# Four Spine Surgeries in His 60s. He's Still Competing Nationally. I Eric Friedman

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/insider-s-playbook-smart-strategies-for-competitive-senior-tennis-players-over-50-7487951/four-spine-surgeries-in-his-60s-he-s-still-competing-nationally-i-eric-friedman
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/insider-s-playbook-smart-strategies-for-competitive-senior-tennis-players-over-50-7487951/four-spine-surgeries-in-his-60s-he-s-still-competing-nationally-i-eric-friedman.md
Podcast: [Insider's Playbook:  Smart Strategies for Competitive Senior Tennis Players Over 50](https://stenobird.com/podcast/insider-s-playbook-smart-strategies-for-competitive-senior-tennis-players-over-50-7487951)
Published: 2026-07-21T12:45:00+00:00
Episode link: https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/1541409a16052d20051f4e29a65ed0eaf5df1326146c161693ae0fb814925a14/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI4OTAyY2JmYS0wMjlmLTQxOTUtOTAyYi1kMzUyZDU0MjY0ZTAiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI0YmY3MzJlNC0yZWI4LTRhOWItOGJlNS0xMGQ5MjljMTNjYmEiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2ODY3Y2VhODhmNjcyZTZiZWJjZTJjYmIiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNmE1ZWEwNzNmMWUyMDFmM2RmZmE1YWI4L2luc2lkZXJzLXBsYXlib29rLWNvbXBvc2VyLTIwMjYtNy0yMV9fMC0yNS01NS5tcDMifQ==.mp3
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Duration seconds: 1332

## Resource

👉 Go Deeper with Coaches and Pros Who Actually Know Senior Tennis https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081 Episode Description: Four spine surgeries. A heart arrhythmia during a match. A herniated disc at the World Championships in Budapest. Most players would have quit. Eric Friedman didn't. At 63, Eric is still competing nationally — and what he learned navigating the medical system is something every senior tennis player needs to hear. Eric's story isn't about toughness for its own sake. It's about being smart — smart enough to ask harder questions, get second opinions, and refuse to accept a medical default that ends your tennis career prematurely. If you're an older player managing injuries, chronic pain, or facing a surgical decision, this conversation could change how you think about your options. Key Takeaways: Why he always explores non-surgical options first — and the specific questions to ask your doctor How regenerative therapies like stem cell treatment changed the calculus on joint pain What it means to be your own health advocate (and why the first surgeon isn't always the right one) How he returned to competition after each setback — and what kept him mentally in the game The moment at the World Championships in Budapest that tested everything he thought he knew about playing through pain ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Coming Up – Show Intro 01:31 Eric's Injury Timeline: How It Started at 60 04:45 Did He Think His Tennis Career Was Over? 05:55 Why He Refused Surgery First (And What He Tried Instead) 08:37 The Heart Arrhythmia That Put Him in an Ambulance 10:51 Post-Surgery Recovery: Getting Back on the Court 13:37 The Mental Side of Coming Back From Spine Surgery 13:51 His Exact Physical Therapy and Gym Routine 16:03 Advice for Senior Players Dealing With…

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