain had gone to my shoulder. I couldn't take the club back halfway. And I was concerned about the impact on my golf career."

Mickelson was lucky to detect it early.

He immediately saw a rheumatologist in San Diego, then went to the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion. Both agreed that he had psoriatic arthritis, an auto-immune disease that causes pain, stiffness and swelling around the joints.

Mickelson was able to get on a treatment plan, and he felt good enough to resume his full workouts by November. But it left a lasting impression, and now Mickelson wants to do his part to help educate others about the disease.

Follow the link below to read the full article:

http://www.thegolfchannel.com/tour-insider/mickelson-spread-news-arthritis-41814/

The 'On Course With Phil' Website:

A website has been set-up to help Phil to get his message out, and to also provide lots of information about the condition (e.g. symptoms, treatment options etc...). The website is called 'On Course With Phil', and it's definitely worth a visit.

Follow the link below to visit Phil's website:

http://www.oncoursewithphil.com/

Article Source:

http://electricgolftrolleysonline.co.uk/blog/golf-news/phil-mickelson-playing-golf-with-psoriatic-arthritis