There were only four days to the 2010 U. S . Open when Mickelson woke up in great pain, so much so that he couldn’t walk. “Usually, that stuff kind of comes and goes,” the golfer said in the press meet. However, since his condition got worse, Lefty had it checked and he was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis.
Psoriatic Arthritis is a disorder of the immune system. And its symptoms can be different in different individuals, including pain in the joints, fatigue, and itchy skin patches. In the case of the 6-time major champion, he once suffered pain in his Achilles’ tendon, left index finger, right wrist, hips, ankle, elbows, and shoulders a week before the British Open.
Since it is incurable and Mickelson didn’t want to quit golfing, he went to Mayo Clinic and started taking a weekly injection of Enbrel. Notably, while the powerful drug can help him reduce his symptoms, it has other serious side effects, including an increase in infection. Furthermore, he also follows a vegetarian diet to help him get over the Arthritis symptoms.
“I feel great,” Mickelson said after taking the medications. “I’m able to work out, lift, and don’t have any pain. He further added, “Long term, there shouldn’t be any issues.”
Notably, Mickelson was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis in 2010. However, that didn’t stop him from finding success as a professional golfer. Since 2011, Lefty has won 7 PGA Tour titles, including 2 majors and a World Golf Championship.