Daniel Berger

In 2015, I was the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, and in June 2016 I won the FedEx St. Jude Classic. The following week I felt great going into the 2016 US Open, until the final round when I started to feel pain in the left side of my back. Having just competed in six tournaments over the course of eight weeks – including a Major Championship at Oakmont Country Club, one of golf’s most difficult courses – I thought the pain was just typical wear and tear. I took 10 days off to rest and was treated with anti-inflammatory medication and routine physical therapy. I started to play in the 2016 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational the following week, but I knew right away that something was wrong with my back, and I was forced to withdraw from the tournament during the first round.

I was referred to Dr. Joshua Dines at Hospital for Special Surgery. After undergoing a physical exam and MRI, Dr. Dines determined that I had a fascial strain of the paraspinal muscles. After several days of rest and physical therapy, Dr. Dines recommended I get a cortisone injection and work with the physical therapy team at HSS following the procedure. Dr. Dines made sure I was comfortable with my treatment plan and was consistently involved in the entire recovery process.

I was able to come back for the 2016 PGA Championship and finished the season playing an additional five tournaments over the course of eight weeks. I am happy to say that I am pain-free! I am so grateful for the care and guidance from Dr. Dines and the HSS staff.